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India received the highest number of regressive tax recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 2022 and 2024, according to an analysis by Oxfam. The analysis, released ahead of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, has flagged that the global body is applying "double standard" by giving largely progressive advice to wealthy countries while suggesting regressive measures for others that are "likely to exacerbate inequality". The report said 59 per cent of the IMF's tax advice to low- and lower-middle-income countries was regressive, while 52 per cent of its recommendations to high-income countries were progressive. A regressive tax refers to a uniform taxation system which burdens those in lower income groups more than high earners. In contrast, a tax levied in proportion to one's income is termed progressive. Oxfam examined 1,049 tax recommendations made by the IMF to 125 countries between 2022 and 2024 and found that only 30 recommendations,
The World Bank has released USD 340 million so far for the Amaravati Capital Phase-I development, a top official from the international financial institution has said. Andhra Pradesh is likely to get another USD 150 million by the end of April, a senior state government official said. "In April, we are getting another USD 130-150 million from both the entities (WB and ADB)." The rate of interest would be about 8 to 8.5 per cent and will keep fluctuating depending upon the international rates, the official said. The World Bank, along with the Asian Development Bank have committed USD 1,600 million (USD 800 each) for the Amaravati Capital Phase-I development. Besides the WB and ADB, the Centre will be funding Rs 1,400 crore, out of the Rs 15,000 crore committed by it. "In terms of disbursements, the World Bank has issued USD 340 million as of April 2026. The AIUDP (Amaravati Integrated Urban Development Programme) is being implemented under the Program for Results framework, under wh
The World Bank on Thursday said India is well placed to weather the current global energy shock with ample buffers, including high foreign exchange reserves, fiscal space and low inflation, which will support growth despite global headwinds. Addressing a conference a day after raising India's GDP growth projections for the current fiscal to 6.6 per cent, the World Bank said India had dealt well the trade turbulence last fiscal and the Indian economy entered the current Middle East crisis, which has led to volatility in oil markets, "from a position of strength". World Bank Regional Practice Director, Prosperity, for South Asia, Sebastian Eckardt said, "India has strong policy buffers, high Forex reserves, fiscal space, to provide support as needed, as well as low inflation, and strong goals moment going into this current shock. And that strong growth momentum is supported by gross positive policies, including the EU FTA the new labour, all of these things, of course, reinforced and
The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Food Programme have said that the war in the Middle East has triggered one of the largest disruptions to global energy markets and will inevitably lead to rising food prices and food insecurity. In a joint statement, the heads of the three organisations said the burden of rising food prices will fall most heavily on the world's most vulnerable populations. "The Middle East war is upending lives and livelihoods in the region and beyond. It has already triggered one of the largest disruptions to global energy markets in modern history. "Sharp increases in oil, gas, and fertiliser prices, together with transport bottlenecks, will inevitably lead to rising food prices and food insecurity," said the joint statement issued after a meeting of the heads of the three institutions on Wednesday. They said the three organisations will continue to monitor the developments closely and coordinate the use of all available tools to suppo