Sanjeeb Mukherjee &Amp;Amp; Indivjal Dhasmana

Stories by Sanjeeb Mukherjee &Amp;Amp; Indivjal Dhasmana

Delhi's 52.9 Degree Reading Probably Due to Sensor Error

Delhi's 52.9 Degree Reading Probably Due to Sensor Error

Rediff.com   31 May 2024

The Met department blamed the malfunctioning of sensors kept at the Automated Weather Station for the gaffe.

Rains May Be Delayed Over Northwest India

Rains May Be Delayed Over Northwest India

Rediff.com   31 May 2024

The rains after arriving over Kerala will quickly cover Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but then might slacken a bit, which could delay its arrival over Northwest India.

Soaring Vegetable Prices Add Spice To Lok Sabha Polls

Soaring Vegetable Prices Add Spice To Lok Sabha Polls

Rediff.com   30 May 2024

High vegetable prices are expected to keep food inflation firm in the months to come.

'Nobody's Asking Where Money Will Come For Freebies'

'Nobody's Asking Where Money Will Come For Freebies'

Rediff.com   24 May 2024

'The prime minister's comment on 'revdi culture' was welcome. But I am disappointed he did not follow up on that.' 'All political parties, including the BJP, have been guilty of this.' 'Now, Modi's guarantees, the Congress's 'nyay' path and both ruling and Opposition parties are vying with each other for freebies in my home state Andhra Pradesh.'

IT firms' work for int'l clients may not always attract IGST

IT firms' work for int'l clients may not always attract IGST

Rediff.com   17 May 2024

Services provided by Indian information-technology (IT), marketing, and consulting companies to foreign clients may not always draw integrated goods and services tax (IGST) if a ruling by the Authority for Advance Rulings' (AAR's) Telangana Bench becomes a precedent. The AAR gave its ruling on a specific case of referral services provided by the Hyderabad-based Center for International Admission and Visas (CIAV) to foreign universities and colleges for admitting Indian students.

Shares given as gift may escape capital gains tax

Shares given as gift may escape capital gains tax

Rediff.com   9 May 2024

In a case related to Mumbai-based Jai Trust versus Union government, the court ruled that a gift is a consideration-less transaction, and hence, not liable for capital gains tax. It quashes the reassessment notice issued by the tax authorities alleging that a specific income has escaped assessment on transfer of shares as gift by the trust.

Freebies Dominate Andhra Assembly Polls

Freebies Dominate Andhra Assembly Polls

Rediff.com   9 May 2024

The state's economic health is in focus as it has consistently breached the fiscal deficit in eight of the last 10 years since Telangana's formation.

Govt extends approval for use of drones for spraying pesticides for 1 year

Govt extends approval for use of drones for spraying pesticides for 1 year

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2024

The government has extended the interim approval given to plant protection companies for use of drones for spraying specified pesticides. The approval has been extended for one more year starting from April 18, 2024. All other terms and conditions for the use of drones for spraying plant protection chemicals including the standard operating procedures etc. will remain the same.

Monsoon Will Be 'Above-Normal' This Year

Monsoon Will Be 'Above-Normal' This Year

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2024

It is in more than a decade that the IMD has predicted 'above-normal' rains in the country.

FSSAI launches probe into MDH and Everest products

FSSAI launches probe into MDH and Everest products

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2024

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has commissioned a quality check on MDH and Everest products. This follows complaints that several popular spice mixes of the two leading brands contained traces of ethylene oxide more than the permissible levels, official sources said. This move by FSSAI comes after Hong Kong and Singapore recalled variants of the two masala majors' products in their countries.

Net direct tax collection surpasses RE in FY24; corp tax receipts a miss

Net direct tax collection surpasses RE in FY24; corp tax receipts a miss

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2024

Direct tax collection, net of refunds, moderately exceeded the revised estimates (RE) for the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) on the back of personal income tax revenues, but corporation tax receipts fell short of the RE. Net direct tax collection stood at Rs 19.58 trillion in FY24, surpassing the RE of Rs 19.45 trillion by Rs 13,000 crore, or 0.7 per cent. The government had revised up FY24 projections for personal income tax by 13.5 per cent over the Budget estimates (BE) of Rs 9 trillion, at Rs 10.22 trillion.

New govt may kick off pesticide, seed reforms

New govt may kick off pesticide, seed reforms

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2024

With farm Acts out of the picture, the government may look at reforming the input side of the agriculture sector - regulations and rules that govern seeds, fertilisers and plant chemicals. Sources said such a blueprint, which is aimed at making the life of farmers easier, with quicker approvals but not compromising on quality, is in the works as part of the 100-day agenda of Modi 3.0. Also, ways to administer fertiliser subsidy more effectively and cutting down on leakages and diversions to build on the success of neem-coated urea are being thought of.

Modi promises 30 mn 'Lakhpati Didis', higher MSP

Modi promises 30 mn 'Lakhpati Didis', higher MSP

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday pledged to make 30 million 'Lakhpati Didis', up from the 10 million rural women who have already achieved the feat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released the BJP's manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The manifesto says the ruling party will continue the quarterly financial disbursements under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) yojana.

Ahead of LS polls, taming food prices govt's priority

Ahead of LS polls, taming food prices govt's priority

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2024

Ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, keeping food prices under check has emerged as one of the topmost priorities for the government. Food prices would likely have a bearing on the preferences of voters. In the past, there have been instances when governments have been voted out over rising food inflation.

Despite dent in liquor taxes, Delhi maintains revenue

Despite dent in liquor taxes, Delhi maintains revenue

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2024

The new excise policy, introduced in Delhi in November 2021, made sweeping changes to the city's liquor trade.

Google Ireland gets tax relief on Rs 8.6K crore it got from India arm

Google Ireland gets tax relief on Rs 8.6K crore it got from India arm

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2024

An income tax tribunal held that the amount received by Google Ireland from Google India towards marketing and distribution rights of the AdWords programme is not royalty, and hence, cannot be taxed at the hands of the assessee (Google Ireland). The ruling by the Bengaluru-based Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) may have repercussions on similar transactions by multinationals, feel experts. Explaining the case, Amit Maheshwari, tax expert at AKM Global, said Google Ireland had received Rs 8,662.93 crore under the Google Reseller Agreements.

How much will Congress's election guarantees cost?

How much will Congress's election guarantees cost?

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2024

'Right to apprenticeship means that anyone below the age of 25 years with a diploma or other qualifications can demand an apprenticeship with a private, a public sector company or a government organisation. And when he/she demands this, it is the obligation of the government to provide it.'

Will legalising MSP reduce the import bill for edible oils and pulses?

Will legalising MSP reduce the import bill for edible oils and pulses?

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2024

The protesting farmers' main demand to legalise the minimum support price (MSP) regime has divided opinion. One school of thought says it would lead to crop diversification and help India keep under check its burgeoning import bill on edible oils and pulses, while another says it would incentivise farmers to produce low-quality crops. Contrary to popular perception, India has a trade surplus in agriculture and allied activities, which stood at $18.65 billion during 2022-23 (FY23) against $15.92 billion in the previous year. However, the surplus was mainly on account of rice, wheat, sugar, spices, and buffalo meat.

Drop in onion and potato output; tomato slightly up

Drop in onion and potato output; tomato slightly up

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2024

Onion and potato production is expected to be down in the 2023-24 crop year, while the tomato output could be marginally higher, the Department of Agriculture's first advance estimates of horticultural output released on Thursday showed. "Production of onion in 2023-24 is expected to be around 25.47 million tonnes compared to around 30.20 million tonnes last year due to a decrease of 3.43 million tonnes in Maharashtra, 0.99 million tonnes in Karnataka, 0.35 million tonnes in Andhra Pradesh and 0.31 million tonnes in Rajasthan," the official statement by the department of agriculture said.

Tax devolution not about richer vs poorer states

Tax devolution not about richer vs poorer states

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2024

Tax devolution shares, which threaten to create a north-south divide among states, may have more to do with per capita income, and not so much with population.