Dilasha Seth &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee In New Delhi

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

How chana saved govt's plan to distribute free pulses

How chana saved govt's plan to distribute free pulses

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2020

Distributing chana is easier than other varieties of pulses as it only requires cleaning and sorting and can be consumed whole; it was also abundantly available with Nafed.

Google tax mop-up drops 30% in Q1

Google tax mop-up drops 30% in Q1

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2020

E-commerce companies that fall within the scope of the equalisation levy include Adobe, Uber, Udemy, Zoom.us, Expedia, Alibaba, Ikea, LinkedIn, Spotify, and eBay.

Will govt's move to limit use of herbicide glyphosate hit India's food security?

Will govt's move to limit use of herbicide glyphosate hit India's food security?

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2020

Kerala, Punjab, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are among the major agriculturally important states that have banned the use of glyphosate citing its adverse impact on human health.

Customs to clear pharma raw materials from China

Customs to clear pharma raw materials from China

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2020

Apart from them, consignments of 11 top importers, including LG, Samsung, Toyota, Honda, and Siemens, will also be allowed entry, relieving them of the 100 per cent inspection rule.

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2020

Data from department of agriculture showed that kharif crops had been sown in around 31.56 million hectares till Friday, which was 104.25 per cent more than the same period last year. Acreage of almost all crops was higher than last year.

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2020

Experts say while the increasing demand for a ban on Chinese goods might make for good optics, the reality is that India is still heavily dependent on that country in a wide range of industries like electronics, mobile devices, auto, pharma, telecom equipment, and fertilisers.

Corporate heavyweights give govt a breather

Corporate heavyweights give govt a breather

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2020

Tax department feels that the second quarter would be much better than the first quarter of the year as the economy has started improving.

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2020

Since March 2020, WPI food inflation rate continued to fall but the CPI-food inflation rose, signaling a breakdown in supply chain from the mandis to the final household.

Frozen parota eaten by well-off, so 18% GST fine: Govt

Frozen parota eaten by well-off, so 18% GST fine: Govt

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2020

According to government sources, frozen parota (layered flatbread) does not qualify as a staple item and is not eaten by the poor. It is consumed by a class that can afford to pay taxes, hence falls in the 18 per cent category with the likes of biscuits, pastries, and cakes.

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

Till date, MP has procured around 12.77 million tonnes of wheat, which is expected to reach 13 million tonnes by the time the process ends in the next few weeks.

India's tax-to-GDP ratio plunges to a decade low of 9.88%

India's tax-to-GDP ratio plunges to a decade low of 9.88%

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

While the ratio determines the extent to which the government is able to finance its expenditure, it is also an indicator of tax compliance. Developed countries have a higher contribution of tax to their GDP.

How COVID-19 derailed govt's plan on GDP and CPI

How COVID-19 derailed govt's plan on GDP and CPI

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2020

The revision of the consumer price index and GDP base years from 2011-12 and 2012, respectively, were dependent on the outcomes of the consumer expenditure survey of 2017-18 that the government decided to junk recently.

Centre's agri market reform ordinance comes under fire

Centre's agri market reform ordinance comes under fire

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2020

Kiran Vissa, co-convenor of National Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, said that amendments to the EC Act have nothing to do with farmers' welfare but instead meant to please big players and agriculture companies. This is because small and marginal farmers don't have the storage capacity to attract provisions of the EC Act.

States' GST woes mount as April collections plunge

States' GST woes mount as April collections plunge

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2020

The Centre managed to collect only Rs 990 crore as compensation cess in April 2020-21, almost one-ninth of the figure of Rs 8,874 crore mopped up a year ago. The subdued collection would further increase states' problems unless the GST Council, which meets next week, decides to borrow from the market.

US to probe India's 'Google tax'; levy non-discriminatory, says govt

US to probe India's 'Google tax'; levy non-discriminatory, says govt

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2020

The US Trade Representative's (USTR) office will also conduct the Section 301 probe against nine others, including Austria, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the Czech Republic, the UK, and the EU, for levying or considering digital services taxes "discriminating against US companies".

Big changes in I-T return forms. Read to find the details

Big changes in I-T return forms. Read to find the details

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2020

Those spending over Rs 2 lakh on foreign travel, incurring more than Rs 1 lakh electricity bills, or depositing over Rs 1 crore in current account will have to mandatorily file ITR even if their total income is below the taxable limit. The last date for filing has been extended to Nov 30 from Jul 31.

Agriculture grew 4% in FY19-20, but what about this year?

Agriculture grew 4% in FY19-20, but what about this year?

Rediff.com   30 May 2020

As the growth figures relate to pre-Covid lockdown period it does not reflect the real picture of distress which unfolded from April onwards in the sector, when acute supply disruption led to sharp drop in prices of many commodities largely perishables impacting farmers.

All you want to know about the revised Form 26AS

All you want to know about the revised Form 26AS

Rediff.com   29 May 2020

The simplified form will comprise details of taxpayers' mutual fund transactions, pending and completed income tax proceedings, status of income tax demand, besides tax deducted at source and tax collected at source. Form 26AS is an annual tax credit statement containing details of various taxes deducted on income.

Locust invasion puts summer crop in many states at risk

Locust invasion puts summer crop in many states at risk

Rediff.com   27 May 2020

The locusts initially entered Rajasthan from Pakistan and from there the swarms moved towards Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab over the last few weeks and are now threatening to enter Uttar Pradesh, putting at risk the summer crop.

'Centre takes decisions without consulting states'

'Centre takes decisions without consulting states'

Rediff.com   17 May 2020

'The spirit of cooperation between the Centre and states has been diluted in many ways.' 'The level of consultation which used to be there earlier has reduced significantly.'