* BANKING: Finance ministry has directed state-run banks to get their top 300 non-performing accounts reviewed by their boards' management committee and pursue a strict recovery policy.
* ECONOMY: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has deferred decision on sugar sector decontrol, Food Minister K.V. Thomas said. The Cabinet approved amendments to the National Food Security Bill that will be tabled in the Lok Sabha this week, food minister said.
* ENERGY: Government has formed a committee to devise a public-private partnership policy framework with COAL INDIA as one of the partners to enhance coal production in the country.
* GOVERNMENT: Maharashtra 's gross domestic product is expected to grow at 7% in 2012-13 (Apr-Mar), as per the state's economic survey.
* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The government has finalised discussions with two proposed partners for setting up semi-conductor manufacturing units in the country, said J. Satyanarayana, secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology.
* METALS: Steel companies such as TATA STEEL, JSW STEEL and STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA are offering discounts of 500-1,500 rupees per tn to meet their annual sales targets.
* MINING: Supreme Court said the hilly area around Vaishno Devi shrine cannot be regarded a wildlife sanctuary, an order that is seen benefitting manganese
miners in the region, as a forest department nod for mining is seen unnecessary now.
* PHARMACEUTICALS: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has cracked down on certain cough syrup brands in the state suspecting illegal diversion of a narcotic substance and violation of labelling rules.
* POWER: The power ministry has released integrated rating of state power distribution companies. Power ministry is mulling setting up a National power committee to ensure stricter grid discipline among states and to penalise states overdrawing electricity from the grid.
* TELECOM: Telecom companies have told the government they will miss the target for 2015 on using renewable energy in cellular towers unless they are given a subsidy or viability funding. Vodafone India is switching off air conditioning and improving ventilation at its telecom towers to cut energy consumption cost and carbon emission. A single number for all emergency services such as police, ambulance, fire brigade, will soon be a reality in India .
