Arup Roychoudhury &Amp; Somesh Jha

Stories by Arup Roychoudhury &Amp; Somesh Jha

'There should be an uptick in growth'

'There should be an uptick in growth'

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2020

'There are some encouraging signs.' 'Notice that we have not said 7%-plus, we are keeping it at 6% to 6.5%.'

WhatsApp Pay gets nod, eyes lion's share of market

WhatsApp Pay gets nod, eyes lion's share of market

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2020

Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp has secured regulatory approval for launching its digital payment platform -- WhatApp Pay -- in a phased manner, close to two years after the US-based company's pilot run.

Panel to examine fiscal, debt situation likely

Panel to examine fiscal, debt situation likely

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2020

The panel may include or seek inputs from former RBI Governor Urjit Patel, former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian, Sajjid Chinoy of the PM-EAC, Rathin Roy, among others.

Why EPFO blocked accounts of 1 mn employees

Why EPFO blocked accounts of 1 mn employees

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2020

The government has found about 900,000 beneficiaries of its flagship job formalisation scheme, the PMRPY, were ineligible in the first place as they were part of the formal economy even before the inception of the scheme. The EPFO has also recovered Rs 222 crore so far from the employers concerned.

Will bank customers pay for higher depositors' insurance?

Will bank customers pay for higher depositors' insurance?

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

'The banks cannot pass on the hike in premiums to its customers, according to the norms. The premium won't go up substantially in any case and may be hiked to 12-13 paise (per deposit of Rs 100 a year),' Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar said.

15th Finance Commission report: Devolution for FY20-21 cut marginally

15th Finance Commission report: Devolution for FY20-21 cut marginally

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2020

This is due to the newly formed Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, which will get funds from the Centre's share, which means devolution will be for 28 states compared to 29 earlier.

Govt wants Rs 10,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to bridge fiscal gap

Govt wants Rs 10,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to bridge fiscal gap

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2020

This demand comes at a time when the government is falling short of its revenue targets due to dwindling tax and low disinvestment receipts. It could account for the dividend in the upcoming Union Budget on February 1. RBI is, however, yet to take a final call on the government's demand and might decide on this at its central board meeting scheduled for February 15 in New Delhi.

15th FC may hike grants, cut devolution to states

15th FC may hike grants, cut devolution to states

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2020

Any reduction in devolution could aggravate the strained relations between the Centre and some opposition-ruled states on a number of issues, including CAA.

In Centre's fire sale: land, factories, apartments, office space

In Centre's fire sale: land, factories, apartments, office space

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2020

Processes are at an advanced stage for a number of assets of the Centre and central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) to be monetised. The assets include office space, apartments, factories, land, power transmission assets, sports stadia, gas pipelines, and telecom assets.

Budget maths won't be hit if oil is below $70

Budget maths won't be hit if oil is below $70

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2020

Oil sank to the lowest level in a month after shedding all of its gains from the US-Iran clash as traders waited to see whether any further hostilities will disrupt exports from the East Asia.

RBI plans to put weak private lenders under the hammer

RBI plans to put weak private lenders under the hammer

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

The banking regulator is seeking an early exit mechanism for private banks under Prompt Corrective Action.

Govt set to breach fiscal deficit target

Govt set to breach fiscal deficit target

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2020

If the fiscal deficit for the year can be maintained at Rs 7.04 trillion, the deficit as a percentage of GDP will slip to 3.44 per cent

JNU fallout: Professor quits statistics panel

JNU fallout: Professor quits statistics panel

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2020

C P Chandrasekhar, who has served on key statistical panels in the past both as a chairman and member, said he was present in the campus when the ruckus broke out on Sunday and found the incident "disturbing" and "unprecedented", and that it further undermined the faith in the system. Somesh Jha reports.

How Nirmalaji compares with earlier FMs

How Nirmalaji compares with earlier FMs

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2020

While the situation Sitharaman finds herself in may not be that good, how does it stack up against her three immediate predecessors Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and the late Arun Jaitley?

Budget 2020: FY21 growth rate likely to be pegged at 6-6.5%

Budget 2020: FY21 growth rate likely to be pegged at 6-6.5%

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2020

It is also likely to assume a deflator of around 4 per cent. That could take the nominal GDP outlook for FY21 to around 10 per cent. It is this nominal GDP forecast on the basis of which the finance ministry is calculating key Budget targets like the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP and tax revenue growth for the coming year.

Modi to review ministries' work in quest for turnaround

Modi to review ministries' work in quest for turnaround

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2020

Starting today, Modi and top officials in the Prime Minister's Office will be briefed by various central ministries and departments on their plans as well as agenda for the next five years. They will also apprise the PMO of the work they have done so far in realising the agenda of government's second term in office.

The men behind Sitharaman's 2nd Budget

The men behind Sitharaman's 2nd Budget

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2019

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her second Budget a little more than a month from now. Like any other FM, Sitharaman will depend on her team of bureaucrats and advisors to frame and present the Budget.

FinMin counters RBI, says stress in banking sector declining

FinMin counters RBI, says stress in banking sector declining

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2019

The net NPA ratio declined to 3.7 per cent in September 2019 from just below 4 per cent in March 2019, reflecting increased provisioning.

CBI told to use director identification number in notices to bankers

CBI told to use director identification number in notices to bankers

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2019

This, said Sitharaman, would remove the possibility of unauthorised communication "and consequent harassment", which was a cause of concern for bankers.

Govt for UPA-style bailout of NBFCs

Govt for UPA-style bailout of NBFCs

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2019

In 2009, the UPA government, had announced a slew of measures to boost liquidity in NBFCs. These included a scheme for providing liquidity support to NBFCs having assets size of over Rs 100 crore through a SPV.