1.   

'The growth story is intact': President

Ladies and gentlemen, the India of the 21st century is not the India of the 20th century. With the reforms that began in 1991, we have been able to unlock the growth potential of our nation. Our economic growth during the decade 2001-02 to 2010-11 was impressive. Our economy grew at an annual average of about 7.8 per cent during the decade, registering nine per cent-plus growth in four years. But the global economic crisis that began in 2008 adversely affected our growth, though we were less affected than most others.

2.   

Trade deal with European Union will TRIP patent law

When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets German Chancellor Angela Markel this week, the long pending India-EU Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) will be high on his agenda. The two sides have been negotiating this deal for more than five years now and some 15 rounds of negotiations have been held in Brussels and New Delhi. On the surface, it appears to be a usual trade deal with 'win-win' benefits for diplomats from both sides. But beneath these diplomatic niceties is lurking a dangerous recipe to subvert India's patent regime, which, as in the recent case of Novartis, has proved to be a robust system that balances protection to both, innovation and patient interests.

3.   

India steps up diplomatic engagement with Russia

Security, trade and international diplomatic issues will be on the Indo-Russian agenda this month as 3 senior Indian ministers visit Moscow. Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is in Moscow on for an important bilateral visit. But he is not the only Indian minister to engage Russia in a stepped-up process to engage with Russia. Two more key Indian cabinet ministers are headed to Russia later this month to signal the start of a diplomatic season with Russia.

4.   

Iran Demand Boosts India Basmati Rice Price

Strong demand from Iran has pushed up the price of India's premier basmati rice to all-time highs, with this purchasing reinforcing the sub-continent's recent emergence as the world's top rice exporter, trade executives said Tuesday. The two countries introduced a payment mechanism last June to skirt Western sanctions against Iran which involves exchanging Iranian oil for a range of Indian goods, including rice, soymeal and pharmaceuticals.