Nayanima Basu And Sanjay Jog

Stories by Nayanima Basu And Sanjay Jog

India not yet ready to take US to WTO: Sharma

India not yet ready to take US to WTO: Sharma

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2011

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said India will not "rush to" the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the "regressive" steps taken by the US recently, which include an increase in the visa fee and a special levy on foreign manufacturers.

Rise in truck rentals in 2010

Rise in truck rentals in 2010

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2011

Truck rentals during calendar year 2010 rose by 24-40 per cent on trunk routes, with robust manufacturing growth and high consumer spending. However, the rentals stabilised during December and are expected to remain firm in the first quarter of calendar year 2011.

Major shake-up in state bureaucracy on the cards

Major shake-up in state bureaucracy on the cards

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2011

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan appointed Subodh Kumar, a 1977 batch IAS officer, as the commissioner of India's richest civic body - the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Kumar replaces Swadhin Kshtriya who has been appointed as the revenue secretary.

Onion prices dip by 45% in Nashik

Onion prices dip by 45% in Nashik

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2010

After government's measures like export ban and import from Pakistan, average wholesale prices of onion in Nashik district's various Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets have come down by around 45 per cent to Rs 2,071 a quintal in the last three days.

Vultures get restaurant in Raigad

Vultures get restaurant in Raigad

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2010

The Maharashtra government has launched a "restaurant" to save the vulture, nature's most efficient scavenger. The 20-acre restaurant is located in the Fansad sanctuary in the Raigad district which is spread over 50 sq km.

India-Asean services deal hits roadblock

India-Asean services deal hits roadblock

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2010

According to a senior commerce department official, talks between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) - the 10-country trading bloc - have hit a roadblock, with some of the advanced developing countries demanding greater flexibilities from India.

Maharashtra scraps extra FSI for parking

Maharashtra scraps extra FSI for parking

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2010

The Maharashtra government has scrapped its policy to grant additional floor space index (FSI) for public parking in Mumbai city under its Development Control Regulations 33 (24). The government had notified the extra FSI for parking one-and-a-half years earlier following a rise in vehicle population and the need for parking in the city.

Coastal Maharashtra is India's new power hub

Coastal Maharashtra is India's new power hub

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2010

Three districts of Maharashtra - Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad - on the western coast are set to become the power hub of this part of the country.

Cidco mulls metro between Navi Mumbai, Mumbai

Cidco mulls metro between Navi Mumbai, Mumbai

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2010

The rail link is considered necessary as it will help decongest the growing traffic once the proposed airport comes up in Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai airport construction to begin in 2011

Navi Mumbai airport construction to begin in 2011

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2010

Actual construction on the Navi Mumbai international airport, which received the much-awaited environment clearances early this week, would begin in October next year as certain formalities remained to be done, said the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), a nodal agency for the project.

Lavasa may challenge MoEF order in court

Lavasa may challenge MoEF order in court

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2010

Lavasa had clarified that the development carried out at the Lavasa City were within the framework of the clearance granted by the state environment ministry.

Free trade pact with EU making good progress

Free trade pact with EU making good progress

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2010

Earlier this week, commerce secretary Rahul Khullar met EU director-general for trade David O'Sullivan to review the progress so far. Several differences mired the process over EU's insistence on including social issues such as human rights, labour policies and climate change within the FTA purview.

Maharashtra govt to proceed with the SEZ Bill

Maharashtra govt to proceed with the SEZ Bill

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2010

Undeterred by strong objections from opposition parties and several non-government groups, the Maharashtra government is to proceed with the Maharashtra Special Economic Zones and Designated Areas Bill in the legislature during the winter session beginning on December 1 in Nagpur.

SAIL looking for ventures into analogous sectors

SAIL looking for ventures into analogous sectors

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2010

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) is looking for ventures into analogous sectors. While the state-run company is going for a follow-on public offer (FPO) in early 2011, it is looking at some aggressive expansion plans, and mergers and acquisitions as well, said Chandra Shekhar Verma, chairman and managing director.

India, Canada to enter a bilateral trade agreement

India, Canada to enter a bilateral trade agreement

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2010

India and Canada aim at achieving a bilateral trade target of $15 billion in the next five years, even as both countries are beginning a series of negotiations to have a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) soon that would yield significant economic benefit for both countries and lower tariffs over a large number of products, says Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, Canada.

Government may put fertiliser policy on ice

Government may put fertiliser policy on ice

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2010

The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) plans to bring in all policies, including the New Investment Policy meant to overhaul urea production, under one umbrella - Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) policy.

GAIL to increase its turnover by 2020

GAIL to increase its turnover by 2020

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2010

GAIL India plans to consolidate presence in petrochemicals and renewable energy, allocate a percentage of annual capital expenditure for exploration and production (E&P), pick up equity in upstream LNG projects abroad, and pursue investments in shale gas projects in and outside.

BIG challenges that the new Maharashtra CM faces

BIG challenges that the new Maharashtra CM faces

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2010

The CM-elect would have to strive to regain the state's past glory, as its earlier eminence has been challenged by Gujarat, Karnataka, and many other states. Besides, the burgeoning debt burden, which has already crossed Rs 1,70,000 crore, rising fiscal and revenue deficits had put increasing pressure on the administration to avoid overdrafts.

'US sees unlimited opportunities in India'

'US sees unlimited opportunities in India'

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2010

China's growing dominance in global trade is definitely a matter of concern for both the US and India.

US Exim Bank plans $5-bn corpus for India

US Exim Bank plans $5-bn corpus for India

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2010

India to get a major financial boost from the US for development of infrastructure.