Baba Ramdev's fast began on Saturday morning, a day after after the centre's bid to meet the yoga guru's demands halfway failed. Even as two senior ministers, Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay, held five-hour-long talks with the yoga guru on Friday, the government held out on a few key demands.

Also see: Mere promises in govt's action taken report

These include death penalty for the corrupt, direct election of prime minister and withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

However, the government assured the yoga guru that it would declare black money stashed away in tax havens abroad national asset and make or strengthen laws to recover it.

The government also agreed to set up fast-track courts for corruption cases and introduce a public service delivery bill in parliament soon. Baba's demand for technical education in regional languages too found ready acceptance by the centre, as did wider consultations on reforming legislation for land acquisition.

Significantly, though, most assurances appeared to be mere promises to be fulfilled at a later date.