The Union Budget may be presented around the middle of March in view of the ongoing Assembly elections, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee indicated on Wednesday.
Rashtriya Janata Dal's Lalu Prasad was the odd man out in the Lok Sabha on Saturday when he questioned the need for a debate on the Lokpal issue saying a bill in this regard was already before a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Government on Friday ruled out replacing its Lokpal Bill with another, saying it will be better to have amendments to the one already introduced.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee accused Bharatiya Janata Party of being responsible for the Rajya Sabha's failure to pass the Lokpal Bill by changing its stand within 24 hours.
All India Congress Committee General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today said that he was concerned over the logjam in the wake of Anna Hazare's agitation against corruption.
The much-awaited talks to finalise the seat-sharing issue between Congress and Trinamool Congress for the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal ended inconclusively in Kolkata on Tuesday night.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee late on Wednesday night rebutted the charges by Team Anna that he had told them the Gandhian's health was not government's concern, saying the remarks were "distorted."
Hectic efforts to break the deadlock over Lokpal were on for the second day on Wednesday as Team Anna presented a fresh draft for consideration by the government.
In the Budget 2012-13, the government had pegged 2012-13 gross domestic product growth at 7.6 per cent (plus, minus 0.25 per cent).
In the first major breakthrough in the week-long standoff, the government on Tuesday appointed Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as its negotiator for talks with Anna Hazare and his aides over their demand for a strong Lokpal. Announcing the government's initiative, Hazare's close aide Arvind Kejriwal said the activist will decide as to who will represent his team in the talks with Mukherjee.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that the leaders of the civil society movement for a Lokpal Bill have given an impression as if they have become legislators.
Still battling the fallout of last month's steep Rs 7.54 a litre hike in petrol price, the government on Friday said it is not considering raising rates of diesel, domestic gas (LPG) and kerosene for the moment.
The minister further said that he would respond to the issues in his reply to the discussion on the Finance Bill 2011, later during this session.
The seven-member grouping has seen two changes -- S Jaipal Reddy replacing Murli Deora after taking over as the Oil Ministry, while Kamal Nath has given away to the new Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said the agreement signed with Switzerland for sharing banking information on demand is likely to come into force by September.
It's not only about technology, but the reach of Google that attracts the players. Google's online display ads have even evoked the interest of automobile companies, other than telcos and FMCG firms.
After a see-saw week, the Congress-Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance seems to firmly back on track with reports suggesting that DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will speak to Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday and thank her for the Congress's acceptance of their seat-sharing formula.
He says current arrangement is working fine.
He said the states needed to also do their bit on reduction of petrol price.
Industry body Assocham has asked the government to retain both excise duty and service tax at existing rate of 10 per cent in the Budget for 2012-13.
The move comes in the backdrop of a slowdown in the foreign direct investments and its impact on the current account deficit.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was aware of the contents of the controversial 2G note which was issued as an office memorandum at the insistence of the Prime Minister's Office, a top official told the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Thursday.
The party -- happy that the government has accepted its demand for a parliamentary probe into the 2G scam -- might not obstruct most of the important Bills the government would present in this session, said senior BJP leaders.
Ludhiana's readymade garment makers on Wednesday announced shutting down of operations for a day on March 4, perturbed by the latest budget proposal, making 10 per cent excise duty on branded apparels mandatory.
At present, when Indian corporates declare dividends, a dividend distribution tax is slapped at 15 per cent.
Markets may have initially cheered the FM's static borrowing numbers, but the picture may not be as rosy.
Grappling with a high rate of price rise, the government on Tuesday expressed concern that increasing prices of crude and other commodities in global markets could add to inflationary pressure in the country.
Going the direct subsidy route, the prices of kerosene and LPG will go up in the market, but the extent of rise will not be as high as when the subsidy is given to everyone.
In an exclusive column to Rediff.com, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat explains what is wrong with the Union Budget 2011-12 that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented in Parliament on Monday.
Mukherjee said about Rs 2.42 lakh crore (Rs 2.42 trillion) in taxes is locked up in litigation before the CIT appeal, ITAT and high courts.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's Budget presentation on Monday was in sharp contrast to his colleague Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's disorderly and oft-disrupted performance.
The Union Budget stepped up plan allocation for the health sector by 20 per cent with a focus on health insurance, which Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced would be extended now to unorganised sector workers in hazardous mining and associated industries.
Government has set up a Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission to streamline the financial sector laws.
The government on Monday proposed imposition of 5 per cent service tax on treatment in private hospitals, paid either by individuals, insurance companies or firms, a move described as "detrimental" by industry players.
The finance minister has increased the quantum of rural credit, with particular emphasis on short-term crop loans for small farmers and focussed heavily on improving food storage and processing infrastructure as well as supply chain management.
There are allegations that MFIs are charging exorbitant interest rates and using strong-arm tactics to recover the loans.
Expressing "serious concern" over the generation and circulation of black money, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government has adopted a five-fold strategy to deal with the menace.
Concerned over the misuse of subsidies provided under various schemes, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said the government will provide a direct cash subsidy on kerosene and fertilisers to the poor from March next year.
The Companies Bill 2009, which seeks to replace a half-a-century-old Act, will be presented in Parliament in the ongoing Budget session, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday.
The government on Monday said inflation continues to remain a concern, but exuded confidence that the RBI's monetary policy will lead to moderation in inflation numbers in the coming months.
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