* AVIATION: IndiGo Airlines plans to start a regional airline connecting smaller towns. Air India plans to raise 10 bln rupees by March 2014 by monetising five of its prime real estate properties across India .
* BANKING: UK-based Barclay's Bank is cutting 3,700 jobs globally and is pruning its investment bank vertical to save $2.7 bln in annual costs.
* CONSUMER DURABLES: Air conditioner manufacturers such as LG Godrej, Daikin, VOLTAS have raised prices by up to 10%, citing rise in input cost.
* DEFENCE: Uncertainty looms over the future of a 36-bln-rupee deal between India and UK-based AgustaWestland for purchase of 12 helicopters after the arrest of AgustaWestland's parent company Finmeccanica's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Giuseppe Orsi on charges of corruption in the deal.
* EXCHANGES: India Index Services & Products and Standard & Poor's Financial Services have decided against renewing their license agreement for use of the S&P trademark. Infrastructure Development Finance Co, one of the original promoters of the National Stock Exchange, is planning to sell some stake in
the exchange. The proposed transaction could value NSE at 200 bln rupees.
* FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS: Parle Products' Parle-G biscuit has become the first Indian brand to cross the 50 bln rupees retail sales mark in a year. RADICO KHAITAN's President and Chief Operating Officer Raju Vazhiraney is moving to rival JAGATJIT INDUTSRIES.
* GEMS AND JEWELLERY: Commerce ministry has recommended measures like setting up a specified zone for trading of rough diamonds and extending 2% interest subsidy to boost diamond exports from India .
* GOVERNMENT: Pronab Sen, former advisor to the Planning Commission and India 's first Chief Statistician is likely to be appointed chairman of the National Statistical Commission.
* INSURANCE: Life Insurance Corp of India 's investment corpus was 14.8 trln rupees (provisional) as on Dec 31, rising 10% during Apr-Dec.
* OIL & GAS: Bulk diesel sales have fallen 30% since Jan 17, when prices were hiked.
.
* PORTS: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust's plan to build a mega container terminal and a ship repair facility have hit a hurdle after it was forced to give its nod for use of its property for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour link.
* POWER: Government will form an inter-ministerial committee, which would look into the issues stalling the progress of projects in the power sector.
* PRIVATE EQUITY: ICICI Venture has so far given returns of $600 mln by exiting 30 companies since 2003.
* REAL ESTATE: Bank of America has sold a five-bedroom apartment in Malabar Hills in Mumbai for 390 mln rupees to the promoter of a private Indian bank.
* RETAIL: Amazon.com wants government to allow foreign direct investment in online retail. Kidswear company Lilliput plans to raise 4 bln rupees by launching an initial public offering of shares.
* TAXATION: Multinational companies Nokia and Shell have slammed India 's tax authorities for raising 'absurd and unacceptable' tax demands.
