Page 19 - Finance Minister

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: What does the healthcare sector expect from FM Sitharaman?

Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Budget in the Lok Sabha on July 23

Exports to jobs: 5 macro signals FM should heed ahead of Budget 2024

Rural consumption slowdown and slowing bank deposits are among other issues she should consider

Increase participation in financial inclusion schemes: FinMin to pvt banks

On June 25, the DFS asked public sector banks (PSBs) to revive inoperative accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Rail stocks rally: RVNL, IRFC, TexRail surge up to 15% on July 08; check why

The GoI is focusing on improving the railway infra and ensures faster development and completion of tracks, rail electrification, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services

Andhra CM meets FM Sitharaman, seeks financial aid for debt-ridden state

Ahead of the Union Budget presentation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, pressing for enhanced financial support to the debt-burdened state. Sources said Naidu, during the meeting in North Block, highlighted various ongoing projects in Andhra Pradesh that require urgent central assistance. "The CM presented a detailed memorandum outlining the state's financial requirements and the rationale behind the demand for increased allocation," the sources added. TDP ministers in the Centre were present during the meeting. According to the state government data, the public debt of Andhra Pradesh has increased from 31.02 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2019-20 to 33.32 per cent in 2023-24 fiscal, indicating deterioration in the fiscal health of the state in the last five years. Key among Naidu's demands were funds for the Polavaram irrigation project, special assistance for backward regions, and

New base years for national accounts, macro indicators from Jan-Feb 2026

A base year is the reference year whose prices are used to calculate the real growth (minus inflation) in national income

Budget 2024: Experts urge higher Ayushman rates, subsidised adult vaccines

Sources suggest that the government may expand the ambit of the Ayushman Bharat scheme to cover everyone over 70 years

Govt to give 5-yr extension for export credit scheme amid economic slowdown

In the upcoming Budget 2024, there may be a five-year extension of the scheme for pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit

Union Budget 2024: Will Bengaluru be included in 50% HRA exemption?

Currently, rented houses in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai qualify for a 50% exemption from HRA, while those in other locations (non-metro) fall into the 40% category

Govt looks to launch new index ranking states by their labour standards

The index is aimed to promote 'healthy competition' between states to improve labour welfare, productivity, social security coverage, and more

Budget 2024: Rise in standard deduction limit likely in new tax system

Union Budget 2024: Standard deduction represents a portion of the income that is not subject to taxation; it serves as a comprehensive allowance for tax deductions available to salaried employees

FinMin to meet CEOs of PSBs on Jun 25, review financial inclusion schemes

The finance ministry has called a meeting of heads of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) on Tuesday to review progress of various financial inclusion schemes, including PM Vishwakarma, Jan Suraksha and Mudra Yojana. The meeting is scheduled to be chaired by Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi. According to sources, the meeting would review the progress of various flagship schemes, including PM Vishwakarma, StandUp India, PM SVANidhi , among others. Other financial inclusion related issues would also be discussed in the meeting, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year launched PM Vishwakarma scheme under which traditional craftsmen and artisans will be provided loan assistance at a minimal interest rate without the need for collateral. With a financial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore for a period of five years, the scheme will benefit about 30 lakh families of traditional artisans and craftsmen, including weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and ...

Education Budget 2024: What did FM Sitharaman say in the past five Budgets?

Education Budget 2024: The BJP-led NDA government has steadily increased its allocation towards the education sector, focusing on skilling and digitisation. Here are highlights of the last 5 years

Budget 2024: Will the govt bring back fare concessions for senior citizens?

Union Budget 2024: According to RTI disclosures, Indian Railways earned around Rs 2,242 crore from about 150 million senior citizens during the financial year 2022-23

Centre may prepay market loans taken to compensate states during Covid yrs

The central government may be able to repay Rs 2.69 lakh crore loans it had taken to compensate states for GST revenue loss in FY21 and FY22 by November 2025, four months ahead of its scheduled repayment, an official has said. The full repayment of the market borrowings is expected earlier than the previously calculated timeline of March 2026. The issue is expected to be taken up for discussion in the next meeting of the GST Council in August, the official added. The compensation cess was initially brought in for five years to make up the revenue shortfall of states, following the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The compensation cess expired in June 2022, but the amount collected through the levy is being used to repay the interest and principal of the Rs 2.69 lakh crore that the Centre had borrowed during COVID-19. At the 53rd GST Council meeting on Saturday, it was learnt that Karnataka had raised the issue of continuation of compensation cess levy, repayment

News updates: Govt orders CBI probe in NEET paper leak case

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Budget 2024: FM vows Centre's support to states via timely tax devolution

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday underlined Centre's support to states through timely tax devolution and GST compensation arrears to stimulate growth. At the pre-budget meeting with state finance ministers, Sitharaman also nudged states to take advantage of the scheme under which the Centre gives 50-year interest free loan to states for undertaking specified reforms. In her remarks, the Union Finance Minister underlined the union government's support to states through timely tax devolution, Finance Commission grants, and arrears of GST Compensation being provided for providing stimulus to growth, an official statement said. Regarding the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment', Sitharaman mentioned that while most of the loans are untied, a part of it is conditional-linked to citizen-centric reforms by states and sector-specific capital projects and requested the states to avail these loans by fulfilling requisite criteria. Most states ...

Agri bodies urge FM Sitharaman to boost research, rationalise subsidies

Pre-budget meeting: Finance Minister meet agricultural bodies to discuss policy and budget recommendations