Industrial production growth accelerated to 2.5 percent in March from a year earlier, government data showed on Friday.

India Inc on Friday said industrial output may look better in March but "the industry is still not out of the woods", and urgently required interest rate reduction and steps for investment revival.

Faced with declining growth, the Reserve Bank is likely to cut repo rate and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by about 0.25 percent each to spur demand and boost industrial output.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar defended his repeated demand for special status to the state saying it (the status) will boost private investment in a big way to accelerate its industrial development.

Declining price of vegetables pulled down inflation to over three-year low of 5.96 percent in March, which may prompt the Reserve Bank to consider a rate cut in its annual monetary policy next month.

Central paramilitary force CISF will hold an 'all women' recruitment rally for the first time, to induct them in its constabulary.

Expressing unhappiness over the contraction in industrial output numbers, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said slowdown in global demand and investment activity has impacted IIP.

Showing green shoots of recovery, industrial production inched up 2.4 percent in January mainly due to perk up in manufacturing output and enhanced power generation.

State-run BHEL on Tuesday said it will invest Rs 500 crore for setting up a manufacturing facility at Bhandara in Maharashtra.

With just two days to go for Assembly elections, Chief Election Officer (CEO), Karnataka, Anil Kumar Jha on Friday appealed to the voters to participate in the election process and vote in large numbers.