Page 11 - Finance Minister

FinMin meet: MFI representatives seek lowering of asset qualification norms

In 2022, the RBI updated regulations for MFIs, which now apply to all entities in the sector, including banks, small finance banks, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)

Need tech-savvy forces to protect digital world: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Sitharaman said that India was growing in the eyes of all its competitors, many of whom find such growth astonishing

Retirees ask FM for Rs 7,500 minimum monthly pension under EPS-95

A delegation of EPS-95 pensioners met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday to press for their long-pending demand for a minimum monthly pension of Rs 7,500 along with dearness allowance (DA). Under the EPS-95 or Employees Pension Scheme 1995 run by retirement fund body EPFO, the existing minimum monthly pension is Rs 1,000. According to a statement issued by EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, the finance minister has conveyed to the delegation that their demands would be reviewed and addressed in a sympathetic manner. Commander Ashok Raut, National President of the committee, highlighted the plight of over 78 lakh pensioners from central and state government PSUs, private organizations, and factories across the country. Pensioners have been agitating for over 7-8 years for an increase in the minimum pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 7,500, along with DA and free medical treatment for both the pensioner and their spouse. "Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the .

Manmohan Singh profoundly influenced our lives and India's growth

Manmohan Singh's visionary leadership not only transformed India's economy but also left an indelible impact on our professional journey and personal lives

FinMin files review petition in Supreme Court's Safari Retreats case ruling

The move follows the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's recommendation last month for a retrospective amendment to the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act

New rule to avoid tax deduction on purchases through IFSC sellers

Under the new regulation, sellers must submit a declaration that includes details about the previous years for which they are claiming tax deductions

Government extends deadline for direct tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme

Under the scheme, penalty charges vary based on the date of payment

List of defining reforms under Singh as finance minister, Prime Minister

RTI passed to empower citizens to seek information from public authorities, promoting transparency during his tenure as PM

Manmohan Singh, peerless policymaker who transformed equity markets

Seeds for robust equity markets were sown during his tenure as FM in Narasimha Rao government. Economic growth gathered momentum in Singh's first term as PM

Manmohan Singh's economic reforms left indelible mark: RBI Guv Malhotra

Manmohan Singh's contributions as the architect of India's economic reforms have left an indelible mark, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday as he paid tribute to the departed soul. Singh, the former prime minister and finance minister, also served as the RBI governor between 1982 and 1985. "I am deeply saddened on the passing away of former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, a visionary economist and former RBI Governor. His contributions as the architect of India's economic reforms have left an indelible mark. @RBI joins the nation in mourning this huge," Malhotra said in a post on X. Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died here on Thursday night at the age of 92. When Singh took the reins of the finance ministry in 1991, India's fiscal deficit was close to 8.5 per cent of the GDP, the balance of payments deficit was huge and the current account deficit was close to 3.5 per cent of GDP. To make things worse, foreign reserves were just enough to pay for tw

Japan's cabinet approves record $730 billion budget for next fiscal year

But record tax revenue is likely to help reduce new bond issuance to 28.6 trillion yen, the lowest since 2008

Manmohan Singh defended the landmark 1991 Union Budget, but how? Check here

Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, had to literally face a trial-by-fire to ensure widespread acceptance of his path-breaking Union Budget of 1991 that saw the nation rise from its darkest financial crises. Singh, the newly-appointed finance minister in the P V Narasimha Rao-led government, did it with great elan -- from facing journalists at a post-budget press conference and irate Congress leaders at the parliamentary party meeting who were unable to digest the wide-ranging reforms. Singh's historic reforms in 1991 not only rescued India from near bankruptcy but also redefined its trajectory as a rising global power. Singh made an unscheduled appearance at the press conference on July 25, 1991, a day after the presentation of the Union Budget "to ensure that the message of his budget did not get distorted by less-than-enthusiastic officials", Congress leader Jairam Ramesh writes in his book 'To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story' that recounts the ...

Monetary policy stance may have led to demand slowdown in H1: Finmin review

India's economic growth slowed more sharply than anticipated in the July-September period of FY25, dropping to a seven-quarter low of 5.4 per cent

Budget 2025-26: Sitharaman chairs 4th pre-budget meet with key stakeholders

On Tuesday this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also interacted with a panel of distinguished economists and thought leaders at NITI Aayog on the strategies for the Union Budget 2025-26

Govt aims to bring down fiscal deficit to 4.5% in FY26: Finmin report

The government will continue its focus on improving quality spending, strengthening the social security net and bring down the fiscal deficit to 4.5 per cent of the GDP in FY26, a finance ministry document said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is schedule to present the Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on February 1. The Union government is committed to pursuing the glide path of fiscal consolidation as announced in the Budget for FY 2021-22 and to attain a level of fiscal deficit lower than 4.5 per cent of GDP by FY 2025-26, according to finance ministry statements on the half yearly review of the trends in receipts and expenditure and deviation in meeting the obligations of the government under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. The statements were tabled in the Lok Sabha last week. "The thrust will be on improving the quality of public spending, while at the same time, strengthening the social security net for the poor and needy. This approach would h

Priynaka slams BJP for GST on exam forms, says 'turning dreams to income'

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked the BJP over levying GST on examination forms, saying the government had turned the dreams of parents who saved every penny to prepare their children for exams into a source of income. The Congress general secretary shared an examination form of the Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute, Sultanpur, that showed 18 per cent GST was being charged. "The BJP cannot provide jobs to youngsters but it is definitely rubbing salt on the wounds by charging 18 per cent GST on examination forms. GST is being charged on every government job form, including Agniveer," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. "After filling the form, if the paper is leaked due to the failure of the government or if there is corruption, then this money of the youngsters is wasted," she said. Parents sacrifice their lives and save every penny to educate their children and prepare them for the exams but the BJP government has turned their dreams into

Punjab demands greater financial support during pre-Budget meet with FM

Punjab has sought Rs 1,000 crore Central assistance to strengthen its police infrastructure and security efforts in the border districts, among a slew of other demands, at a pre-budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held in Jaisalmer, an official statement said on Sunday. Industrial incentives similar to those provided to Jammu and Kashmir and the neighbouring hill states were also sought to support the MSMEs in Punjab's border and sub-mountainous regions, a Punjab government statement said on Sunday. Quoting Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the statement said the state has strongly raised the demand to restore NABARD's Short-Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (ST-SAO) limit to Rs 3,041 crore, from the reduced limit of Rs 1,100 crore, for FY 2024-25. Cheema said this restoration is vital to prevent farmers from turning to moneylenders, aligning with the 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' principle. Several states raised this issue which was discussed at .

States seek higher interest-free capex loans, increased borrowing limit

Infrastructure development emerged as a key focus area, with states calling for dedicated funding for state-specific road and railway projects

Funds devolved to states under 15th Finance Commission higher: FM

Funds devolved to states under the 15th Finance Commission (2021-2024) is more than what was devolved under the 14th Finance Commission (2015-20), finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday. In a pre-budget meeting with states, Sitharaman remarked that because of healthy macroeconomic environment, buoyancy and efficiency in the tax collections, the devolution has increased. "The funds devolved to the states in the last 45 months (April 2021 to December 2024) under the 15th Finance Commission is more than what was devolved in 60 months under the 14th Finance Commission (2015-20)," an official statement quoting Sitharaman said. The Union finance minister also referred to the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), which was first announced in the Union Budget 2020-21, and acknowledged that it has received a very good response from states. States have been requesting the Central government to enhance the outlay under the scheme as it is leading

States ask FM for more funds under loan scheme, higher borrowing cap

Finance ministers of states demanded an increase in allocation of 50-year interest free loan, while fiscally stressed states like Punjab and Kerala pitched for a special package and borrowing flexibility, sources said. In a pre-budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, states have also urged for higher borrowing limits to support fiscal activities, besides additional funds for Jal Jeevan Mission to arrange for tanks and storage to enhance water supplies. Sources said in the meeting, Maharashtra wanted funds for Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and demanded that a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) be launched with the Centre and state sharing 50 per cent of the cost each. The Budget for 2025-26 is slated to be presented in Parliament on February 1, 2025. Finance ministers of all states attended Friday's meeting with Sitharaman here. Several states demanded increase in allocations for the 50 years interest-free loan scheme, sources said, adding they also ...