Shine Jacob And Arup Roychoudhury

Stories by Shine Jacob And Arup Roychoudhury

Budget: Divestment target likely to be retained at Rs 90,000 crore

Budget: Divestment target likely to be retained at Rs 90,000 crore

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2019

The divestment target remaining unchanged, from the 2019-20 interim Budget, this year means the Centre will now have to depend on non-tax revenue sources like dividends from the RBI, PSBs and PSUs, as there are real concerns of a tax revenue shortfall. The fiscal deficit target of 3.4% of GDP for 2019-20 is likely to be retained as well.

Fiscal deficit reaches 52% of target in 2 months

Fiscal deficit reaches 52% of target in 2 months

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2019

It was 55.3 per cent for the same period last year, and data shows the fiscal deficit for April-May was kept in reasonable check in spite of heavy frontloading of expenditure.

Supermarkets in India may soon sell petrol, diesel

Supermarkets in India may soon sell petrol, diesel

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2019

If the reforms are implemented, multi-brand retail majors such as Future Group and Reliance Retail might enter the fuel retail space.

Air India sale: Sitharaman, Hardeep Singh Puri likely to be in new GoM

Air India sale: Sitharaman, Hardeep Singh Puri likely to be in new GoM

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2019

The government is planning to liberalise the terms and conditions for the sale of the national carrier. The Centre is still pursuing the option of selling the airline's subsidiaries before the airline itself, in order to deal with an outstanding debt of around Rs 27,000 crore.

Modi starts pre-Budget meets to brainstorm on economy

Modi starts pre-Budget meets to brainstorm on economy

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2019

Tuesday's meeting at the PM's residence, attended by all the five secretaries in the finance ministry besides top officials of other economic ministries and NITI Aayog, cleared a five-year vision plan for the government to make India a $5-trillion economy by 2024.

Budget 2019: Why FM likely to stick to fiscal deficit target at 3.4% of GDP

Budget 2019: Why FM likely to stick to fiscal deficit target at 3.4% of GDP

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2019

Budget-makers in North Block are looking to maintain this fiscal status quo, in spite of tax revenues nowhere close to where the government wants and in spite of possible higher expenditure commitments.

What economists and FM Sitharaman discussed in pre-Budget meet

What economists and FM Sitharaman discussed in pre-Budget meet

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2019

Concerned by GDP slowdown and unrealistic tax targets, the economists urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to implement long-term structural steps like land and labour reforms. Warning against any off-Budget financing the economists said the government should prepare a statement of intent for its social, rural and welfare sector expenditure.

Railways' massage plans finally go on track

Railways' massage plans finally go on track

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2019

The Ratlam division of the national transporter is planning to provide head and foot massages to passengers in 39 trains originating from Indore railway

A peculiar problem plagues India's AI roadmap

A peculiar problem plagues India's AI roadmap

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2019

National artificial intelligence unit stuck for lack of anchor department

Biggest challenge facing Modi's Ujjwala Yojana

Biggest challenge facing Modi's Ujjwala Yojana

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2019

One of the major challenges before the government is that the annual average refill by a PMUY consumer is 3.28 cylinders compared to seven for others.

3 in race to bag civil work contract of bullet train

3 in race to bag civil work contract of bullet train

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2019

L&T, Ircon International and Tata Projects have showed interest in a tender issued by the National High Speed Rail Corporation, implementing agency for the project. The tender is for construction of stations, bridges, viaducts, maintenance depots and tunnels.

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2019

This is not her first stint in North Block or in leading a major economic ministry. She started Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term as minister of state for finance, was made the commerce minister, and then became the defence minister.

Will petro products finally come under GST?

Will petro products finally come under GST?

Rediff.com   27 May 2019

The new government may also introduce a separate scheme for revival of stranded gas-based power projects

How Modi govt plans to spur economic growth

How Modi govt plans to spur economic growth

Rediff.com   27 May 2019

There is talk of a fresh approach to a new labour code as well as reforming land acquisition laws in such a way as to be politically.

Biggest challenge facing Modi 2.0

Biggest challenge facing Modi 2.0

Rediff.com   24 May 2019

The incoming government will have to encourage private investments, bring down cost of capital

Another data mismatch! This time at the Railways

Another data mismatch! This time at the Railways

Rediff.com   16 May 2019

A change in electrification criterion in April 2017, with retrospective effect, helped the government add "already electrified 3,090 rkm" to its credit.

'Congress is not serious about its fight against BJP'

'Congress is not serious about its fight against BJP'

Rediff.com   5 May 2019

'The Congress's arrogance and unrealistic claims have weakened the anti-BJP movement at the national level.'

What's up in India's second largest constituency?

What's up in India's second largest constituency?

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2019

BJP banks on Modi, Congress on its candidate Manvendra Singh in Barmer, India's largest constituency by area after Ladakh.

Low demand dents Ola, Uber's plans for parking space at rail stations

Low demand dents Ola, Uber's plans for parking space at rail stations

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2019

The investments by Uber and Ola included setting up kiosks, incentivising drivers for parking at the railway stations, and payments to the Indian Railways.

Will Jet finally end up in bankruptcy court?

Will Jet finally end up in bankruptcy court?

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2019

Government officials were struggling to understand why the lenders denied emergency funds even after giving verbal assurances on providing Rs 1,200 crore.