Harsh Kumar, Shrimi Choudhary

Stories by Harsh Kumar, Shrimi Choudhary

Budget 2024: MSME ministry gets 'positive' feedback on 45-day payment rule

Budget 2024: MSME ministry gets 'positive' feedback on 45-day payment rule

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2024

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has received "positive" feedback from industry regarding the 45-day payments cycle for MSMEs, according to a senior official familiar with the matter. The comment assumes significance amid concerns raised by some MSMEs that big companies may stop buying from small and medium suppliers and instead choose to make purchases from unregistered enterprises.

'Housing finance Sector Will Only Grow'

'Housing finance Sector Will Only Grow'

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

'The demand for housing is always increasing, and so is housing shortage.'

What Will Keep Nirmalaji Busy This Year?

What Will Keep Nirmalaji Busy This Year?

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2024

Fresh plans of privatisation or divestment in central public sector enterprises and public sector banks might take a back seat this financial year because these may require a large consensus among coalition partners.

'Payment banks' micro-lending to significantly impact economy'

'Payment banks' micro-lending to significantly impact economy'

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2024

'The transition from payment banks to SFBs is only permissible for banks not owned by corporate entities.'

CBIC steps up vigil over imports of unbranded gold jewellery

CBIC steps up vigil over imports of unbranded gold jewellery

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2024

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has stepped up its watch on the import of unbranded gold jewellery amid a spurt in seizures on international borders and from importers. During FY24, the CBIC and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) jointly seized about 5 tonnes of gold, 30 per cent more than what they did in FY23. In FY23, 3.5 tonnes of gold was confiscated.

MPS: FinMin may extend August deadline for PSBs, insurers

MPS: FinMin may extend August deadline for PSBs, insurers

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2024

The finance ministry is in favour of extending the August deadline for public sector banks (PSBs) as well as insurance companies to increase their minimum public shareholding (MPS) to the mandated 25 per cent, said a senior government official. "The election results will determine the course of action. "Most likely, those who did not receive an extension to meet the minimum shareholding norm will be granted one," the senior government official said.

GST Council's fitment committee likely to consider dropping 12% slab

GST Council's fitment committee likely to consider dropping 12% slab

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2024

The fitment committee under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, comprising central and state officials, has begun a rate rationalisation exercise afresh, checking the possibility of dropping some of the rates, particularly the 12 per cent slab, to achieve a revenue-neutral structure, a senior official with direct knowledge of the matter

'I Never Take My Opponent's Name'

'I Never Take My Opponent's Name'

Rediff.com   30 May 2024

'Even last time, when I defeated Shatrughan Sinha, I did not take his name.'

'Draft infra norms good for industry'

'Draft infra norms good for industry'

Rediff.com   29 May 2024

'Probably revised guidelines will come, and then the real picture will emerge.'

'No need to panic on draft infra guidelines'

'No need to panic on draft infra guidelines'

Rediff.com   24 May 2024

'It's a debatable topic, and we will submit our comments to the RBI by June 15.'

Litchi Heats Up Election Season In Muzaffarpur

Litchi Heats Up Election Season In Muzaffarpur

Rediff.com   19 May 2024

'The local support from our MP is nil. He never comes to see our farms.'

Who Will Be The Next SBI Chief?

Who Will Be The Next SBI Chief?

Rediff.com   14 May 2024

'The FSIB will conduct interviews for the SBI chairman position on May 21-22 as the tenure of the current chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara is scheduled to end by August.'

Next-gen politicians battle it out for Samastipur

Next-gen politicians battle it out for Samastipur

Rediff.com   9 May 2024

'Dynastic politics has become a tool of convenience for political parties. The BJP does not hesitate to accept it when it comes to its own alliance or party candidates. The same goes for the others.'

'Govt won't privatise GIC Re at this stage'

'Govt won't privatise GIC Re at this stage'

Rediff.com   5 May 2024

'Because it is the only public sector company in this sector, currently.'

Payments banks bat for new model, pin hopes on lending licence amid stress

Payments banks bat for new model, pin hopes on lending licence amid stress

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2024

Payments banks are expecting to get the rights to offer small-ticket loans sometime soon, according to an industry source familiar with the matter. The industry has been in talks with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for some time in seeking lending rights.

Cautious approach: Small finance bank model in the slow lane, say experts

Cautious approach: Small finance bank model in the slow lane, say experts

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2024

The small finance bank model may still be testing the water some 10 years since its launch. According to banking experts, the regulator has taken a cautious approach in granting approvals. Unity Small Finance Bank was the last one to get a licence in the category in November 2021.

PSBs may be allowed to transfer unclaimed shares to IEPF

PSBs may be allowed to transfer unclaimed shares to IEPF

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2024

The finance ministry is considering amending the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, which governs public-sector banks (PSBs), to make suitable provisions for allowing PSBs to transfer shares to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) when dividends of such shares remain unclaimed by the investors for seven consecutive years. "While Section 10B of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, allows the transfer of unclaimed dividends to the IEPF, it, however, does not mention a provision for transferring unclaimed shares and may now be amended by the next government to allow such transfers to happen," said a person familiar with the matter.

Over 100,000 small and mid-sized firms flout GST e-invoicing rules

Over 100,000 small and mid-sized firms flout GST e-invoicing rules

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2023

Over 100,000 small and medium-sized businesses are non-compliant with e-invoicing norms under the goods and services tax (GST) regime, a mandatory requirement for businesses with an annual turnover of over Rs 5 crore. E-invoicing provides real-time access to invoices that are prepared by the supplier on the purchase of goods, allowing faster accessibility to input tax credit, thereby limiting the manipulation of fake credit as it has to be generated before the transaction. "The default has been reported mainly in businesses with a turnover between Rs 5 crore and Rs 20 crore," a senior official informed

Tax Collections May Exceed Budget Estimates

Tax Collections May Exceed Budget Estimates

Rediff.com   15 Nov 2023

Taking both direct and indirect taxes, the gross collection is expected to grow 10.45 per cent to Rs 33.61 trillion in 2023-2024.

Divestment target for FY25 may be lower with no new lofty plan

Divestment target for FY25 may be lower with no new lofty plan

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2023

The Centre could further moderate its divestment target for 2024-25 (FY25), as it does not expect large receipts from asset sales - except some ongoing strategic ones, including IDBI Bank, which could spill over into next financial year. Also, it may drastically reduce its FY24 divestment target of Rs 51,000 crore. "We are still evaluating the Budget estimates for FY25. "New big-ticket asset sales are unlikely.