The PPP framework for these projects, like building hospitals and schools, will be different from the existing regime for infrastructure.
In its drive against tax evasion, the finance ministry is planning to add to the list of high-value transactions required to be reported to the revenue department in annual information returns (AIRs).
Ministry wants to take views of industry on the issue, before giving its opinion to the Securities & Exchange Board of India.
Besides, as urbanisation spreads, the country will consume more wheat, pulses and less rice and coarse cereals in the coming years.
French auction was tried for two issues - NTPC Ltd and Rural Electrification Corporation - in 2009-10.
Says it is worried a general pardon will send wrong signal
It is now clear that the revised takeover code and the Bimal Jalan committee report will not be implemented soon and in the same form, since the finance ministry wants to seek industry views on these two sets of recommendations this month, before the market regulator could take a decision.
In the Budget for 2011-12, the government revised the tax mop-up target for 2010-11 to Rs. 4.46 lakh crore for direct taxes and Rs. 3.36 lakh crore for indirect taxes.
Finance ministry has halved the tax rate on foreign dividend from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, but the rebate is allowed only for the financial year 2011-12.
The Bill's 2007 version covered only MFIs not regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
Economic Affairs Secretary R Gopalan, who retains charge of financial services, has shown an ability to grasp ground realities in pushing critical reforms.
Even as some government departments have raised concerns on the Bill in its present form, the finance ministry has decided not to delay any further and may table it in Parliament next week.
"There is a lot of opposition from the garment industry, but we are not in favour of a complete rollback of the duty. We understand their concerns and will try to address these. We may simplify some procedures for them," said a finance ministry official.
As a step towards the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST), the finance ministry plans to come up with a discussion paper on a negative list for services by the end of the next month.
The working group on food and public distribution constituted under the chairmanship of Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia is likely to recommend using the numbers effectively for streamlining PDS.
The new limits for filing appeals by the Income Tax department before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), high courts and the Supreme Court have been revised to Rs 3 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh, respectively, from Rs 2 lakh, Rs 4 lakh and Rs 10 lakh.
The Bill - to centrally regulate microfinance institutions (MFIs) - may also cap the rates charged by these institutions or limit margins, that is, the difference between the rate charged from the borrower and the lender's cost of funds.
We thought if tax rates were not increased, manufacturing units would have more profits and that would be further invested in growth. Automatically, with growth, taxes go up.
Government will get an additional tax of Rs. 2,110 crore from proposed changes.
The National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange have given their in-principle approvals for collecting stamp duty.