The money, together with disinvestment proceeds, is crucial for Mukherjee to meet his fiscal deficit target of 5.5 per cent for 2010-11 from 6.7 per cent in 2009-10.
By setting a single spectrum-release deadline for all bidders, the finance ministry aims to ensure a level playing field for all operators.
India's share will only get bigger once SpiceJet enters the fray from June to fly south east Asia and south Asian countries.
Manufacturers that mainly sell diesel cars like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen anticipate a significant fall in sales if the government accepts the Parikh committee's recommendation of a flat tax of Rs 80,000 on diesel cars, because of a widening cost differential with petrol variants.
Manufacturers that mainly sell diesel cars like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen anticipate a significant fall in sales if the government accepts the Parikh committee's recommendation of a flat tax of Rs 80,000 on diesel cars, because of a widening cost differential with petrol variants.
The first Indian civil aviation minister to fly for a commercial airline -- Rajiv Gandhi has been the only prime minister to do so -- Rudy started his job with IndiGo from January 4.
Former Civil Aviation Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy has been hired as a co-pilot with Delhi-based private airline IndiGo Airlines on an honorary basis.
Industry executives say the government could help in lowering prices of green vehicles by encouraging domestic research and development.
A host of passenger and commercial vehicle manufacturers displayed 'green' vehicles at the Auto Expo. Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors displayed 100 per cent plug-in electric car concepts, while commercial vehicle manufacturers like Ashok Leyland displayed concept hybrid buses, fuelled both by electricity and diesel.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked Communications Minister Andimuthu Raja to complete the auction of the third generation (3G) spectrum within the agreed deadline (February 15), so that the revenue from it can be reflected in the Union Budget for 2009-10. Mukherjee had earmarked Rs 30,000 crore as revenue from 3G auction, which has already been delayed by a year, in the Budget.
ITC's investment arm Russell Credit has raised its stake in Hotel Leelaventure to 7.37 per cent --an increase of 2.26 percentage points. The promoters of Mumbai-based Leela group, meanwhile, said they were not interested in tying the knot with ITC as a strategic partner in the growing hotels business.
The last Auto Expo in January 2008 in New Delhi drew 1.8 million visitors. The 2010 edition scheduled at Pragati Maidan here, from January 5-11, is expected to draw close to 2 million visitors, which would make it the largest auto show in the world.
Vodafone Group Plc Chief Executive Vittorio Colao today said the company could list its Indian arm and was open to acquisitions when opportunities are available in the country. The head of the world's largest mobile company in terms of revenues suggested changes in the regulatory regime for mergers and acquisitions.
US hedge fund makes 40% profit; KP Singh family to go for DLF Assets IPO in the first quarter of 2010.
The Honda Civic's automatic version comes equipped with cruise control which, when activated, drives the car by itself. The company's spokesperson says this facility is ideal on highways and for speeds above 40 km per hour.
The country's largest manufacturer of buses, Tata Motors, will roll out hybrid buses for the domestic market in the next few years, said Ravi Pisharody, its president (commercial vehicles).
Volatility in investments concern for RBI.
After successfully dabbling in organised retail in 2006, Mukesh Ambani, chairman of India's largest private sector company, Reliance Industries (RIL), has now set his eyes on no-frills, low-cost housing."RIL has deep pockets and excellent execution skills. It has executed two large projects like the Jamnagar refinery and the KG-D6 basin in a record time. Another such large project is only obvious for the company to get into," said a source close to the development.
Over the past few months, Chandra, whose family also owns Essel, a leading packaging company for consumer products, has bought a massage clinic chain, launched an ayurvedic skin and health products brand and rejigged his US TV channel into a health platform.
The Centre has finalised sweeping changes to the country's foreign direct investment (FDI) policy to account for increasing concerns voiced by security agencies.