The oil companies raised petrol prices by Rs 7.50 on Wednesday, a tough but unpopular decision which many see as a strong signal from the government that it's now stepping on the reform pedal.
Even as the government today gave Saurabh Chandra, secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), the additional charge of secretary, Department of Commerce, Dinesh Kumar Mittal has emerged as the front runner for the post.
Sharp rupee fall, interest differential on export finance rates may have led to arbitrage in gold.
Tax experts said as a result of the amendments, companies operating from countries with which India didn't have DTAAs, would try to shift to countries with which India had such agreements, including Mauritius.
The finance ministry is likely to favour an approach that would take into account the payment capabilities of telecom companies while deciding the price and process for spectrum auction this year.
Facing huge redemption pressure on funds raised via foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs), India Inc has requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to allow companies to offer higher interest rates on fresh foreign currency loans or bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to pre-pay existing FCCBs.
Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is being criticised for the steep reserve price it has set for 2G spectrum auctions in the 1,800 MHz band, the government may be able to garner only Rs 18,000-20,000 crore (Rs 180-200 billion) in 2012-13, just about half the target of Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion).
To capitalise on the proposed changes in the Budget and the information on black money available with the government, the government is revitalising the economic intelligence council (EIC) headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
India asks for consultations on rise in professional visa fee that hurts IT companies' interests
Considering the disvestment mop-up target of Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 300 billion) for financial year 2012-13, the government is thinking of optimising the collection from stake sales in central public sector enterprises (CPSEs).
A senior income tax department official in the know of the discussions to have taken place in the finance ministry said the ministry was looking into the issue as a possible option.
In the wake of the Union Budget proposals, developers of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) say the scheme is heading for an end, with investors' interest certain to reduce drastically.
Disinvestment Secretary Mohammad Haleem Khan told Business Standard that till now, public sector companies were only allowed to invest in mutual funds, apart from putting money in bank fixed deposits, but the Cabinet had now approved the proposal to allow these companies to buy equities of other CPSEs.
Officials have stated the finance ministry is also contemplating doing away with some of the key export promotion schemes, to check revenue leakage -- such as the advance licence scheme and export promotion capital goods scheme.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will likely encapsulate this thinking in his Budget speech, to be finalised by March 13.
The requirement of one million units would entail a huge market for firms such as HCL Infosystems, Geodesic, VeriFone, Visiontek and others manufacturing micro-ATMs.
Move to allow the FDI in domestic airlines is expected to benefit Kingfisher Airlines.
India and the 10-country trading bloc poised to ratify pact on trade in services soon
The Unique Identifiaction Authority of India is expediting creation of platforms for implementing the model, likely to include coverage of the Public Distribution System and other areas of subsidy, and also government's social sector schemes.
Bailout packages for fiscally stressed states are in the works, as the government seeks to garner political backing for the key policy reforms it plans to fast-track after the five state elections. A senior finance ministry official involved in the process said a high-level committee under expenditure secretary Sumit Bose had held consultations to identify measures to help West Bengal, Punjab and Kerala.
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