Harsh Kumar, Shrimi Choudhary

Stories by Harsh Kumar, Shrimi Choudhary

Indian banks in Canada fear biz loss amid row

Indian banks in Canada fear biz loss amid row

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2024

If there is a decline in the number of Indian students pursuing higher studies in Canada due to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries, it may have implications for Indian banks operating in the North American country, senior bank officials said.

'Preparing to enter affordable housing loans space'

'Preparing to enter affordable housing loans space'

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2024

'Focus will be on smaller loan amounts to meet the needs of affordable homebuyers.'

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2024

The National Informatics Centre uses AI to automate document analysis and detect fraud in government departments.

Supreme Court allows claiming input tax credit on construction expenses

Supreme Court allows claiming input tax credit on construction expenses

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2024

In a development that may encourage increased investment in commercial real estate, the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the industry relief by permitting input tax credit (ITC) on construction expenses for buildings meant to be leased. "If the construction of a building was essential for carrying out the activity of supplying services, such as renting or giving on lease or other transactions in respect of the building or a part thereof, which are covered by clauses (2) and (5) of Schedule II of the CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax) Act, the building could be held to be a plant," said Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Sanjay Karol.

13 candidates in fray for PNB top job

13 candidates in fray for PNB top job

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2024

At least 13 candidates are in the race for the position of managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of Punjab National Bank (PNB), the second-largest public sector bank (PSB), according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. "Among the candidates, some are executive directors (EDs) and managing directors in major PSBs. "Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) will conduct the interviews next month," said a source.

Consensus eludes GoM on GST rate rationalisation, over 100 items discussed

Consensus eludes GoM on GST rate rationalisation, over 100 items discussed

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2024

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalisation, which convened in Goa on Wednesday, reviewed the GST rates for over 100 items, including textiles, handloom goods, agricultural products, fertilisers, and educational materials. However, no consensus was reached on any of the items, with further discussions scheduled for next month in Delhi.

India Working on 30,000 cr Maritime Development Fund

India Working on 30,000 cr Maritime Development Fund

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2024

The fund will promote domestic shipbuilding of all types and sizes to reduce India's dependence on foreign ships.

Are I-T Returns Details Private?

Are I-T Returns Details Private?

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2024

Disclosing an individual's income-tax returns is tantamount to violating the person's fundamental right to privacy as recognised by the Constitution.

GST Gamed For Rs 81,875 cr, Finds Report

GST Gamed For Rs 81,875 cr, Finds Report

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2024

The highest-ever goods and services tax (GST) evasion has been done by the online money gaming industry.

Tax notices to employees a 'discrepancy', says TCS

Tax notices to employees a 'discrepancy', says TCS

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2024

Information technology major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Friday termed the tax demand notices received by several of its employees a "discrepancy," and the tax department will be reprocessing the returns. "We understand that the tax authorities will be reprocessing the returns, post which TDS shall be in sync with Form 26AS issued by the Income Tax Department, and Form 16 Part A issued by TCS. Associates that received the notice will receive a rectification intimation in due course and are not required to pay any demand amount.

E-invoice mandate may cover B2C transactions

E-invoice mandate may cover B2C transactions

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2024

Businesses across the country may soon be required to issue electronic invoices, or e-invoices, directly to consumers for the sale of goods and services. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in its forthcoming meeting on Monday, is expected to discuss extending the e-invoicing mandate to cover business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. Currently, e-invoicing is compulsory for businesses with a turnover of Rs 5 crore and above, but only for their business-to-business (B2B) transactions.

India pitches for more info sharing on int'l payments

India pitches for more info sharing on int'l payments

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2024

India is pushing for greater disclosures by credit card companies, fintech firms, and payment aggregators (PAs) at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), so that the sender and recipient in a cross-border financial transaction can be easily identified and the information shared with law enforcement agencies. Separately, the inter-governmental group, which sets standards to curb money laundering, will release the fourth round of its mutual evaluation report on India on September 19. FATF in June had adopted the mutual evaluation report on India and placed the country in the "regular follow-up" category - the highest rating given by the global watchdog and a distinction shared by only four other G20 countries.

Is Health Insurance Tax Relief Coming?

Is Health Insurance Tax Relief Coming?

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2024

Full exemption for all health insurance premiums and reinsurance or a reduction in the GST rate from 18% to 5% on health insurance services is likely.

Fema tweaks on the cards to allow FPIs to seamlessly access FDI route

Fema tweaks on the cards to allow FPIs to seamlessly access FDI route

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2024

The government is planning to introduce legislative changes to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) regulations, with a focus on easing the pathway for inflows from a foreign portfolio investor to transition seamlessly into foreign direct investments (FDI) once the FPI surpasses the 10 per cent ownership threshold in a company. This move stems from multiple requests by foreign investors seeking to streamline the reporting requirements that arise when their stakes in Indian firms cross the 10 per cent mark.

Beware! IT Sleuths On The Prowl

Beware! IT Sleuths On The Prowl

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2024

The suspected undisclosed income in these cases could reach as much as Rs 15,000 crore.

UPS no burden on future govts, says Somanathan

UPS no burden on future govts, says Somanathan

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2024

The Unified Pension System (UPS), approved by the Union Cabinet on Saturday, is "fiscally prudent" as it will be funded within the Centre's fiscal projections, according to T V Somanathan, the Cabinet Secretary-designate. Speaking to Business Standard immediately after the Cabinet nod, former finance secretary Somanathan, who headed the committee set up in March 2023 to review the National Pension System (NPS), said the UPS will not postpone pension expenditure as it will be contributory and financed each year.

20,000 GST Notices Issued For Rs 800 Bn Taxes

20,000 GST Notices Issued For Rs 800 Bn Taxes

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2024

About 1.2 trillion tax evasion cases have been detected and as many as 59,000 entities identified for verification in order to ascertain whether they are fake.

I-T Sleuths Chasing Rs 16.69 Trillion Tax Arrears

I-T Sleuths Chasing Rs 16.69 Trillion Tax Arrears

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2024

As on April 1, income tax arrears have increased to Rs 43 trillion from Rs 24 trillion on April 1, 2023.

Changes to banking laws have a consumer tilt

Changes to banking laws have a consumer tilt

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2024

Better protection for depositors and investors was one of the chief considerations in Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introducing, on Friday, the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha to amend four pieces of legislation. This amendment is also to improve audit quality in public-sector banks (PSBs), offer consistency in reporting by banks to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and provide for an increase in the tenure of directors in cooperative banks.

New Tax Regime Could Pinch Small Savings

New Tax Regime Could Pinch Small Savings

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2024

>According to the latest RBI data, PPF receipts have already experienced a decline between April 2023 and February 2024. Other schemes like the Sukanya Samriddhi Account and National Savings Certificate are also witnessing reduced inflows.