Chronology of India’s nuclear journey

Following is the chronology of some key developments related to the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal:
1968: India refuses to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) on the grounds that it is discriminatory.
May 18, 1974: India conducts its first nuclear test.
March 10, 1978: US President Jimmy Carter signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act, following which US
ceases exporting nuclear assistance to India.
May 11-13, 1998: India tests five underground nuclear tests.
July 18, 2005: US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh first announce their intention
to enter into a nuclear agreement in Washington.
March 1, 2006: Bush visits India for the first time. March 3, 2006: Bush and Singh issue a joint statement on
their growing strategic partnership, emphasising their agreement on civil nuclear cooperation.
July 26, 2006: The US House of Representatives passes the ‘Henry J Hyde United States-India Peaceful
Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006,’ which stipulates that Washington will cooperate with New Delhi on
nuclear issues and exempt it from signing the Nonproliferation Treaty.
July 28, 2006: The Left parties demand threadbare discussion on the issue in Parliament.
November 16, 2006: The US Senate passes the ‘United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation and
US Additional Protocol Implementation Act’ to “exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of
1954 United States exports of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology to India.”
December 18, 2006: President Bush signs into law congressional legislation on Indian atomic energy.
July 27, 2007: Negotiations on a bilateral agreement between the United States and India conclude.
Aug 3, 2007: The text of the ‘Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of India concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy’ (123 Agreement) is released
by both governments.
Aug 13, 2007: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh makes a suo motu statement on the deal in Parliament.
Aug 17, 2007: CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat says the ‘honeymoon (with government) may be over
but the marriage can go on’.
Sept 4, 2007: UPA-Left committee to discuss nuclear deal set up.
Feb 25, 2008: Left parties say the UPA would have to choose between the deal and its government’s stability.
March 3, 2008: Left parties warn of ‘serious consequences’ if the nuclear deal is operationalised.
March 6, 2008: Left parties set a deadline asking the government to make it clear by March 15 whether it
intended to proceed with the nuclear deal or drop it.
March 7, 2008: CPI writes to the Prime Minister, warns of withdrawal of support if government goes ahead
with the deal.
March 14, 2008: CPI(M) says the Left parties will not be responsible if the government falls over the nuclear
deal.
April 23, 2008: Government says it will seek the sense of the House on the 123 Agreement before it is taken up for ratification by the American Congress.
June 17, 2008: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee meets Prakash Karat, asks the Left to allow the
government to go ahead with IAEA safeguards agreement.
June 30, 2008: Prime Minister says his government prepared to face Parliament before operationalising the
deal.
July 8, 2008: Left parties withdraw support to government.
July 9, 2008: The draft India-specific safeguards accord with the IAEA circulated to IAEA’s Board of Governors
for approval.
July 10, 2008: Prime Minister calls for a vote of confidence in Parliament.
July 14, 2008: The IAEA says it will meet on August 1 to consider the India-specific safeguards agreement.
July 18, 2008: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon briefs the IAEA Board of Governors and some NSG
countries in Vienna on the safeguards agreement.
July 22, 2008: Government is willing to look at “possible amendments” to the Atomic Energy Act to ensure that
the country’s strategic autonomy will never be compromised, says Prime Minister Singh.
July 22, 2008: UPA government wins trust vote in the Lok Sabha.
July 24, 2008: India dismisses warning by Pakistan that the deal will accelerate an atomic arms race in the
sub-continent.
July 24, 2008: India launches full blast lobbying among the 45-nation NSG for an exemption for nuclear
commerce.
July 25, 2008: IAEA secretariat briefs member states on India-specific safeguards agreement.
Aug 1, 2008: IAEA Board of Governors adopts India-specific safeguards agreement unanimously.
Aug 21-22, 2008: The NSG meet to consider an India waiver ends inconclusively amid reservations by some
countries.
Sep 4-6, 2008: The NSG meets for the second time on the issue after the US comes up with a revised draft
and grants waiver to India after marathon parleys.

Daughters of Mittal, Ambani and K P Singh top Forbes list

Riding high on their fathers’ richie-rich status, Vanisha Mittal, Isha Ambani and Pia Singh — daughters of Lakshmi Mittal, Mukesh Ambani and K P Singh respectively — have grabbed the top three rankings on a Forbes list of billionaire heiresses.

While many daughters and grand-daughters of the world’s wealthiest would never actually inherit a billion-dollar fortune, Indian-origin steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s daughter Vanisha Mittal Bhatia has emerged as the potentially richest among those standing to inherit a fortune, according to US business magazine Forbes .

Vanisha is followed by Isha Ambani, the richest resident Indian Mukesh Ambani’s only daughter, at the second rank, and another Indian billionaire K P Singh’s daughter Pia Singh at the third position in the Forbes list of the world’s likely- to-be richest heiresses.

Mittal was ranked as the fourth richest person in the world in March when Forbes published its annual rich list, followed by Mukesh Ambani at the fifth rank.

“Perhaps best known for the USD 60 million wedding her father threw for her in 2004, she (Vanisha) now serves as a director on the board of dad’s USD 103 billion steel company, ArcelorMittal,” Forbes said.

“Her corporate involvement and small family — she has only one brother — puts her in good stead to inherit a sizable chunk of her father’s fortune,” the magazine noted.

About 16-year-old Isha, it said that Mukesh Ambani’s only daughter is “just a teenager but already has her own stake in the family’s Reliance Industries, worth about USD 80 million.”

About Indian realty baron K P Singh’s daughter Pia Singh, ranked third in the heiresses list, the magazine said she already holds a stake worth USD 400 million in the country’s biggest real estate firm.

Apple Computer’s iPhone 3G launch in India

Apple Computer’s iPhone 3G launch in India to act as a catalyst for 3G mobile market The launch of the much-awaited iPhone 3G by Apple Computer’s has changed the face of the
Indian telecom market. Priced at US$ 700, the phone will be marketed in India by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar.
The phone offers superior sound quality amongst a host of other impressive features: support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, push services (for email, contacts, calendar) and VPN protocols besides a fullyfunctional
GPS system.
The launch of Apple’s iPhone has also triggered a deluge of smartphones from other companies. Mobile phone makers such as Nokia, Samsung, LG, Blackberry, HTC and Motorola have launched smartphones
which will include a host of high-tech features – full web browsing capabilities over Wi-Fi or high-speed data networks – including touchscreens.
With the launch of Apple iPhone 3G, the market for 3G phones is expected to grow at a phenomenal pace. India is likely to have 270 million 3G subscribers by 2013 according to Research agency Strategy Analytics’

VP, Wireless Practice, David A Kerr. Currently, India is the world’s fastest-growing wireless market with nearly 300 million subscribers.

But actual pricing is much high .Sticker price shock has spoiled the launch party of Apple’s iPhone in India, home to the world’s fastest-growing mobile market.The 3G or third generation phone sells for more than triple its US price tag in India — a new key battleground for makers of high-end mobile handsets thanks to its increasingly affluent middle-class.

The 3G or third generation phone sells for more than triple its US price tag in India — a new key battleground for makers of high-end mobile handsets thanks to its increasingly affluent middle-class.

The eight-gigabyte model of the phone, which includes a built-in iPod and a desktop-class web browser, sells for 31,000 rupees (712 dollars), while the 16 GB version goes for 36,100.

“I like its looks, but at that price I can get something cheaper that does as much.”said vijay one of Tech person .

A spokesman for India’s leading mobile company Bharti Airtel — which is selling the iPhone along with rival Vodafone Essar, owned by Britain’s Vodaphone Group Plc — said it was “not possible to give a (sales) trend.”

But, in what appeared to be an attempt to explain away the low buzz surrounding the product, he said the “iPhone is a very aspirational project — it’s not conceived of as a mass device.”

A manager at one New Delhi phone showroom, who did not want his name used, said sales of the iPhone so far were “not very good. We’ve had a few buyers and people just in to look at it.”

The Indian price is far higher than the 199 dollars paid by US customers to the telecom giant AT&T for the phone. AT&T heavily subsidises the phone and makes money by tying the customer to an expensive annual subscription.

But vendors say they are confident the  Apple gadget will find its place in the Indian market despite the higher price and the fact that India has yet to launch 3G networks needed to support faster browsing and downloads.

The Luxury Quotient

Luxury homes continue to dazzle in the wake of robust demand and keen investor
interest. check out some of the top offerings in the country
EVEN in the midst of low sentiments haunting the real estate sector, there is one segment that is totally unfazed by it all. Luxury homes continue to dazzle in the face of robust demand and keen investor interest in the segment. Royal offerings doled out one after the other by real estate
developers show that at least one buyer category has remained as loyal as before — the luxe home buyer. SundayET commissioned a survey to global real estate consultancy Cushman and Wakefield (C&W) to find out some top-of-the-line luxury offerings coming up in the five major cities of
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.
And here’s what they found. While the new luxury apartments in Delhi-NCR were valued at over Rs 10 crore, in Mumbai it easily crossed the 20 crore mark for a 4 BHK. It also found that among the new constructions around the National Capital Region (NCR), properties in Gurgaon commanded a premium, while sea-facing locations in the financial hub attracted the richie rich. Lavelle Road in Central Bangalore was much sought after as a luxury buy. And while Spanish villas in Hyderabad made an opulent statement, it were the spacious independent houses in Chennai that were the new luxury abode. In the survey, they included both projects which have been announced recently or the ones which though announced earlier, were only getting ready now.
Delhi NCR, in itself has at least seven extremely high-end projects. Top corporate honchos, expatriates and high networth individuals (HNIs) dominate DLF’s Magnolias located in DLF Phase V, Gurgaon. The apartments, which will be ready in 1-2 years can go up to a whopping Rs 10 crore with the average size of an apartment at roughly 5,500-10,000 sq ft. Attractive rental potential and substantial increase in capital values since 2005, the locational advantage of the golf course and improved connectivity via the operational Delhi–Jaipur 8-lane super expressway are some of the USPs of this project. Says Rajeev Talwar, executive group director, “Luxury apartments are taken up by actual users so demand will always remain…. Anyone who is buying such an apartment does so keeping a variety of factors in mind. Moreover, these are bought by those who have a surplus.”
Another project in Gurgaon, Ambience Group’s upscale Caitriona project, located in Ambi City NH-8 Gurgaon, will be coming up in 2-3 years and is priced at a royal 8 crore plus tag. Boasting of sevenstar living, it is located amidst the 150-acre Ambience Island premium integrated township.
Caitriona offers limited condominiums for a select few. A great golf course view, super premium international designing and complete furnishing for a readyto-live-in condominium, Caitriona flaunts snob value all the way.
Vipin Agrawal, executive director of Omaxe, feels that the current market scenario will have little effect on this segment. “Luxury homes are always in demand. Top CEOs and businessmen are the main occupants here. Hence, whatever be the market dynamics, there will always be an active demand for such projects.” The realtor has a luxury project, The Forest, adjoining the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, which sold for Rs 6,500/sq ft.
Spectacular views of the sea in the financial capital of Mumbai was seen as the sign of exclusivity and beauty. Lodha group’s Lodha Solitaire project offers just that on Napean Sea Road in South Mumbai, wherein each apartment offers a tranquil view. High-end amenities such as a mini theatre and an infinity-edge swimming pool further add to the glam quotient. Another project by the same developer, the 48-storey Lodha Bellissimo project features private pools, gardens, private staircases at a starting price of 8 crore for a 3BHK apartment!
However, it is the villas in Bangalore and Hyderabad that come through as a plush buy. Lavelle Road in Bangalore was found to be a much sought after address. Villas in Purva Grande located on Lavelle Road, Central Bangalore are commanding a premium owing to their strategic location. With prices starting at Rs 10 crore, the villas are replete with all leisurely comforts, including terrace pools and gardens. Occupants in another project on Lavelle Road — Mantri Altius by Mantri Developers were chosen personally by the realtor based on factors such as similar interests and non-competing businesses. The 17-floor super premium apartment occupies a built-up area of 85,000 sq ft in a prime locality in the city. Each apartment boasts of a 360-degree view of the city and security arrangements include biometric sensors, sirens and proximity cards. No wonder that the 5,000-6,000 sq ft apartments are in the range of Rs 10 crore upwards.
It’s a touch of Spain in Hyderabad that makes for some royal living. Spanish luxury villas Casa Estebana, developed by Koncept Ambience, are located in Kompally which is witnessing significant residential development primarily in the villa category. With prices starting at Rs 6.5 crore and
going up to Rs 17 crore, unique facilities such as a personal grooming centre, specialty restaurant, manicured landscaping with tree-lined streets and amphitheatre make it exclusive enough. An artificial lake with marine life and natural habitat for birds connect you with nature.
Chennai is no different. And as if taking the nature theme forward, Vijayshanthi Builders’ Raintree project in Alwarpet area in Central Chennai priced upwards of Rs 3 crore, features well landscaped surroundings with large water bodies. A skating rink, multi-purpose hall, water bodies and a
covered car park are some of the other elaborate amenities on offer here.
Besides luxury apartments, independent houses in Boat Club, Venus Colony, Poes Garden, Kotturpuram are preferred luxury residential areas.
Capital values range between Rs 15,000 per sq ft and Rs 25,000 per sq ft, with sizes above 4000-6000 sq ft. Tucked away from heavy traffic, these areas offer serene living. Spacious gardens, barbecue corners, entertainment areas in the garden and patios are additional features making these
houses much sought after. Majestic and palatial — these luxury residences are a dream buy. Exquisite facilities and charming decor basics makes them absolutely priceless.
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Service sector to give more revenue

The contribution of service tax to the country’s GDP is quite low at 1.1 per cent and the government expects to get more
revenue from this sector in future, a top official said.
Contribution of the service sector in the GDP is 56 per cent but the share of the service tax in the GDP is just 1.1 per cent,
Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), P C Jha, said here last night.
Jha said the service tax revenue is growing at a rapid pace, in 1994, service tax was imposed on three services and the rate of
duty then was five per cent, with service tax revenue at Rs 410 crore with 3900 service tax payers. Now, 106 services come
under tax and the rate of tax has gone up to 12.36 per cent.
The number of service tax players in the country now has gone up to 5.5 lakh and the service tax collection in 2007-08 was
51,113 crore. In spite of this rapid growth, the contribution of service tax to the GDP is only 1.1 per cent.
For the current year, the target for collection of service tax is Rs 64,460 crore, he said, adding, the department’s expectation is
that it would be exceeded.

Brand Value In Luxury Market

Emporio, home to 90 top-of-the-line brands, comes as a delight for the uber rich craving for luxury products .
LUXURY has a new address. DLF’s luxury mall, Emporio, in the capital has created a 3.38 lakh square-feet home for luxury brands in the country. For years, luxury brands in India have been limited to small confines within the five-star hotels. Less traffic in hotels and a limited scale of operation has always posed a problem for these brands. But Emporio, set to be open soon to public, comes as a delight for the uber rich who craved luxury watches, handbags, shoes and other lifestyle products,
but had a limited choice in the past.
What attracts you even before stepping inside the mall is the building itself. The huge display of brand names such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Burberry on the glass panels add to the pull factor.
Inside, it is 90 top-of-the-line brands, four levels and plenty of visual delights that Emporio brings for the luxury-starved consumer. As you enter the mall on a dry August day, the Mughal fountain teamed with an artistic display of plants gives a soothing and cool effect. The champagne coloured Italian marble and mosaic floor sparkle, lends an opulent yet elegant look to the mall. Nothing is over the top. Designed by architect Mohit Gujral, the mall has four floors that include spa, wine bar,atrium lounge and restaurants along with the shops. The interiors have been done in burnished wood with brass detailing.
Even the washrooms reflect the rich ‘n’ royal look and are spacious in themselves. Undoubtedly, every detail has been treated with careful attention in the mall.
Rentals, not surprisingly, are steep here. Retail rentals here can be between Rs 1,200-Rs 2,000/ sq ft, say sources. And while not all of these are open yet, some of the stores on the upper ground and first floor are ready for business.
Emporio has brought almost all the world’s luxury brands together under one roof. There are brands such as Cartier,Tod’s, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany’s, Zegna, Paul Smith, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, La Perla, Hugo Boss and Escada apart from the famous Indian fashion designers such as Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka, Tarun Tahliani, Abu and Sandeep Khosla, Ranna Gill et al. Several product categories jostle for a dekko, including apparel and fashion, accessories,watches, perfume, jewellery and lifestyle.
And it’s not just fashion or luxury that Emporio limits itself to. The dining arrangements, too, are classy. Terrace cafes,restaurants or confectionaries — the options are aplenty here. It’s like stepping into another realm — magnificent and majestic. The luxury customer need look no further. She can experience luxury’s one-stop-destination on her home turf

India set to export record quantity of basmati rice

india-emerging-market

India looks set to export a record quantity of basmati rice in the current fiscal. Last month, the official agency monitoring the export of basmati rice issued 658 registration-cum-allocation certificates (RCAC) to traders, enabling them to export 165,148 tonnes of basmati rice worth $252 million (Rs.10.08 billion). In July last year, by contrast, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had issued only 412 RCACs for exporting 84,926 tonnes of basmati rice. RCAC is a mandatory official approval traders have to acquire for exporting basmati rice. “There is an ever increasing demand for Indian basmati rice, known for superior quality,” Asit Tripathy, chairman and managing director of APEDA, told. “In terms of quality, Indian basmati is matchless. Our quality monitoring and delivery mechanism are good, giving us an edge in the world market,” he said. Some of the major importers of Indian basmati are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Britain, the US, Yemen, Canada, Iran, Germany, Oman, South Africa, France, Syria, Belgium, Australia and Germany. APEDA data shows Saudi Arabia imported 499,584 tonnes, Kuwait 109,067 tonnes and the UAE 104,998 tonnes of Indian basmati in 2006-07. Though in smaller quantities, Indian basmati has also found takers in Uganda, Angola, Congo, Botswana, Fiji, Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Romania, Chile and Suriname. India has around 53 per cent share in the global basmati market, and efforts such as buyer-seller meets, and increasing number of trade delegations abroad are being taken to expand the consumer base. Tripathy said between April and July this year, 3,242 RCACs for the export of 904,317 tonnes of basmati were issued, against 1,666 RCACs for 412,103 tonnes in the last corresponding period. It seems the government’s March 31 decision to increase minimum export price (MEP) for basmati to $1,200 per tonne has not impacted global demand for the commodity. “Almost 90 per cent RACs are honoured. As of now, we do not see any reason for a slowdown in the export of basmati rice,” said Navneesh Sharma, deputy general manager, APEDA. At present, basmati is exported to over 130 countries, and the government hopes to tap the huge markets of China and Mexico in a couple of years. “Efforts are on to enter the market of China and Mexico as well,” said Tripathy. As a trial, India had exported 54 tonnes of basmati to China in 2006-07. APEDA’s assessment says India’s export of basmati is increasing 20-30 percent every year. Exports jumped from 848,919 tonnes to 1.05 million tonnes in 2006-07. India had exported 597,793 tonnes in 1998-99. The government has set a production target of 129 million tonnes of basmati and non-basmati rice by 2011-12 on a growth rate of 3.7 percent along with other food grains.

Currency trading at NSE

NOT A FALSE
START
Currency derivatives trading got off to a curious start on Friday. Even as finance minister P Chidambaram rang the bell, the thread snapped! Finally, the FM had to ring the bell with his hands — not the kind of auspicious start you would have imagined. But in the actual ring, things were much better. Volumes were decent, backed by trade orders from banks and some brokerages.

Every Indian Will Go to mobile by 2012

Every 2nd Indian will go mobile by 2012
With India now adding 8-10 million mobile subscribers every month, up to half the nation’s population—or
one in every two citizens—will own a mobile phone in India by the middle of 2012.
According to Business Monitor International, a renowned London-based research firm, 612 million mobile
subscribers by 2012 will help India clock a mobile teledensity of roughly 51% by 2012. This scorching pace of growth is unlikely to falter unless the sector faces unforeseen policy disasters or if India’s operators fail to roll out their networks.
International Telecom Union’s (ITU) projections are in the same range.India is already the world’s second largest mobile market, behind China’s 500 plus million mobile subscriber base.
Increasing incomes, changing lifestyles and lower cost of technology are allowing more and more Indians to ride the telecom wave. The new numbers overtake earlier estimates, including from UBS, Citigroup and Credit Suisse,predicting a mobile population of 400-450 million by March 2010. Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers have been more even conservative, betting on a base of just 400 million by 2010.
However, India will reach this milestone in 2009 itself. India’s mobile revolution has been a huge social leveler, with the growing number of users tying a diverse nation in a manner rarely seen before.
Its youth are expected to contribute significantly to these surging numbers. Sir Richard Branson, founder, Virgin Group, which tied up with Tata Teleservices to launch branded services in India recently said, “An exciting market, with over 215 million Indians aged 14-25 years. Over the next three years we expect to be adding 50 million new youth subscribers.’’
While companies like Virgin are currently focused on the urban market, it is clear that the next set of growth will come from B and C category cities as well as rural India. Mobile penetration of this magnitude has the ability to revolutionalize long distance learning and health care quickly reaching some of the most far flung and difficult terrains.
Where mobile content is concerned most analysts agree that, largely on the back of India’s popular film industry,music services will grow very quickly, even if other content related revenue lags behind.
Given that a reasonable part of the population by 2010 will be children below 14 and senior citizens, it seems mobile access among the youth and working classes will be more in the range of 70-80%. In policy terms, government needs to quickly turn its focus on redirecting funds for rural mobile access, manage spectrum efficiently and invite multi-billion dollar investments at a pan-India level to fuel this already scorching telecom growth.

Now life insurance for 40% less

MUMBAI: Life protection has become far more affordable. The cost of
life insurance has come down by up to 40%, with Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) reducing the capital
that insurance companies need to sell term policies. For the second
time since the liberalisation of the insurance industry in 2000, there
has been a dramatic reduction in term-insurance rates, making life
protection a great deal cheaper.
Term policies are purely life covers as against endowment policies,
which have a sizeable savings component. While the premium for
endowment policies will also soften, the benefit will be more apparent
on term covers.
Among private life insurance companies, Kotak Life has announced
new rates, while newcomer Aegon Religare has announced term
rates, which, the company says, are the lowest in the industry.
Largest private life insurance company ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
is in the process of lodging new rates. The chief of Life Insurance
Corporation of India (LIC), the largest insurer in the country, said the
Corporation may review its term rates.
Kotak Life Insurance managing director Gaurang Shah said: “Two
developments have led us to reduce our rates. First, we had the
opportunity to review our own claims experience, since we introduced
preferred term for non-smokers six years ago. Also, the revised
solvency margin requirement introduced by IRDA in March has
brought down capital requirement by almost two-thirds, which has
helped bring down rates.”
Aegon Religare Life Insurance, which launched operations earlier this
month, has decided to use competitive pricing on term rates as an
edge. “We had decided to introduce a product with the lowest rate,
which is also supported by our campaign. Given our pricing, it is
possible for a 30-year old to get a Rs 10-lakh cover at only Rs 166 a
month,” said Aegon Religare Life Insurance CEO Rajiv Jamkhedkar.
When contacted, LIC chairman TS Vijayan said LIC was constantly
reviewing its term rates to retain its competitive advantage and any
improvement in mortality was always passed on in the form of lower
term rates.
In a statement issued here, Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance
said the new rates were almost 40% lower than the old rates. “The
rate reduction is partly as a result of the reduced solvency margin
requirements laid down by IRDA. A key player in both the group term
life and individual term life businesses, Kotak Life Insurance is among
the first life insurance companies to pass on this benefit to the
consumer,” the statement said.
However, agents of insurance companies said it is not always possible
to get the standard rates. It is very rare for a person to get standard
rates above the age of 40 with a few private companies, since these
companies have a very narrow range for various parameters defining
good health. These parameters include weight, blood pressure and
abdominal girth, among other things.