[padfoot]

Ok people sorry to keep you waiting so long ??: , just got freed from the work today , so decided to try to collect all the latest happening , after my last post. Loads of things have happened ??: and you all must be aware of it. Here it comes to you in 4 parts. The post 56th republic era of india !!! A real happening one ... An era where the Gandhi - Nehru Family are back into action .......... So here you go people ...

Part 1

• In a significant development, the Neotia family has decided to takeover all real estate and hotel businesses of Gujarat Ambuja Cement (GACL) for an undisclosed amount.
• defence minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the empowered group of ministers (eGOM) looking into the airport upgradation plan, has approved the minutes of last week’s eGOM meeting.
• ONGC, India’s most profitable company, today reported a 11% decline in net profit at Rs 3,887.8 crore for the quarter ended December 31, ’05, as it had to shell out Rs 2,843 crore for subsiding LPG and kerosene. Its turnover increased 3.7% to Rs 13,038 crore in the fiscal third quarter.
• In one of the most expensive deals in the global cement industry, the world’s second largest cement maker, Holcim, has acquired a 14.8% stake in Gujarat Ambuja Cement (GACL), or a consideration of Rs 2,142 crore ($476m) and offered to buy another 20% for Rs 2,520 crore ($560m).
• India on Saturday pitched for higher foreign investment to the tune of 15 billion dollars in 2006-07 to push up growth to over 8 per cent.
• A Clutch of international telcos is in the race for acquiring a stake in Shyam Telelink, which operates fixed-line and CDMA-based mobile services in Rajasthan.
• India’s booming tourism story scripted a new high with foreign tourist arrivals into the country registering a 13.2% jump in ’05, crossing 3.9m-mark, raking in over Rs 25,000 crore or $5.7bn in foreign exchange.
• The board of directors of Apollo Tyres approved the acquisition of the $200m Dunlop Tyres International.
• Domestic tyre production during November, 2005 increased by seven per cent at 54.74 lakh units even as exports dipped five per cent compared to the corresponding period of previous year.
• The Ruia Group on Tuesday finalised an agreement on a VRS package for Dunlop India Limited employees paving way for re-opening of the ailing company within six months.
• Bridgestone Corp, Japan's top tyre maker, said on Tuesday it would spend about $100 mn to build a new synthetic rubber factory in China to meet growing demand worldwide.
• Pressure is mounting on the Western Maharashtra Development Corporation, the state-promoted body, to sell its stake in Maharashtra Scooters to Bajaj Auto even as Rahul Bajaj is planning to offer VRS to over 700 employees of the loss-making entity.
• Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) on Monday said it would invest around Rs 6,000 crore in Haryana as part of its expansion plans in the coming 2-3 years.
• After Tatas, it is now the Sonalika group which has jumped into the race for developing a people's car, promising to roll out one with a price tag of Rs 1.5 lakh in two years.
• Sundram Fasteners Ltd on Friday said it has acquired 100 per cent stake in Germany-based Peiner Umformtechnik GmbH from Textron Deutshland.
• Auto parts maker Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd said on Friday it would set up a joint venture with Baida AG to make mobile phone parts and accessories, with an investment of $10 mn.
• Clutch Auto Ltd on Thursday said it had acquired the clutch related assets of US-based Pioneer Inc Automotive Products through its subsidiary there, for an undisclosed sum.
• Auto component manufacturer Minda Group announced its foray into the Indonesian market by setting up a greenfield project with an initial investment of Rs 30 crore and said it would also supply to Indian two- wheeler makers like Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co there.
• Canadian auto parts major Magma announced on Thursday, opening a new sales and engineering office in Mumbai as part of its plans to grow in the Indian market.
• Pfizer, the world’s largest drug maker, is likely to consider an early launch of its breakthrough insulin product.
• Apollo Hospitals Group on Wednesday said it has signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia's Fawaz Al Hokair to establish three multi-speciality hospitals and 20 clinics under the franchisee route there in the next three years
• In the first major acquisition in the healthcare sector in eastern India, Emami and Shrachi group on Saturday jointly announced taking over the 160-bed private sector Suraksha Hospital.
• Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal met France’s finance minister on Monday as he sought to woo politicians and workers for his E18.6bn.
• The Sebi has banned UAE-based Jermyn Capital, a sub-account of Taib Bank, from trading in the Indian market for its alleged links with Ketan Parekh. Sebi said that Jermyn does not satisfy the criteria set out under Regulation 3 of Sebi (Criteria for Fit and Proper Person) Regulations, ‘04.
• Mukesh Ambani-controlled Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd on Tuesday said Shiv Kumar Bhardwaj has been appointed as an additional director of the company.
• A Raipur court here has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Ambani in an excess mobile billing case.
• Alembic Glass Industries Ltd today said it has approved the merger of Shreno Ltd with itself.

To be Continued..........

[padfoot]

PART 2

• ITC Ltd's paperboards and speciality papers division will foray into sweetmeat packaging through the sale of eco-friendly Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) paperboards best suited for food grade packaging.
• Reliance Capital Asset Management picked up 7.5% equity stake in Hyderabad-based Mold-tek Technologies, a plastic packaging company.
• The world’s second largest mineral resource company, Rio Tinto, and India’s largest mining companyNMDC may jointly develop iron ore mines.
• Pharmaceutical major Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd has received USFDA approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for the antibiotic, Cefoxitin, 1 gm/vial and 2 gm/vial.
• In one of the high-profile patent disputes, multinational drug maker Eli Lilly’s patent application for erectile dysfunction drug Cialis has been opposed by Ranbaxy at the pre-grant opposition stage.
• Domestic cement major Jaypee Associates snapped up the assets of UP State Cement Corporation in a hotly-contested bid.
• Holcim’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Gujarat Ambuja Cements has resulted in the highest-ever valuation for an Indian cement company.
• The Neotia family has decided to takeover all real estate and hotel businesses of GACL for an undisclosed amount.
• The Tamil Nadu chapter of industry FICCI on Friday said scrapping dual sales tax structure on cement and levying a uniform 14 per cent tax on all grades of cement at the first point of sale by the state government are progressive steps.
• The board of Associated Cement Companies (ACC) has undergone a major reshuffle. The ACC board on Tuesday appointed NS Sekhsaria, the current deputy chairman and one of the promoters of Gujarat Ambuja Cement (GACL) as the new chairman of the company.
• Elpro International Ltd said on Saturday it will sale its isolator division at Hyderabad, to Siemens Ltd for about Rs 25 crore.
• Reliance Industries (RIL) plans to foray into high-end engineering and infrastructure sectors. RIL is learnt to have formed a 50:50 joint venture with the US-based engineering construction and project management giant Bechtel International Inc to execute engineering and construction projects in domestic and international markets.
• Greaves Cotton Ltd said on Friday it will divest its entire stake holding of 25.5 per cent in Greaves Morganite Crucible Ltd (GMCL) for over Rs 9.92 crore.
• Swiss travel giant Kuoni appears to be remapping its India retail strategy to better access the masses and the growing community of HNIs.
• It is introducing the Kuoni badged products for the first time in the country since it acquired SOTC Holiday Tours in 1996. The Kuoni brand will focus on the premium traffic in group travel, free individual traveller and domestic business.
• Swiss package tour major Group Voyages Inc (GVI), which owns brands like Globus, Cosmos and Monograms, is stepping up its India focus.
• London-based Benoy UK will construct the nearly two million square feet shopping mall in Mumbai.
• DLF, the Delhi-based Rs 20,000-crore real estate group, is believed to be setting up a joint venture with UK’s leading hotel and property major Ladbrokes Group.
• The restaurant group Kwality, which manages over 36 outlets across India and abroad under the brands.
• Carrier India, a part of Carrier Corporation, a leading global players in the air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration has appointed Lintas Imag as its agency for integrated marketing communications consultancy.
• Shamik Apparao-promoted Tag Sealogistics (Tag) has placed orders for three 80-tonne Bollard Pull Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels.
• India and the Bahamas have decided to join hands to explore possibilities of cooperation in cruise shipping and employment.
• Haunted by a high tax regime, comprising 12 different taxes, Indian shipping giant Varun Shipping is actively contemplating moving out of the country in search of greener pastures.
• Foreign direct investment (FDI), which so far eluded Indian shipping industry, has finally made an entry with the launch of Nord Scan Line (India), on January 18, 2006.The joint venture between Nord Scan Line KS, Denmark (51%) and Sai Freight (49%) has been set up for operating shipping services on the Indian coast.
• VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, on Monday announced that the first VIA technology innovation centre will be set up in Mumbai.
• Malaysian government on Friday offered to provide a 'total solution package' in planning, implementation and management services to complement the activities of the National Highway Authority of India.
• Goldstone Teleservices Ltd has bagged an order from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for 25 KV polymer insulators.

[dreamyeyed^_^]

Hey guys,
Howz the TISS preparation going ?
Well i talked to Mr.Kamat (on phone) and the man gave me tonns of useful tips/advice as to how to go abt studying for TISS. I guess right now our main aim must be to crack the test as well as the essay. The test will consist of quants/DI/reasoning/VA/GK ...and according to mr.kamat GK is pretty tough!! Unfortunately i dont reside in mumbai/pune:( So all i can do is to mail him in case i have any problems especially while preparing for essays.
My XAT went really bad ..got a pathetic 68% :(((((. So TISS is the ONLY WAY OUT for me!.
so all u tiss aspirants ..good luck
And plz do keep giving us u're valuable feedbacks/suggestions/experiences.

Ciao

[padfoot]

ok ..... now the time has come to concentrate more on tiss . Well people what else do we need... people from mumbai we can have a small meeting over the weekend on the tiss entrance exams where everyone can share their views, and also the preparation material if they are having any. prof. kamat , the so hyped person in the thread here, if anyone is going for coaching at his place he can share his views with us also , whats the harm.. People please reply .........

[padfoot]

• Walt Disney Co chief executive Robert Iger got high marks from investors on Tuesday for pursuing an acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios Inc in a deal that most said could not have happened under the watch of Iger's predecessor, Michael Eisner.
• Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund on Wednesday entered into a strategic tie-up with Federal Bank Limited for distribution of its Mutual Fund schemes across the country.
• Aviva Life Insurance Company has inked a bancassurance agreement with Centurion Bank of Punjab. The company now has 18 tie-ups in the area of bancassurance.
• The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has recommended that foreign direct investment of up to 51 per cent be allowed in agri-businesses.
• An Indian American scientist, who has developed a tool that will have a positive impact on the healthcare industry, has been given the 'Inventor of the Year' award by Siemens AG president and chief executive Dr Klaus Kleinfeld.
• The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council reached surprising agreement Tuesday that Iran should be hauled before that powerful body over its disputed nuclear program.
• India and Pakistan are to sign an agreement on Tuesday for commencement of the Khokhrapar-Monabao rail route linking Sindh with Rajasthan.
• Jairam Ramesh will be the new Minister of State in the Commerce Ministry, Dinsha Patel in Petroleum, and T. Subbarami Reddy in Mines. The portfolios were announced on Monday evening.
• Tata Sky Ltd, the Direct-To-Home (DTH) venture of Tata and Star, has joined hands with technology solution provider NDS group for end-to-end software solutions to launch the company's DTH television service in the country.
• Nettlinx Ltd an Internet solution provider on Monday said it will acquire 100 per cent stake in its US-based subsidiary Nettlinx Inc, engaged in the business of on-shore software consultancy
• Tata Consultancy Services on Monday said China's Hua Xia Bank (HXB) has selected its core banking solution of Financial Network Services (FNS) to facilitate the bank's technology-powered business transformation.
• The benami demat scam has taken another turn. The coterie of investors acting in this scam had hitherto encroached into the retail category of the initial public offers (IPOs). Now, it is learnt they have also encroached into the employee quota of some of the IPOs.
• The journey from the world of advertising to Bollywood has taken copywriter-turned-lyricist Virag Mishra six years and the adman seems to have come into his own with Zinda.
• In what could turn out to be one of the most innovative deals in 2006, Rosneft has asked domestic oil biggie ONGC to underwrite part of its multi-billion dollar initial public offer later this year

[pranks]

does anybdy has any idea as to how many qs will b cmng in the paper..will there b negativ marking....if so hw mch ????
will there b sectional cutoffs ?????
i kno m talkng bout smthng wch no one knows xactly as to wat is the answer for ths one..
but still any guessess regarding abuv qs....

[padfoot]

Hey people,
I have colleceted a complete list of events in 2005 , national as well as international , but then since each file is nearly 1MB i am unable to load it here. moderators please help me on the same.

[ramkrpa]

Hi all...

Feeling the heat....me too was like most of u , abt a year back...quite natural......

But the key is not to panic...keep it cool.....Immaterial wat the negative marking , no of questions..etc etc tec....u give ur best shot...keep going......Stay positive....

Read one buisness and general daily...read one buisess magazine and political magazine weekly....try to get hands on Economic Political Weekly(EPW)......its a pro left magazine...one may not be a communist..but u will find good analysis of issues and gud perspectives....Frontline is another gud choice....

Brush ur basics...BRM's and general speed......Probably have interactions with other aspirants...not necesaarily TISSians and keep the momentum going.......

Just Chill....and more importantly ...Njoy every bit of ur preparation.....

All the Best...

Ramanathan

[Vasundhara_S]

I'd applied to TISS quite some time ago in 2005(I dont even remember exactly when) but they havent sent me n e sort of acknowledgement of receipt of my application or payment...I need some guidance on this front.
Next, I dont know how to start my preparation. I'm finally free but it is February and the exam is in march(ouch! I think the heat is getting to me slowly...lol!)
I need some urgent help PLEASE....

[lypha]

Originally Posted by Vasundhara_S

I'd applied to TISS quite some time ago in 2005(I dont even remember exactly when) but they havent sent me n e sort of acknowledgement of receipt of my application or payment...I need some guidance on this front.
Next, I dont know how to start my preparation. I'm finally free but it is February and the exam is in march(ouch! I think the heat is getting to me slowly...lol!)
I need some urgent help PLEASE....

just go thru the preious essage sin this thread.. u"ll get hazaar info regd the prep mode..a nd regd the acknowledgement.. the last date is not yet over, so u will have to wait.. i too applied last year, but did not rcve any confirmation that they got my application.. so just stay calm and dont panic.. u mite directly get the admit card for the written exam..
regd the prep mode,,for now,, start off by reading lots of magazines.. latest gk.. newspapers and being up to date with ur graduation subjects..
any more info..feel free to message and by the way padfoot.. good work buddy... regd the enthu u r putting in the posts..
way to go....
cheerzz