Budget Wishlist

Amnesty scheme for customs, easier taxes on India Inc's Budget wishlist

An amnesty scheme for customs, reduction in tax rates for individuals and Limited Liability Partnership firms, easier tax compliance, fast tracking of faceless appeals and a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism top India Inc's wishlist for the next Budget submitted to the government. Representatives from all four key industry bodies, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHDCCI, have put forth detailed recommendations with regard to the Budget, to be presented on February 1, 2025, in separate meetings held with top Finance Ministry officials. Industry body FICCI sought the introduction of an "Amnesty Scheme under Customs" as a one-time settlement scheme to clear past dues, arguing that it will help the industry to reduce the baggage of litigation. Similarly, Assocham has also pitched for the introduction of a comprehensive Tax Amnesty Scheme under Customs. "A one-time settlement scheme to clear past litigations can be considered by the Government, on the lines similar to Sabka Vishwas Legacy

Budget 2024: Capital gains tax, climate change key concerns of Generation Z

Budget 2024: Young India is keen to hear announcements related to skill development for the youth, steps taken to counter climate change and reforms in the capital gains tax structure

Budget 2024: Sensex rebounds 1,200 points from day's lows to end flat

ITC gained 3.8 per cent as there were no changes in the taxes related to tobacco products

Unique tax payers trading on NSE more than tripled since pandemic

Numbers are 40 per cent lower than the number of overall investor accounts

Pre-budget Eco Survey highlights urgent need for agricultural reforms

The pre-budget Economic Survey on Monday underscored the pressing need for comprehensive reforms in India's agricultural sector, citing structural issues that could impede the country's overall economic growth trajectory. The Survey, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, identifies several key challenges facing the agriculture sector, including the need to sustain growth while managing food price inflation, improving price discovery mechanisms, and addressing land fragmentation. "Despite its centrality in India's growth trajectory, the agriculture sector continues to face structural issues that have implications for India's economic growth," the Survey said. According to the document, policymakers must strike a delicate balance between incentivizing farmers to increase production and keeping food prices within acceptable limits. This dual objective requires careful policy interventions, the Survey noted. Other critical issues highlighted in the report, prepar

Rising obesity a concern, healthier lifestyle must: Economic Survey

Raising concerns over growing obesity and increase of consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fat, the Economic Survey said 54 per cent of the total disease burden in India is due to unhealthy diets. Obesity presents a "concerning situation" and preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle, it said. "Obesity is emerging as a serious concern among India's adult population," said the Survey, which was tabled on Monday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. If India needs to "reap the gains of its demographic dividend, it is critical that its population's health parameters transition towards a balanced and diverse diet", it said. Citing a report from the Indian Council for Medical Research, the Economic Survey observed that the rise in consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fat, coupled with reduced physical activity and limited access to diverse foods, exacerbate micronutrient deficiencies a

Economic Survey calls for identifying regulatory gaps in fintech sector

Sector move towards data-based lending instead of 'judgement-based lending', it says

Income tax rate cut, sops for PSUs: Brokerage expectations from budget 2024

Expectations (as measured by pre-budget equity market performance), wrote analysts at Morgan Stanley in a note, are important in determining what the market does immediately after the budget

India put up tariff walls. To revive factories, it must bring them down

The jobs crisis in the most-populous nation has assumed alarming proportions. Young graduates are nine times more likely to be unemployed than those who can't read or write

Budget 2024: Rail budget may see more focus on passenger capacity, safety

Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that the national transporter will manufacture 10,000 non-air-conditioned coaches over the next two financial years

Budget watch: Real estate sector wants industry status, tax relief

The sector also expects the Centre to provide measures, including tax breaks, to boost the demand for affordable housing, generally priced below Rs 50 lakh

Budget Watch: Sitharaman likely to address banking, insurance reforms

Government's equity dilution in state-owned lenders will be one issue financial market observers will monitor

Budget Watch: What path will the finance minister take in Budget 2024?

It will be interesting to see the path the FM opts for in the Budget and how she strikes a balance between the govt's political compulsions and economy's medium-term needs

Budget 2024 must focus on tax relief to stimulate consumption: India Inc

The Union Budget FY25 should focus on offering relief to taxpayers, especially in the lower income brackets, to stimulate consumption, industry players suggested. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the full Budget for fiscal 2024-25 on July 23 which will be the first major policy document of the new government. The industry also urged the finance minister to lower corporate tax, phase out tax exemptions, and broaden tax base to boost economic growth. "Rationalise and simplify the tax system to improve compliance and promote investment. Consider measures such as reducing corporate tax rates, phasing out tax exemptions, and broadening the tax base to make the tax regime more efficient and equitable," Assocham said. Rating agency ICRA said the government is likely to set a fiscal deficit target at 4.9-5 per cent for FY25, as against 5.1 per cent estimated in the Interim Budget on February 1, without compromising the capital expenditure target of Rs 11.1 lakh .

Fair trade, focus on manufacturing, infra on steel firms' Budget wish list

Steel companies hope the govt will continue to focus on infra expansion while also giving the industry a level playing field to compete with imports

Budget 2024: SBI Chairman Khara pitches for tax relief on interest earnings

Budget 2024: The general Budget of financial year 2024-25 is expected to be tabled in the second half of July, for which the Centre is currently holding talks with various stakeholders

Modi govt reshaped, transformed Budget in last decade: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the Modi government has reshaped the Union budget in the last 10 years from a mere record of expenditures to a strategic blueprint for equitable distribution. The minister asserted that the government would continue to maximise the value of taxpayers' money by putting it to the best possible use. She said the Modi government has prioritised transparency in its budgeting practices and numbers. Countries with transparent budgets are often viewed more favourably by international bodies such as the IMF and World Bank. This can lead to improved global trust. "This starkly contrasts the @INCIndia-led UPA government's repetitive practice of hiding the deficits through off-budget borrowings and issuance of 'Oil Bonds', which somewhat covertly shifted the fiscal burden to future generations. Under UPA, standard fiscal practices were routinely changed to make Budget numbers look favourable," Sitharaman said in a series of posts on X. She sa

Zero electricity bill, tax tweaks: Govt's 100-day agenda, budget wish list

From a long-term perspective, however, the focus, Mirae Asset said, would be on infrastructure development, farm laws, skill development, and creating employment

Decoding Annual Budget

Budget session highlights: PM predicts at least 370 seats for BJP in LS

Parliament Budget Session 2024 Live Updates: Catch all the latest developments here