The Hindu Business Line : Friday, March 18, 2005

Gas realities
IN FEBRUARY, THE US Ambassador in New Delhi, Mr David Mulford, had met the Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, to convey Washington's reservations on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline deal. The ground on which the Americans ... More

INSIGHT

The softest pillow is a clear conscience
CONSCIENCE. I knew I'd have to come to terms with it one day or the other, and so was consciously keeping it outside this column. But Shibu precipitated matters by talking about it last week and making all of us ... More

BUDGET

Budget: Illusory gains for pensioners
Democracy is a system of lobbies, for lobbies and by lobbies. It comprises vested interests who influence policy-making. Among those without a lobby are senior citizens and unorganised labour — groups whose voices are rarely heard. More

No such thing as free lunch
All items covered by FBT will be affected either by VAT or service tax, which cannot be treated as input tax. In such a case, if no benefit is given for deducting VAT or service tax on these items covered by FBT, it would be tantamount to double taxa tion. More

ECONOMY

Sustaining export growth — Leverage on external opportunities
The sustained growth in exports is a vindication of the liberalisation measures and the progressive policies followed by the government in recent years and, more important, a compliment to trade and industry. One hopes that the trade policy to be ann ounced shortly will spell out further measures that sustain the momentum of growth, says P. P. Prabhu. More

POLITICS

Draft Condi, draft Hillary!
THIS column wishes even-handedly to press both the Republicans and the Democrats of the US to launch pronto a campaign to draft Dr Condoleeza Rice, the first black female Secretary of State, and Ms Hillary Clinton, ... More

LETTERS

Pension schemes

Budget rollbacks

Cash transaction tax

Comments & Letters to the Editor to: bleditor@thehindu.co.in
Subscribe to: Business Line

Pick a Winner Stock Market Contest

Top Stories
Lodha elected to Birla Corp board

PTC to offer coal intermediation services

Insurance hits high tide in March

Reliance refining margins rise as light, heavy crude prices diverge

Truck, bus tyre production up year-on-year in Jan

IT's good bet for realtors across cities