Mumbai’s Poder International School asked their students to purchase an iPad2 before the next academic session starts in April. Principal Vandana told India Real Time that even though the local device is cheaper the school chose the more popular Apple iPad. “Apple’s technology and apps are undoubtedly superior,” Vandana explained why she chose the cheaper Andriod-based Aakash tablet versus the Apples iPad2, “quality and efficiency over cost,” she said.

Another reason Poder International School chose the iPad is for the “interactive and educative apps,” while the Aakash has “yet to prove its worth,” Ms. Lulla added. It was agreed that if the students can afford the superior Apple device then they should purchase the iPad over the homegrown Aakash.

The challenges of acting upon result are posed by the bilateral treaty. These might delay the investigation and steps to take from thereon. The treaty has created large discussions in India as the Supreme Court and the opposing parties explain that the money deposited from Indian citizens does not necessarily have to be black money. Even though Indians have billions of dollars in Swiss banks, there are no official reports that say how much of it is legal and how much of it is not.

As the trend is expected to continue, the increasing numbers of high-income households will further foster the luxury real estate boom. Next to the luxury segment other housing markets have also experienced major upward trends. Shining light on the affordable and medium housing segment, we can see that the growth in this sector will have an effect on the luxury market in the near future as well.

The institution responsible for regulating media sectors and telecommunications has initiated a change that will rescue the FM radio business. In comparison to television, and print media segments it gets only a few advertisements. Finally, before the changes can become law, parliament’s approval is needed.

The Bangladesh government has been arguing about the 27% interest rate microfinance institutions can charge and India’s authorities have been criticizing for-profit micro lenders that are entering the NGO-dominated sector. Even though MFI’s margins are tiny due to the need to making and collecting small loans, governments are afraid that high interest rates are going to end masses of people stuck in debt after trying to change their lives for the better.

This alliance of the second- and third-biggest economies in Asia was a result of recently evolving Sino-Japanese tensions. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan have also agreed on exploring the development and cooperation in developing, recycling and finding substitutes for rare metals and earth materials.

The two prime ministers declared “the successful conclusion of negotiations on a balanced and mutually beneficial India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement” and “expressed optimism that the India-Japan CEPA will deepen economic engagement in terms of trade in goods and services, investment and cooperation and contribute to mutual prosperity.” The negotiations for a CEPA have been going on since 2006 and after 14 rounds of negotiations between January 2007 and September 2010, and a feasibility report by a India-Japan study group both countries seem to have come to a mutual understanding and resolution.