* AVIATION: An inter-ministerial group has approved privatization of Chennai and Kolkata airports.
* AUTOMOBILES: Italian automaker Piaggio has launched in India its high-end Vespa VX, the most expensive scooter in the country. German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz said if the rupee continues to remain at the current level for long, it may be forced to pass on the cost pressure to consumers.
* BANKING: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has instructed his ministry to lift the cap of 15% on bulk deposits for state-owned banks, a move that would help them raise more deposits.
* CORPORATES: SEBI is urging its counterpart in the insurance sector to encourage insurers to become more vocal on issues of corporate governance. CRISIL Research said it expects India Inc's revenue, apart from that of banks and oil and gas companies, to grow at 5-6% on year in Apr-Jun.
* ENERGY: Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram met senior officials of state-owned oil companies to review their demand for dollars to buy crude, said government and oil company officials.
* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The Indian government has signed two memoranda of understanding with the Vietnamese government for promoting software and hardware collaboration between the two countries.
* MONSOON: The southwest was active over most parts of central and southern India for the second consecutive day Thursday.
* PHARMACEUTICALS: The Supreme Court today upheld a government decision to put a price cap on doxofylline, a formulation used for asthma drugs and lung disorder drugs. Foreign Investment Promotion Board will consider 10 pharmaceutical foreign direct investment proposals at its meeting today.
* PENSION: Over 100,000 companies across the country have connived with hundreds of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation officials to siphon off almost 34.50 bln rupees.
* POLICY: The government's ambitious food security plan will not impact the fiscal deficit for 2013-14 (Apr-Mar), Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram said.
* POWER: The coal ministry has agreed to sign fuel-supply pacts for 11 power projects that could start generating 10,400 MW of electricity this year. India 's thermal power generation in June stood at 60.70 bln kWh, down 2.4% on year.
* PRIVATE EQUITY: Retail magnet Kishore Biyani has shortlisted private equity investors for selling stake in two apparel wear brands Biba and Anita Dongre's AND to raise around 5 bln rupees.
* REGULATORY: The RBI has said that investments made directly by non-resident entities in Indian companies will be calculated as direct foreign investment.
* STEEL: Essar Steel has signed a $160-mln pact for 15 years with Harsco India for management of steel slag for its furnaces. The district administration has completed the acquisition of 2,700 acres of land for the first phase of steel maker Posco's plant in Odisha.
* SUGAR: The government is likely to soon increase the customs duty on sugar to 15% from 10% now, two senior government officials said.
* AUTOMOBILES: Italian automaker Piaggio has launched in India its high-end Vespa VX, the most expensive scooter in the country. German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz said if the rupee continues to remain at the current level for long, it may be forced to pass on the cost pressure to consumers.
* BANKING: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has instructed his ministry to lift the cap of 15% on bulk deposits for state-owned banks, a move that would help them raise more deposits.
* CORPORATES: SEBI is urging its counterpart in the insurance sector to encourage insurers to become more vocal on issues of corporate governance. CRISIL Research said it expects India Inc's revenue, apart from that of banks and oil and gas companies, to grow at 5-6% on year in Apr-Jun.
* ENERGY: Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram met senior officials of state-owned oil companies to review their demand for dollars to buy crude, said government and oil company officials.
* INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The Indian government has signed two memoranda of understanding with the Vietnamese government for promoting software and hardware collaboration between the two countries.
* MONSOON: The southwest was active over most parts of central and southern India for the second consecutive day Thursday.
* PHARMACEUTICALS: The Supreme Court today upheld a government decision to put a price cap on doxofylline, a formulation used for asthma drugs and lung disorder drugs. Foreign Investment Promotion Board will consider 10 pharmaceutical foreign direct investment proposals at its meeting today.
* PENSION: Over 100,000 companies across the country have connived with hundreds of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation officials to siphon off almost 34.50 bln rupees.
* POLICY: The government's ambitious food security plan will not impact the fiscal deficit for 2013-14 (Apr-Mar), Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram said.
* POWER: The coal ministry has agreed to sign fuel-supply pacts for 11 power projects that could start generating 10,400 MW of electricity this year. India 's thermal power generation in June stood at 60.70 bln kWh, down 2.4% on year.
* PRIVATE EQUITY: Retail magnet Kishore Biyani has shortlisted private equity investors for selling stake in two apparel wear brands Biba and Anita Dongre's AND to raise around 5 bln rupees.
* REGULATORY: The RBI has said that investments made directly by non-resident entities in Indian companies will be calculated as direct foreign investment.
* STEEL: Essar Steel has signed a $160-mln pact for 15 years with Harsco India for management of steel slag for its furnaces. The district administration has completed the acquisition of 2,700 acres of land for the first phase of steel maker Posco's plant in Odisha.
* SUGAR: The government is likely to soon increase the customs duty on sugar to 15% from 10% now, two senior government officials said.
