Dilasha Seth &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee In New Delhi

Stories by Dilasha Seth &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee In New Delhi

Advance tax collection zooms nearly 33% to Rs 1.41 trillion in Dec quarter

Advance tax collection zooms nearly 33% to Rs 1.41 trillion in Dec quarter

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2020

The robust revenue collection reinforces hope of a good economic performance in the third quarter of financial year 2020-21 after the surprising pickup seen in Q2.

As Vivad Se Vishwas scheme draws to close, tax officers face the heat

As Vivad Se Vishwas scheme draws to close, tax officers face the heat

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2020

While the declarations under the scheme have to be filed by December 31, 2020, the government had in October extended the deadline for making payment by three months till March 31, 2021, in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Contraction in direct tax mop-up slows in November

Contraction in direct tax mop-up slows in November

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2020

Personal income tax saw contraction shrink to 13 per cent by November from 22 per cent seen up to September, on the back of lower issuance of refunds and improvement in economic conditions.

Cracks in Sangh Parivar, BKS wants farm laws tweaked

Cracks in Sangh Parivar, BKS wants farm laws tweaked

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2020

'We were among the first organisations to voice our opposition to the three Acts long before anyone else and had sent memorandums collected from 3,000 tehsils across the country to the agriculture ministry to amend the Bills, but nothing was accepted,' says BKS general secretary Badri Narayan Chaudhary.

Despite road blocks, there's no shortage of potato, onion in Delhi

Despite road blocks, there's no shortage of potato, onion in Delhi

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2020

During this time of the year, potatoes and vegetables come from Punjab and Haryana.

Budget making exercise starts, health outlay may get 50% boost

Budget making exercise starts, health outlay may get 50% boost

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2020

Outlay for infra is also expected to see a significant increase in view of the government's Rs 111-trillion investment plan under the national infrastructure pipeline to develop social and economic infrastructure over five years.

States' own versions of farm Bills are falling short on farmers' needs

States' own versions of farm Bills are falling short on farmers' needs

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2020

Though the Bills of Punjab and Rajasthan have a lot of similarities, the one approved by the Chhattisgarh Assembly is structurally different. None of the three has tried to address a key demand of the agitating farmers in full, which is to make all payments below the MSP, within and outside mandis, illegal.

Data on India's burgeoning farm exports is not correct

Data on India's burgeoning farm exports is not correct

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2020

A closer look at the data reveals that a lot of the items are not part of this calculation. The notable ones include buffalo meat, marine exports, raw cotton, and plantation crops such as tea, coffee, rubber, etc.

Why food prices may remain high for a few months

Why food prices may remain high for a few months

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2020

'If you see the composition of items which are causing this spike in prices, most of them have little to do with the kharif harvest, except for pulses and vegetables to some extent.' 'I don't know on what basis the government is claiming that food prices will moderate in the weeks to come.'

'Economy is touching pre-Covid levels'

'Economy is touching pre-Covid levels'

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2020

'It is entering growth territory on a month-on-month basis.'

Abu Dhabi sovereign fund first to get 100% tax exemption in infra

Abu Dhabi sovereign fund first to get 100% tax exemption in infra

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2020

The government, under the Finance Act, 2020, had allowed tax exemption for SWFs and pension funds in the case of incomes from investment in 34 key infrastructure sectors, including hotels, cold chains, educational institutions, hospitals, and gas pipelines.

The Kerala minister who's fighting for states in GST Council

The Kerala minister who's fighting for states in GST Council

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2020

Thomas Isaac has been in and out of the national news in his role as Kerala's finance minister since 2018 for various path-breaking tax initiatives. But it is 2020 that he has become more prominent, principally in the GST council.

New farm laws a major boost for FPOs

New farm laws a major boost for FPOs

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2020

The reforms will help FPOs procure directly from farmers, something that they have been pressing for long.

Worsening Centre, states relation poses a 'threat to federalism'

Worsening Centre, states relation poses a 'threat to federalism'

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2020

When the Centre tries to encroach upon the subjects that are under the prerogative of the state, or where the centre tries to evade from any responsibility guaranteed to a state through a constitutional provision/obligation, it poses a threat to federalism.

Dissenting states want full borrowing by Centre for GST

Dissenting states want full borrowing by Centre for GST

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2020

Dissenting states including Chhattisgarh and Kerala, have made it clear they are in no mood to relent. They want the Centre to borrow the entire Rs 2.35 trillion this fiscal citing bleak fiscal position.

Traders want reduction in duty on chana, govt says no

Traders want reduction in duty on chana, govt says no

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2020

Chana is majorly imported from Australia and Tanzania and it attracts an import duty of 60 per cent. A section of the traders is demanding a reduction in import duty to around 35-40 per cent to tide over any shortage of the commodity as the new crop will start hitting the market only around mid-February.

Rise in exports helps India nearly halve trade gap with China

Rise in exports helps India nearly halve trade gap with China

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2020

Exports to China saw sustained double-digit growth for the fourth straight month in August, led by eightfold rise in iron and steel shipments.

First time in 60 years monsoon is above normal for two seasons in a row

First time in 60 years monsoon is above normal for two seasons in a row

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2020

This year, the monsoon was above normal in almost all parts, except in North-West India, which comprises the major grain producing states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, along with states such as Himachal Pradesh, the NCR, Uttarakhand, and J&K.

I-T department readies safeguard measures for e-assessment

I-T department readies safeguard measures for e-assessment

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2020

Any additions in demand made by a tax officer under the faceless assessment process for over Rs 5 lakh of income will undergo a rigorous review process before a final demand order is passed.

Agri Bills: Why Punjab and Haryana farmers are leading the protests

Agri Bills: Why Punjab and Haryana farmers are leading the protests

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2020

Data shows that the current system of decentralised marketing and centralised procurement helps Punjab and Haryana farmers the most, while its efficacy in other states has been poor. Experts and farm leaders say success of the laws rests heavily on implementation.