Vrishti Beniwal &Amp; Ajay Modi

Stories by Vrishti Beniwal &Amp; Ajay Modi

FinMin suggests forming an FM-headed council

FinMin suggests forming an FM-headed council

Rediff.com   18 May 2010

The finance ministry has suggested forming a GST council, headed by the Union finance minister, to address disputes between the Centre and the states in the proposed GST regime.

RIL price not viable for small finds: Experts

RIL price not viable for small finds: Experts

Rediff.com   17 May 2010

A price of $4.20 per million British thermal units is not viable for smaller gas discoveries, say industry experts.

ONGC, OIL subsidy burden rises 42% in one quarter

ONGC, OIL subsidy burden rises 42% in one quarter

Rediff.com   17 May 2010

The subsidy burden of upstream oil companies, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India Ltd, have risen 42 per cent in a single quarter.

States raising VAT to drive a hard bargain on GST

States raising VAT to drive a hard bargain on GST

Rediff.com   15 May 2010

With less than a year left for the scheduled introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), most states have increased their VAT (value-added tax) rates. The move is seen as an attempt to extract better compensation from the Centre for loss on account of GST rollout

GST, code may lessen Finance Bill's fame

GST, code may lessen Finance Bill's fame

Rediff.com   12 May 2010

The annual Finance Bill may soon become far less exciting as the government plans to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding tax proposals in Budget. Once the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) are in place, the finance ministry will adopt a public discussion approach for most future decisions, while confining the annual exercise to a few procedural changes.

IPL sponsors contest service tax notices

IPL sponsors contest service tax notices

Rediff.com   4 May 2010

The Union finance ministry may have to battle it out in court with the sponsors of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament to make them comply with its service tax payment demands.

Organised rural retail faces speed bumps

Organised rural retail faces speed bumps

Rediff.com   3 May 2010

Rural retail was supposed to cash in on the prosperity of Bharat, but the storyline hasn't really gone the way big corporate houses had hoped.

Organised rural retail faces speed bumps

Organised rural retail faces speed bumps

Rediff.com   1 May 2010

Rural retail was supposed to cash in on the prosperity of Bharat, but the storyline hasn't really gone the way big corporate houses had hoped.

Gas highway authority plan put on back burner

Gas highway authority plan put on back burner

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2010

The petroleum ministry has put on back burner the proposal to create a national gas highway development authority, following an opposition from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, which currently has the powers to authorise pipelines.

Poor show forces govt to scale down PSU stake sale

Poor show forces govt to scale down PSU stake sale

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2010

With recent issues from state-run companies receiving lukewarm response from the markets, the government has downscaled its divestment programme this year, restricting it to a maximum of eight companies.

City Beautiful to get smart with biometrics

City Beautiful to get smart with biometrics

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2010

Siphoning off food and fuel meant for the poor has made India's public distribution system ineffective.

Petroleum to be kept out of GST

Petroleum to be kept out of GST

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2010

After failing to convince states to keep petroleum products within the ambit of the proposed goods and services tax (GST), the Centre has finally relented. It has agreed to the proposal of the empowered committee of state finance ministers to keep petroleum products like crude, motor spirit, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and high-speed diesel out of GST.

Direct taxes code to get a makeover

Direct taxes code to get a makeover

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2010

A senior official in the finance ministry said the Central Board of Direct Taxes addressed the nine areas of concern in the Code identified by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Government takes first step towards GST

Government takes first step towards GST

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2010

The government has taken the first concrete step towards the introduction of the goods and services tax.

Problem of plenty gives food security plan a boost

Problem of plenty gives food security plan a boost

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2010

However, storage capacity way behind even present public distribution system procurement need.

Service tax on rail freight deferred till July 1

Service tax on rail freight deferred till July 1

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

The levy had to come into effect from April 1. It would now be in force from July 1.

Government to woo retail investors

Government to woo retail investors

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

Discounts for retail investors may become a part of the government's disinvestment policy, instead of being offered on a case-to-case basis. The discount offered could be up to 10 per cent of the issue price.

Govt divestment target falls short

Govt divestment target falls short

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2010

The government got Rs 9,930 crore from its follow-on offer of NMDC shares, leaving it short by Rs 1,448 crore for its year's disinvestment target of Rs 25,000 crore. In addition, it got about Rs 2.5 crore by way of interest income on the issue money from banks.

Delhi may kick off direct subsidy plan

Delhi may kick off direct subsidy plan

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2010

Delhi may become the first state to move to direct cash pay-outs of subsidies on kerosene sold through the public distribution system (PDS). The petroleum ministry said it has "welcomed" a proposal to this effect from the Planning Commission, which acted on a plan suggested by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

FinMin list ready for CMDs, EDs at 11 banks

FinMin list ready for CMDs, EDs at 11 banks

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2010

PSB may get its first non-Sikh at the helm, vigilance clearances are awaited.