PRESS DIGEST - Indian Business News - Nov 2

NEW DELHI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Indian newspapers carried the following stories in their print or Web editions on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

BUSINESS STANDARD (www.business-standard.com)

* Tata Motors (TAMO.BO) is considering letting local garages assemble the Nano, the world's cheapest car, and sell it under different brand names.

* Beverages maker Tata Tea (TTTE.BO) is talking to global firms like PepsiCo (PEP.N) and Coca-Cola (KO.N) for distribution tie-ups.

ECONOMIC TIMES (www.economictimes.com)

* State-run banks like State Bank of India (SBI.BO) and Punjab National Bank (PNBK.BO) are planning to withdraw special home loan schemes, with interest rates as low as 8 percent in the initial years, by December.

* Fortis Healthcare (FOHE.BO) plans to open two budget hospitals with up to 200 beds each in 2011/12 that will treat patients at half the cost of its other hospitals.

MINT (www.livemint.com)

* Power Grid Corp of India (PGRD.BO) will bid to operate and maintain electricity transmission networks in Afghanistan.

FINANCIAL CHRONICLE (www.mydigitalfc.com)

* State Bank of India plans to raise 180 billion rupees in the last quarter of 2009/10. It will raise 80 billion rupees through a follow-on public offer and 100 billion rupees by issuing shares to the government.

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