ISD rate to be reduced by 30% from 1 Apr
Kolkata: International subscribers dialing (ISD) call rate would be reduced by 30 per cent from 1 April, according to minister of state for communication and information technology Tapan Sikdar.

Sikdar said the telecom department would soon introduce 'Voice Over Internet Protocol' which would provide long distance calls at cheaper rate to its subscribers.
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Interest rates on SDS, GPF cut by 0.5%
New Delhi: The government has announced cut in interest rates on special deposit scheme, general provident fund and on other deposits from 9.5 per cent to 9 per cent.

Interest rates on advances and loans given to government employees for house purchase and construction and also for purchase of vehicles, bicycles and computers have been lowered by 0.5 per cent.

The reduced interest rates would be applicable from 1 April 2002.

The decision to cut interest rate on GPF and SDS comes close on the heels of reduction of interest rates on small savings schemes by 0.5 per cent announced in the Union Budget for 2002-03 by finance minister Yashwant Sinha.
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BSNL introduces new STD, ISD rates
New Delhi: Bharat Sanchar Nigam has announced new lower rates for domestic and international long distance telephony.

In the ISD segment, BSNL has reduced the tariff by way of enhancing pulse rate. For the peak hour the pulse rate has been increased to 3.3 seconds from the existing 2.8 for SAARC and other neighbouring countries, while that for countries in Africa, Europe, Gulf, Asia and Oceana has been hiked to 2.3 from the existing pulse rate of 1.8 seconds.

The new rates would be effective from 1 April 2002.

Similarly, for all countries in American continent and other places in Western Hemisphere, the reduction in tariff through enhanced pulse rate has been changed to 1.8 seconds from the existing 1.5 seconds.
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DD, AIR to be upgraded
New Delhi: The government has taken a major policy initiative for upgradation and technological development of Doordarshan and All India Radio in the Tenth Five-Year-Plan.

The information and broadcasting ministry has identified major thrust areas for the purpose like expansion of FM radio service to achieve coverage of 60 per cent of the population and digitalisation of 50 per cent production facilities for good quality convergence ready content.

This would also support interactive radio, achieving 50 per cent automation of studio facilities and creation of high quality content with long shelf life.

The plan also chalked out a comprehensive action for Doordarshan, including reaching uncovered areas through multi-channel digital satellite distribution in KU Band, full digitalisation of production facilities in major kendras and partial in other kendras to ensure production and processing of good quality convergence ready content and start IT enabled multimedia services.
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Gold prices shoot up
New Delhi: Gold prices shot up on the bullion market 30 March on stockists buying, influenced by a steep hike in its prices in the international markets and closed at Rs 5,060 per ten gram.

There was an upsurge in gold prices in other Asian and European markets on general reluctance to short their position in view of the long holiday weekend.

Silver, on the other hand firmed up on the local industrial units buying for their use and registered moderate gains.

Standard gold and ornaments shot up by Rs 95 each at Rs 5,060 and Rs 4,910 per ten gram respectively. Sovereign also moved up by Rs 25 at Rs 3,950 per piece of eight gram.

Silver rose by Rs 25 at Rs 7,885 per kilo and weekly-delivery by Rs 40 at Rs 7,865 per kilo. Silver coins held unchanged at Rs 11,600/11,700 per 100 pieces.
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Mumbai-Pune IA flights launched
Mumbai: Indian Airlines has announced new flights between Mumbai and Pune as part of its summer schedule, effective 31 March.

Mumbai has been linked with Pune with a daily Airbus service.

New flights IC 688/687 will operate on the Delhi-Mumbai-Pune and return sectors.

The A-320 flight IC 688 will leave Delhi at 7 a.m. and arrive in Mumbai at 8.55 a.m.

It will leave Mumbai at 9.40 a.m. and arrive in Pune at 10.10 a.m.

In the return direction, flight IC 687 will leave Pune at 10.50 a.m. and arrive in Mumbai at 11.20 a.m.

The flight will leave Mumbai at 12 p.m. and arrive in Delhi at 1.55 p.m.
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India, China agree to boost bilateral trade
Beijing: India and China have agreed to give a major fillip to economic and trade ties and pave the way for a substantial increase in the quantum of annual bilateral trade from the existing $3.6 billion.

This was decided at a meeting external affairs minister Jaswant Singh had with Chinese premier Zhu Rongji in Taiyuan.

Both sides felt the present level of bilateral trade was grossly unsatisfactory and concerted efforts were required to put economic ties between the two countries on the fast track.

It was agreed to intensify exchange of visits between the business communities. The two sides have decided to facilitate establishment of business representative offices and organising exhibitions and trade fairs.
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