The growth index of six core industries declined to 3.4 per cent in Octobe,r as compared to 4.6 per cent in the same month last year. The decline is reported, following slow in demand and production cuts imposed by various core sectors. Steel production recently imposed a 20 percent production cut due to the decline   in infrastructure sector as per data released by the commerce and industry ministry.

A further 2.37 million shares has b

Healthcare insurance business could not be expanded as per expectations due to the inefficient healthcare infrastructure of the country. Public private partnership should be encouraged to cover the large Indian population under health insurance cover. There is an immense need to improve the government health institutions and traditional health schemes. These views were expressed by the chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), Mr. J. Hari Narayan, who was speaking at the Health Insurance Summit 2008 organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is all set to allow exchange trading in corporate bonds. The step is aimed to help infrastructure to raise low-cost funds which would have long repayment period. It would help to bring transparency in the corporate bond market and attract investors to invest in long-term bonds.

State-owned India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) has announced to raise Rs 10,000 crore through tax-free bonds in addition to the Rs 10,000 crore announced by the union government for infrastructure sector in the economic stimulus package. The amount would be used to refinance the bank loans that have been taken for various infrastructure projects.  

Under Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyut Yojana, leading infrastructure and construction development company Maytas Infra Ltd has received Rs 222.25 crore contracts for four rural electrification works from state-run Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.

The contract will enable the Hyderabad based company to electrify nearly 4125 villages. The company will execute these projects in Khurda and Sundergrah districts of Orissa and West Midnapore district of West Bengal.