Budget session from Feb 25
New Delhi: The budget session of Parliament will begin on 25 February 25 and the Union Budget for 2002-03 will be presented in Lok Sabha on 28 February,
Railway budget for 2002-03 will be presented on 26 February 26.
The dates were finalised by the cabinet. The economic survey will be tabled in Parliament on 27 February 27.
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ISD norms finalised
New Delhi: The government has finalised the guidelines for opening up of international communication (ISD) with unrestricted entry of players and one-time entry fee of Rs 25 crore.
Networth of the applicant company has been fixed at Rs 25 crore and 25 January has been fixed as the last date for receiving applications.

The licence fee at 15 per cent of adjusted gross revenue included contribution towards universal service obligation, a fund created by the government to finance uneconomic services in farflung areas.

The government has decided to open up the ISD sector for private sector participation from 1 April 1 by privatising the state owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) two years ahead of schedule.
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RBI may cut CRR
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank deputy governor Y V Reddy has indicated that the RBI may cut the cash reserve ratio (CRR) very soon, from the present level of 5.5 per cent to 3 per cent.

Reddy said the RBIs medium term objective is to bring down the cash reserve ratio for banks within a short span of time to expedite the development of financial markets.

The cut may even be a single straight cut instead of a gradual one and is likely to be accompanied by other changes such as changes in the way banks maintain their reserve balances.
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Kerosene price to go up in April
New Delhi: Kerosene prices are likely to be increased by about 70 to 75 paise per litre from 1 April.
The government plans to bring down the subsidy on kerosene from the present 37 per cent to 33 per cent after dismantling of administered pricing mechanism from 1 April, petroleum minister Ram Naik told reporters.
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HC confirms bail of Mehta brothers
Mumbai: A special court has confirmed the bail of Ashwin and Sudhir Mehta, stock brokers and brothers of Harshad Mehta, charged with misappropriation of about Rs 250 crore from 27 lakh missing shares of 90 blue chip companies.
The duo appeared before justice S H Kapadia who confirmed their interim bail granted earlier.
The judge ordered the accused to attend the CBI office every day between 4 pm and 6 pm for the next two weeks and thereafter as and when it is necessary.
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India to import Tuk Tuk
Bangkok: India will import Tuk Tuk, Thailand's three wheeler autorickshaws. Tuk Tuk is slightly bigger and wider than the Indian autorickshaws and have more leg space.

The three-wheeler will be exported to India under the brand name Thai Chaiyo as its popular name Tuk Tuk has been registered by a UK importer.

Thailand has filed a complaint to the company saying Tuk Tuk is a generic description of the vehicle and thus can not be licensed.

The vehicle would be classified in the same category as motorcycle and come equipped with a four-stroke engine with a capacity of 150 cc.

Thailand will export the three-wheelers to Pakistan and Bangladesh also.
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