The income tax authorities have put banks and companies disclosing losses in their foreign exchange derivative structures under the scanner. Banks and companies have been called to explain the extent of losses and structures initiated in both Indian and overseas markets through their branches and subsidiaries. The income tax department will then ascertain whether banks and companies entered into transactions to hedge their portfolio or for purely speculative purposes.
The project is aimed at meeting the manpower requirements of India's rapidly growing economy, which currently faces a huge skill deficit at all levels of the job chain. The mission, which is expected to start functioning in four to five months from now, will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who will head an "apex committee" with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia as the vice-chairman.
While the economy has been averaging an annual growth rate of around 8.7 per cent for the last five years, the unorganised manufacturing sector is slowing down.
Citing the need for a more liberal regime for the banking and financial sector, RBI has opposed bilateral trade agreements. With no multilateral pacts with the WTO, the government had entered into free trade agreements, whose scope was later expanded to services, investment and even bilateral tax treaties. RBI has urged other countries such as UK, US and Europe to show reciprocity in granting branch licenses to Indian banks as they expect a similar treatment from India.
Some large companies said the measure would broaden and deepen the equity cult in the country, but feel that a blanket 25 per cent minimum public shareholding norm should not be applied indiscriminately to all companies. The ministry had floated the paper on February 1 and asked for public comments by the month-end. The minimum public shareholding limit now is 10 per cent.
Rise in euro against the dollar is benefitting exporters trading the currency. Traders book forward deals to benefit from bullish European currency.
Even as the debate over off-Budget liabilities continues, former finance ministry bureaucrats and leading economists say it's time the government went beyond the targets in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.
Wants CBDT to plug loophole in the system.
The Income Tax department has suggested an amendment for taxation of bad debt to the Central Board of Direct Taxes
Many financial sector reforms suggested by the Percy Mistry Committee may not figure in Budget 2008-09.
The Reserve Bank of India has told parliamentarians that it is concerned over the stock market exposure of various non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) promoted by leading banks in the country.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has clarified that only the premium collected for providing health cover in the case of unit-linked health insurance policies will be eligible for tax benefits.
Move targeted at companies with high promoter holdings.
On Tuesday, the 32-member Parliamentary Committee is understood to have met officials of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, stock exchanges, various brokers, Unit Trust of India, Life Insurance Corporation and State Bank of India. The committee is expected to meet officials of the finance ministry next week.
According to sources close to development, the paper proposes four new concepts for making the taxation of foreign companies in India and foreign transaction of Indian companies, especially overseas mergers and acquisitions, more transparent.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has proposed that the sale of capital assets of a company operating in India, but registered overseas
Banks raising one-year deposits at 9.75% to meet MF, pension fund redemptions.
The Reserve Bank of India is not in favour of the government subscribing to State Bank of India's rights issue through bonds on grounds that it does not conform to good corporate governance.
"This is the result of tighter fiscal discipline imposed by the fiscal responsibility framework ... and an optimistic revenue outlook driven by the buoyancy in revenue collections during the last three years of the 10th Plan," the 11th Plan document points out.
Weights of the fuel group are set to rise in the revised Wholesale Price Index.
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