Nivedita Mookerji &Amp; Dilasha Seth

Stories by Nivedita Mookerji &Amp; Dilasha Seth

States want GST exemption on Remdesivir, others

States want GST exemption on Remdesivir, others

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2021

Other decisions piled up include rationalisation of GST rate slabs, correction of inverted duty on certain items and inclusion of petroleum products.

Govt to infuse Rs 14,500 crore in 4 banks, issue recapitalisation bonds

Govt to infuse Rs 14,500 crore in 4 banks, issue recapitalisation bonds

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2021

Zero-coupon bonds don't give out interest but are issued at a deep discount to the face value, making it difficult to ascertain the net present value.

'We can go up to 1 crore vaccinations a day'

'We can go up to 1 crore vaccinations a day'

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2021

'Ultimately, we have to understand that we don't have the supply at the population scale. 'Therefore, it has to be prioritised.' 'That's what the government has done.'

Direct tax collection inches closer to revised Budget target for 2021-21

Direct tax collection inches closer to revised Budget target for 2021-21

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2021

Providing comfort to the government on the revenue front amid fiscal stress, direct tax collection is moving closer to the revised Budget target for 2021-21 and may get a further thrust from the last instalment of the advance tax payment, the deadline for which ended on Monday. The contraction in net direct tax collection narrowed to 5 per cent year-on-year as on March 15 compared to a 9 per cent decline seen in January. In absolute terms, net collection stood at Rs 8.2 trillion against Rs 8.67 trillion in the same period last year, according to the provisional numbers shared by a government official.

It's the Centre not states who don't want GST on fuel

It's the Centre not states who don't want GST on fuel

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2021

Many states are open to the idea of petrol and diesel being brought under the goods and services tax (GST) regime - contrary to the perception that they are averse to it - but they want a concrete proposal, including a compensation mechanism, from the Centre. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra says while the issue can be discussed, the Centre may not be keen to bring the change because it earns "much more" from taxes on petrol and diesel. "(The peak rate of) GST is 28 per cent. Under the regime, the Centre would only get 14 per cent. "So, definitely, the Union government does not want GST on fuel. It is all lies. Currently, they are in a very cozy place," Mitra said.

WhyQ: Meet the teens who set up a business

WhyQ: Meet the teens who set up a business

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2021

'Sure, we are teenagers who are doing this part time, but we feel we are making some sort of an impact.'

Cairn, govt discuss LTCG tax and Vivad se Vishwas scheme

Cairn, govt discuss LTCG tax and Vivad se Vishwas scheme

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2021

During a series of hectic talks between Cairn Energy and the Indian government over the $1.2-billion arbitration award in favour of the former last week, a slew of options was proposed by the two sides, including computation of capital gains and participation in the Vivad se Vishwas (VsV) dispute resolution scheme. The government is likely to go ahead and appeal against the arbitration award by a Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague before March 21, indicated finance ministry officials. Cairn Energy Plc on Sunday said it was hopeful that an acceptable solution to its tax dispute with the Indian government could be found to avoid prolonging and exacerbating the 'negative issue' for all parties.

Public may get COVID-19 vaccine by April

Public may get COVID-19 vaccine by April

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2021

Anybody over 50 years of age or with co-morbidities can get a date, place and time of choice for getting the vaccine shots.

'Covid vaccination will be like RAC'

'Covid vaccination will be like RAC'

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2021

'People on the wait list will be accommodated for vaccination when the scheduled beneficiaries don't turn up.'

Budget: Despite talk of cutback, central schemes' outlay on rise

Budget: Despite talk of cutback, central schemes' outlay on rise

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2021

The number of centrally sponsored schemes have increased to 35 in FY22 from 30 in FY21 and central sector schemes have increased to 704 from 685 in the previous year, reports Dilasha Seth.

Budget: Easier tax administration to boost revenue

Budget: Easier tax administration to boost revenue

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2021

The Budget proposed abolishing the under-performing, authority of advance ruling, to replace it with a two-member board of advance ruling.

States worry as Centre plans to trim schemes in Budget

States worry as Centre plans to trim schemes in Budget

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2021

'It is just an excuse to say that the Centre has run out of money.' 'Pruning these schemes would mean hard time for the people of India.'

Budget 2021: Gross tax revenues likely to get back on track in FY22

Budget 2021: Gross tax revenues likely to get back on track in FY22

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2021

While the tax-to-GDP ratio of 9.88 per cent has been assumed for FY21, the same as last year, when it touched a decadal low, for FY22 a ratio of 10.7 per cent has been assumed, an average of the last five years.

'Dilly-dally so that the protests fizzle out'

'Dilly-dally so that the protests fizzle out'

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2021

'However, this time it looks like that is not working.'

Is India's 5G dream in trouble?

Is India's 5G dream in trouble?

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2020

Nivedita Mookerji explains why a timely rollout of 5G may not be easy in India.

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.

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.

Online disrupts India's wholesale business

Online disrupts India's wholesale business

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2020

Online play is a priority now -- so far unthinkable in a business that's all about a meaningful interface with kirana stores.