Modi could do more to curb India inflation: opinion poll

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scored high on overall performance during his first three months in office, but many are disappointed with his new administration's efforts to bring down inflation, an opinion poll showed.

The poll conducted by Today's Chanakya, the only pollster that accurately predicted the scale of Modi's election victory in May, showed almost half of the respondents felt the Hindu nationalist leader could have taken more stringent steps to curb inflation.

Modi rose to power with promises of reviving India's flagging economy and reducing prices of essential commodities, but consumer price inflation touched a two-month high of nearly 8 percent in July while food price inflation neared double digits. 

More than two-thirds of those polled said

India's economic growth hits two year high

India's economy grew by 5.7% in the three months to June, its fastest pace in two-and-a-half years, according to an official estimate.

The economy was helped by strong growth in electricity, gas and water supply, and financial services, the Ministry of Statistics said.

The growth figure was higher than analysts had been expecting.

India's new government has launched policies designed to encourage business investment, including changes to tax.

Ever since the Narendra Modi government took charge, business sentiment has

India's Narendra Modi launches bank accounts for all

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a plan to provide a bank account for every household, in a landmark initiative to help the poor.

Nearly 40% of Indians have little access to financial services and are often at the mercy of moneylenders who charge extortionate interest.

Mr Modi has told state and private banks to support the plan.

Correspondents say taking banking to the poor, who may have no identity papers, will be a challenge.

Reports say Mr Modi's government aims to provide bank accounts to

India raises minimum export price for onions

India has raised the minimum export price for onions, to maintain price levels at home, as fears grow of a shortage because of adverse weather conditions.

Effective immediately, exports of onions can only take place at or above the price of $500 (£292) per tonne.

That is a 67% jump from the government's recent pricing policy on a key ingredient for Indian dishes.

Two weeks ago the government had set a minimum export price of $300 per tonne.

But at a recent meeting the government's findings showed that wholesale and retail prices of onions have been going up.

The inter-ministerial committee said in a statement