Page 30 - Finance Minister

India to emerge as third largest global economy by 2027: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said India is expected to overtake Japan and Germany to emerge as the third largest economy in the world by 2027. Addressing the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue here, Sitharaman said India's economic growth is estimated to be just under 7 per cent during the year, the highest among major economies, despite global headwinds. The Indian economy is therefore on the right track and is heading towards a bright future, she said. Amidst supply-chain disruptions and economic turbulence due to contemporary conflicts that impact the Indo-Pacific, irrespective of whether they are occurring in relatively distant Ukraine or in relatively-proximate Israel or Yemen, and despite the palpable tensions prevalent in the South- and East China Sea, the Indian economy stands out as a bright spot, she said. "Even according to the usually conservative estimates of the IMF, the Indian economy is set to emerge as the world's third largest economy by 2027, hopp

FinMin focuses on bringing all business establishments under GST net

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that the finance ministry's focus is not only on increasing GST revenue but also on bringing all the business establishments under its ambit. She was speaking at a function to open 12 GST Suvidha Kendras in Gujarat from here, which will help business establishments to have flawless GST registration and will help them resolve their issues at such centres. "GST 'one nation one tax', collection is going up every year, every month. GST has brought tax rates down on many items compared to earlier times. Businessmen know that they are not going to be double taxed under GST which was the case earlier. GST collection is increasing because of it," Sitharaman said. But many establishments still prefer to remain out of the ambit of GST and are not part of the formal economy, she said. "Why should they come in the tax net, not because they will pay me tax, but for the true strength of the economy what we capture is only some and not entire an

The stunning resilience of emerging markets

Prudent economic policies and central bank independence have allowed them to defy analysts' expectations of a debt spiral

India's G20 presidency gave clear policy direction: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The Finance Minister said that the current pace of global growth remains quite weak, well below the 3.8 per cent average in the two decades before the pandemic

Finmin questions rationale for extending FAME scheme beyond current fiscal

The Heavy Industries Ministry proposed an extension to subsidies for EVs under FAME III with a higher allocation for five more years to support the growth of electric and alternate fuel vehicles

India will work closely with Sri Lanka to deepen civilisational ties: FM

India, the Finance Minister said, had rendered an unprecedented financial assistance of over $4 billion for the people of Sri Lanka

FM Nirmala Sitharaman seeks global help to nab smuggling masterminds

Export-import frauds threaten the global supply chain and are inimical to economic and national security

India needs its own P&I entity for maritime, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Addressing the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, the finance minister said that such an entity would provide greater strategic flexibility to India's shipping operations

Capabilities, legal systems needed for arbitration on maritime sector

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday called for developing capabilities and legal systems, so that the country can have an international arbitration centre for the maritime sector. Addressing the final day of the three-day global maritime summit here, the minister said, while there are many Indians working in international arbitration centres in London or Singapore or Dubai, they are all just helping the senior lawyers there and not leading a case. This needs to change and can change, she said. But there is a need to improve and strengthen our arbitration processes and laws so that they meet global standards, the minister said, adding that "when we have developed a system for this we can also have an arbitration centre". On the need to improve financing to the maritime sector, she admitted that despite having a strong balance sheet, banks are not very enthused about funding this sector, largely due to higher risks this sector is associated with. Sitharaman said she is i

Best of BS Opinion: Olympian ideals, land leasing needs a sound law & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Work in progress

Multilateral bank reforms will need more effort

FM Sitharaman urges private sector to come forward and support SDGs

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday urged the private sector to come forward and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) saying it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to participate and contribute in this endeavour. Speaking at an event organised on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual meetings at Marrakesh in Morocco, the minister exuded confidence that MDB reform process emanating from the G20 deliberations will prompt multilateral development banks (MDBs) to maximise investments into developing nations. The 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015 were aimed at addressing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030, she said. "India under its Presidency has called upon all G20 members to collectively resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner," Sitharaman said. Observing that the SDGs provide a shared blueprint for peac

No central team to be allowed to survey land for canal in Punjab: FM Cheema

No central team will be allowed to survey land for the SYL canal in Punjab, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Saturday. Cheema, who met reporters after a Cabinet meeting, was asked if the Punjab government had received any intimation about a likely central team visit to conduct a survey. "We have not received any information in this regard yet," the AAP leader said and added that if any central team arrives in the state, the Punjab government will strongly oppose the visit and not allow a survey. Cheema's response follows Shiromani Akali Dal leader Prem Singh Chandumajra claiming on Friday that central survey teams would arrive in Punjab on November 1. "We have learnt that central survey teams are expected to come to Punjab on November 1," Chandumajra had said. The Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was conceptualised for effective allocation of water from the Ravi and the Beas rivers. The project envisages a 214-kilometre canal, of which a 122-kilometre stretch is to be ..

FM Sitharaman pitches for strong, quota-based and adequately resourced IMF

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday made a case for a strong, quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at the centre of the global financial safety net and climate action. The 16th General Review of Quotas (GRQ) is expected to provide greater say to developing economies in the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As per an IMF resolution, the 16th GRQ should be concluded by December 15, 2023. Any adjustment in quota shares would be expected to result in an increase in voting rights of emerging countries in line with their relative positions in the world economy. Participating in a breakfast meeting of the IMF Board of Governors on the theme of 'Dialogue on Policy Challenges' in Marrakesh, Morocco, Sitharaman expressed concerns with regard to slowdown in global growth. However, she said, India continues to be the fastest growing large economy with a growth of 7.8 per cent during the first quarter of 2023-24. With regard to escalating global debt vulnerabilities, she ...

World Bank needs headroom to help low-income countries, says G20

Addressing a press conference, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the members appreciated the work of the Independent Expert Group (IEG) and welcomed the report

G20 ministerial for swift implementation of roadmap to deal with crypto

The G20 Roadmap on Crypto Assets adopted by the G20 Finance Ministers was spelt out in a Synthesis Paper prepared jointly by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB)

FM Sitharaman stresses on need for IMF to remain well capitalised

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday participated in a roundtable discussion on 'IMF policy priorities and how the institution should support its membership' and underlined the need for the institution to remain well-capitalised to meet future challenges. The roundtable was hosted by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco. Sitharaman spoke about IMF's mandate and lending policies, a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF, Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) Financing and IMF governance reforms, the finance ministry said in a statement. Sitharaman drew attention to India's G20 Presidency's focus on the importance of multilateralism to move towards coordinated and consensus-based solutions to global challenges. She highlighted that in line with the evolving needs of the membership, the IMF's primary focus needs to be macroeconomic surveillance and policy guidance, it said. She ...

Rededicate to better corporate governance: FM tells company secretaries

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday urged company secretaries to rededicate themselves for better corporate governance, as India gears to become a developed nation by 2047. Addressing the 55th Foundation Day of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), the finance minister said it is time to "rededicate ourselves for and towards better corporate governance... we cannot see our value systems being diluted... corporate governance is an issue on which all of us are committed." Praising ICSI, she said, the high standard set by the institute is well recognised across the world. She appreciated the decision of the ICSI to waive off registration fee for Agniveer, defence personnel and families of martyrs for enrollment in company secretaries course. The other decision, to donate Rs 11 lakh for the education of daughters of martyrs, is also praiseworthy, she noted. The Finance Minister said the government has taken significant steps to promote ease of doing busine

Never imagined I will become Finance Minister: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said she never imagined that she would become the country's Finance Minister and one should never forget there is 'some infinite grace' above all. The Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, taking part in a series of events earlier in the day, gave away loans amounting to Rs 3,749 crore to over one lakh beneficiaries. "Did I imagine becoming Finance Minister of the country? No chance." Sitharaman said she had no political background and still one day she managed to do so (become a Minister). "I am being spiritual here. Instead of only praying to God, we should put in sincere efforts...But never forget that you cannot be there (reach your destination) without some infinite grace," she said. Sitharaman made these comments while addressing students at the PSG R Krishnammal College for Women here. "I remind myself during difficult times that there is some cosmic power to give that strength (to you). I always say that you (God) have brough

FinMin seeks expenditure proposals for supplementary demands for grants

Ahead of the winter session of Parliament, the finance ministry has sought expenditure proposals for the first batch of supplementary demands for grants from various ministries and departments. The first batch of supplementary demands for grants for 2023-24 is proposed to be placed before Parliament in the ensuing session, the ministry said in an office memorandum. The month-long winter session of Parliament usually begins in the last week of November. The cases that would be eligible to be incorporated under such demands include those where advances from the contingency fund of India have been granted. Besides, payments against court decree would be included as well as cases where the finance ministry has specifically advised moving of the supplementary demand in the winter session, it said. "While processing proposals for supplementary grants, the grant controlling authority must invariably identify savings within the grant so that the infructuous or inflated supplementary deman