Latest news and happenings from India

Maruti hikes prices

Due to the growing input and frieght costs, Maruti Udyog has hiked prices of their car models by Rs 1,500 to 15,000. Maruti 800 and Alto will now be Rs 3,000 costlier Swift prices have been hiked by Rs 3,500. The Zen and the Wagon R cars will cost Rs 5,000 more.

HMSI 125 launch in April

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) will launch their 125 cc motorcycle in April at a competitive price. Suzuki has announced Rs 38, 000 for its new 125 cc challenger, the heat.

Lets take a look at the Overdrive Awards 2006

Car of the Year - Maruti Suzuki Swift

Bike of the Year - TVS Apache

UV of the Year - Toyota Innova

Scooter of the Year - TVS Scooty Pep

Bike Maker of the Year - Bajaj Auto

Car Maker of the Year - M & M

Automotive product of the year - JK tyres - Vectra

Motorsports award of the year - Narain karthikeyan

Import of the year - Audi A6

Union Budget 2006

A few points

Rationalised excise duties, made small cars cheaper.
Expanded the service tax net bringing it in line with the sector's growth
Announced a road map for unified goods and services tax
Brought fiscal deficiet under control and FRBM back on the agenda
Provided short-term credit for farmers at the rate of 7 percent.
Peak customs duty cut from 15% to 12.5%

Rail Budget 2006

A few points

224 trains to be made superfast by July 1. By raising the avergae speed to 55 kmph or higher.
Number of coaches to be increased to 24 in 90 trains.
Trains to be vacuum cleaned. Eureka forbes to get contract
A train suprintendent will attend to the passenger needs and complaints
All express trains will have bed rolls, medicines, magazines, and different foods.
SBI to set up 650 ATMs across stations
Digital display boards for arrival /departure information
Over 200 platforms to be lenghtened

Umbilical cord blood

Umbilical cord blood is the leftover blood from the baby's umbilical cord and placenta, during delivery. This blood is rich in stem cells.

Stem cells are called the master cells in the body and they can regenerate into other types of cells so as to cure 75 serious ailments. Leukemia, non-hodgkins, lymphoma, anemia, thalassemia are some of them.

The stem cells can be collected from the umbilical cord after child birth and preserved to treat any disease later in life.

If there is a family history of any illness which can be treated by stem cells then you must bank them. Above all banking your child's cord blood stem cells would mean insuring your family and child against future diseases.