Extending its upward march for the fourth straight day, the BSE benchmark Sensex rose by 133 points on Thursday to its best closing level since January, 2008, amid steady foreign fund inflows and a firming global trend.

The debate in the Congress and the UPA government over land acquisition acquired a new edge with party President Sonia Gandhi favouring a balanced approach in securing land for industrial purposes without losing large fertile tracts.

The government on Thursday approved disinvestment in manganese miner MOIL through public offer, where Centre will offload 10 per cent equity, in addition to 5 per cent each by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The World Bank has approved a USD 220 million credit to support rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the devastating Kosi floods in Bihar.

Racing against time to provide the finishing touches, the preparations for the Commonwealth Games will be reviwed at a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

Racing against time to provide the finishing touches, the preparations for the Commonwealth Games will be reviwed at a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

Ahead of a crucial meeting of the Centre on Kashmir Friday, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony to seek their support on partial withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state.

Movie moghul D Ramanaidu, a veteran producer with 130 films in a dozen languages in five decades, has been conferred the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award for 2009 for rendering outstanding contribution to the world of Indian cinema.

US President Barack Obama is looking forward to his maiden trip to India in November, a senior administration official has said, describing the relationship between the two countries as "vitally important".

Torrential rains on Thursday continued unabated in Punjab and Haryana, leaving 60 villages in Yamunanagar district flooded even as situation in other parts of the region worsened with rivers flowing above the danger mark.

The government on Thursday approved disinvestment in manganese miner MOIL through public offer, where Centre will offload 10 per cent equity, in addition to 5 per cent each by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, Mufti Mohd Mukkaram Ahmed on Thursday announced that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday.

Amid mounting international concern over dengue outbreak ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said Army's help has been sought to drain out water from the vicinity of Games Village and fog the area to prevent mosquito breeding.

Security has been stepped up across Uttar Pradesh to check any law and order problem that may arise after the court verdict on Ayodhya title suits is pronounced on 24th September.

Several political parties including BJP and the JD(U) on Thursday reacted cautiously to the cabinet's decision to carry out an independent caste census, while the Congress welcomed the move saying it is with the government on the issue.

In the wake of a US pastor's plan to burn copies of the holy Quran on September 11, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday has asked the media to exercise restraint over the issue to help maintain peace and harmony.

Aiming at smooth implementation of the Right to Education Act, the Government on Thursday approved revision of existing norms of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme to bring it in conformity with the Act.

Giving in to demands from almost all political parties, government on Thursday decided to hold caste census next year under an exercise to be carried out separately from the enumeration of population.

The debate in the Congress and the UPA government over land acquisition acquired a new edge with party President Sonia Gandhi favouring a balanced approach in securing land for industrial purposes without losing large fertile tracts.

President Pratibha Patil on Thursday said Indian economy was resilient to global financial crises and growing at a pace close to the pre-recession rate, which is a positive signal for friendly nations to invest in the country.