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Key economic milestones for India in 2008
Friday, 26 December 2008, 17:27 IST |
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New Delhi: Following are some key economic, business and financial milestones in India during 2009:
Jan 10: Tata Motors unveil Nano, the jelly-bean shaped small car touted as the world's cheapest, costing all of $2,500 at factory gates.
Jan 10: Sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchanges touches all-time, intra-day high of 21,206.77 points.
Jan 16: Supreme Court paves way for Reliance Power's initial public offering.
Jan 21: Investors lose $170 billion as Sensex crashes over 2,000 points to register steepest ever intra-day fall.
Feb 20: Report says Indian companies have invested $10 billion in US, creating 30,000 jobs.
Feb 20: Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications acquires Ugandan telecom firm.
Feb 23: PepsiCo's Indian-born chief executive Indra Nooyi among Forbes' list of 10 best women CEOs.
Feb 26: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announces across-the-board cut in fares and projects record profits in his first fifth rail budget.
Feb 29: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presents national budget with most ambitious loan-waiver scheme amounting to 
600 billion (60,000 crore) to benefit 40 million farmers.
March 2: Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile enters Indian telecom market.
March 11: A fresh graduate of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad offered record pay packet of 14.4 million.
March 31: India's external debt rises to $201 billion.
April 1: International Monetary Fund warns of spiralling inflation and cooling of Indian economy.
April 11: Official data says India has second largest telecom subscriber base of over 300 million, ahead of the US and behind China.
April 29: India imposes export tax, bans overseas sales of some commodities like steel and cement to calm prices.
May 6: Bharti Airtel and South Africa's mobile phone giant enter consolidation talks.
May 11: Ratan Tata named by Time magazine among 73 biggest brains in business for conceiving small car Nano.
May 24: Bharti Airtel and MTN call off consolidation talks.
May 26: Reliance Communications and MTN say they have started talks for possible consolidation.
May 30: India's economic growth rate for 2007-08 revised upward to nine percent against provisional estimate of 8.9 percent.
June 2: Tata Motors formally takes over two iconic British automobile brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motors.
June 4: As crude prices spiral, India allows 5 a litre increase in prices of petrol and 3 on diesel.
June 11: Japan's Daiichi Sankyo says it is buying majority stake in India's largest pharmaceuticals company Ranbaxy for $4.6 billion.
June 20: India's annual rate of inflation scales the double digit level and touches 11.05 percent.
June: Heightened protests by farmers against Tatas' Nano project at Singur in West Bengal who claim their land was forcibly acquired.
July 11: International crude prices touch all-time high of $147.27 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
July 12: Vodafone and Airtel say they will launch Apple's 3G iPhone in India.
July 13: Anil Ambani's wife Tina Ambani and L.N. Mittal's spouse Usha Mittal named by Forbes among top 10 billionaires' wives.
July 16: Hindustan Computers Ltd acquires British outsourcing firm for undisclosed amount.
July 17: Survey says revenues of top 20 Indian IT firms fell 24 percent in 2007-08 due to global slowdown.
July 18: Air India announces 15 percent cut in airfares to Gulf.
July 19: Reliance Communications stops consolidation talks with MTN.
July 29: India's central bank tightens monetary policy to tame inflation by hiking key lending rate and cash reserve ratio.
Aug 12: India's industrial growth halves to 5.2 percent in first quarter of current fiscal.
Aug 18: India's telecom regulator permits computer-to-computer voice calls.
Aug 21: India's annual rate of inflation spirals to 16-year high of 12.63 percent.
Aug 26: Overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corp says it is acquiring British firm for $1.4 billion.
Aug 29: Government approves new Companies Bill, 2008, to fine-tune legislation to reflect developments in and requirements of present-day corporate world.
Sep 1: Finance Secretary Duvvuri Subbarao named next governor of the Reserve Bank.
Sep 7: Department of Telecommunications starts auction of frequencies for 3G telephony.
Sep 11: Government eases norms for FM broadcast to push growth.
Sep 17: US Food and Drug Administration blocks import of 30 generic drugs made by Ranbaxy.
Sep 18: India's cabinet clears proposal for foreign news magazines to start Indian editions.
Sep 20: Anil Ambani group and Steven Spielberg to set up $1.5 billion Hollywood studio.
Sep 23: Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat says it will acquire 45 percent stake in India's Swan Telecom for $900 million.
Oct 1: UN report says India is sixth largest investor in Britain.
Oct 3: Tatas say they are pulling the "Nano" project out of West Bengal despite investing 15 billion.
Oct 7: Gujarat is chosen as new home for launch of Nano.
Oct 8: Indian rupee crashes to six-year low of 48 to a dollar.
Oct 9: International Monetary Fund predicts seven percent growth for India in 2009.
Oct 9: Report says India Inc. finalised overseas mergers and acquisition deals worth $26 billion in first half of current fiscal.
Oct 10: Reserve Bank eases monetary policy, cuts cash reserve ratio by 150 basis points.
Oct 10: India's industrial production logs just 1.3 percent growth in August, says report.
Oct 15: Government says Indian civil aviation industry is $300 billion investment opportunity.
Oct 15: Central bank takes steps to inject 650 billion into system to increase liquidity.
Oct 15: Jet Airways, Kingfisher announce pact to reduce costs, synergise operations and improve services.
Oct 15: Jet Airways says it is sacking 1,900 employees (but withdraws steps a day later).
Oct 15: US president-elect Barack Obama tells IANS India will be top priority during his tenure.
Oct 27: Sensex crashes to 7,697.39 points, lowest level since November 2005.
Oct 29: Norway-based Telenor, the world's seventh largest telecom operator, says it is buying 60 percent stake in Indian telecom start-up Unitech Wireless for $1.29 billion.
Nov 10: Satyam acquires Motorola's software unit in Malaysia.
Nov 10: International Monetary Fund lowers India growth projection for 2009 to 6.3 percent.
Nov 12: Japan's DoCoMo says it will acquire 26 percent stake in Tata Teleservices.
Nov 13: Forbes rich list says Mukesh Ambani has ousted L.N. Mittal as richest Indian.
Nov 19: Rupee falls to its lowest-ever level, below 50 to a dollar.
Dec 1: Data on foreign trade says India's merchandise exports fell 12.1 percent in October.
Dec 8: Government unveils 30,000-crore (300-billion/$6-billion) package to pump prime economy.
Dec 12: Fresh data on industrial production says index fell 0.3 percent in October.
Dec 16: Satyam Computer Services says it is acquiring two infrastructure firms run by founder's sons for $1.6 billion, but withdraws move a day later following investor outrage.
Dec 19: Chanda Kochhar named ICICI Bank chief executive with effect from next May 1.
Dec 23: Wipro says it is acquiring Citigroup's Indian outsourcing arm for $127 million.
Source: IANS
600 billion (60,000 crore) to benefit 40 million farmers.
March 2: Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile enters Indian telecom market.
March 11: A fresh graduate of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad offered record pay packet of 14.4 million.
March 31: India's external debt rises to $201 billion.
April 1: International Monetary Fund warns of spiralling inflation and cooling of Indian economy.
April 11: Official data says India has second largest telecom subscriber base of over 300 million, ahead of the US and behind China.
April 29: India imposes export tax, bans overseas sales of some commodities like steel and cement to calm prices.
May 6: Bharti Airtel and South Africa's mobile phone giant enter consolidation talks.
May 11: Ratan Tata named by Time magazine among 73 biggest brains in business for conceiving small car Nano.
May 24: Bharti Airtel and MTN call off consolidation talks.
May 26: Reliance Communications and MTN say they have started talks for possible consolidation.
May 30: India's economic growth rate for 2007-08 revised upward to nine percent against provisional estimate of 8.9 percent.
June 2: Tata Motors formally takes over two iconic British automobile brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motors.
June 4: As crude prices spiral, India allows 5 a litre increase in prices of petrol and 3 on diesel.
June 11: Japan's Daiichi Sankyo says it is buying majority stake in India's largest pharmaceuticals company Ranbaxy for $4.6 billion.
June 20: India's annual rate of inflation scales the double digit level and touches 11.05 percent.
June: Heightened protests by farmers against Tatas' Nano project at Singur in West Bengal who claim their land was forcibly acquired.
July 11: International crude prices touch all-time high of $147.27 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
July 12: Vodafone and Airtel say they will launch Apple's 3G iPhone in India.
July 13: Anil Ambani's wife Tina Ambani and L.N. Mittal's spouse Usha Mittal named by Forbes among top 10 billionaires' wives.
July 16: Hindustan Computers Ltd acquires British outsourcing firm for undisclosed amount.
July 17: Survey says revenues of top 20 Indian IT firms fell 24 percent in 2007-08 due to global slowdown.
July 18: Air India announces 15 percent cut in airfares to Gulf.
July 19: Reliance Communications stops consolidation talks with MTN.
July 29: India's central bank tightens monetary policy to tame inflation by hiking key lending rate and cash reserve ratio.
Aug 12: India's industrial growth halves to 5.2 percent in first quarter of current fiscal.
Aug 18: India's telecom regulator permits computer-to-computer voice calls.
Aug 21: India's annual rate of inflation spirals to 16-year high of 12.63 percent.
Aug 26: Overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corp says it is acquiring British firm for $1.4 billion.
Aug 29: Government approves new Companies Bill, 2008, to fine-tune legislation to reflect developments in and requirements of present-day corporate world.
Sep 1: Finance Secretary Duvvuri Subbarao named next governor of the Reserve Bank.
Sep 7: Department of Telecommunications starts auction of frequencies for 3G telephony.
Sep 11: Government eases norms for FM broadcast to push growth.
Sep 17: US Food and Drug Administration blocks import of 30 generic drugs made by Ranbaxy.
Sep 18: India's cabinet clears proposal for foreign news magazines to start Indian editions.
Sep 20: Anil Ambani group and Steven Spielberg to set up $1.5 billion Hollywood studio.
Sep 23: Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat says it will acquire 45 percent stake in India's Swan Telecom for $900 million.
Oct 1: UN report says India is sixth largest investor in Britain.
Oct 3: Tatas say they are pulling the "Nano" project out of West Bengal despite investing 15 billion.
Oct 7: Gujarat is chosen as new home for launch of Nano.
Oct 8: Indian rupee crashes to six-year low of 48 to a dollar.
Oct 9: International Monetary Fund predicts seven percent growth for India in 2009.
Oct 9: Report says India Inc. finalised overseas mergers and acquisition deals worth $26 billion in first half of current fiscal.
Oct 10: Reserve Bank eases monetary policy, cuts cash reserve ratio by 150 basis points.
Oct 10: India's industrial production logs just 1.3 percent growth in August, says report.
Oct 15: Government says Indian civil aviation industry is $300 billion investment opportunity.
Oct 15: Central bank takes steps to inject 650 billion into system to increase liquidity.
Oct 15: Jet Airways, Kingfisher announce pact to reduce costs, synergise operations and improve services.
Oct 15: Jet Airways says it is sacking 1,900 employees (but withdraws steps a day later).
Oct 15: US president-elect Barack Obama tells IANS India will be top priority during his tenure.
Oct 27: Sensex crashes to 7,697.39 points, lowest level since November 2005.
Oct 29: Norway-based Telenor, the world's seventh largest telecom operator, says it is buying 60 percent stake in Indian telecom start-up Unitech Wireless for $1.29 billion.
Nov 10: Satyam acquires Motorola's software unit in Malaysia.
Nov 10: International Monetary Fund lowers India growth projection for 2009 to 6.3 percent.
Nov 12: Japan's DoCoMo says it will acquire 26 percent stake in Tata Teleservices.
Nov 13: Forbes rich list says Mukesh Ambani has ousted L.N. Mittal as richest Indian.
Nov 19: Rupee falls to its lowest-ever level, below 50 to a dollar.
Dec 1: Data on foreign trade says India's merchandise exports fell 12.1 percent in October.
Dec 8: Government unveils 30,000-crore (300-billion/$6-billion) package to pump prime economy.
Dec 12: Fresh data on industrial production says index fell 0.3 percent in October.
Dec 16: Satyam Computer Services says it is acquiring two infrastructure firms run by founder's sons for $1.6 billion, but withdraws move a day later following investor outrage.
Dec 19: Chanda Kochhar named ICICI Bank chief executive with effect from next May 1.
Dec 23: Wipro says it is acquiring Citigroup's Indian outsourcing arm for $127 million.
Source: IANS