Cheers - no service tax on goods transported through trains

The government has withdrawn a proposal to impose a 10 per cent service tax on goods transported by rail, to check price increases of products such as steel, cement and coal.

The revenue receipts of the state-run Indian railways, which opposed new tax proposal, have been adversely affected since September last year due to economic slowdown and decline in exports.

During April-July period, railways' receipts from transport of commodities rose by 4.77 per cent to 182.75 billion rupees as against Rs 174.42 billion during the corresponding period last year.

Indian Exports decline by 28.4 perc

(posted under - Indian exports news & updates) - Yet another sign of prevailing economic crises is that indian exports fell by a whopping 28.4 percent to just $13.62 billion. Imports also fell sharply, with both oil and non-oil imports registering a decline during the month compared with the year-ago period, according to government data released on Tuesday.

A sharp 37% decline in July imports to $19.62 billion resulted in a steep fall in the trade deficit to $6 billion during the month, compared with $12 billion in July 2008. The commerce department, however, is not taking it as a positive development.

FIEO expects the export sops extended in the FTP announced last week to start showing results by the beginning of next year.

India's GDP for Q1 at 6.1 perc - meets expectations

(posted under - Indian GDP news) - India's economy grew 6.1 per cent in the June quarter from a year earlier, roughly in line with forecasts, as government stimulus measures helped spur demand, although a poor monsoon threatens to crimp growth later in the year even as it drives inflation.

The economy accelerated from its 5.8 per cent rate in the previous quarter, data showed on Monday, propelled by a pick-up in activity in the mining, manufacturing, electricity and services sectors from the previous quarter.

Credit flow for micro & medium industries to double in 5 years says PM

The government is committed to doubling credit flow to micro, small and medium enterprises, which employ 6 crore persons and contribute 45 per cent to India's manufactured goods, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday.

"Credit is the lifeline of any business. The government is committed to double the flow of credit to MSMEs in five years," Singh said after giving away national awards to entrepreneurs in the sector here.

The Prime Minister, who reviewed the performance and difficulties of the sector with the industry representatives on Wednesday, said public sector banks increased lending to MSMEs by 25 per cent in 2008-09.

According to estimates, MSMEs are given credit of about Rs 1,50,000 crore by PSU banks per annum. There are 2.60 crore units in the sector which contribute 40 per cent to exports.

The Prime Minister has issued directions for constitution of a task force to look into the difficulties of MSMEs and recommend steps within next three months.

He said recent global economic slowdown has had an adverse impact on the growth of Indian economy. "Micro, small and medium enterprises have also not remained unaffected," he said, adding the government has been alive to the concerns.

Ministry of Roads transport to invite bids for 1500 kms of roads

The government will invite bids by this year-end for three mega projects worth around Rs 14,500 crore in the road sector, Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath said today.

"We will invite bids for three mega projects by the end of this year, we are looking at mega projects in which each project for building 500 km of road will be worth USD 1 billion," Nath told reporters on the sidelines of the SIAM annual convention here.

"We are going to put in place 11,000 km of roads worth Rs 1 lakh crore in 2009-10 under Work Plan I," Nath said, adding that challenges in capacity building will be addressed and all corrections will be made by September 30.

He said India's automobile industry should aim at producing 250 lakh vehicles by 2015 for which his ministry will build the necessary road network.

Earlier, he had said that 20 km of roads will be built in a day in the next two years amounting to an investment of Rs 2,00,000 crore.