Page 1538 - Economy & Policy News

High stakes as India vows to present a Budget like 'never before'

Total spending plan for next fiscal may surpass last year's Rs 30.4 trn, with focus likely on expanding a jobs guarantee program to cities and increasing allocation on education, housing, and health

Top headlines: Security clearance policy for PSU privatisation, and more

The government is set to amend its security clearance policy for investors participating in privatisation or strategic divestment in PSUs. Read today's top news with Business Standard

Budget 2021 to be a tougher balancing act than India's other annual Budgets

A combination of stepped-up social spending - including on long-neglected healthcare - and a state-led infrastructure push will make the recovery both durable and inclusive

Scheduled international passenger flights' suspension extended till Feb 28

"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added

A year of living and working in the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic

For many businesses, the need to have people coming into office has shrunk. For many others, however, it remains integral to their operations

DoT, Dipam lock horns over real estate asset valuation of BSNL-MTNL

It is learnt that the valuation done by the two companies is much higher than the one arrived at by the transaction advisors

PSU privatisation: Govt to amend security clearance policy for investors

The changes are being proposed to obviate situations when a highest bidder fails the security clearance in the case of investment from China or other bordering nations on grounds of national security

After 'green tax' approval, govt may put vehicle scrap policy on hold

"The announcement of green tax is a step towards the scrappage policy," an official told Business Standard

Reality check on economic surveys: A case of hits and misses on GDP numbers

Of the seven surveys presented under Modi govt, predictions of three were quite close to the actual GDP growth rate, one saw the base year change in between, but the last three were way off the mark

Atmanirbhar campaign in sync with globalisation, PM tells MNC heads

Says India to soon supply two vaccines to the world, many more will come, going forward

India's air traffic to return to pre-Covid levels later this year: Boeing

India's civil aviation ministry has allowed airlines to operate 80 per cent of capacity

Indian Railways must diversify its freight portfolio, says report

Another key proposal is to allow private players to run trains on the dedicated fre­ight corridors

India turns to artificial intelligence for better and faster economic data

The country of 1.3 billion people, only 20 per cent of whom know how to use the internet, had to suspend field surveys during the lockdown, which led to gaps in reporting monthly retail inflation numb

15th FC may recommend farm export incentives for states in Budget session

The final report is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the Budget session that begins on Friday.

Budget Byte: Post-pandemic Budget has less room for targeted spending

Efficacy of fiscal deficit is limited by revenue deficit - the lower the latter, the bigger the space for capex

Why India should honour the $1.2 bn arbitration award in Cairn's favour

This year's budget is due on Monday. All that Finance Minister Sitharaman has to do is to make a provision for the Cairn payment, an insignificant footnote in her $415 billion-plus expenditure plan

PE/VC investments in 2020 at par with 2019 at $47.6 billion, says EY-IVCA

Investments in Reliance Group entities worth S$17.3 billion accounted for 36% of all PE/VC investments in 2020

Have no responsibility to audit members of UPI ecosystem: RBI tells SC

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its affidavit filed in the top court, also said that the matters related to "data privacy and data sharing" come under the domain of the central government

Govt's Budget 2021 aiming to revive economy with limited fiscal headroom

The sources said the government was also likely to project a tax revenue increase of 18-20%, aided by the lower base of the current year and an expected economic turnaround

India, Japan review implementation of projects in Northeastern region

India and Japan on Thursday reviewed progress of various ongoing projects in the Northeastern region in areas of connectivity, hydropower, sustainable development and harnessing of water resources