Somesh Jha, Arup Roychoudhury And Shrimi Choudhary

Stories by Somesh Jha, Arup Roychoudhury And Shrimi Choudhary

Why Facebook and Google are under I-T scanner

Why Facebook and Google are under I-T scanner

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2019

Taxmen have come across instances where global firms - charged a withholding tax of 6 per cent - are underreporting the exact income they earned from an Indian user.

Banks likely to freeze accounts of shell firms

Banks likely to freeze accounts of shell firms

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2019

Government suspects that many of these bank accounts were used to launder money, especially after the demonetisation in November 2016.

Indian Railways' heritage routes likely to be monetised

Indian Railways' heritage routes likely to be monetised

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2019

The railways heritage lines that are part of the UNESCO-accorded sites list include Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and Kalka Shimla Railway.

'High-risk remittance' data under Income Tax lens

'High-risk remittance' data under Income Tax lens

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2019

The Income Tax Act empowers the CBDT to capture information in respect of payments to non-residents, whether taxable or not

Govt sets October deadline for sale of Air India

Govt sets October deadline for sale of Air India

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2019

Sources in the know said the government would initiate talks with businesses, including Tatas, shortly for divesting its stake in the national carrier.

Noose around NRI tax evaders, charitable trusts tightens

Noose around NRI tax evaders, charitable trusts tightens

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2019

At present, the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, covers only resident Indians. The Finance Bill has expanded the definition of assessees to include NRIs.

Income tax filing to be lot easier

Income tax filing to be lot easier

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2019

Some of the policy measures announced are expected to go a long way in removing current challenges on financing faced by businesses and also increasing economic activity, especially in areas of construction and manufacturing.

Why ICRA chief Naresh Takkar was sent on sudden leave

Why ICRA chief Naresh Takkar was sent on sudden leave

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2019

This move was triggered by a whistleblower complaint sent to Sebi against senior management interference in ensuring good ratings specifically in IL&FS and its subsidiaries.

As things turn sour, Jalan panel hopes to pacify FinMin

As things turn sour, Jalan panel hopes to pacify FinMin

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2019

The main difference of opinion between RBI and FinMin is over the transfer of the RBI's 'excess' capital reserves. The Jalan panel seeks to convince finance secretary Subhash Garg to soften his dissent note language. The move is aimed at maintaining the now-cordial relations between the RBI and the finance ministry.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: How govt plans to tackle India's water woes

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: How govt plans to tackle India's water woes

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2019

The aim of the programme is to increase the water table in the stressed areas through dams, ponds, and afforestation. According to a NITI Aayog study, by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country's GDP.

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.

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2019

After assuming power in 2014 with a full majority of its own, the BJP-led NDA government started an ambitious process of reforming labour laws in the form of codes aimed at making the framework less cumbersome with a variety of alterations. It had planned four codes each for industrial relations, wages, social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions. To this end, 35 central labour laws were to be converted into four codes that would have had the virtue of streamlining labour relations. But none of the proposed code Bills could be converted into a law principally because neither trade unions nor industry representatives came on board. They hold the key to India's low-growth-high unemployment paradigm but the government may struggle to push them through this time as well. Somesh Jha explains why

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.

Agencies to put restrictions on suspects going abroad

Agencies to put restrictions on suspects going abroad

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2019

A list of at least 20 individuals has been sent to the immigration department to prevent them from flying overseas.

India Inc's advance tax mop-up surges 171% in Q1

India Inc's advance tax mop-up surges 171% in Q1

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2019

Mumbai collected Rs 17,174 crore of advance taxes against Rs 7,356 crore in the same period last year. The tax authorities believe that such a staggering growth rate is a positive sign for the economy.

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.

RBI's new stressed asset resolution is 'practical'

RBI's new stressed asset resolution is 'practical'

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2019

'If there is a technical issue and the borrowers can resolve it within 30 days, you don't have to go through the bankruptcy court.' 'If the borrower is expecting a large disbursal of a facility or expecting a payment or receivables, in such cases it becomes practical to give a window for taking care of such circumstances. 'If banks had aggregated the assets and benefited with a long relationship with borrowers and now when assets get into a trouble, it is incumbent on banks to find resolution and take responsibility.'