The central government has set itself a tight deadline of July this year for completing a series of reforms in the civil aviation sector.
With the opening up of the US and Japanese markets, the Indian mango industry expects Australia and New Zealand, the only two countries which still ban the fruit, to lift import restrictions soon.
The ministry of company affairs, now known as the ministry of corporate affairs, plans to set up an Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. Apart from training officials, the institute will also work as a think-tank for the ministry.
The department of commerce may de-recognise the 247-hectare engineering special economic zone at Hazira, promoted by Essar Hazira SEZ Ltd.
The changes would be immediately effective in countries like Columbia, South Korea, Peru and Panama, where FTAs are in the final stages of approval.
The trade policy specifies that "for all goods and services exported from India, services received, rendered abroad, wherever possible, shall be exempted from service tax".
To help students pursuing higher education, the government plans o set up a higher education finance corporation.
Despite specific sectors like power, ports, roads and employment falling short of their targets, the Tenth Five-Year Plan 2002-'07 Five-Year Plan has recorded impressive gains in telecom, railways, airport and poverty alleviation.
The 10th Five-Year Plan, which ended on March 31, has come close to achieving the growth targets set at the outset of the Plan by the Planning Commission.
The Railway Board issued a notification a few months ago under which divisional regional managers of certain zones were given financial powers to levy a surcharge from passengers who insist on seeking reservation for lower berths.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the commerce ministry has asked state governments and central ministries to re-examine and streamline existing procedures, so as to provide a hassle-free environment for business.
The commerce ministry has projected Rs 21,631.94 crore (Rs 216.31 billion) worth of exports from the 63 special economic zones, which have been notified since February 2006. Till date, Rs 13,435 crore (Rs 134.35 billion) has been invested in them.
Reliance, Bharti's response to Ahmedabad's space crunch.
But commerce ministry works on rules for exemption to contractors.
Cheer up, the coming Union Budget might just make your imported tipple more affordable - on a par with local booze.
The rehabilitation policy, which is being currently formulated by the Ministry of Rural Development, is unlikely to affect the special economic zones already approved by the government.
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is pushing for a major policy change, one that would result in foreign travellers to India being refunded the value-added tax they pay on purchases made here.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has pulled up the central government for slow implementation of the UPA's 20-point programme, sources in the government say.
The government is expected to shortly classify the entire food products industry into three clearly defined categories, for licensing as well as taxation purposes.
Defending its policy of liberalising foreign direct investment in retail, the government confirmed that it would go ahead with its plan to expand its ambit.
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