Updated on Thursday, July 02, 2009, 21:26 IST

New Delhi, July 02: Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said no public sector enterprise has approached the department seeking 'Maharatna' status for itself.

"No proposal from any PSU has been recently received in Department of Public Enterprises for grant of Maharatna status to it," the Minister said replying to a question in Lok Sabha.

The ministry while announcing its 100-day agenda last month had said it would enhance autonomy for large-sized, high profit-making Central Public Sector Enterprises as regards decisions relating to investment and mergers and acquisitions by upgrading their status to 'Maharatna' from 'Navratna'.

The ministry has also circulated a note "inviting comments, opinions, suggestions of various ministries" for the creation of the new category 'Maharatna'.

It is learnt that mega-sized oil and capital goods state-owned firms like ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, BHEL and NTPC could be included in the new coveted group.

Over the years, some of the 'Navratna' companies have grown "very big" and have been requesting the government for greater delegation of powers so as to help them further increase their operations, particularly in the global market.

Bureau Report