Improving India's ranking in the World Bank's ease of doing business index is "reasonably possible" if various machineries, including the tax department, make concerted efforts to improve the three laggard parameters, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

He also said that WTO talks have not made much headway in most areas except trade facilitation, which helps cut costs and make it more efficient.

At least 63 people were killed and over 140 wounded after the explosion hit an area of the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday near many foreign embassies and government buildings.

The explosion occurred at the Sadarat square in center of the city, a week after a deadly attack on the Intercontinental Hotel.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been entrusted with the task of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Phase II expansion plan of the Hyderabad metro rail project.

"On the instructions of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao that Metro Rail Phase II expansion exercise shall start immediately, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparatory work was entrusted to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)," the Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) has said.

New Delhi: Telecom operator Idea Cellular has approached the government for raising foreign direct investment (FDI) level in the company to 100%.

“Application made to DIPP (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) for 100% FDI in Idea,” the company said in an investor presentation.

DETROIT: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is set to launch offhighway vehicles and SUVs in the US, becoming the first Indian manufacturer to produce vehicles in Detroit. M&M will begin production in Detroit from March to roll out an offhighway vehicle that will be sold across the US.

Simultaneously, M&M's Korean subsidiary Ssangyong has started preliminary work to identify and launch SUVs in US. "This is something that the Mahindra group is pursuing very aggressively.

NEW DELHI: Flagship explorer ONGC's gas production rose 7.9% and crude output went up 1.5% in the first nine months of the current fiscal against the previous corresponding period, acompany statement on Friday quoted director (HR) D D Misra as saying.

"We are geared up to contributing towards achieving the PM's vision of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022," the statement quoted Misra as saying. Misra is officiating as chairman in the absence of Shashi Shanker, who is in Davos as part of the Indian delegation to the World Economic Forum meet.

NEW DELHI: The government has cleared the proposal by Reliance Industries (RIL) and its partner, UK major BP, to buy out independent Canadian explorer Niko Resources from a gas discovery in the Bay of Bengal.

Cash-strapped Niko had in in 2015 decided to relinquish its 10% stake in the NEC-25 gas block in favour of its partners. Reliance is the operator of the block with 60% interest, while BP has the remaining 30%.

Chennai: With a turnaround in the truck and bus industry, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) is looking at a new plant next year if the current peak production trend continues. According to company officials, VECV is currently hitting 7,000 units per month which is its peak capacity. If this demand trend continues, the company will start scouting for a new plant next financial year.

NEW DELHI: The government is all set to launch a national toll-free number to report road accidents on national highways (NHs) or lodge complaints with regard to their operation and maintenance. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is scheduled to launch the '1033' helpline in the first week of February.

NEW DELHI: Among 85 Padma awardees this year, 16 are foreigners given the prestigious award for their work in public affairs, art and dance, yoga, spiritualism, medicine, social work, trade, literature and education.

Among the prominent names are the late Russian ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin who has been given the Padma Bhushan posthumously.

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