The Supreme Court on Monday termed as "infructuous" a plea seeking a direction to then UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to vacate a bungalow being used by him as his office in Lucknow besides occupying another house for residential purpose.

"This has become infructuous. He (Yadav) has lost the election and must have vacated the bungalows by now. He is no more the chief minister. How can he retain both the houses," a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said.

The bench then disposed of the appeal filed by NGO 'Lok Prahari' against the order of the Allahabad High Court in the matter.

The NGO had earlier moved the apex court alleging that Yadav has been using two official bungalows for residential and official purposes, respectively, and it was an illegal occupation.

The apex court had earlier said that it would hear the plea after conclusion of the assembly polls in the state.

It was alleged that the chief minister, who has an office in the State Secretariat, cannot retain an official bungalow besides his residence for official purposes.

Babies in the UK, Canada and Italy cry the most as compared to anywhere else in the world, according to the first study to create a universal crying chart for the newborns.

Researchers from University of Warwick in the UK also found that parents in Denmark and Germany deal with the least amount of crying and fussing.

They formulated the world's first universal charts for the normal amount of crying in babies during the first three months.

The team calculated the average of how long babies fuss and cry per twenty-four hours across different cultures in their first twelve weeks.

The highest levels of colic – defined as crying more than 3 hours a day for at least 3 days a week in a baby – were found in the UK with 28 per cent of infants at 1-2 weeks.

The colic rates in Canada were 34.1 per cent at 3-4 weeks of age and in Italy 20.9 per cent at 8-9 weeks of age.

In contrast, lowest colic rates were reported in Denmark – 5.5 per cent at 3-4 weeks and Germany – 6.7 per cent at 3-4 weeks.

Researchers also found that babies cry for around two hours per day in the first two weeks.

Crying generally peaks at around two hours fifteen minutes per day at six weeks – and reduces gradually to an average of 1 hour 10 minutes by the twelve week mark.

However, some infants were found to cry as little as 30 minutes, and others over 5 hours, in twenty-four hours.

"Babies are already very different in how much they cry in the first weeks of life – there are large but normal variations," said Dieter Wolke of University of Warwick.

"We may learn more from looking at cultures where there is less crying and whether this may be due to parenting or other factors relating to pregnancy experiences or genetic," Wolke said.

The study was published in The Journal of Pediatrics

Babies in the UK, Canada and Italy cry the most as compared to anywhere else in the world, according to the first study to create a universal crying chart for the newborns.

Researchers from University of Warwick in the UK also found that parents in Denmark and Germany deal with the least amount of crying and fussing.

They formulated the world's first universal charts for the normal amount of crying in babies during the first three months.

The team calculated the average of how long babies fuss and cry per twenty-four hours across different cultures in their first twelve weeks.

The highest levels of colic – defined as crying more than 3 hours a day for at least 3 days a week in a baby – were found in the UK with 28 per cent of infants at 1-2 weeks.

The colic rates in Canada were 34.1 per cent at 3-4 weeks of age and in Italy 20.9 per cent at 8-9 weeks of age.

In contrast, lowest colic rates were reported in Denmark – 5.5 per cent at 3-4 weeks and Germany – 6.7 per cent at 3-4 weeks.

Researchers also found that babies cry for around two hours per day in the first two weeks.

Crying generally peaks at around two hours fifteen minutes per day at six weeks – and reduces gradually to an average of 1 hour 10 minutes by the twelve week mark.

However, some infants were found to cry as little as 30 minutes, and others over 5 hours, in twenty-four hours.

"Babies are already very different in how much they cry in the first weeks of life – there are large but normal variations," said Dieter Wolke of University of Warwick.

"We may learn more from looking at cultures where there is less crying and whether this may be due to parenting or other factors relating to pregnancy experiences or genetic," Wolke said.

The study was published in The Journal of Pediatrics

Senior Congress leader and former Delhi minister AK Walia has threatened to quit the party, alleging irregularities in ticket distribution for the MCD polls.

"I have written a letter to Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken, complaining against irregularities and violation of party rules in ticket distribution and if things do not change, I will quit the party," Walia told PTI.

According to sources, Walia, who served as a state minister in the Sheila Dikshit government, was unhappy over party cancelling the ticket given to a woman candidate and replacing her with another candidate for the April 23 MCD elections.

Several other Congress leaders have alleged irregularities in ticket distribution with former Deputy Speaker and three-time MLA Amrish Singh Gautam today quitting party and joining the BJP.

There are 272 wards in three municipal corporations in the city, with 104 each in the South and North Delhi Municipal Corporation and 64 in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which are going to polls on April 23.

Senior Congress leader and former Delhi minister AK Walia has threatened to quit the party, alleging irregularities in ticket distribution for the MCD polls.

"I have written a letter to Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken, complaining against irregularities and violation of party rules in ticket distribution and if things do not change, I will quit the party," Walia told PTI.

According to sources, Walia, who served as a state minister in the Sheila Dikshit government, was unhappy over party cancelling the ticket given to a woman candidate and replacing her with another candidate for the April 23 MCD elections.

Several other Congress leaders have alleged irregularities in ticket distribution with former Deputy Speaker and three-time MLA Amrish Singh Gautam today quitting party and joining the BJP.

There are 272 wards in three municipal corporations in the city, with 104 each in the South and North Delhi Municipal Corporation and 64 in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which are going to polls on April 23.

Scientists have unveiled the details of a pioneering IVF technique that led to the birth of the world's first 'three-parent baby' last year, providing new hope to families with inheritable mitochondrial disorders to have healthy children in the future.

The procedure using mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) resulted in the birth of a healthy baby boy to a carrier of Leigh Syndrome, a progressive, fatal neurological disorder caused by a mutation in the mother's mitochondrial DNA.

MRT enabled the parents to have a healthy child after the loss of two children to Leigh syndrome.

The parents of the baby, a Jordanian couple, had been trying to start a family for almost 20 years. After suffering four miscarriages and the death of their first two babies, couple sought out the help of John Zhang and his team at the New Hope Fertility Centre in New York City.

The severity of the disease is associated with the percentage of affected mitochondria or the mutation load.

The mother is asymptomatic as her mutation load is only 24.5 per cent, less than half the expected 60 per cent threshold load for the disease.

Her son, born on April 6 last year after IVF with MRT, had a mutation load ranging from 2.36 to 9.23 per cent, depending on the tissues tested, well below the expected threshold for the condition. It is currently unknown whether the mutation load will remain the same throughout his life.

The researchers used an electrofusion technique to transfer the nuclear genome from the mother's egg (leaving behind most of the mother's mitochondria) to the cytoplasm of a donor egg containing only healthy mitochondria.

This egg was then fertilised by the father's sperm and transferred to the mother's womb and a baby boy was born at 37 weeks after an uneventful pregnancy.

Two methods of cell fusion have been used in the past by various groups researching MRT.

Most groups have utilised a virus to accomplish cell fusion, however, the extent of viral DNA carryover is unknown.

The other method involves a metered electrical pulse to initiate cell fusion. Comparably, electrofusion is a more demanding technically, but has no risk of viral DNA carryover.

The ovarian stimulation and egg collection procedures, mitochondrial replacement and fertilisation were carried out at a private fertility clinic in New York.

The frozen embryo was then transferred to an affiliated fertility clinic in Mexico, where it was implanted in the patient's womb.

"Thirty years ago it was discovered that certain rare diseases are associated with abnormal, mutated mitochondria in human cells," said Jacques Cohen, Director of the ART Institute of Washington.

"It is only now that the combination of this knowledge-base and clinical strategy has allowed the birth of a baby free of mitochondrial disease, after decades of ethical and political debate," said Cohen.

The research was published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online (RBMO).

Scientists have unveiled the details of a pioneering IVF technique that led to the birth of the world's first 'three-parent baby' last year, providing new hope to families with inheritable mitochondrial disorders to have healthy children in the future.

The procedure using mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) resulted in the birth of a healthy baby boy to a carrier of Leigh Syndrome, a progressive, fatal neurological disorder caused by a mutation in the mother's mitochondrial DNA.

MRT enabled the parents to have a healthy child after the loss of two children to Leigh syndrome.

The parents of the baby, a Jordanian couple, had been trying to start a family for almost 20 years. After suffering four miscarriages and the death of their first two babies, couple sought out the help of John Zhang and his team at the New Hope Fertility Centre in New York City.

The severity of the disease is associated with the percentage of affected mitochondria or the mutation load.

The mother is asymptomatic as her mutation load is only 24.5 per cent, less than half the expected 60 per cent threshold load for the disease.

Her son, born on April 6 last year after IVF with MRT, had a mutation load ranging from 2.36 to 9.23 per cent, depending on the tissues tested, well below the expected threshold for the condition. It is currently unknown whether the mutation load will remain the same throughout his life.

The researchers used an electrofusion technique to transfer the nuclear genome from the mother's egg (leaving behind most of the mother's mitochondria) to the cytoplasm of a donor egg containing only healthy mitochondria.

This egg was then fertilised by the father's sperm and transferred to the mother's womb and a baby boy was born at 37 weeks after an uneventful pregnancy.

Two methods of cell fusion have been used in the past by various groups researching MRT.

Most groups have utilised a virus to accomplish cell fusion, however, the extent of viral DNA carryover is unknown.

The other method involves a metered electrical pulse to initiate cell fusion. Comparably, electrofusion is a more demanding technically, but has no risk of viral DNA carryover.

The ovarian stimulation and egg collection procedures, mitochondrial replacement and fertilisation were carried out at a private fertility clinic in New York.

The frozen embryo was then transferred to an affiliated fertility clinic in Mexico, where it was implanted in the patient's womb.

"Thirty years ago it was discovered that certain rare diseases are associated with abnormal, mutated mitochondria in human cells," said Jacques Cohen, Director of the ART Institute of Washington.

"It is only now that the combination of this knowledge-base and clinical strategy has allowed the birth of a baby free of mitochondrial disease, after decades of ethical and political debate," said Cohen.

The research was published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online (RBMO).

After eight months of her Olympic defeat, India's undisputed shuttle queen PV Sindhu on Sunday defeated Carolina Marin in straight games 21-19, 21-16 in the final to win her maiden India Open title.

At the women’s singles final of the 2016 Rio Olympics. it was sheer emotional connect that the whole nation established with Sindhu. She sealed the first game by 21-19 in a hard-fought clash and thus, united the whole nation that demanded an Olympic gold medal from her. With every serve and return, people’s hearts were beating in sync.

This was probably the first time when Indians were watching a game, other than cricket, with the same intensity of an India vs Pakistan cricket match.

Spanish shuttler Carolina Marin bounced back and clinched the second game by 21-12. It was heartbreak for the spectators. While keeping their fingers crossed, every soul prayed for Sindhu’s strong return in the final game.

Although Marin won the third game by 21-15, shattering India’s dream of an Olympic gold medal, the Olympic silver was still a stellar and first ever in the history of Indian badminton sport.

Following the victory on Sunday, the Hyderabadi girl will rise to the second rank in BWF World Rankings, leapfrogging the third-ranked Marin.

Head-to-head, Sindhu and Marin have played each other in nine matches so far with the Indian trailing the Spaniard 4-5.

The two faced each other for the first time in the Maldives International Badminton Challenge 2011 that Sindhu won (21-7 15-21 21-13) in her initial days of international badminton.

Marin knew Sindhu, then a 15-year-old girl, has something exceptional in her. She decoded all her skills and came up stronger to mark her dominance thereafter.

The southpaw shuttler rattled Sindhu in straight games in next three consecutive clashes. Sindhu suffered a 17-21 17-21, 17-21 15-21 and 13-21 13-21 defeat in the Star Australian Badminton Open 2014, Li Ning BWF World Championships 2014 and Syed Modi International Badminton Championships 2015 respectively.

The Yonex Denmark Open in 2015 was marked as Sindhu's strong reply against mighty Marin. She registered a 21-15, 18-21, 21-17 win over second-seeded Marin in the semi-final event.

Marin returned to dominate the Indian shuttler in Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open 2015 as she outclassed her by 21-17, 21-9, followed by the Olympic victory.

In December last year, Sindhu registered a 21-17, 21-13 victory against Marin in a group-stage match of Dubai World Superseries Finals.

Watching Sindhu play against the two-time world champion Marin now, one could witness tremendous improvement in her game and a well-boosted self-confidence.

The competition has turned intense with the passage of time and whenever the two clash, they result with sparkling action. However, badminton enthusiasts always ask for more from these two badminton powerhouses.

After eight months of her Olympic defeat, India's undisputed shuttle queen PV Sindhu on Sunday defeated Carolina Marin in straight games 21-19, 21-16 in the final to win her maiden India Open title.

At the women’s singles final of the 2016 Rio Olympics. it was sheer emotional connect that the whole nation established with Sindhu. She sealed the first game by 21-19 in a hard-fought clash and thus, united the whole nation that demanded an Olympic gold medal from her. With every serve and return, people’s hearts were beating in sync.

This was probably the first time when Indians were watching a game, other than cricket, with the same intensity of an India vs Pakistan cricket match.

Spanish shuttler Carolina Marin bounced back and clinched the second game by 21-12. It was heartbreak for the spectators. While keeping their fingers crossed, every soul prayed for Sindhu’s strong return in the final game.

Although Marin won the third game by 21-15, shattering India’s dream of an Olympic gold medal, the Olympic silver was still a stellar and first ever in the history of Indian badminton sport.

Following the victory on Sunday, the Hyderabadi girl will rise to the second rank in BWF World Rankings, leapfrogging the third-ranked Marin.

Head-to-head, Sindhu and Marin have played each other in nine matches so far with the Indian trailing the Spaniard 4-5.

The two faced each other for the first time in the Maldives International Badminton Challenge 2011 that Sindhu won (21-7 15-21 21-13) in her initial days of international badminton.

Marin knew Sindhu, then a 15-year-old girl, has something exceptional in her. She decoded all her skills and came up stronger to mark her dominance thereafter.

The southpaw shuttler rattled Sindhu in straight games in next three consecutive clashes. Sindhu suffered a 17-21 17-21, 17-21 15-21 and 13-21 13-21 defeat in the Star Australian Badminton Open 2014, Li Ning BWF World Championships 2014 and Syed Modi International Badminton Championships 2015 respectively.

The Yonex Denmark Open in 2015 was marked as Sindhu's strong reply against mighty Marin. She registered a 21-15, 18-21, 21-17 win over second-seeded Marin in the semi-final event.

Marin returned to dominate the Indian shuttler in Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open 2015 as she outclassed her by 21-17, 21-9, followed by the Olympic victory.

In December last year, Sindhu registered a 21-17, 21-13 victory against Marin in a group-stage match of Dubai World Superseries Finals.

Watching Sindhu play against the two-time world champion Marin now, one could witness tremendous improvement in her game and a well-boosted self-confidence.

The competition has turned intense with the passage of time and whenever the two clash, they result with sparkling action. However, badminton enthusiasts always ask for more from these two badminton powerhouses.

Priyanka Chopra has defeated famous personalities like Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Blake Lively and Michelle Obama to become the second most beautiful woman in the world.

In a poll done by LA based photo, journal, and video-sharing social media network, BuzzNet, Priyanka is just behind Pop diva Beyonce, who is topping the list.

The 34-year-old star took to Twitter to share the list and thanked her fans for voting.

"Thank u @BUZZNET and all who voted. @Beyonce is my number one too," Priyanka wrote.

Model and Victoria's Secret angel Taylor Hill is at number three followed by Watson, Dakota Johnson and Hillary Clinton at fourth, fifth and sixth position respectively.

Jolie is on eighth number, while this year's Oscar winner Emma Stone is at number 12.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid is on 13 position and the former first lady of the US is on number 21.

The list also includes "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Vikander, Margot Robbie, and Priyanka's "Baywatch" co-star Alexandra Daddario.

Priyanka Chopra has defeated famous personalities like Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Blake Lively and Michelle Obama to become the second most beautiful woman in the world.

In a poll done by LA based photo, journal, and video-sharing social media network, BuzzNet, Priyanka is just behind Pop diva Beyonce, who is topping the list.

The 34-year-old star took to Twitter to share the list and thanked her fans for voting.

"Thank u @BUZZNET and all who voted. @Beyonce is my number one too," Priyanka wrote.

Model and Victoria's Secret angel Taylor Hill is at number three followed by Watson, Dakota Johnson and Hillary Clinton at fourth, fifth and sixth position respectively.

Jolie is on eighth number, while this year's Oscar winner Emma Stone is at number 12.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid is on 13 position and the former first lady of the US is on number 21.

The list also includes "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Vikander, Margot Robbie, and Priyanka's "Baywatch" co-star Alexandra Daddario.

Priyanka Chopra has defeated famous personalities like Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Blake Lively and Michelle Obama to become the second most beautiful woman in the world.

In a poll done by LA based photo, journal, and video-sharing social media network, BuzzNet, Priyanka is just behind Pop diva Beyonce, who is topping the list.

The 34-year-old star took to Twitter to share the list and thanked her fans for voting.

"Thank u @BUZZNET and all who voted. @Beyonce is my number one too," Priyanka wrote.

Model and Victoria's Secret angel Taylor Hill is at number three followed by Watson, Dakota Johnson and Hillary Clinton at fourth, fifth and sixth position respectively.

Jolie is on eighth number, while this year's Oscar winner Emma Stone is at number 12.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid is on 13 position and the former first lady of the US is on number 21.

The list also includes "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Vikander, Margot Robbie, and Priyanka's "Baywatch" co-star Alexandra Daddario.

Manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in five months in March, marking the third straight month of expansion, on strong surge in domestic and export orders, a monthly survey showed on Monday.

The survey also showed that the inflationary pressure eased in the sector as input prices rose at a slower pace and the corresponding easing of output prices helped boost demand.

The Nikkei Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) — an indicator of manufacturing activity — increased to a five-month high of 52.5 in March, from 50.7 in February.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while any score below the mark means contraction.

The factory output grew fast as order books expanded at the quickest pace since the demonetisation move, which had hit the manufacturing as well as services sector hard in a largely cash-dependent economy.

This is the third consecutive month of expansion in the manufacturing sector after the demonetisation-induced contraction during November-December period.

"PMI data for March reveal positive developments in the Indian manufacturing sector. Rates of expansion in factory orders and production accelerated again, encouraging some companies to scale up their input buying and take on additional workers," said Pollyanna De Lima, Economist at IHS Markit and author of the report.

On the prices front, the report said although both input costs and output charges rose further, inflation rates softened from February. During March, the rate of inflation slowed to the weakest in four months and was below the long-run survey average.

"Given that input costs rose at a softer pace, a whopping 96 per cent of goods producers kept their selling prices unchanged over the month," Lima added.

The Reserve Bank in its policy review meet on February 8 kept key interest rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent and said it is awaiting for more clarity on the inflation trend and impact of demonetisation on growth.

The next meeting of the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) is scheduled this week for April 5-6, 2017.

Going ahead, the survey painted a bullish outlook as business confidence among manufacturers improved in March, with almost one-fifth of panelists expecting output levels at their units to be higher in 12 months' time.

Lima said production volumes are likely to rise further as businesses will seek to replenish their stocks.

"Indeed, we saw a marked drop in inventories of finished items, alongside a stronger degree of confidence towards the year-ahead outlook for output," she added.

Commenting on the PMI data, Capital Economics' India economist Shilan Shah said the latest figures affirm that the economy is on a firmer footing after the hit to activity from demonetisation.

"Looking ahead, manufacturers should continue to recover over the near term, but the sector still faces bigger structural constraints," Shah said in a note.

"Looking ahead, we expect domestic demand to recover gradually as new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes become more widely available and also as more people switch to digital payments.

This should boost the near-term prospects for manufacturers," he added.

At the same time, the longer-term outlook depends on the government's reform agenda, the economist said.

"… While the government's political capital has increased, there is no clear indication that Prime Minister Narendra Modi actually has the conviction to push ahead with necessary but unpopular reforms that would boost manufacturing, including on the labour market and land acquisition. For now at least, a sustained pick up in manufacturing seems unlikely," he added.

Manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in five months in March, marking the third straight month of expansion, on strong surge in domestic and export orders, a monthly survey showed on Monday.

The survey also showed that the inflationary pressure eased in the sector as input prices rose at a slower pace and the corresponding easing of output prices helped boost demand.

The Nikkei Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) — an indicator of manufacturing activity — increased to a five-month high of 52.5 in March, from 50.7 in February.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while any score below the mark means contraction.

The factory output grew fast as order books expanded at the quickest pace since the demonetisation move, which had hit the manufacturing as well as services sector hard in a largely cash-dependent economy.

This is the third consecutive month of expansion in the manufacturing sector after the demonetisation-induced contraction during November-December period.

"PMI data for March reveal positive developments in the Indian manufacturing sector. Rates of expansion in factory orders and production accelerated again, encouraging some companies to scale up their input buying and take on additional workers," said Pollyanna De Lima, Economist at IHS Markit and author of the report.

On the prices front, the report said although both input costs and output charges rose further, inflation rates softened from February. During March, the rate of inflation slowed to the weakest in four months and was below the long-run survey average.

"Given that input costs rose at a softer pace, a whopping 96 per cent of goods producers kept their selling prices unchanged over the month," Lima added.

The Reserve Bank in its policy review meet on February 8 kept key interest rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent and said it is awaiting for more clarity on the inflation trend and impact of demonetisation on growth.

The next meeting of the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) is scheduled this week for April 5-6, 2017.

Going ahead, the survey painted a bullish outlook as business confidence among manufacturers improved in March, with almost one-fifth of panelists expecting output levels at their units to be higher in 12 months' time.

Lima said production volumes are likely to rise further as businesses will seek to replenish their stocks.

"Indeed, we saw a marked drop in inventories of finished items, alongside a stronger degree of confidence towards the year-ahead outlook for output," she added.

Commenting on the PMI data, Capital Economics' India economist Shilan Shah said the latest figures affirm that the economy is on a firmer footing after the hit to activity from demonetisation.

"Looking ahead, manufacturers should continue to recover over the near term, but the sector still faces bigger structural constraints," Shah said in a note.

"Looking ahead, we expect domestic demand to recover gradually as new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes become more widely available and also as more people switch to digital payments.

This should boost the near-term prospects for manufacturers," he added.

At the same time, the longer-term outlook depends on the government's reform agenda, the economist said.

"… While the government's political capital has increased, there is no clear indication that Prime Minister Narendra Modi actually has the conviction to push ahead with necessary but unpopular reforms that would boost manufacturing, including on the labour market and land acquisition. For now at least, a sustained pick up in manufacturing seems unlikely," he added.

Manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in five months in March, marking the third straight month of expansion, on strong surge in domestic and export orders, a monthly survey showed on Monday.

The survey also showed that the inflationary pressure eased in the sector as input prices rose at a slower pace and the corresponding easing of output prices helped boost demand.

The Nikkei Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) — an indicator of manufacturing activity — increased to a five-month high of 52.5 in March, from 50.7 in February.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while any score below the mark means contraction.

The factory output grew fast as order books expanded at the quickest pace since the demonetisation move, which had hit the manufacturing as well as services sector hard in a largely cash-dependent economy.

This is the third consecutive month of expansion in the manufacturing sector after the demonetisation-induced contraction during November-December period.

"PMI data for March reveal positive developments in the Indian manufacturing sector. Rates of expansion in factory orders and production accelerated again, encouraging some companies to scale up their input buying and take on additional workers," said Pollyanna De Lima, Economist at IHS Markit and author of the report.

On the prices front, the report said although both input costs and output charges rose further, inflation rates softened from February. During March, the rate of inflation slowed to the weakest in four months and was below the long-run survey average.

"Given that input costs rose at a softer pace, a whopping 96 per cent of goods producers kept their selling prices unchanged over the month," Lima added.

The Reserve Bank in its policy review meet on February 8 kept key interest rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent and said it is awaiting for more clarity on the inflation trend and impact of demonetisation on growth.

The next meeting of the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) is scheduled this week for April 5-6, 2017.

Going ahead, the survey painted a bullish outlook as business confidence among manufacturers improved in March, with almost one-fifth of panelists expecting output levels at their units to be higher in 12 months' time.

Lima said production volumes are likely to rise further as businesses will seek to replenish their stocks.

"Indeed, we saw a marked drop in inventories of finished items, alongside a stronger degree of confidence towards the year-ahead outlook for output," she added.

Commenting on the PMI data, Capital Economics' India economist Shilan Shah said the latest figures affirm that the economy is on a firmer footing after the hit to activity from demonetisation.

"Looking ahead, manufacturers should continue to recover over the near term, but the sector still faces bigger structural constraints," Shah said in a note.

"Looking ahead, we expect domestic demand to recover gradually as new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes become more widely available and also as more people switch to digital payments.

This should boost the near-term prospects for manufacturers," he added.

At the same time, the longer-term outlook depends on the government's reform agenda, the economist said.

"… While the government's political capital has increased, there is no clear indication that Prime Minister Narendra Modi actually has the conviction to push ahead with necessary but unpopular reforms that would boost manufacturing, including on the labour market and land acquisition. For now at least, a sustained pick up in manufacturing seems unlikely," he added.

High on confidence after their resounding 3-0 win over defending I-League champions Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan will look to register their first victory in the AFC Cup preliminary round when they take on Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka in a Group E football tie at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium on Tuesday.

Bagan lost their opening game to Bengaluru at the latter's den by a 1-2 margin. But the green and maroon brigade avenged the defeat in style as their Japanese playmaker Yusa Katsumi scored a brace and Scotish striker Darryl Duffy netted one to help them trounce Bengaluru 3-0 at home.

Haitian star Sony Norde was the orchestrator in all the three goals, displaying sublime skills to brush aside his rivals. 

Norde showed no signs of fatigue after a long travel due to national team commitments as he spurred the Bagan faithfuls at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium with his superlative display.

But Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen seems to be preferring the I-League title charge more than the AFC Cup contrary to Bengaluru whose ambitions of defending the domestic crown have all but gone up in smoke.

Barely three days after the I-League game and with the all-important Kolkata derby coming up against second-placed arch-rivals East Bengal, the third-placed side's coach would be keen to rest his important players.

Abahani Dhaka meanwhile, would look to put up a spirited show on the road after losing 0-2 to Maldives' Maziya Sports & Recreation in their first AFC Cup match.

They would, in all likelihood, miss the services of Ghanian defender Samad Yussif, who failed to procure his visa, it was learnt. The 2016 Bangladesh Premier League champions usually line up in a 5-2-3 formation. Nigerian forward Emeka Onuoha and Welsh striker Jonathan Brown are the other two foreigners who ave arrived.

Both Bagan and Abahani Dhaka are still to open their account so far from one outing.

High on confidence after their resounding 3-0 win over defending I-League champions Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan will look to register their first victory in the AFC Cup preliminary round when they take on Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka in a Group E football tie at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium on Tuesday.

Bagan lost their opening game to Bengaluru at the latter's den by a 1-2 margin. But the green and maroon brigade avenged the defeat in style as their Japanese playmaker Yusa Katsumi scored a brace and Scotish striker Darryl Duffy netted one to help them trounce Bengaluru 3-0 at home.

Haitian star Sony Norde was the orchestrator in all the three goals, displaying sublime skills to brush aside his rivals. 

Norde showed no signs of fatigue after a long travel due to national team commitments as he spurred the Bagan faithfuls at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium with his superlative display.

But Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen seems to be preferring the I-League title charge more than the AFC Cup contrary to Bengaluru whose ambitions of defending the domestic crown have all but gone up in smoke.

Barely three days after the I-League game and with the all-important Kolkata derby coming up against second-placed arch-rivals East Bengal, the third-placed side's coach would be keen to rest his important players.

Abahani Dhaka meanwhile, would look to put up a spirited show on the road after losing 0-2 to Maldives' Maziya Sports & Recreation in their first AFC Cup match.

They would, in all likelihood, miss the services of Ghanian defender Samad Yussif, who failed to procure his visa, it was learnt. The 2016 Bangladesh Premier League champions usually line up in a 5-2-3 formation. Nigerian forward Emeka Onuoha and Welsh striker Jonathan Brown are the other two foreigners who ave arrived.

Both Bagan and Abahani Dhaka are still to open their account so far from one outing.