News for 'finance ministry'

Oil ministry asked to examine new gas pricing

Oil ministry asked to examine new gas pricing

Rediff.com11 Jul 2013

Media has raised the issues that new pricing to benefit Reliance Industries.

Can AI Improve Customer Service At PSBs?

Can AI Improve Customer Service At PSBs?

Rediff.com20 May 2025

'AI analyses body language, etiquette, and communication skills, providing an in-depth performance matrix and a ranking system to help employees identify areas of improvement.'

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.

WazirX Loses $234 Million In Security Breach

WazirX Loses $234 Million In Security Breach

Rediff.com19 Jul 2024

The swindled amount is nearly half of WazirX's total assets.

'Illegal Gambling Sites Are National Security Threat'

'Illegal Gambling Sites Are National Security Threat'

Rediff.com2 Jun 2025

'Illegal gambling operators are systematically exploiting India's advertising and payment infrastructure, siphoning off crores of rupees from outside the country.'

Highway Spending May Rise 10%

Highway Spending May Rise 10%

Rediff.com24 Jun 2024

'With new projects and recently awarded projects kicking in, capital expenditure should only increase going forward.'

Sovereign Gold Bonds On Way Out

Sovereign Gold Bonds On Way Out

Rediff.com16 Dec 2024

'It has also outlived its initial purpose of reducing physical gold imports.'

'CBI should reveal discoveries from Swizz evidence on Bofors payoffs'

'CBI should reveal discoveries from Swizz evidence on Bofors payoffs'

Rediff.com9 Mar 2025

Journalist and author Chitra Subramaniam has demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) make public its findings from the "box of evidence" received from Switzerland regarding the Bofors payoffs. Subramaniam, author of 'Boforsgate: A Journalist's Pursuit of Truth', expressed concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the evidence, questioning who opened the box, when it was opened, and what it contained. She also raised doubts about the official narrative regarding the alleged bribe in the Bofors case, suggesting the sum of Rs 64 crore may not reflect the full extent of the corruption. Subramaniam also alleged that the CBI planted stories about Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan to derail the investigation and launched a political vendetta against the Bachchans. She recalled that Bachchan had come to her home and asked if she had seen his name. The CBI has recently requested assistance from the United States in the case, seeking information from private investigator Michael Hershman, who claims to have crucial details about the scandal. The Bofors scandal, a major bribery case involving the Indian government and the Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors in the 1980s, pertains to allegations of a Rs 64-crore bribe in a Rs 1,437-crore deal for the supply of 400 155mm field Howitzers.

Budget 2025: Rs 1.88 lakh crore outlay for rural development

Budget 2025: Rs 1.88 lakh crore outlay for rural development

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

The Rural Development Ministry has been allocated Rs 1.88 lakh crore in the Union Budget for 2025-26, around 5.75 per cent more than the allocation in the previous budget.

MPS: FinMin may extend August deadline for PSBs, insurers

MPS: FinMin may extend August deadline for PSBs, insurers

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

The finance ministry is in favour of extending the August deadline for public sector banks (PSBs) as well as insurance companies to increase their minimum public shareholding (MPS) to the mandated 25 per cent, said a senior government official. "The election results will determine the course of action. "Most likely, those who did not receive an extension to meet the minimum shareholding norm will be granted one," the senior government official said.

GST mop-up grows 12.5% to over Rs 1.68 lakh cr in Feb

GST mop-up grows 12.5% to over Rs 1.68 lakh cr in Feb

Rediff.com1 Mar 2024

The GST collection in February grew 12.5 per cent to over Rs 1.68 lakh crore, buoyed by domestic transactions, the finance ministry said on Friday. The total gross GST collection for the current fiscal (April 2023-February 2024) stands at Rs 18.40 lakh crore, 11.7 per cent higher than the mopup for the same period last fiscal.

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.

Indian ministries at odds over gold import duty

Indian ministries at odds over gold import duty

Rediff.com3 Nov 2015

India will also launch a sovereign gold bond to lower physical demand.

CPSE dividend likely to cross record FY24 tally

CPSE dividend likely to cross record FY24 tally

Rediff.com29 Oct 2024

The Centre may overshoot the Rs 56,260 crore target for dividend receipts from central public-sector enterprises (CPSEs) set for FY25 and is likely to end up getting around Rs 65,000 crore this financial year, according to a senior government official. This excludes dividend from nationalised banks and financial institutions. As on October 21, the Centre collected Rs 28,913 crore as dividend and other investment from CPSEs, accounting for over 50 per cent of the Budget Estimate for FY25.

GST collection rises 10% to Rs 1.73 lakh crore in May

GST collection rises 10% to Rs 1.73 lakh crore in May

Rediff.com1 Jun 2024

The country's gross GST collections rose to Rs 1.73 lakh crore in May, growing 10 per cent year on year driven by increased revenues from domestic transactions, the finance ministry said on Saturday. GST collections had touched a record high of Rs 2.10 lakh crore last month.

Sitharaman on how India will remain an engine of growth despite Trump's tariff

Sitharaman on how India will remain an engine of growth despite Trump's tariff

Rediff.com8 Apr 2025

The resilience of the economy and strength of domestic demand will continue to make India an engine of growth amid the rapidly evolving global trade landscape as a result of US tariffs, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in London on Tuesday.

Prospects of economy expected to improve in 2025: RBI Guv

Prospects of economy expected to improve in 2025: RBI Guv

Rediff.com30 Dec 2024

Facing criticism from the government over the central bank prioritising inflation over growth, the new RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday said that prospects of the Indian economy are expected to improve on the back of high consumer and business confidence in 2025. "As we strive to preserve financial stability to support a higher growth path for the Indian economy, our focus remains steadfast on maintaining stability of financial institutions and, more broadly, systemic stability," Malhotra said in foreword to the Financial Stability Report.

Which is the new battleground in tax disputes?

Which is the new battleground in tax disputes?

Rediff.com25 Jun 2025

In October 2024, Jindal Stainless challenged a Goods and Services Tax (GST) notice in the Delhi high court. It was about corporate guarantees issued to related parties by its former group company, Jindal Stainless (Hisar), before their merger in March 2023.

India set for massive mock drill on Wednesday amid rising tension with Pak

India set for massive mock drill on Wednesday amid rising tension with Pak

Rediff.com7 May 2025

How to conduct the mock exercise with active public participation of people was discussed threadbare at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan. Top civil and police officers of the country participated in the meeting, official sources said.

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

Rediff.com3 Jun 2019

This is not her first stint in North Block or in leading a major economic ministry. She started Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term as minister of state for finance, was made the commerce minister, and then became the defence minister.

How Dr Singh Changed Stockmarkets

How Dr Singh Changed Stockmarkets

Rediff.com28 Dec 2024

'He will be remembered more for what he did as finance minister -- as someone who functioned well when the political fallout was taken care of.'

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra to be next RBI Governor

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra to be next RBI Governor

Rediff.com9 Dec 2024

The government on Monday appointed Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared Malhotra's name, who has been appointed as the RBI Governor for three years, starting Wednesday. Malhotra, a 1990 Batch Rajasthan Cadre IAS Officer, will replace Shaktikanta Das, whose tenure ends on Tuesday (December 10, 2024).

Modi to review ministries' work in quest for turnaround

Modi to review ministries' work in quest for turnaround

Rediff.com3 Jan 2020

Starting today, Modi and top officials in the Prime Minister's Office will be briefed by various central ministries and departments on their plans as well as agenda for the next five years. They will also apprise the PMO of the work they have done so far in realising the agenda of government's second term in office.

SEZs in inter-ministry row

SEZs in inter-ministry row

Rediff.com7 Apr 2003

Health ministry's allocation hiked by 12.59% to Rs 90,659 cr

Health ministry's allocation hiked by 12.59% to Rs 90,659 cr

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

The government also announced that healthcare cover under the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme will be extended to all ASHA and anganwadi workers and helpers.

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: FinMin

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: FinMin

Rediff.com26 Apr 2024

With the prediction of an above normal monsoon in 2024, the government is expecting food prices to come down, the finance ministry's monthly economic report for March has said. The report, released on Thursday, said robust foreign inflows and comfortable trade deficits were expected to keep the rupee within a comfortable range. "Further easing of food prices is on the anvil as IMD (India Meteorological Department) has predicted above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season, which is likely to lead to higher production, assuming good spatial and temporal distribution of the rainfall," the monthly report, released by the Department of Economic Affairs, said.

Govt collected Rs 20.14 lakh crore GST in FY24

Govt collected Rs 20.14 lakh crore GST in FY24

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

GST collections in March grew 11.5 per cent to Rs 1.78 lakh crore, buoyed by domestic transactions, the finance ministry said on Monday. The gross GST collection for the last fiscal (April 2023-March 2024) stood at Rs 20.14 lakh crore, 11.7 per cent higher than the mop-up in the preceding fiscal. The average monthly gross collection for FY24 stood at Rs 1.68 lakh crore, exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the preceding fiscal.

Budget session begins on Jan 31 with Prez address

Budget session begins on Jan 31 with Prez address

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

The President will address both the Houses of Parliament assembled together in the Lok Sabha chamber on Friday and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the General Budget on Saturday.

Rs 5.49 cr fine imposed on Paytm Payments Bank under anti-money laundering law

Rs 5.49 cr fine imposed on Paytm Payments Bank under anti-money laundering law

Rediff.com1 Mar 2024

Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) has imposed a Rs 5.49 crore penalty on Paytm Payments Bank for violating anti-money laundering rules, the Finance Ministry said on Friday. FIU-IND initiated a review of Paytm Payments Bank on receipt of specific information from law enforcement agencies in respect of few entities and their network of businesses engaged in a number of illegal acts, including organising and facilitating online gambling.

Health budget up by 11%, daycare cancer centres announced

Health budget up by 11%, daycare cancer centres announced

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

The Union health ministry has been allocated Rs 99,858.56 crore in the Budget 2025-2026, an around 11 per cent hike over the Rs 89,974.12 crore in the budget (revised estimates) of 2024-2025 with the government announcing setting up daycare cancer centres at all district hospitals over the next three years.

GST collection breaches Rs 2 lakh cr-milestone

GST collection breaches Rs 2 lakh cr-milestone

Rediff.com1 May 2024

The country's gross GST collections hit a record high of Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April, growing 12.4 per cent year on year driven by a strong increase in domestic transactions and imports. GST collections breach landmark milestone of Rs 2 lakh crore, the finance ministry said in a statement.

Growth Or Inflation? What Will RBI Gov Tackle?

Growth Or Inflation? What Will RBI Gov Tackle?

Rediff.com11 Dec 2024

Sanjay Malhotra takes charge as the 26th RBI governor at a time when headline retail inflation has shot up to 6.2%.

How wise men in FinMin can ideally allocate budget to ministries

How wise men in FinMin can ideally allocate budget to ministries

Rediff.com1 Jun 2015

The Ministry of Finance or Commerce would certainly need a larger hospitality budget than the Ministry of Agriculture.

What The Next Census Will Discover

What The Next Census Will Discover

Rediff.com5 Jun 2025

The next Census' findings will help identify the extent of India's ageing population and vulnerability levels.

'Everyone Who Pays Tax Will Get Something Beneficial'

'Everyone Who Pays Tax Will Get Something Beneficial'

Rediff.com6 Feb 2025

'The voice which came wherever I travelled was that we are proud taxpayers. We are honest taxpayers. We want to continue to serve the country by being good taxpayers.' 'But what do you think about the kind of things you can do for us?'

Road, rail, coal may dominate National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0

Road, rail, coal may dominate National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

Roads, railways, and coal together are likely to account for 70 per cent of the government's takings from the upcoming second edition of the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), set to run from FY26 to FY30. In comparison, these three sectors are estimated to have contributed 66 per cent in the first edition of the NMP - FY22 to FY25.

Pillar Two tax regime unlikely soon as India moves with caution

Pillar Two tax regime unlikely soon as India moves with caution

Rediff.com6 Nov 2024

The Union government is expecting to rake in Rs 100-200 crore in additional revenue from Pillar Two, only under specific circumstances, a senior finance ministry official said requesting anonymity. It is proceeding cautiously, and is unlikely to implement rules anytime soon, the source said.

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

Rediff.com9 Oct 2024

The National Informatics Centre uses AI to automate document analysis and detect fraud in government departments.