-CNN-IBN Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday claimed that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Retail sector will significantly reduce post harvest losses and targeted the Opposition parties for obstructing the implementation of the FDI policy.   "Narrow political considerations are coming in the way of decisions like FDI in Retail," said Pranab Mukherjee while addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi. Reiterating that the Government will ultimately be able to persuade everyone...

-PTI   The Retail and manufacturing sectors have emerged as the largest job providers in Bihar, together employing more than 14 lakh people.  According to a recent report containing a summary of the Fifth Economic Census, 2005, around 9.77 lakh people are employed in the Retail sector, while more than 4.58 lakh people work in the manufacturing sector in Bihar.  The two sectors account for 65 per cent of total employment generated by all...

Has India done a China to its trade partners? Against huge opposition and popular discontent over the years, the Cabinet last week cleared 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand Retail and allowed 100 per cent FDI in single-brand Retail. The move appears crafty in that it tries to change the perception of a reform impasse in the government while simultaneously aiding India’s negotiators to meet their peers...

-The Economic Times   The Centre came down heavily on states that are opposing foreign investment in multibrand Retail for not making their point when the policy was being formulated and said those opposed had the powers to stop companies from opening stores in their boundaries.  Some state governments, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, have opposed the government's proposal to allow 51% foreign direct investment in multi-brand Retail and blasted the Centre...

-The Times of India   UPA partners Trinamool Congress and DMK rejected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appeal to drop their opposition to FDI in Retail on Thursday, enhancing the possibility that the government may have to announce that it will not roll out the decision.  Although a formal notification to make the Cabinet decision operational has already been put off, the unrelenting opposition from Trinamool and DMK may force the government to put...