India News / Press Releases on March 13, 2008

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UP, MP, Orissa, West Bengal, bypolls on April 12: EC
Byelections to Khalilabad, Azamgarh and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and Betul Lok Sabha Constituency in Madhya Pradesh will be held on April 12. ANI

Sonias completes 10 years as Congress President tomorrow
Sonia Gandhi will complete 10 years as Congress President on March 14, becoming the longest serving chief of Indias oldest political party. A remarkable feat of political longevity by the standards of Indian politics. ANI

Deora, Chavan, Reddy among 11 Congress candidates for RS polls
The Congress Party on Thursday released a list of eleven candidates for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha. ANI

Better coordination between RPF, IB and State police required
Minister of State for Railways R. Velu today said that a high level meeting between Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was held on January 13, decided that there is a need for better cooperation and coordination between the Railway Protection Force (RPF), GRP, the State Police and Intelligence Bureau (IB). ANI

Airports Authority Employees Union strike called off
CITU leader Shyamal Chakraborty said here that the indefinite non-cooperation movement by CITU-backed Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) was called off tonight. ANI

US consulate imposes lifetime ban on 200 visa applicants from South India
The US Consulate on Thursday imposed a lifetime ban on 200 visa applicants from the south Indian film industry barring them from travelling to the United States for having used false credentials to apply for visas. ANI

Somnath asks MPs to burn rulebook near Gandhis statue
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee who continues to vent his exasperation in the House today said: Burn the rule book near Mahatma Gandhis statue. ANI

3291 touts arrested by Railway protection force in last three years
Minister of State for Railways R. Velu today informed the Lok Sabha that 3291 touts have been arrested by the Railway Protection Force under the provision of Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989 during the last three years. ANI

Left Front finalises list for Rajya Sabha nominees from Bengal
After nearly a month-long stalemate, finally the CPI (M)-led ruling Left Front in West Bengal on Thursday arrived to a seat sharing formula for five Rajya Sabha seats for the March 26 elections. ANI

Bangalore airport to start operations after May 10
The Government has asked Bangalore International Airport Private Limited (BIAL) to consider a suitable date after May 10 for commencing operations of the Devanahalli airport.. ANI

UP education minister catches students cheating red-handed
Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Rangnath Mishra was shocked recently when he discovered officials at a government-run school helping students to cheat in the board examination. ANI

Foreign observers to witness armed forces exercise in Rajasthan
Foreign dignitaries and Defence Attaches of 60-65 countries will witness the might of the Indian Army and the Air Force in the Rajasthan Desert on March 19. ANI

Panchayats to get funds on the basis of performance: Aiyar
At the introductory session of the Core Committee to draft charter of Panchayat Convention in New Delhi today, the Minister of Panchayati Raj, Mani Shankar Aiyar, hoped that the Panchayati Raj convention will help move the implementation of the Panchayati Raj system efficiently. ANI

Lieutenant Governor Mukut Mithis resignation accepted
President Pratibha Patil today accepted the resignation of Mukut Mithi, lieutenant governor of Puducherry and appointed (Retired) Lieutenant General of Andaman and Nicobar, Bhopinder Singh as a new lieutenant governor of Puducherry. ANI

Prime Minister calls on President
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, called on the President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. ANI

Indias potential depends on empowered and the aspiring speaking in one voice:Rahul Gandhi
Congress party general secretary and Lok Sabha MP from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi, today said that Indias full economic potential could only be realised when the empowered and those aspiring to be empowered spoke in one voice. ANI

25 lakh scholarships for minority students in 11th Plan
Minority Affairs Minister, A. R. Antulay today said a scholarship scheme for 25 lakh school students belonging to minority communities will be launched next month. ANI

Herbal farming workshop in Himachal
Many farmers in Himachal Pradeshs Palampur area recently learnt useful information on herbal farming during a workshop conducted by the Institute of Himalayan Bio Resources Technology (IHBT). ANI

Kashmir has special confectionary
Kashmir is known for its cuisine that includes Gustava, Rista, Yakhani, and Rogan Josh, but few are aware that the bakers in the State also have special preparation like Sheermal and Baqerkhani. ANI

Tribals in Jaipur present a dance extravaganza ahead of Holi
A unique program named as Aranya Parva was organised in Jaipur ahead of Holi, which brought together tribal artists from as many as eight states of the country. ANI

New Hyderabad greenfield airport ready for inauguration despite AAI employees protest
The Rajiv Gandhi International (greenfield) Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad will be formally inaugurated by Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi on Friday, even as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees non cooperation movement shows no signs of ending. ANI

Rio says he is committed to promoting peace and unity in Nagaland
Newly-appointed Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said that his governments mantra would be to promote peace, unity and oneness in the state. ANI

Child with two faces and four eyes worshipped in UP
Villagers thronged to worship an unusual girl child born with two faces and four eyes in Saini village of Gautmam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. ANI

Muslims gather for Hindu womans last rites in J-K
In an instance of communal amity, Muslims in Srinagar have conducted the last rites of Shanti Devi, a Hindu woman. ANI

Celluloid equipment museum offers a voyage into 75 years of Indian movie
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the premier training institution at Pune, offered a glimpse of 75 glorious years of film making by exhibiting cameras, projectors, studio equipment and allied sound systems at an exclusive museum. ANI

Poonch-Rawalakot bus service begins
About five dozen people crossed the India-Pakistan border on the Poonch-Rawalakot bus service on Wednesday to meet their relatives on either side of Kashmir. ANI

Tamil Nadu jumbo rescued from well
An elephant has been rescued from a 20 feet deep well in Muthampadi village in Tamil Nadu. ANI

Drug overdose and drowning caused Scarlettes death: Goa Police
Goa Police has claimed that British teenager Scarlette Keeling died due to a drug overdose and drowning in beach water. ANI

AAI strike enters second day
A non-cooperation movement called by employees of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) entered its second day today. ANI

A hirsute feat in Kanpur creates Guinness record, wants government recognition
A man from Kanpur has made it to the Guinness Book of World Record for his hirsute feat of having the longest ear tufts. ANI

Ranna Gill, Rohit Bal designs scorch Wills India Fashion Week ramp
Shades of an evocative autumn and ancient artistic tradition of Ashta Dhatu (mixture of eight metals) by fashion designer Ranna Gill and Rohit Bal caught the audiences fancy at the Wills India Fashion Week. ANI

Naval Chief Admiral Mehta begins Russia tour today
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta will begin a six-day tour to Russia from today to boost military ties between the two countries. ANI

Toy industry in Varanasi passing through a rough phase
Toy industry of Varanasi is losing its sheen as it has been forced to use low quality woods following the ban on Koraiyya wood traditionally used for making toys. ANI

A second record created for sculpting on soap
A man hailing from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh has gained entry into the Limca Book of Records for the year 2008 for carving 24 huge sculptures out of soaps in six months. ANI

Pickle king of Kashmir comes up with palate ticklers
Haji Gulam Qadir Sunoo, a 64-year-old resident of Srinagar, has become popular as the pickle man of Jammu and Kashmir, who has prepared more than a hundred varieties of delicious pickles that tickle the taste buds of the people all across the world. ANI

Panchayat Core Committee to meet today
A two-day meeting of the Panchayat Core Committee will begin here today. ANI

InfoSignz Technologies Launches a Free Digital Signage Platform
Business Wire India

ITT Signs MoU with GreenSpaces
Business Wire India

Travelguru Launches 'Conversations' - a New High Voltage Marketing Campaign
Business Wire India

Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Launches 13 Months FMP
Business Wire India

Also see International News / Press Releases on March 13, 2008

Bullion Market / Gold & Silver Prices on March 13, 2008

Mumbai Bullion Market

99.5 Purity Gold: Rs. 13025
99.9 Purity Gold: Rs. 12965
Silver (Kg): Rs. 24980

Delhi Bullion Market

Bar Silver (Kg): Rs. 25000
Sovereign: Rs. 10075
Standard gold: Rs. 13100

Chennai Bullion Market

Bar Silver (Kg): Rs. 27330
24 carat gold (10 grams): Rs. 12910
22 carat gold (10 grams): Rs. 11980

Bullion Rates on March 13, 2008 for All Major Indian Cities

Bullion prices presented here are indicative and are for general information only. Please check with your Gold Merchant or a local bank for latest and correct prices. All prices are in Indian National Rupees only.

Forex Rates on March 13, 2008

1 United States Dollar (USD) = 40.44 Indian National Rupees (INR)

1 GBP = 82.06 Indian National Rupees (INR)

1 Euro = 62.9 Indian National Rupees (INR)

100 Japanese Yens = 40.42 Indian National Rupees (INR)

All Forex Rates of March 2008

Forex Rates presented here are historic data and for indicative purpose only. Please contact your Central Bank, Money Changers, Foreign Exchange Agent or Travel Desk for the correct and accurate convertion rates. Rates here are the closing rates in IST.