This Budget, the finance ministry may consider a proposal for a seed fund that would provide financial support to states willing to sell items other than foodgrain, sugar and kerosene through the public distribution system (PDS). The move, experts believe, will help reigning in food inflation that remains in double digits, despite moderation.
To fund infrastructure projects in the public-private-partnership model, the forthcoming Budget could lay down some broad contours on the setting up of debt funds, which will provide investment for the core sector.
As a bonanza to southern states, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to allocate funds worth Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) for Chennai and Bangalore Metro rail systems in the forthcoming Budget.
Officials said the proposal and funding could be included in the coming budget and preliminary discussions have been held with finance ministry officials.
Ussue will be raised at the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation on Tuesday.
The president and CEO of Devas, Ramachandran Viswan-athan said, "It is puzzling to hear about such a decision, especially as we have not been intimated. We have not received any communication from any quarter, government, Space Commission or Isro."
Election Commission is considering an overhaul of the accounting practices of parties.
The ministry of corporate affairs - under new minister Murli Deora - has reopened for further investigation the cases of two companies allegedly involved in the unravelling 2G scam. A senior official said that the ministry was currently probing Swan Telecom and Loop Telecom.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into the funding and transactions of Datacom Services (now Videocon Mobile), which was among the firms awarded a 2G telecom licence in January 2008.
Budget 2011-12 is likely to announce significant measures to deepen the corporate bond market. Among the several measures on the government's agenda is allowing banks to provide guarantees for bonds issued by companies.
Central Board of Direct Taxes chairman Sudhir Chandra told Business Standard that the changes have been approved in principle and necessary instructions would be issued soon.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday asked his economy A-team to make a concerted effort to tackle rising food prices.
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