Steel Industry at a Glance

India is the 5th largest steel producer in the world. It is expected to become the second largest producer of crude steel by 2012, doubling its capacity to 124 million tonnes.

Steel production rose 4.2% to reach 60 million tonnes in 2009-2010. Domestic crude steel production grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 8.6 per cent during 2004-05 and 2008-09, according to the Steel Ministry.

The National Steel Policy 2005 had projected an annual steel consumption growth of 7 % based on a GDP growth rate of 7-7.5% and production of 110 million tonnes of crude steel by 2019-20.

Choose & Pay for your DTH Channels

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a new tariff order for the DTH and internet television providers in India.

Highlights of the Order

By how much do petro-product prices need to rise??

After the price hike in petroleum products, it has become imperative to look at the under-recoveries likely to be suffered by the oil marketing companies on selling petro-products below market prices.

HSBC in its report titled  “India Petroleum Insight” has given the details of under-recoveries or price increase required in order to eliminate under-recoveries or loss on sale of petro-products.

Price increase required for NIL under-recovery (based on prevailing crude oil price of USD76/bbl and INR/USD 46.4 exchange rate)
Petroleum Products	Price increase	Price increase in %
Petrol (Rs/ litre)	0.2	0%
Diesel (Rs/ litre)	1.6	4%
LPG (Rs/ cylinder)	172.3	49%
Kerosene (Rs/litre)	14.2	116%

GSM subscribers cross 1.23 crore in June 2010

The GSM-based cellular service providers have reported subscriber additions of 12.3 million (excluding RCom and Tata Tele) during June, against an addition of 11 million subscribers in May, taking the total subscriber base to 456.59 million, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

Powering the Commonwealth Games 2010

With the Queen’s baton for the Commonwealth Games 2010 arriving at the historic Wagah post on the India-Pakistan border, a look at the state of infrastructure construction required for the Games is necessary.

To be held in New Delhi, the Commonwealth Games are expected to generate business worth $4,940 million, according to a study by PwC India. The Games will also generate up to 2.47 million jobs.

As a fall-out from the impending Games, infrastructure development has gathered momentum in and around the Delhi National Capital Region, although at a rather slower pace than targeted. Providing power to the mega event has been and is expected to be one among the bigger challenges before the government.

According to the scheme, Delhi plans to be power surplus by the time of the Games in October this year. To ensure additional power to Delhi, the government had undertaken large power-production initiatives to increase production to over 5,880 mega watts (mw) from the current 4,500mw. The power distribution system was to be streamlined, so that more power can be directed to Delhi from new plants.

However, delays — by a now the leitmotif of Indian infrastructure projects — has affected plans for the Games.

Indian Telecom Services Quarterly Performance Indicators

TRAI released the service quality indicators for the March 2010 quarter. Like I have mentioned in my previous posts, the APRU–Average Revenue Per User declined by a whopping 36.1% on a y-o-y  basis. This is in spite of the rise in number of outstanding telecom subscribers.

http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/PressReleases/744/qpressrelease22jul.pdf

Indian Industry News: India to Become 2nd Largest Steel Producing Nation by 2012

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=63448

Budget Travel? Visit Rural Tourism Network Enterprise’s website

Like I wrote in my earlier post that I am a travel freak, each time I think of a trip, budget is thought that crosses my mind first. While I keep exploring places myself, I read about this brilliant initiative by Nachiket Mor a former banker and a member of the board of the IFMR TRUST IFMR Trust, which has given shape to the RTNE– Rural Tourism Network Enterprise.

RTNE is established with a mission to bridge the supply chain gaps by identifying and investing in financially viable rural tourism business opportunities which positively impact the host communities and provide sustainable solutions to travelers, accommodation providers and travel service providers in technology, marketing and finance. 

With as little as Rs 300 per day, one can enjoy staying in rural India for days and months at length. Will keep updating my experience at places recommended by RTNE.

Palolem Beach in South Goa.. The place to be!!

This is the first post wherein I am sharing my travel experiences. I am fond of traveling (specially short trips around Mumbai) and love sharing my experiences about places to eat, stay and visit. Since I usually do not have huge travel budgets, I tend to locate low-cost, very hygienic places to stay, everywhere I go.

While I will keep posting my past travel experiences, one place I always mention to people is the Palolem Beach in South Goa.

Changing Indian Lifestyles: Alcoholic Beverage Industry in India poised for growth

The Alcoholic Beverage Industry in India includes mainly 4 types of beverages: Beer, Wine, Rectified Spirit and Country Liquor.

A look at the sales of the companies forming a part of this industry reflected a double-digit growth in the past financial year (FY 2009-10). However, high input costs dented profits of these companies.