National News Update: 31 July

1) Reliance bags Sasan: The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) finally decided to award the controversial 4,000 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project to Reliance Power Ltd (RPL), headed by Anil Ambani. The revised bid of Reliance Power of Rs. 1.19616 per kWh was the lowest of the three bids. The entire project is worth 200 bn crore rupees.

2) Dera Chief held, freed on Bail: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was arrested and questioned by the Punjab Police, in a case registered against him in Bathinda. However, he was released on a personal bail bond of Rs 1 lakh.

3) Goa Crisis: The BJP-led GDA decided to challenge the speaker's decision to allow a "minority" government to continue, in the Supreme Court. They will first meet President Pratibha Patil and then move to Supreme Court.

4) India on the Verge of Victory: India is all set to win the Trent Bridge test match, thanks to the spirited bowling by Zaheer Khan, who took 5 wickets in the second innings, to a match tally of 9. England were bowled out for 355 in the second inning, thus giving India a target of 73 runs to win the test match. Michael Vaughan scored 124. At stumps on fourth day, India were 10/0.

5) Sania moved to 31 in ATP Ranking: India's Sania Mirza moved to 31st spot in the latest ATP Rankings. Her spectacular performance in the last couple of weeks helped her to equal her career-best ranking.

6) Sreesanth Fined: India's pace bowler S. Sreesanth was fined 50% of his match fee for breaking ICC's Code of Conduct. He shoulder-barged England skipper Michael Vaughan during England's second innings in the Trent Bridge Test.

7) RBI hiked CRR: The Reserve Bank of India hiked the Cash Reserve Ratio by 50 basis points to 7 per cent. However, the bank rate remained unchanged at 6 per cent.

8) Gujarat Governor returns Religious Conversion Bill: Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma returned a controversial amendment bill passed by the State Assembly. The The Gujarat Freedom of Religion (amendment) Bill, 2006 seeks to check religious conversion.