News for 'Finance and Commerce Ministers'

US pledges to boost technology ties with India

US pledges to boost technology ties with India

Rediff.com14 Feb 2025

Artificial Intelligence, innovation and next-generation technologies figured prominently during the high-stakes discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump at the White House, as the two sides announced transformative measures, including the US-India TRUST initiative, roadmap on accelerating AI infrastructure and INDUS Innovation, to boost tech ties.

FDI in aviation: PM may consult ministers

FDI in aviation: PM may consult ministers

Rediff.com17 Apr 2012

The commerce and industry ministry had moved a Cabinet note to allow foreign carriers pick up equity in their Indian counterparts.

The Hotelier Who BJP Apologised To

The Hotelier Who BJP Apologised To

Rediff.com24 Sep 2024

Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowri Shankar is a familiar name across the country. With over 1,500 employees, it is renowned for its filter coffee and Keerai Vada throughout Tamil Nadu. Its operating revenues range from Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore.

Why Finance Minister Jaitley disappointed Defence Minister Jaitley

Why Finance Minister Jaitley disappointed Defence Minister Jaitley

Rediff.com15 Jul 2014

The finance minister hiked the total defence expenditure from Rs 203,672 crore in FY 2013-2014 to Rs 229,000 crore for FY 2014-2015. Though the increase appears substantial, it is insufficient to undertake the military modernisation necessary to meet the emerging threats, feels Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).

Govt to undertake comprehensive review of Income Tax Act: FM

Govt to undertake comprehensive review of Income Tax Act: FM

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

The government on Tuesday announced that it will undertake a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act to make it easy to read. Presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said the government will come out with SoP (standard operating procedure) for TDS defaults and simplify and rationalise compounding of such offences.

'Finance minister should emulate Chanakya'

'Finance minister should emulate Chanakya'

Rediff.com27 Feb 2008

If the FM can levy education cess to meet the cost of education, then why not defense cess for defense cost, health cess, food cess, and so on. What are the tax collections meant for, asks Kanu H Doshi, partner of Kanu Doshi Associates, chartered accountants, Mumbai.

Farmers tear-gassed again as talks with ministers inconclusive

Farmers tear-gassed again as talks with ministers inconclusive

Rediff.com17 Feb 2024

Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at the meeting over the farmer unions' various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26. The meeting started at around 8:45 pm on Thursday and lasted for around five hours.

Angel tax abolished for all investors: Sitharaman

Angel tax abolished for all investors: Sitharaman

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

The removal of the angel tax is expected to be a boost for startups as it will help in promoting a more conducive environment for them.

Indians deeply love you: Manmohan had told Bush during 2008 US trip

Indians deeply love you: Manmohan had told Bush during 2008 US trip

Rediff.com27 Dec 2024

Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's effusive praise of US President George W Bush during their 2008 meeting in the White House is revisited as a testament to their close relationship and the impact of the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal. Singh's statement, while drawing criticism from the Left and BJP, highlighted the transformative nature of the relationship between the two democracies. The article explores the context of their meeting and the broader significance of their relationship in the context of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Budget 2024: Mobile phones, gold, silver get cheaper

Budget 2024: Mobile phones, gold, silver get cheaper

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

The FM proposed reduction in basic customs duty on gold and silver to 6 per cent and platinum to 6.4 per cent.

Meet Nirmalaji's Core Budget Team

Meet Nirmalaji's Core Budget Team

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

The finance minister continues to be backed by the same policy team in charting out the broad strategy as in the few earlier Budgets.

A Tale Of Two Modi Decisions

A Tale Of Two Modi Decisions

Rediff.com11 Sep 2024

Why did the political system in the country react to these two decisions of the Modi government in a diametrically opposite manner? asks A K Bhattacharya.

Revamped SEZ law unlikely before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

Revamped SEZ law unlikely before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

Rediff.com24 Feb 2024

The revamped Special Economic Zone (SEZ) law is unlikely to see the light of the day before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, two people aware of the matter said. The commerce department had sought the Union Cabinet's nod to bring amendments to the existing SEZ Act, 2005 late last year. The plan, thereafter, was to introduce the Bill in the winter session of Parliament. Cabinet's approval remains pending.

Digital firms, traders to lobby for e-commerce policy with Piyush Goyal

Digital firms, traders to lobby for e-commerce policy with Piyush Goyal

Rediff.com7 Jun 2019

According to CAIT, e-commerce policy should take within its ambit not only foreign players but also domestic ones.

Sheikh Hasina sworn in as Bangladesh PM for 5th term

Sheikh Hasina sworn in as Bangladesh PM for 5th term

Rediff.com11 Jan 2024

Sheikh Hasina was on Thursday sworn in as the prime minister of Bangladesh for the fifth term, days after her Awami League won an overwhelming majority in the general elections boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies.

Canada trade minister coming to India

Canada trade minister coming to India

Rediff.com15 Apr 2007

This year the meeting will take place from Tuesday to Thursday in Lahore. The Cairn Group is composed of World Trade Organisation members pressing for further agricultural reform within the WTO.

Mehbooba sacks Finance Minister Drabu for saying J-K 'not a political issue'

Mehbooba sacks Finance Minister Drabu for saying J-K 'not a political issue'

Rediff.com12 Mar 2018

"It (JK) is not a political issue as far as I can see. They have been barking up the wrong tree for the last 50 or 70 years by talking about the politics of it, that the political situation has never improved. We seriously need to look at in terms of how it is a society that is in search for itself," Drabu had said at an event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi on Friday.

India cuts arbitration time for foreign investors in UAE pact

India cuts arbitration time for foreign investors in UAE pact

Rediff.com8 Oct 2024

India has reduced the time period for foreign investors to seek international arbitration from five years to three years as part of the recently signed investment pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a departure from its model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). Under the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, if the Indian judicial system is unable to resolve a dispute within this shortened period, investors can resort to international arbitration. The investment pact, signed on February 13 in Abu Dhabi, came into force on August 31, replacing the previous pact.

'This Is An Andhra Pradesh-Bihar Budget'

'This Is An Andhra Pradesh-Bihar Budget'

Rediff.com24 Jul 2024

From the word go, Bihar growled its needs out when an MP from the state said aloud: "Give something for Bihar also, Madam." Every time the Budget mentioned cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh, "Kursi Bachao" was the call from Congress MPs.

Was Narasimha Rao India's Best Prime Minister?

Was Narasimha Rao India's Best Prime Minister?

Rediff.com22 Aug 2023

'He told senior journalists a few days after the Babri Masjid demolition, 'Jo hua theek hua. Maine isliye hone diya ki BJP ki rajniti hamesha ke liye khatam ho jaye.'

Budget 2024: What India Inc wants from Nirmalaji

Budget 2024: What India Inc wants from Nirmalaji

Rediff.com20 Jun 2024

India Inc on Thursday pitched for lowering income tax burden on common man, increase in capital expenditure, and firm steps to contain food inflation in their nearly two-hour long interaction with finance minister Nirmala Shitharaman ahead of the Union Budget. During pre-Budget consultation with Sitharaman, the industry leaders and associations also urged the government to focus more on infrastructure development with a view to maintaining the economic growth momentum. The industry leaders also laid stress on boosting the MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises) sector, considered a backbone of the Indian economy and main employment generator.

Centre to revise SEZ Act, limiting tax sops and enhancing integration

Centre to revise SEZ Act, limiting tax sops and enhancing integration

Rediff.com16 Nov 2023

The Centre is unlikely to offer new direct tax incentives for units operating in special economic zones (SEZs) and may instead allow the grandfathering of previous exemptions that such units were entitled to, according to proposed amendments to the SEZ Act, 2005, people aware of the matter said. The amendments, proposed by the commerce department, will soon be considered by the Cabinet for approval. This represents a departure from the department's earlier plan to introduce these changes through the Development Enterprises and Services Hubs (DESH) Bill, 2023, which faced strong criticism from the ministry of finance.

NDA MPs stand in Rajya Sabha in solidarity with Dhankhar

NDA MPs stand in Rajya Sabha in solidarity with Dhankhar

Rediff.com20 Dec 2023

As soon as the House resumed at noon, Joshi said, "In protest against the action of their party's former president (Rahul Gandhi) and in your honour and in honour of the Constitution, we would participate in the Question Hour while remaining standing in silence. We request for your permission".

PMO Monitoring Red Sea Crisis

PMO Monitoring Red Sea Crisis

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

Any government support or incentive to help exporters deal with high freight and insurance costs is unlikely.

Govt may tweak FDI clause in draft e-commerce policy

Govt may tweak FDI clause in draft e-commerce policy

Rediff.com29 Aug 2018

The draft favoured up to 49 per cent foreign equity in inventory model in the case of 100 per cent made in India products sold through Indian management-controlled platforms with resident Indian founders/promoters.

PIX: Bidding farewell to old Parliament building

PIX: Bidding farewell to old Parliament building

Rediff.com19 Sep 2023

Dressed in colourful attire, members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday got their group photograph clicked in the old Parliament building, hours before legislative proceedings shift to the new Parliament House.

In export push, govt steps in to raise container capacity

In export push, govt steps in to raise container capacity

Rediff.com27 Sep 2024

Concerned over the fallout of the Red Sea crisis and severe shortage of containers against the backdrop of a steep decline in merchandise exports in August, the Union government is pulling out all the stops to find a solution. To begin with, the government has devised a strategy aimed at boosting container supply and supporting exporters.

Pawan Kalyan to be Andhra dy CM; Naidu's son gets IT

Pawan Kalyan to be Andhra dy CM; Naidu's son gets IT

Rediff.com15 Jun 2024

The actor-turned-politician has been allotted Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Environment, Forests, and Science and Technology portfolios.

COVID-19 lockdown: Union ministers back to work

COVID-19 lockdown: Union ministers back to work

Rediff.com13 Apr 2020

The move to resume work in ministries comes nearly a month after the government issued work from home protocols in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Modi's Invincibility Is Gone And Gone Forever

Modi's Invincibility Is Gone And Gone Forever

Rediff.com21 Jun 2024

It is possible to be blind to this and pretend to carry on as if nothing has happened but that will not change the reality, asserts Aakar Patel.

Why Did Naidu Meet Modi?

Why Did Naidu Meet Modi?

Rediff.com5 Jul 2024

According to an Andhra government statement, Naidu 'reposed confidence' in the PM's leadership.

Do We Need Atmashakti At Work?

Do We Need Atmashakti At Work?

Rediff.com15 Oct 2024

'Alongside economic growth and the Asian century, stress has become an Asian caravan.' 'But stress doesn't arrive in one's country as invitation to taste exhaustion. It comes dressed as a challenge.' 'Its evangelists ask: Are you man enough to shoulder stress?' points out Shyam G Menon.

What Sitharaman's 7th Budget has in store for us

What Sitharaman's 7th Budget has in store for us

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

Highlights of the Union Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

US-Indian Chamber of Commerce hails Budget

US-Indian Chamber of Commerce hails Budget

Rediff.com7 Jul 2009

The USA-India Chamber of Commerce has said the annual budget presented by the finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is a massive piece of fiscal stimulus which would spur growth and employment in the country.

Why e-commerce policy may not take shape this year

Why e-commerce policy may not take shape this year

Rediff.com26 Sep 2018

The final policy may be out only after formation of the new government, according to sources

Modi's top 4 retain portfolios; Nadda gets health, Shivraj agri

Modi's top 4 retain portfolios; Nadda gets health, Shivraj agri

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

Among the new entrants to the Union cabinet, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been given the agriculture and rural development portfolios, Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda the health portfolio and former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar the power portfolio.

Don't ignore any notes shared by NSCS, NSA: Modi to ministers, officials

Don't ignore any notes shared by NSCS, NSA: Modi to ministers, officials

Rediff.com2 Oct 2022

Stressing that while framing any policy, there is a need to look at it from India's strategic point of view, Modi said there were instances when notes from the national security council were not given due importance.

Modi govt 3.0: Who is in, who is out

Modi govt 3.0: Who is in, who is out

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

Over 65 Union ministers are likely to take oath, going by the visual of the meeting Modi held with his likely council of ministers.

Financing high CAD year after year a challenge: FM

Financing high CAD year after year a challenge: FM

Rediff.com1 Jul 2013

Finance Minister P Chidambaram on said that financing current account deficit (CAD) year after year is a challenge and the only way to deal with the problem is by increasing exports.