Bajaj Auto Enters Consolidation Phase

Bajaj Auto Ltd.’s strong January-March results followed blow-out sales in 2010, but analysts say investors should gird for a year of consolidation given that the company’s profitability is possibly at a peak.

The motorcycle maker Wednesday said its January-March net profit more than doubled to 14 billion rupees ($311 million), boosted by a one-time tax pre-payment surplus.

Ganguly Standing in Kolkata’s Way

Sourav Ganguly, known by many as “the Prince of Calcutta,” could prove to be more of a villain for his hometown Thursday as his new Indian Premier League team, Pune Warriors, hosts his old side, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, fourth in the IPL4 table on 14 points, need one win from their last two matches to secure a place in the next phase of the tournament.

Tamil Superstar Faces Uncertain Recovery

South Indian superstar Rajinikanth, who has more than 100 Tamil films to his credit, was shifted Wednesday night to the intensive care unit of a Chennai hospital, according to a bulletin issued by the hospital.

Mr. Rajinikanth was first admitted at Chennai’s Sri Ramachandra Medical Center last Friday for  respiratory and gastro-intestinal problems.

Tax Department Vows Crackdown on Black Money

Speaking on Wednesday at a seminar on black money, Sudhir Chandra praised what is arguably India’s most-hated department: the one responsible for levying taxes.

But Mr. Chandra, the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, threw out numbers to back up his claims.

Infosys Numero Uno Bids Adieu to Investors

In an emotional letter, replete with analogies and anecdotes, N.R. Narayana Murthy, the co-founder and “Number One actor” at India’s Infosys Technologies Ltd.  bid his last farewell to shareholders.

The iconic businessman of India’s outsourcing industry, retires from the board of Infosys Technologies as non-executive chairman and chief mentor on Aug. 20. He will stay on as chairman emeritus, offering consultative support to the company and to the board.

India Journal: Time for Renewal in Kerala

By Ajit Mohan

Most of the attention around the outcome of the assembly elections last week has been on the dramatic defeat of the Communists in West Bengal and the DMK in Tamil Nadu, and the compelling stories of the two political leaders behind it. The narrative on Kerala has centered on an unusually close verdict triggered by an incumbent Chief Minister who, at times, ran more in opposition to his own government and his party than the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

As the focus now shifts to governance though, the story of Kerala becomes significant, perhaps even more so than that of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. What is at stake in Kerala is the effectiveness of coalition governance in an era of fragmented electoral politics, and, of even more importance, the sustainability of the only real inclusive development model that has succeeded in post-independence India.

India Digest: Pakistan’s Fourth Nuclear Reactor Has India Worried

Here is a roundup of news from Indian newspapers, news wires and Web sites on Thursday, May 19, 2011. The Wall Street Journal has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Pakistan’s Fourth Nuclear Reactor Has India Worried: Pakistan is focusing on building low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons which it can use in case of skirmishes at the border with India. (Source: The Times of India)

India This Evening: Congress Backs Rahul’s Remarks, Gets SP Support

Here is a roundup of news from Indian newspapers, news wires and Web sites on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. The Wall Street Journal has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Congress Backs Rahul’s Remarks, Gets SP Support: The Congress on Wednesday defended party general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s claim of 74 mounds of ash containing human remains having been found in Bhatta Parsaul village of Greater Noida and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to order a probe.(Source: Hindustan Times)

Orissa Locals Fear Red Mud Spill

On the afternoon of May 16, after heavy rain in Lanjigarh village in India’s eastern state of Orissa, a pond storing waste from Vedanta Aluminium Ltd.’s alumina refinery started overflowing into a nearby river, according to local villagers.

The waste, known as red mud, is the toxic byproduct of bauxite – from which aluminum is extracted – and is harmful to people and animals.

Maximum City’s Continuing Water Woes

“Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink” – the old adage is perhaps true for the residents of Mumbai.

The coastal city may be known as the nation’s financial hub and glamor capital thanks to Bollywood. But anyone who lives there knows it probably also is the capital of decrepit infrastructure, from roads to slums to train lines. It also may be the water-shortage capital, given that residents are now facing another round of water outages as the civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, undertakes pipeline repair work at the Maroshi-Vakola-Ruparel College tunnel.