-PTI Unfazed by large scale protests over diesel price hike, Prime Minister manmohan singh on Saturday asserted it was a step in the right direction and expressed the hope that economy would rebound in the second half of the current fiscal. "The recent increase in diesel prices is an important step in the right direction," he said while addressing the meeting of the full Planning Commission which was called to approve the...

-Reuters India opened its supermarket sector to foreign chains on Friday after months of dithering, pushing ahead with the boldest reforms yet in Prime Minister manmohan singh's government as it tries to revive the country's tottering economic growth. The government has decided to allow foreign airlines to buy stakes of up to 49 per cent in local carriers, heavy industries minister Praful Patel said on Friday, in a much-awaited policy move that...

-The Times of India Fireworks are expected at the all-important Planning Commission meeting, chaired by PM manmohan singh, on Saturday over the panel's latest move to take over complete control of the country's flagship National Health Mission (NHM). In what is being seen as the biggest push to privatize healthcare in India, the commission on Wednesday sent the health ministry a finalized draft, which informed that NHM is being made into an...

-The Times of India PANAJI: Following the adverse report by the Shah commission on illegal mining in Goa, the Union environment and forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Wednesday announced the suspension of environment clearances given to all 93 functional mining leases in the state. The orders came a day after TOI's story on how the central government had given illegal clearances to Goa's iron ore mines even under PM manmohan singh's watch...

-The Hindu PM’s statement that seven States are naxal-affected is at variance with Home Ministry’s figure How many States are affected by left-wing extremism? The answer could vary, if one is to go by official statements made at different times. Addressing the annual conference of the DGPs/IGPs in Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister manmohan singh said seven States were affected. He spoke about the “ability of left-wing extremists in increasing their numbers and...