NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (Reuters) – India’s plan to revive
production of rare earths makes sense as a long-term strategic
move but the country will only be able to plug a fraction of
the gap in the market left by China’s falling exports.

China, increasingly flexing its muscle on the international
stage, announced export cuts this year that pushed prices
higher and triggered a rush to find alternative supplies.
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NEW DELHI (Reuters) – South Korea’s POSCO wants to build a $12 billion steel mill in Orissa, but the project has faced delays because of environmental worries and protests by local residents concerned about the mill’s impact on their agriculture-based livelihoods.

Here are some questions and answers about the project, which has already been delayed by three years:

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A much-delayed $12 billion steel mill project by South Korean firm POSCO, India’s biggest foreign direct investment and a barometer of its business climate, may receive a boost next week when an experts’ panel meets to review its environmental clearance.

The panel meets on Nov. 9-10 to agree on a recommendation for Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, whose push for ecological compliance has forced the delay, or outright scrapping, of many big-ticket projects, including some by London-listed miner Vedanta Resources Plc.

NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (Reuters) – To some, he is an
environmental crusader, and to others he is the “Dr. No” of
development.

But everyone agrees India’s environment minister Jairam
Ramesh is setting new standards in compliance that often bring
him in conflict with industry.

NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (Reuters) – South Korea’s POSCO
(005490.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) wants to build a $12 billion steel mill in eastern
India, but the project has faced delays because of
environmental worries and protests by local residents concerned
about the mill’s impact on their agriculture-based livelihoods.

Here are some questions and answers about the project,
which has already been delayed by three years:

NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (Reuters) – A much-delayed $12 billion steel
mill project by South Korean firm POSCO (005490.KS: Quote, Profile, Research), India’s
biggest foreign direct investment and a barometer of its business
climate, may receive a boost next week when an experts’ panel
meets to review its environmental clearance.

The panel meets on Nov. 9-10 to agree on a recommendation for
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, whose push for ecological
compliance has forced the delay, or outright scrapping, of many
big-ticket projects, including some by London-listed miner
Vedanta Resources Plc (VED.L: Quote, Profile, Research).

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The government will have another shot at passing some key economic reforms when parliament meets from Nov. 9, but persistently high inflation has largely eroded its political capital, despite some positive talk of late on contentious steps such as opening up the retail sector.

Here is a summary of political risks to watch in India:

INFLATION AND MONETARY POLICY

Inflation has emerged as a major challenge for policymakers, threatening to choke off growth in India’s domestic demand-driven economy by eroding the purchasing power of consumers.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India said on Friday Research In Motion has set up an interim arrangement for lawful interception of BlackBerry Messenger services and has assured to provide a final solution by end-January, and a government source said talks are still on over access to corporate emails.

India, among several countries to express concerns BlackBerry services could be used to stir political or social instability, had threatened RIM with a ban if denied access to its highly-secure Messenger and corporate email communications.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India said on Friday Research In Motion has set up an interim arrangement for lawful interception of BlackBerry Messenger services and has assured to provide a final solution by end-January, and a government source said talks are still on over access to corporate emails.

India, among several countries to express concerns BlackBerry services could be used to stir political or social instability, had threatened RIM with a ban if denied access to its highly-secure Messenger and corporate email communications.