India News: October 2006

Poonam Mahajan joins BJP
Tuesday, October 31, 2006 | MP

Poonam Mahajan, daughter of late BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan has signed the primary membership forms to join the BJP at the party's headquarters in Mumbai. Poonam who inducted into her father's party said that her entry into politics was not accidental.She also added that she would like to carry forward her father's legacy and fulfil his dreams by taking over any tasks that the party assigns to her.

India conducts cyrogenic rocket test
Sunday, October 29, 2006 | MP

India on Saturday has conducted its first cryogenic rocket engine test at the Indian Space Research Organisation's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Tamil Nadu. "We had a very successful first cryogenic stage test at Mahendragiri at 6.20 pm. It is a major milestone in the development of rocket systems in the country," said ISRO chief after the successful launch of the test. With this India has also attained the rare capability of reaching such a stage which is so far being conducted only by developed countries.

RIL fire not to cause LPG shortage
Thursday, October 26, 2006 | MP

Petroleum Minister has ruled out fears that the country could face cooking gas shortage due to the refinery fire at Reliance Industries at the Jamnagar region. "Any panic on this account is unwarranted. RIL is confident that they will be able to meet all demands," assured the Minister. He also said that though it could bring down the production levels at the refinery for the coming days, the company has enough stocks to meet the requirements for another 10 days.

Govt to enhance campaign on HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 | MP

Union government has come up with a series of ad campaigns to enhance on the HIV and AIDS awarness drive among the public. To satrt with, the govt will be distributing Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) drugs in 95 seelcted state run hospitals completely free of cost. According to estimates, around 5.206 million people between the age group of 15-49 years are said to be living with HIV/AIDS in India.

India at 4th position in ICC ODI rankings
Monday, October 23, 2006 | MP

India has been elevated to the 4th position in the ICC ODI rankings that has been announced lately. India's victory over England in the recent ICC Champions Trophy has helped gain its position by one place in the ODI rankings. Among the Indian batsmen only, M S Dhoni has made it to the top 10 with Dhoni being listed in the 10th place. Among bowlers, Harbajan Singh lists at No 9 while Irfaan Pathan holds at No 10 position.

7,000 dengue cases reported in country
Sunday, October 22, 2006 | MP

The Government has claimed that about 7000 people were affected by dengue in the country. While the govt reports indicate 6,957 cases of the disease, the death toll affected by the disease stands at 120. The official data reports show dengue cases been reported from Rajasthan (838), Kerala (834), West Bengal 627), Maharashtra (582), Uttar Pradesh (513) and Gujarat (456).

Tata Steel to take over Corus
Saturday, October 21, 2006 | MP

Ratan Tata's Tata Steel has unveiled its plans to take over Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus Group of the UK. The landmark deal will be for $7.45 billion and will will be the largest take over by an Indian entity. Corus has agreed to have accepted the offer and this will make Tata Group the world's fifth largest steelmaker. "This proposed acquisition represents a defining moment for Tata Steel and is entirely consistent with our strategy of growth through international expansion," Ratan Tata said.

Exclude creamy layer from quota, says SC
Friday, October 20, 2006 | MP

The Supreme Court said that creamy layer among the backward classes should be excluded from the reservations for the Scheduled Casts and Scheduled Tribes in government jobs. While it upheld the constitutional validity of reservations for SCs and STs in recruitments and promotions, the court also maintained that the upper limit of quota not to exceed 50 per cent. 'It is made clear that even if the State has compelling reasons, the State will have to see that its reservation provision does not lead to excessiveness so as to breach the ceiling limit of 50 per cent or obliterate the creamy layer or extend the reservation indefinitely', said the 5 member constitutional bench.

More Indians investing on properties in Dubai
Thursday, October 19, 2006 | MP

A recent report conducted by the Dubai Land Department has indicated that Indians were top among the expatriates investing on property projects in Dubai. The number of Indian nationals who hold registered properties in their names accounts to 119 and stands just close to UK expatriates who tops in the list with 124 numbers. This comes in the wake of Dubai Government allowing foreigners to buy property in Dubai on free hold along with the increasing demand of Indian interests for properties in Dubai.

Indo-Pak talks to resume from Nov 13
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 | MP

The Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks is to resume from Nov 13th. The External Affairs Ministry announced that the talks will be held from November 13 to 15 with Pak High Commissioner visiting New Delhi. The two countries will hold diplomatic talks on peace process and setting up a joint anti terrorism mechanism as agreed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf at Havana. The secretary level talks which was scheduled for July was put on a halt by India after the terror strikes in Mumbai.

New IT Act to check data theft
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 | MP

The Union cabinet has decided to approve amendments in IT Act 2000 inorder so as to keep check on information theft, online frauds and prevent cyber crimes. The move comes as an assurance to investors who outsource work to India that the government was sensitive to their concerns regarding data security. With the new rules, more stringent laws will be imposed for those failing to plug information leakages and data theft. The amendment in the IT Act will be presented in the Parliament during the coming winter session.

Mukesh Ambani listed India's richest
Monday, October 16, 2006 | MP

Chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani has been listed as the India's richest man. Mukesh Ambani's net worth in his group of companies is estimated over Rs 70,000 crore making him to the country's top among the rich people pushing Wipro Chairman Aziz premji who holds a net worth of Rs.64,700 crore to second position. The younger Ambani brother, Anil Ambani holds the third position in the list with a net worth of Rs 61,000 cr.

Champions trophy: India beat Eng by 4 wkts
Sunday, October 15, 2006 | MP

India has launched the Champions Trophy campaign with a 4 wicket win in their first ODI match against England in Jaipur on Sunday. India won the toss and elected to field first and the decison proved right with England bowled out in the 37th over at a low score of 125 runs. Pathan along with Munaf Patel and Ramesh Powar spearheaded the Indain bowling. India in return reached the target of 126 runs in the 39th over at the loss of 6 wickets. Munaf patel who took 3 wickets sparing 18 runs was declared the Man of the Match. India's next match will be against West Indies in Ahmedabad on Oct 26th.

Sensex closes at record high 12,736 pts
Saturday, October 14, 2006 | MP

The BSE Sensex shares closed at an all-time high on Friday with 12,736.42 pts. The strong gains was attributed to the strong corporate earnings and sustained economic growth, said Finanace Minister Chidambaram. The Sensex rose 198.44 points and reached a new intra-day high of 12,756.23 pts against the previous record high in May. Most of the Sensex stocks registered new high levels on Friday.

UN projects India's HIV rates at 1.9pc by 2019
Friday, October 13, 2006 | MP

The effects of AIDs epidemic in India is alarming. A recent UN report has projected that India’s adult HIV prevalence will peak at 1.9pc in 2019.The UN estimates also suggests that the number of AIDS deaths in India (which was estimated at 2.7 million for the period 1980-2000) will rise to 12.3 million during 2000-15, and to 49.5 million during 2015-50. The HIV pervelance rates are seen high among women and younger population and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu are the Indian states that were founded with majority of the reported cases.

BSNL likely to cut down STD rates
Thursday, October 12, 2006 | MP

India's telephone service provider, BSNL is likely to announce a cut in its domestic long distance STD rates. However the monthly rentals may remain unchanged but officials indicated that a reduction in STD tariffs are likely in the cards around the Diwali festival season. There is also speculation that call tariffs between the Delhi Mumbai circles could be made local while call tariffs within the circle remaining unchanged. This comes in the wake of MSNL's offer on calls between Delhi-Mumbai metros going local.

Kiran Desai wins Booker prize
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | MP

Indian writer Kiran Desai has won this year's Booker Prize for her second novel, 'The Inheritance of Loss'.The 35 year old Kiran is the daughter of well known Indian novelist Anita Desai and is the youngest woman writer to win the award. Her book, 'The Inheritance of Loss', tells the story of an orphaned teenage granddaughter of a English-educated Indian judge. Kiran who dedicated the book to her mother thanked her parents for winning the prestigious award which carries a prize money of 50,000 pounds.

Child labor ban comes into effect
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 | MP

The Indian Labour Ministry has on Tuesday put into effect the child labour ban which prohibits children below the age of 14 years working as domestic servants or in any hospitality sector. This includes restrictions on factories, shops, restaurants, hotels, resorts, spas etc. Those violating these are liable to punishment which includes a jail term upto one year. However the ban comes without a proper rehabilitation package for the rescued children which could hinder the effective implementation of the law.

NKorea nuke test is unfortunate: India
Monday, October 9, 2006 | MP

India today has stated North Korea's nuclear test as unfortunate and said that its actions could highlight the dangers of clandestine proliferation. 'It is unfortunate that Democratic People's Republic of North Korea has conducted such a test in volation of of its international commitments, jeopardising peace, stability and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region,' said India's External Affairs Ministry. Many other nations including the US and UK has condemened N Korea's first nuke test in defiance of the international community.

Experiments will continue: Chappell
Sunday, October 8, 2006 | MP

Indian cricket team coach Greg Chappell has maintained that he would continue with experiments within the team inorder to build a better Team India. Pointing out that experiments was a way to bring out better combinations he said that this would continue till around the time of the World Cup."You cannot say this is the point where you stop. Building a side is always important and so it has to continue. Else you will fall backwards", said Chappell.

PM calls for more private sector investments
Saturday, October 7, 2006 | MP

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called upon more private sector investments to boost the country's infrastructure sector which remains to be a major concern over the years. "In the coming weeks and months, we will finalise a framework on the remaining areas of infrastructure including policy, regulatory and institutional framework," said PM inviting the private sector and other stakeholders to participate in the process. He also pointed out thar India needed a massive Rs 14,50,000 crore by 2012 to overcome the infrastructure 'deficit and assured an independent and transparent policy and regulatory mechanism that would attract private partnerships.

IIT, IIM listed in top 100 world institutes
Friday, October 6, 2006 | MP

India's premium institutes Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management were listed in the world's top 100 universities listed by the London's 'The Times Higher Education Supplement' this year. While the list was dominated by 33 American and 15 British universities, IIT was ranked 57 and Indian Institute of Management figured 68th in the list. IIT which was listed 50th rank last year slid to 57th position this year. Harvard University of USA topped the list while the University of Cambridge, UK came in second and Oxford University in UK ranked third.

India stands 2nd in foreign investments in UK
Thursday, October 5, 2006 | MP

The Indian investments in UK is said to be the second biggest foreign investments in the region, indicates a research done by the Ernst and Young group. The India Inc has turned out second in investments after the US and the two countries are seen as the primary sources of foreign investments in the UK and Western Europe. The Indian investments in UK is said to have almost trebled with 21 projects being announced in the first 6 months in FY 06 as compared to 8 in the same period during the previous year.

Top batsmen should have same batting order:Vengsarkar
Wednesday, October 4, 2006 | MP

Indian cricket team's former captain and newly appointed chairman of selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar feels that the top batsmen should maintain the batting order."I think every batsman has a slot in the team. Those who are openers, should be asked to open the innings. Those who are in the middle order, should be in the middle order. I think the first four batsmen should have the same batting order", said Vengsarkar. He also said that his priority would be to pick the best Indian team which would be strictly based on merit and ensured that no zonal bias will be favoured in the selection process.

Tharoor withdraws from race for UN chief post
Tuesday, October 3, 2006 | MP

India's nominee for UN chief post, Shashi Tharoor has announced his withdrawal from the race for the UN top post after clear indications that Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon would succeed Kofi Annan to be the next UN chief. Tharoor who was a key contender to the top post recieved 10 votes in favor and three negative votes of which one was from a permanent member of the 15 member security council that went to vote on Monday. Moon who emerged as winner in the 3 earlier straw polls will now go through a final poll next week. Tharoor announcing his witdrawal has extended his congratulations to Moon on his success and also thanked the Indian govt for nominating him as its official candidate for the UN chief post.

Delhi fights against Dengue outbreak
Monday, October 2, 2006 | MP

Delhi government is taking serious measures to fight against the spreading outbreak of Dengue disease in the city. The government has deployed over 2400 additonal personnels to keep the outbreak under control with fumigation drive and spraying anti mosquito drugs in place. The city has witnessed a significant rise in the number of Dengue cases with over 400 cases reported so far and 11 people died by the outbreak. MCD is also holding awareness programs to educate people about the disease and preventive measures.

Gandhi memories retraced in PMs SA trip
Sunday, October 1, 2006 | MP

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who reached South Africa on a 4 day visit retraced Gandhi memories.Mr Singh's visit to the African nation is mainly to participate in the centenary celebrations to commemorate the launch of Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement in South Africa. Mr Singh also undertook a train journey from Pentrich station to Pietermaritzburg,the same route taken by Gandhiji on his way to Pretoria on June 7, 1893 when he was thrown out of the compartment for being a coloured person.