Government to discuss affirmative action: not to force quotas
New Delhi: The Centre said it would rather discuss affirmative action with the private sector than force reservation on the industry. Recently a meeting was held between the Prime Minister and an industry chamber.

The report said that private sector companies will have to form a blueprint on affirmative action by March 2007 but companies who don't fulfil this demand would not be penalised. Industry chambers will monitor the plan and they will prepare a code of conduct on affirmative action jointly with a group of ministers.

Many meetings have ensued between the industry leaders and government representatives on affirmative action for SCs and STs in the private sector.
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EU-India war of words begins
Brussels: The European Union (EU) has to open its services sector and facilitate movement of professionals from non-EU countries like India, said Karan Singh, president of Indian Council of Cultural Relations.

Singh said, while the EU was pressing countries such as India to open their markets, it must also open its own services sector and facilitate movement of professionals from non-EU countries.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has given India a deadline of one week in which it can start dismantling what it feels are unfair barriers to wine and spirits exports or else face a court case at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Peter Power, a spokesman for EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, said the EU was moving towards formal consultations (at the WTO) with India and that Brussels had given New Delhi until November 17 to address its concerns.

Mandelson will be visiting India on that date.

The European Union's executive commission has for a long time been asking India to bring down obstacles to imported wine and spirits.

European producers have complained that there were "clear violations of WTO provisions in some Indian states where the combination of duties and taxes were as high as 550 per cent on imported spirits and 264 per cent on imported wines.

David Williamson, a spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association, said European wine and spirits producers had run out of patience with India for not moving on the issue.
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Inflation down to 5.09 per cent
New Delhi: Inflation fell to 5.09 per cent during the week ended October 28, compared to 5.41 per cent in the previous week with drop in prices of essential commodities. Inflation has been rising for five consecutive weeks before this. Inflation stood at 4.75 per cent during the corresponding week last year.

This was the fourth week in a row that wholesale prices-based inflation stood above the five per cent mark.

Essential commodities like pulses, sugar, fruits, vegetables saw dip in prices, while cereal prices rose marginally.

Pulses prices declined by 0.6 per cent, while fruits and vegetables became cheaper by 0.5 per cent and sugar, khandsari and gur prices fell by 0.2 per cent.

Cereal prices, however, rose moderately by 0.1 per cent.

Rising prices of 30 essential commodities have been primarily responsible for rise in inflation in the past few weeks.

RBI in its recent monetary policy has retained the target of inflation rate in the range of 5-5.5 per cent this fiscal.
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Industrial output rises by 11.4 per cent in September
New Delhi: India's industrial production has risen by 11.4 per cent in September 2006 over the year-ago month, on the back of double-digit growth in manufacturing and electricity sectors.

The Index of Industrial Production during April-September this fiscal stood at 10.9 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of 2005-06.

Manufacturing grew by 12.0 per cent in September 2006, while electricity sector rose 11.3 per cent. Mining output, however, grew by just 3.9 per cent during the month, according to figures released by Central Statistical Organisation.

During April-September this fiscal, manufacturing grew by 12.1 per cent, electricity by 6.6 per cent and mining by 3.1 per cent. Back to News Review index page  

Capital goods production down in September
New Delhi: The growth of capital goods production declined to 2.2 pc in September from 22.8 pc in September 2005. Electricity output increased 11.3 pc from a drop of 0.8 pc in September 2005.

Manufacturing production rose 12 pc in September as compared with 11.1 pc in August and 8.9 pc in September 2005.
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