Besides, as urbanisation spreads, the country will consume more wheat, pulses and less rice and coarse cereals in the coming years.
The working group on food and public distribution constituted under the chairmanship of Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia is likely to recommend using the numbers effectively for streamlining PDS.
"To support our massive retail activities, we plan to have our own textile brands - three women's wear brands, one men's wear and one kid's wear - in the next six months," says Deepak Tulsian, vice president, retail, of Gitanjali Gems.
The government is expected to end the benefits under Section 10A and 10B of the Income Tax Act.
Small and medium information technology companies operating out of the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) and who have not relocated their business operations to the special economic zones (SEZs) could stand to lose a substantial part of their tax holidays after the forthcoming Budget.
This Budget, the finance ministry may consider a proposal for a seed fund that would provide financial support to states willing to sell items other than foodgrain, sugar and kerosene through the public distribution system (PDS). The move, experts believe, will help reigning in food inflation that remains in double digits, despite moderation.
To fund infrastructure projects in the public-private-partnership model, the forthcoming Budget could lay down some broad contours on the setting up of debt funds, which will provide investment for the core sector.
As a bonanza to southern states, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to allocate funds worth Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) for Chennai and Bangalore Metro rail systems in the forthcoming Budget.
Officials said the proposal and funding could be included in the coming budget and preliminary discussions have been held with finance ministry officials.
Gold coins are selling at a Rs 100 per 10 gram premium since Guru Pushya Nakshatra, one of the most auspicious occasions for buying precious metals in western Indian states.
Due to less supply and rising demand from American and Asian markets on the back of economic recovery, the prices of rough diamonds ('roughs') have risen 50 per cent since July.
Jewellery retailers witnessed a 20 per cent increase in the sale of ornaments during the last fortnight. The rise was due to more consumer footfalls following a 1.6 per cent correction in prices.
Financial Technologies-promoted National Spot Exchange (NSEL) plans to introduce an e-gold conversion facility. This will allow buyers to purchase physical gold in the electronic format, store it in a demat account and convert it into jewellery as and when they wish.
The evolution of Bt created additional value worth Rs 40,000 crore until 2008.
Gold imports in India are estimated to have declined by 50 per cent to 30 tonnes during June-July.
High prices, individual investors and funds retaining their faith in gold as an alternate investment option also helped in improving the import figures.
Diamond prices fell about 30 per cent last year and had recovered by almost 15 per cent this year. Further recovery is imminent by the end of this year, said Mehul Choksi, chairman of Gitanjali Gems, a leading jewellery manufacturer and retailer, on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Mumbai on Monday.
Leading diamond jewellery manufacturer and retailer Gitanjali Gems Ltd is entering into real estate business through its maiden residential project at Borivli, in Mumbai's western suburb.
Come December, the Forevermark brand will take on India's leading diamond retailers
The spot gold was sold below the landed cost due to the weak demand for the metal.
