Setting at rest the clash over &lsquo;Aadhar&rsquo;-based reforms in the public distribution system (PDS) and the one on the National Informatics System (NIC), the food ministry on Thursday said states had the freedom to choose their platforms. &ldquo;States have raised this issue during the conference and have been told they are free to adopt any method to computerise and modernise their PDS system,&rdquo; food minister K V Thomas told reporters. The dispute arose after states started modernising their PDS operations through the NIC, before the Nandan Nilekani-led committee floated the centralised PDS network.

States free to choose PDS or NIC platform: Thomas

Business Standard

Trades between FIIs generated a volume of Rs 16 crore on the BSE Thursday-an decrease of 8.89% from Rs 17 crore clocked on Wednesday. As many as four stocks witnessed trades of 3.39 lakh shares on Thursday.

FII-TO-FII: IndusInd Bk traded at 5% premium

In what may be touted as one of the largest real estate deals in Chennai, Radiance Realty Developers India Limited has acquired around four acre near the city for around Rs 80 crore.

Radiance buys 4 acre for Rs 80 cr

Key stock market indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, rose to six-month highs on Thursday, supported by European markets after reports that Greece&rsquo;s leaders were nearing an agreement on further spending cuts needed to receive a rescue package.

Climax to Greek tragedy gives markets a high

Bangalore-based, mid-sized IT solution provider, MindTree Limited, is planning to hire 4,000 fresh graduates in the next financial year.

MindTree to hire 4,000 freshers

Market regulator Sebi has prescribed disclosure norms for merchant bankers for handling buyback offers. The standard letter of offer should be easily understandable and provide requisite information to enable the shareholders make an informed decision, Sebi said.

Sebi sets disclosure norms for buybacks

Barely a day after the excise, planning and coordination minister A U Singdeo tendered his resignation in wake of alleged spurious liquor killings that claimed 33 lives with 70 others ailing, Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik on Friday effected a minor reshuffle in the state cabinet.

Minor reshuffle in cabinet

Rajesh Exports Ltd, India&rsquo;s largest exporter of gold jewellery, on Thursday announced a 51 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 114.7 crore for the third quarter-ended December 31, 2011, compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. The operating profit for the quarter rose 2.1 times to touchRs 228.8 crore as against the year ago period. The rise in profits is mainly due to a growth in profit from the retail operations. The company&rsquo;s retail business doubled during the third quarter to Rs 400 crore compared to the year ago period.

Rajesh Exports posts 51% rise in Q3 net profit

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has demanded that Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) be declared as a dedicated railway zone exclusively for the North Eastern states in this year&rsquo;s railway budget.

Assam demands dedicated railway zone for NE

With the construction of Changi's proposed airport at Andal near Durgapur currently in full swing to meet the 2012-end deadline, project promoter Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) has initiated talks with major carriers for participation.

Bengal Aerotropolis woos airlines for Andal airport

Even as the fertilizers and chemicals major Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Co. Ltd.

GNFC Q3 net down marginally

Speaking to reporters in connection with a business meet with local companies and prospective investors from the state, Australian trade commissioner Michael Carter said negotiations with AP companies on entering their country&rsquo;s farming sector were under way. Similarly, some Australian companies are showing interest in bringing their expertise in deep-sea fishing to the shores of AP.

AP firms to take up farming in Australia

As states, irrespective of their political affiliations, raise objections to the proposed Food Security Act, the food ministry on Thursday said it would analyse all suggestions and refer these to a standing committee.

Ministry to hold talks with states over food Bill imbroglio

The Centre plans to pass the Electronic Service Delivery Bill, 2011 in the budget session of the Parliament, said V Narayanswamy, minister of state for personnel, public grievance and pension at the inauguration ceremony of 15th National E-Governance Conference here.

Centre to introduce e-service delivery bill

Ahmedabad-based Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Ltd. registered a consolidated net profit of Rs 16.72 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2011, up by 904 per cent from Rs 1.67 crore for the corresponding period in previous fiscal 2010-11. As per the unaudited financial results announced by the company on Thursday, the consolidated turnover of Dishman increased by 14.54 per cent to Rs 265.46 crore in Q3 of FY'12 as against Rs 231.76 crore in the previous year.

Dishman posts 904% growth in Q3 profit

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 1,003.02 crore in the corresponding quarter last financial year, Tata Steel said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Tata Steel posts Q3 net loss of Rs 603 cr

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers of Rs 1,200.66 crore (provisional) today, according to data released by BSE.

FIIs net buy Rs 1,201cr, DIIs net sell Rs 1,038cr

State-owned HPCL saw its net profit skyrocket thirteen-fold to Rs 2,725 crore for the quarter ended December 2011 as against Rs 211 crore in the same period a year ago.

HPCL Q3 profit zooms 13-fold to Rs 2,725 cr

A bench observed that the administration&rsquo;s &ldquo;inadequate response and inaction (to contain the riots) resulted in an anarchic situation which continued unabated for days on&rdquo;.

Godhra  riots: Gujarat HC flays Modi govt inaction

Sailing through the choppy business environment and gloomy global market conditions, revenues for Indian information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services companies will cross $100 billion mark this financial year.

IT-BPO industry to see slow growth in FY13

Japan&rsquo;s Canon Inc may look at setting up a global call centre in India, according to chairman &amp; CEO Fujio Mitarai. On a maiden visit to the country in his capacity as head of the camera and photocopier major, Mitarai said he would explore its possibilities once he got back to his country. &ldquo;Right now, it is just my personal idea,&rdquo; he told reporters here.

BS Reporter