Shrimi Choudhary &Amp;Amp; Nikunj Ohri

Stories by Shrimi Choudhary &Amp;Amp; Nikunj Ohri

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.

NSE co-location case: ED to also investigate tech glitch

NSE co-location case: ED to also investigate tech glitch

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2021

Sebi had, in February, dropped allegations of fraudulent and unfair trade practices against NSE's former heads Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramakrishna in the co-lo case.

India's infra sector gets a major funding boost

India's infra sector gets a major funding boost

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2021

The Cabinet has cleared a Bill to set up a government-owned development finance institution (DFI) with initial paid-up capital of Rs 20,000 crore so that it can leverage around Rs 3 trillion from the markets in a few years to provide long-term funds to infrastructure projects as well as for development needs of the country. To put it in perspective, Rs 3 trillion constitutes slightly less than 3 per cent of the Rs 111 trillion to be spent on over 7,000 projects in the National Infrastructure Pipeline from 2019-20 to 2024-25. Besides, the government will give Rs 5,000 crore as grant to the institution, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday told the media after the Cabinet meeting.

Non-govt PFs, gratuity funds can now invest in AIFs

Non-govt PFs, gratuity funds can now invest in AIFs

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2021

The government has brought in changes to the investment pattern for non-government provident funds, and superannuation and gratuity funds, enabling them to invest up to 5 per cent in the units of Category I and Category II alternative investment funds (AIFs), subject to some caveats. The development is part of the central government's strategy to channelise domestic savings and improve their returns to attract more investment in the said sectors. At present, these funds typically invest a minimum 45 per cent in government securities, besides new instruments, such as exchange-traded funds and real estate investment funds, while a portion in equity-related instruments.

India sets ball rolling for monetising govt assets

India sets ball rolling for monetising govt assets

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2021

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (Dipam) has asked ministries, government departments, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to send a list of assets that can be monetised under the proposed National Monetisation Pipeline. The list will be used for creation of an asset monetisation dashboard, which will keep a track of such assets. The government, meanwhile, has asked CRISIL to prepare a road map for monetising assets of PSUs and government departments.

Ahead of assembly polls, oil companies hold back price hike in March

Ahead of assembly polls, oil companies hold back price hike in March

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2021

Government-controlled oil-marketing companies (OMCs) have held back petrol and diesel price revisions for a week and are expected to continue doing so, ostensibly owing to political reasons. It appears that the Centre has informally conveyed to the three major OMCs to not revise fuel prices for the time being, two people in the government said. This informal directive follows the talks between the Centre and states on cutting taxes and bringing the auto fuels under the good service tax regime not fetching the desired results, so far.

Software royalty likely to cost Centre Rs 5,000 crore every year

Software royalty likely to cost Centre Rs 5,000 crore every year

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2021

Sources said about hundreds of companies, including Facebook and Amazon, could seek tax refund because they import software for sale in India.

FinMin steps in, tells Sebi to revoke 100-year maturity rule for AT1 bonds

FinMin steps in, tells Sebi to revoke 100-year maturity rule for AT1 bonds

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2021

Senior officials in the MF industry say while the finance ministry and regulators communicate regularly, this is one of the very few instances in many years where an issue between the two has come out into the open.

Profit-making PSUs likely to go under the hammer first

Profit-making PSUs likely to go under the hammer first

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2021

The Centre is likely to privatise profit-making enterprises, reversing its previous position of first closing or merging loss-making state-run units. The NITI Aayog, which is in the process of selecting public sector units for privatisation, is likely to put out its first list, focusing on companies in non-strategic sectors, along with those that have got Cabinet approval for stake sale, or are in final stage of due diligence. "The shortlisted firms will be put out in three-four tranches, with the first list comprising non-strategic ones, followed by strategic sectors with a focus on privatisation and not divestment," said a senior government official privy to the plan. He said the first report was expected in early April. The think tank approach is in sync with the government's new strategies on privatisation and asset monetisation.

Out of PCA, IDBI Bank can now expand business

Out of PCA, IDBI Bank can now expand business

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2021

The bank will now be in a position to resume normal lending activity, including corporate lending, with tightened risk management framework.

Sebi's expert panel to probe glitch at NSE, submit report by March 15

Sebi's expert panel to probe glitch at NSE, submit report by March 15

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2021

The Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) technical advisory committee has been mandated to probe the trading halt at National Stock Exchange (NSE) and fix accountability. The committee after a detailed examination would send its findings and recommendations to whole-time member Madbhi Puri Buch, to decide the future course of action, said two people in the know. The panel, which is currently chaired by Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT Madras, is learnt to have sought an explanation over two key issues from NSE: One on the effectiveness of interoperability as it was unable to migrate the trading positions; the other on laxity in switching it to the disaster recovery site.

Reeling under high prices? Finance ministry says it's downside to growth

Reeling under high prices? Finance ministry says it's downside to growth

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2021

'While intensification of fuel prices and broad-based domestic cost pass-through pressures is a downside risk, core inflation is expected to strengthen further as demand recovers to pre-Covid levels,' the ministry said on Friday.

How successful is India in catching economic offenders?

How successful is India in catching economic offenders?

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2021

Despite Nirav Modi win, in the last five years, India managed to bring only about 20 fugitive offenders.

ED slaps money laundering case on Franklin MF

ED slaps money laundering case on Franklin MF

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2021

The ED case follows the police complaint for alleged criminal conspiracy and defrauding investors.

Govt likely to ease restrictions on Chinese FDI

Govt likely to ease restrictions on Chinese FDI

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2021

However, that could only be for sectors where 100 per cent FDI is allowed under the automatic route and pose no risk to national security.

Trading glitch: Sebi, FinMin seek detailed report from NSE

Trading glitch: Sebi, FinMin seek detailed report from NSE

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

The exchange cited issues with its telecom service providers that prevented stocks and index quotations from getting updated.

Stressed asset cases likely to be resolved soon

Stressed asset cases likely to be resolved soon

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2021

Government may also consider giving relief to some of the worst-affected sectors.

Sebi paves way for LIC's mega float

Sebi paves way for LIC's mega float

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2021

Sebi's change of rules will give the government -- which owns 100 per cent of LIC -- the flexibility to assess market demand and opt for lower dilution.

Govt to bring in legislation to regulate crypto currency

Govt to bring in legislation to regulate crypto currency

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2021

Operationalising the ban is being fleshed out: it will entail which cryptocurrencies will be banned and how.

FM Sitharaman seeks Parliament nod for Rs 6.3-trillion extra spending

FM Sitharaman seeks Parliament nod for Rs 6.3-trillion extra spending

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2021

Of the cash outgo, Rs 64,598 crore is for enhanced expenditure on fertiliser subsidy under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 3.0 and Rs 20,466 crore for the capital outlay in defence services.