| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have to immediately address issues like an increase in oil prices and appointment of about a dozen secretaries at the Centre along with ambassadors to the US and the UK. |
| After the first Cabinet meeting of the new government today, secretaries of key ministries presented a must-do list to Singh. Sources said the new government might defer a decision on increasing oil prices. |
| "One of the options being considered is setting up of a price stabilisation fund to provide some sort of cushion to state-owned oil marketing companies," said a minister in the new government. |
| Global crude oil prices have shot up by over $6 a barrel since January with US light crude touching its 21-year high of nearly $42 a barrel and London Brent $39 a barrel. |
| Against this background, oil companies have been demanding an increase of Rs 4 and Rs 5 a litre in the prices of petrol and diesel, respectively. |
| The prices were last revised on January 1. The United Progressive Alliance government will also be required to fill key secretary-level slots falling vacant before July. |
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