‘India’s scientific research grew 80 percent since 2000′

October 6th, 2009 EU sets out new science planBRUSSELS — European authorities and industry must increase funding for scientific research and improve cooperation to try to close the technology gap with the United States, the European Commission said Tuesday. An EU commissioned report sets tough targets to be met by 2030: increasing research and development funding to 5 percent of gross domestic product and tripling spending on higher education to 3.3 percent of gross domestic product.

September 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Eleven scientists have been selected for this year's prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Science and Technology research by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The CSIR instituted the award in memory of the eminent Indian Scientist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar.

September 21st, 2009 US chemist leaves Zurich post over doctored dataZURICH — Switzerland's top technology institute says a U.S. chemist has resigned as head of research after scientific data were found to have been manipulated.

August 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today accorded its approval for the continuation of the project "Polar Science; Expedition to Antarctica" during the XI Five Year Plan period at an estimated cost of Rs.230.01 crore. The scientific expeditions which started in 1981 have contributed substantially to the growth of polar science in the country.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Global rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) Thursday raised India's growth forecast for the current fiscal from 5.8 percent to 6.3 percent taking into account the improving performance of the industrial sector. "If yesterday's number (industrial production figures released Wednesday) is anything to go by, credit offtake in the coming days would be much better than we have anticipated earlier," said Subir Gokarn, chief economist at the Indian arm of S&P.

July 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Despite India's overall exports growth dipping considerably, exports from its special economic zones (SEZs) grew 50 percent during 2008-09, the government said Monday. "The value of exports made from SEZs during 2008-09 was Rs.99,689 crore against Rs.66,638 crore in the previous year, an increase over 50 percent," said Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M.

July 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Despite achieving a healthy 16 percent annual growth rate, India's general insurance business accounts for just 0.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), compared to the world average of 2.14 percent, says a report released here Tuesday. "The penetration of general insurance in India remains low on account of low consumer preference, largely untapped rural markets and constrained distribution channels," said the report jointly prepared by Crisil and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The automotive industry in India grew at a computed annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5 percent over the past five years, the Economic Survey 2008-09 tabled in parliament Thursday said. The industry has a strong multiplier effect on the economy due to its deep forward and backward linkages with several key segments of the economy, a finance ministry statement said.

June 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's industrial output grew 1.4 percent in April as against a decline of 0.75 percent in March, in what analysts said can be taken as early signs of recovery. Data on index of industrial production (IIP) released by the commerce ministry Friday showed that the growth also came after two successive months of decline and was led mainly by a 7.1 percent increase in electricity generation.

June 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's passenger vehicle sales grew a marginal 1.68 percent in April-May to about 275,000 units from nearly 272,000 units sold in the corresponding period last year, according to an industry body. Sales, however, dropped to a little below 141,000 units in May from about 142,000 sold in the like month last year, figures released MOnday by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said.

May 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Archaeologists have found an ancient sewn ship over 2000 years old in Novalia, Croatia. According to a report in Archaeological Discovery, the ship was found in the Caska Bay on the Island of Pag, near Novalja.

April 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Eight of India's leading scientists were Friday honoured with Thomson Reuters Research Excellence - India Research Front Awards for their groundbreaking work and influential contribution to global research and development. The eight awardees were presented with the accolade after their research was analysed using Thomson Reuters Research Front Methodology to assess their level of influence on specific scientific fields, Thomson Reuters said in a release here.

February 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The growth of India's gross domestic product (GDP) dropped to 5.3 percent in the third quarter ending Dec 31 last year, compared to a growth of 8.9 percent in the same period the previous year. The economy, usually equated to the GDP, had grown by 7.6 percent in the second quarter of this fiscal.

February 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's rapid growth of merchandise exports made South Asia the fastest growing region in shipping out manufactured goods between 2000 and 2005, says a UN agency's annual report on industrial development. 'Manufactured exports from all developing regions, excepting Latin America, grew faster than the world average and faster than exports from developing countries,' said the report prepared by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

February 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Auto major Hyundai Motor India Monday said its domestic sales in January were down 13.5 percent to 21,016 units from 24,301 units for the corresponding month last year. However, total sales including exports saw only a marginal dip of 1.3 percent to 37,216 units in the period under review from 37,700 units in the year-ago period.