* AUTOMOBILES: Honda Cars India has launched six upgraded variants of its premium hatchback Honda Brio priced between 412,000 rupees and 612,500 rupees, ex-showroom Delhi .
* AVIATION: Qatar Airways is in talks with IndiGo for a code-share alliance that would allow the former to increase its revenue and network in India . Air India , which has received around $1.7 bln in government bailouts over the past four years, is now getting discounts from state-owned fuel suppliers like Indian Oil Corp.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has allowed resumption of operations of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft by lifting the ban on operations of the aircraft in India .
- Air India plans to lease 19 Airbus A-320 aircraft, which will be able to fly 180 passengers in an all-economy configuration. The new lease will replace the same number of A-320 aircraft being phased out.
* BANKING: Following allegations of money laundering on Monday, state-owned financial institutions have initiated action by suspending 15 employees.
* COAL: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Steel has given its conditional endorsement to a proposed hike in stowing excise duty. The proposed regulator for the coal sector will not have pricing power over the fuel and the same would remain with the producers of the commodity.
* ENERGY: RELIANCE INDUSTRIES and ESSAR OIL are not willing to pump up retail sales of petrol and diesel, fearing that political considerations in the run-up to the elections may again derail reforms in the oil industry. Cairn Energy has bought stakes in two Irish oil and gas blocks in a cost-and-carry deal.
* FMCG: McDonald is planning to increase prices in India for the second time this year due to rising inflation. It expects the move to temper demand growth for at least the next seven months.
* HEALTHCARE: Metropolis Healthcare is planning to expand into the east and west African markets through multiple buyouts.
* INSURANCE: The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority has suggested Life Insurance Corp should join the energy insurance pool proposed by the government to provide cover to domestic firms for processing Iranian crude oil.
* MINING: Odisha has raised the cap on ore output from Joda and Koira circles to 57 mln tn for 2013-14, about 10% higher than the ceiling of 52 mln tn fixed for last year.
* PHARMA: Indian drug makers have urged the government to retain the option of compulsory licensing for patented drugs even as it considers a policy that will allow it to negotiate with drug companies prices of patented drugs.
* REGULATORY: SEBI is unlikely to extend the deadline for private and state- owned companies to meet the minimum public shareholding norm, a senior finance ministry official said.
* TRADE: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board cleared 17 foreign direct investment proposals worth 2.63 bln rupees at its meeting held on Mar 13.
* TELECOM: Tata Group and Telenor have appointed merchant bankers to advice on a possible strategic alliance that could include merger or sale of equity in Tata Teleservices.
- Mobile phones and tablets could become cheaper if states accept the telecom department's proposal to define these goods of special importance under the Central Sales Tax Act.
- Finland has invoked an alternate dispute resolution provision in its double taxation avoidance agreement with India against the 20 bln rupee demand slapped on handset maker Nokia, as it seeks to arrive at a negotiated settlement over the tax dispute.
