Implications of the first neutral current data from SNO for Solar Neutrino Oscillation

We perform model independent and model dependent analyses of solar neutrino data including the neutral current event rate from SNO. The inclusion of the first SNO NC data in the model independent analysis determines the allowed ranges of ${}^{8}B$ flux normalisation and the ${\nu }_e$ survival probability more precisely than what was possible from the SK and SNO CC combination. We perform global ${\nu }_e-{\nu }_{active}$ oscillation analyses of solar neutrino data using the NC rate instead of the SSM prediction for the ${}^{8}B$ flux, in view of the large uncertainty in the latter. The LMA gives the best solution, while the LOW solution is allowed only at the $3\sigma$ level.