The unexpected hike in the cash reserve ratio saw the benchmark sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange plummet nearly 325 points, or almost 2 percent, before staging a marginal recovery. 

The central bank projected an impressive 7.5 percent growth for the Indian economy in the current fiscal even as it hiked the outlook for annual inflation rate to 8.5 percent by end-March. Earlier, it had earlier pegged the growth rate at 6 percent and inflation at 6.5 percent.

“Keeping in view the global trend in commodity prices and the domestic demand-supply balance, the baseline projection for wholesale price inflation for end-March 2010 is now raised to 8.5 percent,” Subbarao said.

He also expected the country’s growth rate of 7.5 percent to be sustained in the next fiscal.

“As with growth, we shall formally announce our inflation projection for 2010-11 in our monetary policy in April. But on the assumption of normal monsoon and global oil prices remaining around the current level, it is expected inflation will moderate from July.” 
Highlights of RBI’s third quarter monetary policy update:

- Monetary policy for 2010-11 to be announced April 20

The story of the film was written by Salman himself and is an Eros International Media Ltd presentation and Vijay Galani Moviez production.

Shot extensively in Rajasthan, it is a story of bravery, treachery and love. What is to be seen is whether ‘Veer’ relives Salman’s last year’s magic at the box office thanks to massive hit ‘Wanted’. We welcome comments from our readers about the film.

We see huge potential demand for printing from IT/ITeS, pharmaceutical, entertainment and e-governance initiatives, HP India’s Country Category Manager (Imaging and Printing), Ajay Rawal told reporters.

Rawal said that HP is also keen on energy saving initiatives with instant-ON technology, which eliminates or minimises warm up time. Also, the toner particles now have wax element that melts quickly, improves efficiency at work, he added.

He said three of HP’s top-selling printers were HP LaserJet P1007, HP MFP M 1005, and HP ColorLaserJet 1215. LaserJet P 1007 will now be available for a reduced price of Rs 5,999, he added.

Rawal said Laser printers are expected to constitute 50 per cent of the total printer market from the current 38 per cent.

The Supreme Court was not convinced, and asked him what Muslim women would do if they contested elections.

“What if you want to contest an election?” asked the court. “If you have such strong religious sentiments, and do not want to be seen by members of public, then do not go to vote. You cannot go with burqa to vote. It will create complications in identification of voters.

“If someone comes to vote in a burqa and the photograph was also taken with a veil covering the face, how would anyone identify the voter?” the court said.

Khan filed a plea in the apex court after the Madras High Court ruling dismissed his plea questioning Election Commission of India’s move to have photographs of voters in electoral rolls.

“The religious custom and preachings of Holy Quran lay down that Muslim women should wear purdah and ‘burqa’ and show their faces only to their husbands and close relatives,” Khan said in his plea.

Well I agree with the observation made by the apex court but my view is that in a secular country like India everyone has the right to practice their religion and nobody should be forced to act in a way which hurts the religious sentiments. If photos without burqa is a necessity to vote, which I agree to, at least the court can direct the Election Commission to appoint a women election officer at every booth so that the Muslim women can easily reveal their identity and vote.  These are my personal views. Are we going to see a new controversy in the days to come. What will the political parties who treats Muslims as their vote-bank have to say about the observation?