News for 'Ministry of Finance'

Ashok Chawla named Finance Secretary

Ashok Chawla named Finance Secretary

Rediff.com12 May 2009

Economic Affairs Secretary Ashok Chawla has been appointed as Finance Secretary in the ministry of finance with effect from Tuesday. The post of Finance Secretary fell vacant following retirement of Arun Ramanathan, who was also Secretary of Financial Services.

'A prime minister should take the country forward'

'A prime minister should take the country forward'

Rediff.com19 Apr 2024

'The prime minister took a meeting recently and he asked for suggestions and ideas for a plan till 2047.'

Plot to kill Pannun: Nikhil Gupta can be extradited to US, rules Czech court

Plot to kill Pannun: Nikhil Gupta can be extradited to US, rules Czech court

Rediff.com20 Jan 2024

Gupta, arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 last year, is currently held in Prague's Pankrak prison.

No call from Sebi to ban PNs: Finance ministry

No call from Sebi to ban PNs: Finance ministry

Rediff.com17 Aug 2007

Participatory notes are instruments through which foreign investors trade in the country's equity and debt markets.

GST collections jump 15% to Rs 1.68 lakh cr in Nov

GST collections jump 15% to Rs 1.68 lakh cr in Nov

Rediff.com1 Dec 2023

GST collections jumped 15 per cent to nearly Rs 1.68 lakh crore in November, the finance ministry said on Friday. Goods and Services Tax (GST) mop-up was over Rs 1.45 lakh crore in November 2022.

Rs 26,400 cr on the cards for FAME-III

Rs 26,400 cr on the cards for FAME-III

Rediff.com4 Jan 2024

Based on discussions with stakeholders, the ministry is proposing to allocate Rs 26,400 crore for FAME-III subsidy alone with electric two wheelers getting around Rs 8,158 crore, electric buses Rs 9,600 crore and electric three-wheelers Rs 4,100 crore, according to sources in the know. Along with some other components like setting up an innovation fund and money for testing , the total allocation could cross Rs 33,000 crore, estimates suggest.

Shah gets Home, Rajnath Defence; Finance with Nirmala

Shah gets Home, Rajnath Defence; Finance with Nirmala

Rediff.com1 Jun 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain DoPT, Atomic Energy as well as all important policy issues and portfolios not allocated.

PowerMin nudges states, gencos to take up insolvent assets

PowerMin nudges states, gencos to take up insolvent assets

Rediff.com12 Nov 2023

To tackle increasing demand, the Union Ministry of Power has urged central and state public-sector power-generating companies (gencos) and state power and energy departments to pick projects that are undergoing insolvency proceedings. The power ministry is looking at a quicker turnaround of these stressed power plants and enhancing power supply. Increasing demand is pushing states to scout for more power sources. "It is requested that state-owned gencos may be encouraged to participate in the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of stressed power assets, which are of strategic and commercial significance to the capacity addition plans of the states concerned.

What Pranab Da Thought About Sonia Gandhi

What Pranab Da Thought About Sonia Gandhi

Rediff.com9 Dec 2023

Pranab's earlier fear of Sonia relying too heavily on a coterie due to her lack of experience turned out to be unfounded. As per Pranab, Sonia had her close advisers but she did not follow anyone's advice blindly. A fascinating excerpt from Sharmistha Mukherjee's Pranab, My Father: A Daughter Remembers.

NIA files 4000-page chargesheet against six in ISIS module case

NIA files 4000-page chargesheet against six in ISIS module case

Rediff.com28 Dec 2023

The 4000-page chargesheet, which was filed in the court of special NIA judge AK Lahoti, has 16 protected witnesses.

Are Plug-In Hybrid Cars The Future?

Are Plug-In Hybrid Cars The Future?

Rediff.com15 May 2024

Plug-in hybrids have two engines and the electric part has a much larger battery than in the regular hybrids. Car companies, led by the Japanese, are pushing the Indian government to look at hybrids in the interim if it wants to reduce carbon emission.

Adani Power revives old ambitions as power demand surges in India

Adani Power revives old ambitions as power demand surges in India

Rediff.com10 Apr 2024

Adani Power, part of the Adani group, plans to add close to 6 gigawatts (Gw) of new power assets in the next five years, according to an investor presentation by the company. That is clearly meant to ride on India's burgeoning power demand. But there is another side to it: All of this new capacity is expected to be thermal power, or power produced from coal.

'First Congress Candidate To Get Vote From A Thackeray'

'First Congress Candidate To Get Vote From A Thackeray'

Rediff.com9 May 2024

While the responses of the candidates were predictable, depending on which side they belonged to, an interesting point slipped through when Rahul Shewale cited the Dharavi Redevelopment Project as a scheme that would add to Mumbai's importance. No big infrastructural project in Mumbai, he said, could be successful without the Centre's nod.

'Despite Covid we don't care about health'

'Despite Covid we don't care about health'

Rediff.com7 Feb 2024

'The first duty of the government is to learn lessons from a bad experience and course correct. It's a pity that the government is making policy without looking at evidence and differentiating between immediate and urgent.'

Telecom industry wants govt to junk USOF, slash duties

Telecom industry wants govt to junk USOF, slash duties

Rediff.com27 Jan 2024

Telecom services providers have urged the Ministry of Finance to suspend the universal service obligation (USOF) till the existing corpus is exhausted. In their Budget recommendations, they have also pressed for an exemption from the service tax on "assignment of right to use natural resources" and the slashing of Customs duty on telecom equipment to zero. The Cellular Operators Association of India (Coai), which represents private sector telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, called for abolishment of USOF levy.

CAG flags anomalies in accounts of units under IT, telecom ministries

CAG flags anomalies in accounts of units under IT, telecom ministries

Rediff.com29 Nov 2021

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Monday reported multiple irregularities in the accounts of units under the IT and telecom ministries, including purchases of hardware and software worth Rs 890 crore by NICSI in contravention of rules. In its audit report for financial years 2017-18 and 2018-19, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged anomalies in the decision taken by state-run telecom firm BSNL, C-DoT, the Department of Posts, ITI Limited and CDAC that had adverse financial implications. "NICSI procured hardware and software costing Rs 890.34 crore through the 'Strategic Alliance' route in contravention of General Financial Rules, 2005 and departmental instructions and thus failed to ensure transparency and competitiveness in the procurement process," according to the CAG report tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.

Don't return to bury the dead: Israel warns Gazans amid truce

Don't return to bury the dead: Israel warns Gazans amid truce

Rediff.com26 Nov 2023

Reiterating warnings made in dropped leaflets, the IDF's Arabic spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee directed Palestinians to continue moving south of Wadi Gaza.

GST mop-up rises 12% to over Rs 1.61 lakh cr in June

GST mop-up rises 12% to over Rs 1.61 lakh cr in June

Rediff.com1 Jul 2023

GST collections rose 12 per cent to over Rs 1.61 lakh crore in June, the finance ministry said on Saturday. The gross GST collection has crossed Rs 1.60 lakh crore mark for the fourth time since the roll-out of the indirect tax regime six years ago on July 1, 2017. The average monthly gross GST collection for the first (April-June) quarter of the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 are Rs 1.10 lakh crore, Rs 1.51 lakh crore and Rs 1.69 lakh crore, respectively, the finance ministry said in a statement.

The Red Sea crisis: Commerce department flags rising import cost

The Red Sea crisis: Commerce department flags rising import cost

Rediff.com23 Jan 2024

However, as of now, container availability has not been seen as an issue as adequate empties are available. The Red Sea strait is vital for 30 per cent of global container traffic and 12 per cent of global trade.

Personal income tax to GDP ratio rises to 2.94% in FY22

Personal income tax to GDP ratio rises to 2.94% in FY22

Rediff.com25 Apr 2023

Personal income tax as a percentage of GDP has gone up from 2.11 per cent in 2014-15 to 2.94 per cent in 2021-22 fiscal, indicating that taxpayer base is widening as a result of the steps taken by the present government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

These two ministries are clashing over paid maternity leave

These two ministries are clashing over paid maternity leave

Rediff.com31 Dec 2018

After complaints that the new law may impact employment of women, the government has framed a scheme to provide monetary incentive to companies, reports Somesh Jha.

'Minister has converted ED into an extended arm of the BJP'

'Minister has converted ED into an extended arm of the BJP'

Rediff.com11 Jan 2024

'Now the political boss decides, and the ED acts.'

After Thailand, Sri Lanka, this country to allow visa-free entry to Indians

After Thailand, Sri Lanka, this country to allow visa-free entry to Indians

Rediff.com27 Nov 2023

The 30-day visa-free entry is also currently enjoyed by eight ASEAN countries for the purpose of social visits, tourism and business.

Ministry defends EPFO surplus

Ministry defends EPFO surplus

Rediff.com8 Feb 2011

Labour Ministry has justified EPFO's declaring 9.5 per cent interest for 2010-11.

417 infra projects show cost overruns of Rs 4.77 lakh crore in Sep

417 infra projects show cost overruns of Rs 4.77 lakh crore in Sep

Rediff.com13 Nov 2023

As many as 417 infrastructure projects, each entailing an investment of Rs 150 crore or more, have been hit by cost overruns of more than Rs 4.77 lakh crore in September this year, an official report said. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which monitors infrastructure projects worth Rs 150 crore and above, out of 1,763 projects, 417 reported cost overruns and as many as 842 projects were delayed. "Total original cost of implementation of the 1,763 projects was Rs 24,86,402.70 crore and their anticipated completion cost is likely to be Rs 29,64,345.13 crore, which reflects overall cost overruns of Rs 4,77,942.43 crore (19.22 per cent of original cost)," the ministry's latest report for September 2023 said.

India's Startup Scorecard

India's Startup Scorecard

Rediff.com2 Apr 2024

For the startup ecosystem in India, the scorecard so far has been a mixed bag, observes Akhil Gupta.

PSUs in fast lane on capex push, top 10 shares nearly double

PSUs in fast lane on capex push, top 10 shares nearly double

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

Public-sector enterprise stocks have seen a good run thus far in 2023-24 (FY24), with the S&P BSE PSU Index surging by over 26 per cent during the period, compared to an 11 per cent increase in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex.

Mahua with Bengal cops' help stalking me, lawyer complains to CBI

Mahua with Bengal cops' help stalking me, lawyer complains to CBI

Rediff.com3 Jan 2024

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Dehadrai said, "I have given my complaint to the CBI. This is a very serious issue and there are people from Odisha who are financing and supporting those against whom I have filed a complaint (to the CBI). This fight is a bit dangerous but I will not back down."

Srinivasan to be ONGC's director, finance

Srinivasan to be ONGC's director, finance

Rediff.com15 Oct 2014

Government headhunters Public Enterprise Selection Board selected Srinivasan after interviewing 11 candidates at its office in New Delhi on Tuesday.

After foreign minister, China sacks missing defence minister

After foreign minister, China sacks missing defence minister

Rediff.com24 Oct 2023

China also removed Finance Minister Liu Kun and appointed Lan Fo'an in his place. Liu is the third senior Cabinet minister to be replaced without any explanation.

Parliament completes Budgetary exercise amid ruckus

Parliament completes Budgetary exercise amid ruckus

Rediff.com27 Mar 2023

First Rajya Sabha approved the Rs 45 lakh-crore spending proposed in the Budget, followed by the nod to the Finance Bill that contains tax proposals.

Credit card spends overseas not to be included in LRS

Credit card spends overseas not to be included in LRS

Rediff.com1 Jul 2023

The finance ministry on Friday amended the foreign exchange management rules to exclude international credit card spends from the purview of liberalised remittance scheme (LRS). The amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000, will be effective retrospectively from May 16, the ministry said in a notification. "...the use of International Credit Card for making payment by a person towards meeting expenses while such person is on a visit outside India" will not be covered under LRS, the notification said while inserting Rule 7 in the FEM (CAT) Rules.

Finance Secretary Mayaram transferred even before taking charge

Finance Secretary Mayaram transferred even before taking charge

Rediff.com30 Oct 2014

Arvind Mayaram, who was shunted from Finance Ministry to Tourism only a fortnight ago, has now been transferred as secretary in minority affairs ministry even before he took charge of his new post.

Can Your Bank Avoid Cyber Attacks?

Can Your Bank Avoid Cyber Attacks?

Rediff.com1 Dec 2023

The Union finance ministry will meet CEOs of public sector banks to discuss issues related to cybersecurity in the wake of the Rs 820 crore (Rs 8.2 billion) fraud that hit Kolkata-based UCO Bank last month.

'Brand Stalin' Shows Annamalai His Place

'Brand Stalin' Shows Annamalai His Place

Rediff.com11 Jun 2024

If Tamil Nadu voters preferred the DMK combine, it owed to the Modi-Annamalai combo's ideological battle which often crossed the line of political decency and also challenged 'Tamil pride', argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Want to intern with the Indian ministry of Finance? Read this!

Want to intern with the Indian ministry of Finance? Read this!

Rediff.com30 Dec 2011

The Deparment of Economic Affairs is inviting applications from undergraduate and post graduate students for an Internship Programme for the academic year 2012-13.

Why Modi compared RBI ex-governor Urjit Patel to a snake

Why Modi compared RBI ex-governor Urjit Patel to a snake

Rediff.com27 Sep 2023

Under Urjit Patel, the then RBI Governor, the central bank had a habit of making complete about-turns on various issues, including electoral bonds and digital payments, former finance secretary Subash Chandra Garg said in his book titled 'We Also Make Policy: An Insider's Account of How the Finance Ministry Functions.' Citing some instances of about-turns by the then RBI Governor Patel, Garg in his book said, RBI had done so on the electoral bond issue and it had so in case of setting up of Payments Regulatory Board (PRB). RBI also made unilateral decisions like ordering complete data localization for participation in the payment system, Garg wrote in the book which will hit the stands on October 1.

Banks get 8 months to effect TCS on international credit card spend

Banks get 8 months to effect TCS on international credit card spend

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

The central government has given banks and credit card entities six to eight months to put in place the requisite reporting mechanism and related features to collect tax at source on international credit card transactions, a senior bureaucrat told Business Standard. According to the bureaucrat, the plan to bring overseas credit cards under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) has not been mothballed and is simply being deferred so that banks get adequate time to get the system up and running. The official expects the reporting mechanism to be ready in the given time, and the rule could be implemented in the next financial year (2024-25, or FY25).

GST collections rise 10% to Rs 1.64 lakh cr in Dec

GST collections rise 10% to Rs 1.64 lakh cr in Dec

Rediff.com1 Jan 2024

Continuing the upward trend, GST collections rose 10 per cent to about Rs 1.64 lakh crore in December compared to Rs 1.49 lakh crore in the same month a year ago. During the April-December 2023 period, gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection witnessed a robust 12 per cent growth, reaching Rs 14.97 lakh crore against Rs 13.40 lakh crore mopped up in the same period of the previous year, the finance ministry said in a statement on Monday. The average monthly gross GST collection of Rs 1.66 lakh crore in the first nine-month period this year represents a 12 per cent increase compared to the Rs 1.49 lakh crore average recorded in the corresponding period of FY23, it added.

Delhi minister loses portfolio after LG recalls files

Delhi minister loses portfolio after LG recalls files

Rediff.com9 Dec 2023

Kailash Gahlot was divested of the Law and Justice portfolio in the Aam Aadmi Party government on Friday, a day after Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recalled files related to judicial infrastructure and administration in New Delhi as they remained pending with him for months, officials said.