Quick Facts

	India's foreign exchange (Forex) reserves rose by US$ 266 million to US$ 316.763 billion in the week ended September 16, 2011, according to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 'Weekly Statistical Supplement'.
	Net direct tax collection upto September 15, 2011, in 2011-12 grew by 6.7 per cent at Rs 1,27,858 crore (US$ 26.75 billion) as against Rs 1,19,849 crore (US$ 25.07 billion) collected from April 1 to September 15 in 2010.
	Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) investments grew by 29 per cent to US$ 648 million (around Rs 2,916 crore) in the period January-September 2011 as compared to US$ 500 million (around Rs 2,250 crore) in the same period last year.
	The index for eight core sector industries—crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement, steel, fertilizers and natural gas—rose 7.8 per cent in July 2011 compared to 5.7 per cent in July last year.
	Exports of spices during April-July 2011 increased 22 per cent in rupee terms and 26 per cent in dollar terms, with total receipts in the period at Rs 2,613.50 crore (US$ 585.46 million), compared to Rs 2,135 crore (US$ 464.92 million) during the same period last year.
	The wind energy sector has attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs 1,510 crore (US$ 328.87 million) over the past three years. In the renewable energy sector, wind energy has emerged as the fastest growing category, according to Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy.
	The monthly net investment by mutual fund (MF) houses in August 2011 has hit a 38-month high, at Rs 2,524 crore (US$ 547.18 million), according to the statistics from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
	Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has announced its plans to disburse Rs 1,000 crore (US$ 209.36 million) to microfinance companies in 2011.