New Delhi - The Indian economy was expected to grow at a fast pace despite the global economic slowdown, thanks to demand from its more than 1 billion people and reform policies, President Pratibha Patil said Thursday.

"Even in the prevailing adverse global environment, our economy, it is hoped, would still register a relatively high growth rate," Patil said in an address to a joint session of Parliament.

New Delhi, Feb 12 : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today said that there is a need to take affirmative action to ensure that women of India are encouraged to come to the fore in greater numbers in all walks of life including to the highest levels in the Public Sector Undertakings.

Speaking at the National Meet of the Forum of Women in Public Sector (WIPS): "Evolving the Blue Print of Change", here, Nath said that the core of women empowerment lies in societal change.

"We need to speed up societal change whereby boys and girls are given equal opportunity to go to school, not only in the urban centres but also in the vast rural population of our country," he added.

New Delhi, Feb 12 : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath today said that from a national perspective, India will remain one of the fastest growing economies in the world over 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Addressing at the Hero Mindmine Summit, here, on the theme of "Challenges of troubled times: Opportunities and Threats", he further added that along with the BRIC and GCC economies, India will contribute about 35 to 37 per cent of incremental global GDP growth through the calendar years 2008 to 2012.

New Delhi, February 12 : Sandra Bullock is hoping `it's not too late' for her to have a baby, though she is prepared with backup plans as well.

`Miss Congeniality' star, who plays mum to hubby Jesse James'' three kids from his previous marriages, revealed she was still eager to have one of her own, reports China Daily.

The 44-year-old actress said: "I hope to God when we get to a place where all is safe, calm, happy and healthy, it''s not too late.

New Delhi, Feb. 12, : The inflation rate further dipped on Thursday due to the falling prices of fuel and food items, pulling it down to a year's low of 4.39 percent.

Inflation for the week ending January 31 fell down by 0.68 percent from 5.07 percent a week ago.

The prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas dropped during the week.

Among food items that became cheaper were tea, fruit, vegetables and spices.

New Delhi, Feb. 12 : All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijay Singh has attributed consistent Indian pressure on Pakistan that eventually led to the case registration against Ajmal Amir Kasab, and 14 others but termed it was not "enough".