Investor confidence, in general, in the world is weak and that has spilled over in India.
Those paying more than Rs 25 lakh in service tax will soon have to file their returns every month instead of once in six months.
IIFCL Chairman S K Goel says the recommendations are premature, as the state-run lender's role as a guarantor for long-term funds would depend on the success of the Credit Enhancement Scheme and Infrastructure Debt Fund.
Stuck projects to spring back to life with fresh lending; cut in end prices to benefit buyers.
A positive list for taxation of services might be back, though only for accounting purposes.
FinMin talking to Irda on many issues, meeting Chidambaram this week.
Despite rising subsidy bill, says fuel price action and other steps in contemplation would keep it at 5.3% of GDP, not more
The government would take a hit of about Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion) this year if it rolls back the excise duty of Rs 1.5 per litre on diesel it levied last week.
The tide of the global economy has again turned to anti-growth in general.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram will soon have to decide whether to stick by his predecessor's choice of former Reserve Bank governor Y V Reddy for chairmanship of the 14th Finance Commission, to be set up next month.
The finance ministry is instead thinking of expanding the list of services on which the tax would be levied under the reverse charge mechanism.
The finance ministry may ask cash-rich public sector undertakings (PSUs) to invest in foreign assets that are currently available at cheap rates due to the global economic slowdown.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram has called a meeting of officials from life insurance companies on September 1. The meeting is aimed at improving insurance penetration and addressing concerns of companies in the sector.
The finance ministry has proposed to remove from the guidelines a clause on the lateral movement of small and mid-sized banks' heads to large banks.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is proposing a penalty on German sportswear giant Adidas' subsidiary Reebok India for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema).
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seems to be sitting on the proposal, while requests continue to flow in from states to add more names to the delegation.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Monday pegged India's growth this financial year at 6.5-7 per cent. He added the country had taken various steps to boost investment, the results of which would be seen in six months.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday asked European countries to take firm steps to fix the continent's financial mess, which was hitting India's economic growth and dampening global markets.
Says invest Rs 1.2 lakh cr or offer special dividend or give surplus cash back.
As finance ministry officials remained glued to news flashes on the LCD screens in their rooms, others were constantly monitoring news on the web. The support staff got its share of the news feed by keeping a close watch on politicians visiting North Block, reports Vrishti Beniwal