The Finance Minister today revised the direct tax collection target for the current fiscal to Rs 4 lakh crore, sources said.

Govt revises direct tax collection target for 2009-10

Press Trust of India

Putting primary eduction programme on a fast track, the government today decided to set up 6,000 model schools, including 2,500 under the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode, before the start of the next academic session.

Govt to set up 6,000 model schools including 2,500 on PPP mode

The government will release the draft of the Direct Taxes Code, which seeks to simplify taxation structure, for public discussion tomorrow.

Draft Direct Taxes Code to be released tomorrow: FM

In an apparent climbdown, the Supreme Court today agreed before the Delhi High Court to reveal information under Right to Information (RTI) Act pertaining to action taken by Chief Justice of India on a complaint against an Allahabad High Court judge.

SC agrees to reveal information under RTI Act

India may produce 30 per cent less rice this Kharif season at close to 60 million tonnes even if the monsoon revives this month, partially offsetting the huge deficit in sowing areas of the crop, say rice millers.

Rice prod may drop by 30% this Kharif on monsoon blues

Punjab government has approved 336 mega projects with the private investment of Rs 97.163 crore which would provide employment to more than 12 lakh persons. Disclosing this here today Manoranjan Kalia, Industry, Commerce and Local Government Minister Punjab said that four Textile Parks, Foundry and Machine tools cluster at Batala had been approved by Government of India. He said that 20 clusters for micro, small and medium enterprises were proposed to be set up in the state.

Punjab approved 336 mega projects

Business Standard

With an increase in demand from sectors such as automobile and consumer durables, India's steel consumption witnessed a 5.8 per cent rise to 17.31 million tonnes in April-July 2009 over the same period last year.

Steel consumption rises by 5.8% in April-July

Noted economist C Rangarajan was today appointed Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) following which he resigned his membership of the Rajya Sabha.

Rangarajan resigns RS seat; to join as PMEAC Chairman

A clutch of IPOs, including Asia's third biggest by state-run NHPC, has propelled India to the sixth position in the list of most active nations in the global space of initial public offerings this year.

India 6th most active nation in global IPO space

The ADB today inked agreements with eight leading banks of Nepal, including two Indian joint ventures, to help local financial institutions forge alliances with foreign counterparts to encourage international trade transactions in the landlocked country.

ADB signs trade facility agreements with 8 banks

The government is likely to release Rs 10,000 crore to banks and financial institutions as part of compensation for writing off loans under the farm-debt waiver scheme.

Govt to give Rs 10,000 cr to banks towards debt

India's total agriculture crop production is expected to record a decline after six years of continuous growth, a leading think-tank has said in its monthly review.

Crop output to fall 4.7% in '09-10 on poor rainfall: CMIE

The country has received 25 per cent less than normal rainfall so far this year, a senior agriculture scientist today said here.

25% less rainfall in country this year, says agri expert

India has emerged as the second most optimistic nation across the world in consumer confidence level, with a majority of people having bullish opinion about job prospects, personal finances and their willingness to spend in the next 12 months, a survey has said.

India ranks second in consumer confidence level: Survey

&quot;To meet its immediate requirement, a minimum public investment of Rs 1,500 crore would be needed which should go into small power plants by 2011,&quot; the chamber said.

NCR needs Rs 1,500 cr to tide over power crisis: Assocham

As swine flu spreads in India and aboard, British scientists have warned that children under the age of 12 should not be given the anti-viral drug Tamilflu because its harms outweigh any benefits.

Swine flu: Kids under 12 'should not be given Tamiflu'

Swine flu deaths continued unabated with two girls and a 63-year-old woman today succumbing to the deadly virus, taking the countrywide toll to 10 even as the Centre asked the states to take urgent steps to tackle the pandemic.

Flu deaths mount to 10, Azad asks CMs to take urgent steps

India's exports stayed downhill for the tenth month in a row as estimates for July showed a decline of 26.2 per cent to $13.6 billion due to a slump in global demand.

July exports remain downhill; dip by 26.2%

Anticipating an adverse impact in view of a bad monsoon, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today set an ambitious direct tax collection target for the current fiscal, revising it upward to Rs 4 lakh crore, up Rs 30,000 crore over the Budget estimates.

Govt revises upward direct tax collection target

The weather conditions in worst-hit Pune could be conducive to swine flu virus, which is spreading rapidly in the city, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) said today.

Pune weather conducive to H1N1 virus: NIV

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