* COMMODITIES: The food ministry has decided to seek cabinet approval to lift controls on sugar.
* CONGLOMERATES: In order to cut debt and manage the group's balance sheet in a better way, the Hinduja brothers are planning to sell stake in a number of companies in India and overseas.
* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Dell has stuck a $24.4-bln deal to go private.
* INFRASTRUCTURE: Macquarie Capital is raising a $1.1-bln fund to invest part of the money in India 's infrastructure.
* POWER: Power ministers of various state governments and union territories have agreed to clear outstanding subsidies to power utilities by March. Dainik Bhaskar Group's power generation arm is in talks with private equity firms to raise around 8 bln rupees to fund its thermal power project.
* PROVIDENT FUND: Employees Provident Fund Organisation likely to propose 8.5% interest rate for 2012-13 (Apr-Mar).
* REGULATORY: RBI has ordered banks to invest in low coupon premium redemption bonds only if the issuer has created a sinking fund for the issue. Listed companies will now need approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India for all merger, demerger and amalgamation deals. The Environment Ministry has exempted linear projects, such as roads, transmission lines and gas pipelines, from seeking consent of gram sabhas-- village bodies--under the Forest Rights Act.
* RETAIL: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board will consider four foreign direct investment proposals in single-brand retail in its meeting on Feb 13.
* TAX: Indian tax authorities have sent letters asking several companies to explain lower payment of excise duty and service tax.
* TELECOM: The 2G case has been listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on Feb 25. The Supreme Court will from Wednesday hear petitions filed by telecom- industry lobbies challenging Rajasthan High Court's order to remove towers from schools, hospitals, jails and heritage buildings in the state.
