Inter-ministerial group News

This decision was taken at a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee on Tuesday as it again reviewed the prices and availability of onions.

The commission, the highest policy-making body in the telecom sector, met here on Friday to consider the proposals put forth by the IMG to tackle the financial stress.

In its report, the IMG has also recommended that the payments for spectrum be taken in 16 instalments (16 years) as against the current practice of 10 years, the source said.

The inter-ministerial group looking into telecom companies' financial stress has finalised its report, outlining recommendations for providing relief to the debt-ridden sector.

Large scale policy intervention may not be required for telecom as "green shoots" have become visible in the sector during first quarter, according to a source in the inter-ministerial group on telecom.

The panel was looking into the issue of bank guarantees of the previous allottees pertaining to 127 coal blocks.

The IMG has members from various ministries, including steel and power.

The meeting of inter-ministerial group on coal blocks Wednesday will look into the issue of bank guarantees related to 61 mines allocated to firms such as ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel and JSPL.

It will be the IMG's first meeting since the new government has taken charge last month after the general elections. Piyush Goyal has been appointed Minister of State (Independent Charge) for coal, power and new & renewable energy.