Dilasha Seth And Somesh Jha

Stories by Dilasha Seth And Somesh Jha

Draft rules for gig workers are 'complex, confusing and shoddy'

Draft rules for gig workers are 'complex, confusing and shoddy'

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2020

Experts say, these leave many matters to the discretionary powers of bureaucrats, rather than providing them explicitly in the rules.

Revenue-starved govt asks cash-rich PSUs to pay quarterly dividends

Revenue-starved govt asks cash-rich PSUs to pay quarterly dividends

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2020

A communiqu sent by the department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) to the heads of all PSUs, said the move would help the government to get predictable and periodic dividends before Budget estimates are firmed up.

'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.'

Gig workers to make PF contribution, get social security for first time

Gig workers to make PF contribution, get social security for first time

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2020

According to the law, the contribution "should not be more than 5 per cent of the amount paid to gig workers. The government is likely to start seeking contribution from gig companies towards the fund from April 1, 2021.

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.

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.

Reskill or refund: Retrenched workers face Hobson's choice

Reskill or refund: Retrenched workers face Hobson's choice

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2020

If retrenched workers are unable to reskill within a fixed period of time, they will have to return the money given to them by the government. Moreover, they may be asked to pay back an interest on the sum transferred.

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.

New inflation index to impact DA, 30 mn govt staff to get more pay

New inflation index to impact DA, 30 mn govt staff to get more pay

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2020

However, the hike in salary for government officials may take some time as the Centre had earlier this year decided to put a freeze on any hike in the DA of its employees till July, 2021, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rules for hiring contract workers eased

Rules for hiring contract workers eased

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2020

However, the government has enacted an important change to the fixed-term employment framework that may help companies in handing out contractual jobs to its existing permanent workforce.

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.

Six months on, migrants caught between hope and despair

Six months on, migrants caught between hope and despair

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2020

Six months after the lockdown was imposed, two dozen migrant workers were interviewed across five villages of Prayagraj. As the economy opens up, most of them are either hunting for a job or desperately waiting for a phone call from their previous employers. But the bruises of the lockdown are still fresh in their minds. Somesh Jha reports.

Codes give more power to states to be flexible on labour laws

Codes give more power to states to be flexible on labour laws

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2020

The move will help industries in pushing authorities for exemption under various labour laws at a micro-level, along with demanding changes to bring greater flexibility in their operations related to retrenchment, safety standards, and collective bargaining.

Govt issues Covid-19 safe workplace guidelines

Govt issues Covid-19 safe workplace guidelines

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2020

While demanding more outdoor air ventilation, the strategy document calls for a structural modification in the workplace.

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.

Retrenchment norms: Govt says it won't be 'hire and fire'

Retrenchment norms: Govt says it won't be 'hire and fire'

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2020

The government further defended its move to introduce fixed-term employment, insisting that the present system of hiring workers through contractors is exploitative.

NPAs under Mudra scheme rise to 5% for public sector banks

NPAs under Mudra scheme rise to 5% for public sector banks

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2020

Former RBI governors Urjit Patel and Raghuram Rajan have also expressed worry about the Mudra scheme, particularly government's target-setting practice and the rising bad loans.

21 states opt for Rs 97,000-crore RBI window to meet GST shortfall

21 states opt for Rs 97,000-crore RBI window to meet GST shortfall

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2020

This may leave those not opting for any of the two options offered by the Centre before the GST Council meet scheduled for October 5 in the lurch. It is clear from the present situation that these states will have to wait till June 2022 to get their compensation, subject to the council extending the cess collection period beyond June 30, 2022.

Advance tax mop-up declines 25%

Advance tax mop-up declines 25%

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2020

Mumbai, which contributes about 30 per cent of country's direct collections, saw the rate of contraction in advance tax collection lower to 20 per cent as against an over 33 per cent decline in Q1.