News for 'Union Finance Ministry'

India's ambitious disinvestment target stuck in 2013

India's ambitious disinvestment target stuck in 2013

Rediff.com18 Dec 2013

The drive of the disinvestment department to move ahead with its plan to raise Rs 40,000 crore was often neutralised by the desire of the administrative ministries to get better valuation and better price for the shares of the companies put on the block.

Delhi budget put on hold over allocation row; Centre, AAP trade charges

Delhi budget put on hold over allocation row; Centre, AAP trade charges

Rediff.com21 Mar 2023

Sources in the Delhi government said the ministry of home affairs has stopped the Kejriwal government's budget and it will not be tabled in the assembly on Tuesday.

Gadkari launches cow dung soap, bamboo water bottles

Gadkari launches cow dung soap, bamboo water bottles

Rediff.com1 Oct 2019

The bamboo water bottle is priced at Rs 560 and the soap variant of 125 grams costs Rs 125 each.

EPFO may pay 9% interest for 2015-16

EPFO may pay 9% interest for 2015-16

Rediff.com22 Jan 2016

The Finance Audit and Investment committee recommended 8.95% interest.

Reports of Jaitley's deteriorating health false: Govt

Reports of Jaitley's deteriorating health false: Govt

Rediff.com26 May 2019

'Reports in a section of media regarding Union Minister Shri Arun Jaitley's health condition are false and baseless. Media is advised to stay clear of rumour mongering,' Government Spokesman Sitanshu Kar tweeted.

Stringent guidelines for wilful defaulters on the cards

Stringent guidelines for wilful defaulters on the cards

Rediff.com28 Jun 2014

The Union finance ministry is planning to make rules regarding wilful defaulters more stringent, so that criminal charges can be pressed against such entities.

PM to meet FinMin officials from all departments on June 20

PM to meet FinMin officials from all departments on June 20

Rediff.com15 Jun 2019

This meeting has led to the deferment of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting by a day.

Note ban objective was to squeeze out cash: Jaitley

Note ban objective was to squeeze out cash: Jaitley

Rediff.com30 Aug 2017

Jaitley said note ban has compelled people to deposit money into bank accounts.

Post-coronavirus GDP, Budget targets likely in July

Post-coronavirus GDP, Budget targets likely in July

Rediff.com27 Apr 2020

'The numbers are null and void now. Look, we can give out projections now, but we know that a week later those numbers will also be irrelevant. So we need to wait,' a top government official said.

Maharashtra to pursue 22-km Mumbai Trans Harbour project

Maharashtra to pursue 22-km Mumbai Trans Harbour project

Rediff.com13 Nov 2013

The government and MMRDA are keen to develop the 22-km link, which will connect Sewri on the island city to Nhava Seva in Navi Mumbai, on an engineering, procurement and construction basis and not on the build-operate transfer model, considering past experience.

Petrol, diesel prices depend on govt, not crude rate!

Petrol, diesel prices depend on govt, not crude rate!

Rediff.com7 May 2020

'I have no problems with the finance ministry or with state governments treating petrol pump prices as the last resort for meeting their ambitious spending targets with very limited revenue resources.' 'But let's do away with this smokescreen of free pricing of petrol and diesel and go back to administered pricing regime,' says Dr Sudhir Bisht.

Minister pitches for exporters' tax breaks

Minister pitches for exporters' tax breaks

Rediff.com5 Jun 2009

In its recommendations to the finance ministry, the commerce ministry has made a strong case for helping exports, particularly in the labour-intensive sectors like leather, textile and handicrafts.

PNB is at it again! Buys 3 Audi cars for top management

PNB is at it again! Buys 3 Audi cars for top management

Rediff.com9 Jun 2020

PNB took the delivery of these high-end luxury cars worth approximately Rs 1.34 crore last month, unmindful of the coronavirus outbreak, subsequent nation-wide lockdown and its crippling effect on the financial sector as well as the economy. The annual depreciation on this purchase will be around about Rs 20 lakh.

Budget 2014: Tax woes of multi-national cos likely to end

Budget 2014: Tax woes of multi-national cos likely to end

Rediff.com24 Jun 2014

Budget may allow use of advance-pricing agreements for past cases.

15th FC may hike grants, cut devolution to states

15th FC may hike grants, cut devolution to states

Rediff.com30 Jan 2020

Any reduction in devolution could aggravate the strained relations between the Centre and some opposition-ruled states on a number of issues, including CAA.

8.65% interest rate on EPF for 2018-19

8.65% interest rate on EPF for 2018-19

Rediff.com24 Sep 2019

This decision would pave the way for crediting Rs 54,000 crore as 8.65 per cent interest for 2018-19, into the accounts of more than 6 crore EPFO subscribers.

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.

Petrol price up Rs 36 a litre, diesel 26.58 in less than 18 months

Petrol price up Rs 36 a litre, diesel 26.58 in less than 18 months

Rediff.com23 Oct 2021

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday by 35 paise per litre, pushing the total increase in rates on petrol to Rs 36 per litre and on diesel to Rs 26.58 since early May 2020 when taxes on the two fuels were raised to record levels. Petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 107.24 a litre and diesel comes for Rs 95.97, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. The latest increase that follows the unrelenting hike in international oil prices has pushed pump rates across the country to their highest-ever levels.

FinMin approves SBI-SBS merger

FinMin approves SBI-SBS merger

Rediff.com14 Aug 2008

Earlier this month, the Union Cabinet had approved the merger of SBS with SBI. The boards of both the banks had given their approval for the merger in August last year. SBS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the State Bank of India. The merger would be effective from the 'date as may be notified by the Govt of India in the official Gazette'.

Why Uday Kotak Will Step Down In December

Why Uday Kotak Will Step Down In December

Rediff.com7 Aug 2023

Unlike any other business, banking is a turf where the captain's role is the most critical. Often a bank is defined by the personality of the CEO who runs it. Both HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are the creation of their CEOs, notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Why did govt sack so many tax officers?

Why did govt sack so many tax officers?

Rediff.com14 Oct 2019

'If more than 60 commissioner-level tax officials were compulsorily retired in the span of a few months, surely the malaise is far deeper,' notes A K Bhattacharya.

PM Modi's US visit: India's entry into critical mineral alliance on table

PM Modi's US visit: India's entry into critical mineral alliance on table

Rediff.com21 Jun 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US is expected to see discussion on India's possible entry into a US-led global alliance on critical minerals, officials told Business Standard. In June last year, the US, the European Union, and other G7 partners launched the Minerals Security Partnership to ensure that China did not further strengthen its grip on supplies of critical minerals the world over. Various ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, have communicated to the Ministry of External Affairs to explore the possibility of India joining the partnership, officials said.

Govt stays hike in DA, pension, hitting 1.11 cr people

Govt stays hike in DA, pension, hitting 1.11 cr people

Rediff.com23 Apr 2020

"In view of the crisis arising out of Covid-19, it has been decided that additional instalment of dearness allowance payable to central government employees and dearness relief (DR) to central government pensioners due from January 1, 2020, shall not be paid. "The additional instalment of DA and DR due from July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, shall also not be paid," the department of expenditure said in an office memorandum.

Pranab Mukherjee gets diplomat as joint secy

Pranab Mukherjee gets diplomat as joint secy

Rediff.com2 Oct 2010

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has brought about a coup in North Block by bringing an Indian Foreign Service officer Venu Rajamoni as Joint Secretary to head multilateral institutions division.

'Vibrant Gujarat is Davos of East'

'Vibrant Gujarat is Davos of East'

Rediff.com18 Nov 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and the finance minister were in the commercial capital to participate in a road show organised jointly by the Gujarat government and Confederation of Indian Industry for the Vibrant Gujarat summit, slated for January next year.

No plan to ban petrol-diesel vehicles: Gadkari

No plan to ban petrol-diesel vehicles: Gadkari

Rediff.com5 Sep 2019

"There were discussions and the ministry had received suggestions that petrol-diesel vehicles should be banned. I would like to clarify that the government does not intend to ban petrol and diesel vehicles. We are not going to do anything like that," Gadkari said, addressing a gathering at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) annual convention, 2019.

Dilli Gupshup: Narendra Modi: Mere paas youth hai!

Dilli Gupshup: Narendra Modi: Mere paas youth hai!

Rediff.com12 Feb 2013

Why is Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram worried? Who has the sharpest eye in the Congress? How is the Union law minister tackling the turmoil in his ministry? Catch up on all the gossip from Delhi, in this week's Dilli Gupshup.

Budget 2020: Govt clarifies on NRI tax

Budget 2020: Govt clarifies on NRI tax

Rediff.com3 Feb 2020

The ministry said it was an anti-abuse provision amid growing instances of NRIs shifting their stay in low or no-tax jurisdiction to avoid tax payment in India.

ED attaches assets worth Rs 16.40 cr of Zakir Naik's family

ED attaches assets worth Rs 16.40 cr of Zakir Naik's family

Rediff.com19 Jan 2019

The ED identified the properties as Fatima Heights and Aafiyah Heights in Mumbai, an unnamed project in the Bhandup area of Maharashtra's capital city and a project named Engracia in Pune.

FinMin yet to take a call on 'tax on cash'

FinMin yet to take a call on 'tax on cash'

Rediff.com26 Jan 2017

A committee on digitalisation headed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had in an interim report recommended taxing cash transactions of at least Rs 50,000 to promote digital payments.

Lok Sabha passes supplementary grants without debate

Lok Sabha passes supplementary grants without debate

Rediff.com21 Mar 2023

On March 13, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had tabled the second batch of supplementary demands for grants in the House amounting to a total of Rs 2,70,508.89 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).

Over half of Plan panel staff to be farmed out

Over half of Plan panel staff to be farmed out

Rediff.com2 Sep 2014

New body to replace Plan panel might retain 40% of existing staff

It's high time Modi govt shows us good economic growth

It's high time Modi govt shows us good economic growth

Rediff.com27 Jul 2015

The Indian stock markets may turn bearish after the US Fed decides to raise interest rates.

Despite the cut, EPF rate is still substantial

Despite the cut, EPF rate is still substantial

Rediff.com20 Dec 2016

'The rate of interest from the EPF is still attractive compared to the rates on fixed deposits, National Savings Scheme, Public Provident Fund...'

Shaktikanta Das named new RBI Governor

Shaktikanta Das named new RBI Governor

Rediff.com11 Dec 2018

He will be the first bureaucrat to head the central bank in almost five years.

Govt drops bank M&A plans

Govt drops bank M&A plans

Rediff.com8 Feb 2010

In December last year, the finance ministry had asked five state-run banks -- Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Bank of India -- to explore merger opportunities in the banking industry.

Govt will announce additional measures to boost economy: FM

Govt will announce additional measures to boost economy: FM

Rediff.com20 Sep 2017

The FM said an announcement with regard to the additional steps will be made after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Maximum tenure of 5 years for chiefs of CBI and ED, says SC

Maximum tenure of 5 years for chiefs of CBI and ED, says SC

Rediff.com11 Jul 2023

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the validity of two central laws and the corresponding rules that provide for a maximum tenure of five years for the directors of the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.

'BJP will have no effect. Not even an iota'

'BJP will have no effect. Not even an iota'

Rediff.com18 Apr 2024

'The people of Tamil Nadu in particular Chennai know about the double standards of the BJP. Nothing will work for them here.'