News for 'Union Budget Speech'

Banks may seek your OK for fund transfer to your account

Banks may seek your OK for fund transfer to your account

Rediff.com28 Aug 2019

Under the proposed mechanism, the finance ministry has said banks will notify customers when someone tries to deposit money in their accounts, a government official said.

UPA's policy is anti-citizen: Arun Jaitley

UPA's policy is anti-citizen: Arun Jaitley

Rediff.com27 Mar 2012

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticized the Union Budget 2012-13 saying it has "dampened" economic sentiments as almost all services have been brought under tax ambit.

Jaitley sticks to fiscal roadmap, FY17 deficit at 3.5%

Jaitley sticks to fiscal roadmap, FY17 deficit at 3.5%

Rediff.com29 Feb 2016

The fiscal deficit in current fiscal has been estimated at 3.9%.

Why prices of petrol, diesel are likely to rise

Why prices of petrol, diesel are likely to rise

Rediff.com21 Feb 2022

A proposal in the Union Budget 2022-23 to raise excise duty on dirtier, unblended retail petrol and diesel has met with some resistance from the petroleum ministry. However, finance ministry officials say no such communication arguing against the levy of extra duty on diesel has been received from the oil ministry. Until there are discussions between the two departments, the proposal will not be tweaked in the Finance Bill. The Rs 2 per litre additional excise duty proposed on unblended fuels in the Finance Bill will result in a uniform hike of diesel prices across the country from October 1.

Tax on crypto trade will not bestow legality on it, says CBDT chief

Tax on crypto trade will not bestow legality on it, says CBDT chief

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

The Budget announcement of taxing 'virtual digital assets' or crypto currencies will help the income-tax department measure the "depth" of this trade in the country, know the investors and the nature of their investments and it does not "attach any legality" to these transactions, Central Board of Direct Taxes chairman J B Mohapatra said.

In a new practice, Sengol procession escorts President to Parliament

In a new practice, Sengol procession escorts President to Parliament

Rediff.com31 Jan 2024

President Murmu reached the new Parliament building in a six-horse buggy accompanied by the Presidential Bodyguards riding horses.

Indian Railways to build world-class stations

Indian Railways to build world-class stations

Rediff.com18 Mar 2011

Indian Railways said it would rope in home-grown talent to develop world-class stations as foreign consultants were charging exorbitant fees.

Affordable housing to get infrastructural status; realty stocks soar

Affordable housing to get infrastructural status; realty stocks soar

Rediff.com1 Feb 2017

In his Budget speech, the finance minister said: "We propose to facilitate higher investment in affordable housing. Affordable housing will now be given infrastructure status, which will enable these projects to avail the associated benefits."

Pan requirement worries life insurers

Pan requirement worries life insurers

Rediff.com6 Mar 2008

FM's decision to make PAN card a neccessity for financial transactions has worried life insurers, who will find it difficult to tap rural India with this requirement.

5 key takeaways from Jaitley's fifth Budget

5 key takeaways from Jaitley's fifth Budget

Rediff.com15 Feb 2018

The Budget for 2018-19 has at least five takeaways that are yet to receive adequate attention, says A K Bhattacharya.

Oppn hails electoral bonds ruling, takes swipe at BJP

Oppn hails electoral bonds ruling, takes swipe at BJP

Rediff.com15 Feb 2024

Leaders of several opposition parties on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court verdict striking down the electoral bonds scheme and termed it an important step in ensuring transparency in electoral funding.

I feel proud to be Hindustani Muslim: Azad in RS farewell speech

I feel proud to be Hindustani Muslim: Azad in RS farewell speech

Rediff.com9 Feb 2021

Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad during his retirement speech in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday summed up his more than four-decade-old political career in few Urdu couplets and a brief speech.

Covid waves slow down FY22 highway construction

Covid waves slow down FY22 highway construction

Rediff.com8 Mar 2022

If 2019-20 (FY20) was an unusual year for highway construction in India, with the pace of work slowing down for the first time since the Narendra Modi government assumed power in 2014, largely due to the general elections in May and liquidity crunch, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21 (FY21) only made matters worse with lockdowns and labour unavailability. The pace of highway construction in 2021-22 (FY22) has not been able to bulldoze the pandemic barriers in a year marred by two Covid-19 waves - the second at the start of the fiscal year, the third towards the close. With localised lockdowns and restrictions on mobility, highway construction growth in the country has now fallen to a five-year low.

Excise duty hike on petrol, diesel put off by a month

Excise duty hike on petrol, diesel put off by a month

Rediff.com1 Oct 2022

The government has put off by one month the levy of an additional Rs 2 per litre excise duty on petrol and diesel that is not doped with ethanol and bio-diesel in a bid to give the industry more time to implement the measure.

Column: Can we afford the draft direct taxes code?

Column: Can we afford the draft direct taxes code?

Rediff.com1 Sep 2009

A good tax system should minimise the cost of collection, compliance cost and the cost to the economy in terms of the distortions it creates while generating revenues.

How India can boost infrastructure projects

How India can boost infrastructure projects

Rediff.com12 Jul 2016

To attract capital into infrastructure projects, the ratings system needs a fresh look.

Thankfully, Mr Jaitley delivers!

Thankfully, Mr Jaitley delivers!

Rediff.com1 Mar 2016

Jaitley has managed the difficult feat of sticking to the fiscal correction.

I-T dept's e-calculator to compare due tax under new, old regime

I-T dept's e-calculator to compare due tax under new, old regime

Rediff.com6 Feb 2020

The calculator, with a comparative table to compare taxes in the old and the new tax regime, for resident individuals (financial year 2020-21) has been hosted on the official e-filing website of the department -- https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.

Here's how tax exemption hike on housing loan interest benefits you

Here's how tax exemption hike on housing loan interest benefits you

Rediff.com5 Jul 2019

A person in the 30% income tax bracket with a Rs 40 lakh home loan at 9% interest rate would, under the Rs 3.5 lakh interest exemption, will save Rs 105,000 in tax in the first year, against Rs 60,000 under the previous interest exemption of Rs 2 lakh.

Pranab takes charge of Finance Ministry

Pranab takes charge of Finance Ministry

Rediff.com30 Jan 2009

The newly appointed Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee took charge of his new office in north block, returning to it after a gap of 24 years. The Finance Ministry office, which has been sealed off to outsiders and particularly prying journalists with the vote-on-account preparations in full swing, was on Thursday opened up at 4 p.m. when the media was invited in to cover the taking over ceremony.

Covid will have long-term effect on economy

Covid will have long-term effect on economy

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

'The finance ministry's decision to accept the deficit target of 4.5 per cent in 2025-2026 appears to have emanated from its endorsement of the Finance Commission's view that the Indian economy will continue to remain impacted by the pandemic, adversely undermining its growth potential,' notes A K Bhattacharya.

Quoting Nehru, Modi singles out Congress in Lok Sabha speech

Quoting Nehru, Modi singles out Congress in Lok Sabha speech

Rediff.com8 Feb 2022

Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on Motion of Thanks to President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the Parliament, Modi said the Congress' 'arrogance' has not gone away despite multiple electoral defeats and its 'misdeeds' seem to indicate that it has made up its mind not to come to power for the next 100 years.

Government to use Finance Bill for leeway in spending

Government to use Finance Bill for leeway in spending

Rediff.com3 Feb 2018

This move will enable it to incur higher-than-mandated borrowing, and possibly spending, till the 2024 Lok Sabha election cycle.

Sonia tears into Modi govt, says PM's actions speak far louder...

Sonia tears into Modi govt, says PM's actions speak far louder...

Rediff.com11 Apr 2023

"Religious festivals seem to have become occasions to intimidate and bully others -- a far cry from when they were occasions for joy and celebration. Instead, there is intimidation and discrimination only on account of their religion, food, caste, gender or language," Gandhi said.

Sitharaman announces 30% tax on crypto gains, 1% TDS on payments

Sitharaman announces 30% tax on crypto gains, 1% TDS on payments

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that income from digital asset transfers will be taxed at a rate of 30 per cent. This move is seen as 'crypto tax'.

Left, right unite; walk out of Parliament

Left, right unite; walk out of Parliament

Rediff.com26 Feb 2010

When the entire Opposition walked out of Parliament, protesting against the move to raise excise duty on diesel and petrol by Re 1 per litre, the politics over the Budget began even before Pranab Mukherjee could complete his important speech.

Annual infrastructure spending hiked to Rs 6 lakh crore

Annual infrastructure spending hiked to Rs 6 lakh crore

Rediff.com1 Feb 2018

Our country needs massive investment in access of Rs 50 lakh crore in infrastructure to increase growth of GDP and integrate the nation with a network of roads, airports, railways, inland water and to provide good quality services to the people: FM

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.com18 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.

Govt to contribute 8.33% to EPS for new workers, gives Rs 1000 crore

Govt to contribute 8.33% to EPS for new workers, gives Rs 1000 crore

Rediff.com29 Feb 2016

This will incentivise employers to recruit unemployed persons and also bring into books the informal employees.

Opposition slams Railway Budget for 'weaving dreams'

Opposition slams Railway Budget for 'weaving dreams'

Rediff.com26 Feb 2015

Opposition said saying it lacked vision and road map to execute ideas.

Has Nirmalaji's tax plan made India CAs mukt?

Has Nirmalaji's tax plan made India CAs mukt?

Rediff.com18 Feb 2020

If the finance minister's tax proposals have stimulated demand at all, it's for CAs, notes Kanika Datta.

Coming soon: rating system for infra projects

Coming soon: rating system for infra projects

Rediff.com11 Jan 2017

The new system is expected to give emphasis on various in-built credit enhancement structures.

Why PM needs a State of the Union-style stock-taking

Why PM needs a State of the Union-style stock-taking

Rediff.com1 Mar 2016

The PMO should also present an annual report, on the state of politics and society

Budget: Here's what the industry leaders have to say

Budget: Here's what the industry leaders have to say

Rediff.com10 Jul 2014

The industry's reactions to the Budget have been mixed.

Jaitley gives big push to Digital India; no tax on PoS machines

Jaitley gives big push to Digital India; no tax on PoS machines

Rediff.com1 Feb 2017

The minister also exempted components from taxes to encourage domestic manufacturing of these devices.

Tax sops may help REITs attract $1 bn funds in 2015

Tax sops may help REITs attract $1 bn funds in 2015

Rediff.com1 Mar 2015

REITs, a new investment avenue in India on the lines of one in developed markets like the US, UK, Japan.

FM announces Rs 1.48 lakh crore for Railways

FM announces Rs 1.48 lakh crore for Railways

Rediff.com1 Feb 2018

There's a 13 per cent increase over last year, in an effort to put its flagging revenues back on track.

When Santa Wore A Red Sari

When Santa Wore A Red Sari

Rediff.com1 Feb 2023

The Budget oration of the finance minister and the confidence with which she delivered it, along with the measures and the recent upsurge in the economy would all contribute to unleashing the storied 'animal spirits' and help the economy run on the growth path quite smoothly. Or so the government hopes, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Govt to protect interest of all PSB staff, says Sitharaman

Govt to protect interest of all PSB staff, says Sitharaman

Rediff.com16 Mar 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the interest of all employees of state-owned banks which are likely to be privatised will be protected, even as bank unions observed a two-day strike against the government's privatisation decision. Replying to a query during a press conference, she clarified that public sector presence will continue in the banking space. "...we have announced public enterprise policy based on which we have identified those four areas in which we said government presence, public sector presence will be there, and bare minimum presence is what we have said, in that financial institutions are also there. "Meaning, even in financial sector we will still have the presence of public sector enterprise...not all of them are going to be privatised," she said.