The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, March 27, 2007

LOTTERY
Job loss woes
LOTTERY TRADERS and sellers took out a rally from Chikka Lalbagh in protest against the decision taken by the Karnataka Government to ban lotteries in Bangalore on Monday. ... More

AUTOMOBILES
Motor insurance pool to take off from April 1
Intra-insurer differences, service tax issue sorted out More

BUDGET
`Budget neglects Coimbatore infrastructure'
The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, has said the reduction in the interest rate for crop loans from 7 to 5 per cent and simplification in the State VAT offering 4 per cent tax on all industrial inputs besides the separate ... More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
HC adjourns Nandigram case by three weeks
A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising the Chief Justice, Mr S.S. Nijjar, and Mr Justice P.C. Ghose on Monday adjourned the Nandigram violence case for three weeks. While doing so, the court observed that after considering the ... More

ECONOMY
Steel cos may raise prices
The general trend is rising and unless the Government is cautious, prices could firm up again, industry officials said. More

Easing supply-side pressures
Budget 2007-08 was a significant departure from the conventional approach of demand management to giving more attention to the supply side. More

Manipur annual Plan put at Rs 1,374 cr
The annual Plan of Manipur for the next fiscal has been pegged at Rs 1,374.31 crore at a meeting between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief Minister, Mr Okram Ibobi Singh, here. In his preliminary ... More

PETROLEUM
BPCL, HPCL eye options for synergy
BPCL and HPCL are looking at options to synergise their operations so that both companies benefit, according to HPCL Chairman and Managing Director, Mr M.B. Lal. Speaking at a seminar organised by CPCL on `Recent developments in FCC and ... More

Bhatinda refinery: ONGC not against Mittal-HPCL pact
ONGC and LN Mittal Group are discussing the business plan to expand joint venture activities of ONGC Mittal Energy Ltd (OMEL). At a recent meeting of the chiefs of the two entities, Mr L.N. Mittal and Mr R.S. Sharma, Chairman and Managing ... More

IOC plans 12 more LPG outlets
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to open 12 more auto LPG dispensing outlets in the city. Across the country, the oil marketing company would be adding 100 more outlets to its 120 in 42 cities. Mr G.C. Daga, Director (Marketing), told ... More

Petronet ties up supplies for Ratnagiri Gas project
Eyeing over 2.25 mt LNG for delivery in April-May More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Transparency sought in drug trials on animals
Ranbaxy's release of beagle dogs raises concern More

POWER
Power Minister may decide on Sasan bid
The Power Minister, Mr Sushilkumar Shinde, is likely to adjudicate on the fate of the Sasan Ultra Mega power project bid in the wake of changes in the composition of the winning consortium. The move to refer the issue to the Government comes ... More

STEEL
`Ensure quality steel at reasonable prices'
Manmohan calls upon industry majors to invest more at home More

Steel makers lock horns over pricing system
Cold rollers demand on par treatment with exporters More

SSI
Minister calls for cluster development of SMEs
Commonwealth meet on small business inaugurated More

RADIO/TV
Call for lesser regulations in new Broadcast Bill
The high volume-low margin approach makes it difficult for niche channels to grab a foothold in the broadcasting industry. More

`Advertisers cannot renegotiate World Cup deals'
Advertisers cannot renegotiate deals in the light of India's loss to Sri Lanka at the ICC World Cup 2007, a joint statement from Indian Broadcasting Federation and Advertising Agencies Association of India said. All contracts are bilateral and ... More

EDUCATION
B.Com degree now easier for CA students
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has started initiating discussions with various universities across the country for accommodating students who have enrolled for the Chartered Accountancy course in the respective ... More

On restructuring undergraduate degree in sciences and engineering
India faces `a serious manpower shortage', cautions Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy, Chief Mentor of Infosys. Unless we have in place `a dynamic, forward-looking, modern and world-class human resources (HR) policy,' we will regret, he has said. Voices of ... More

IIM Bangalore hikes fees for management course
Starting this academic year, the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, is all set to hike its fee for PGP (Post Graduate Programme in Management) from Rs 1.75 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. This decision was taken at the board of directors meeting ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
New office-bearers of CII (TN)
Mr Gopal Srinivasan, Director, TVS Electronics Ltd, Chennai has been elected Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry, Tamil Nadu State Council for 2007-08, according to a press release from CII. Mr Srinivasan has been ... More

CII Karnataka office-bearers
Mr N. Reguraj, Managing Director, NTTF Industries Ltd, was elected Chairman of CII Karnataka for 2007-08. Mr Reguraj takes over the responsibility from Mr S Gopalakrishnan (Kris), President, COO & Joint Managing Director, Infosys More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISRO gets second mobile launch platform at Sriharikota
The Shriharikota Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation took delivery of a mobile launch pedestal manufactured by KCP Ltd here today. Addressing the handing over function, Dr M. Annamalai, Director, Sriharikota Centre, ISRO, said that ... More

TRADING
STC looking at 11% turnover growth for 2007-08
The State Trading Corporation (STC) has projected a turnover of Rs 10,000 crore to be scaled up during the next fiscal, envisaging a growth of 11 per cent over the 2006-07 performance, excluding wheat import turnovers. Exports and domestic ... More

GENDER
UTI Mutual's micro-pension scheme for rural women
UTI Mutual Fund has entered into an arrangement with Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank Ltd (Mann Deshi) for providing its members an investment opportunity through a micro-pension initiative under its Retirement Benefit Pension Fund. This will ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Hyundai Motor on course to be eligible for TN Govt sops
Total investments set to top Rs 4,000 cr More

SOCIAL WELFARE
Gujarat plans fortified milk, chocolates for school children
Encouraged with the State Government's achievements in fortifying edible oil and wheat flour to remove deficiencies of micronutrients, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, has announced to provide fortified milk, chocolates and sweets as ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Modi launches Rs 15,000-cr tribal development plan
Virtually launching his party's campaign for the Assembly elections due this year, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, today launched an all-inclusive, umbrella-like Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, an Rs 15,000-crore scheme for the welfare of ... More

INTERVIEW
`Permanently advance IST by half an hour'
Turkey switches to daylight saving time (DST) on March 25 to make better use of daylight hours in tune with `Cabinet decision on the issue', informs www.todayszaman.com, in a posting dated March 24. "DST, ... More

EVENTS
Universal Plumbing Code for India under study
IPA has started an institute for plumbing in collaboration with the Pune Construction Engineering and Research Foundation on its campus. More

INCOME TAX
Authority of Advance Rulings chief
The Government has appointed Mr Justice Mr P.V. Reddi, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, as Chairman of the Authority for Advance Rulings (Income-Tax) for three years. An official release said that he would also ... More

TOURISM
ICC-approved travel agencies looking at ways to cut losses
"We might come up with EMI schemes as a last ditch attempt to kindle some interest in cricket lovers." More

Oceanic set to launch health card in India
Oceanic Health Plus, a Dubai based health tourism player, is all set to launch an innovative health card in India, offering preventive healthcare tourism packages. The card guarantees quality services at special discounted prices to tourists ... More

ECONOMIC OFFENCES
Customs upgrading patrol fleet
Indian customs has signed contracts with two foreign companies for purchase of 24 customs patrol crafts (marine vessels) and 63 Customs interceptor Marine vessels at total cost of Rs 251.26 crore. An official release said that ... More