USTR Katherine Tai emphasizes open communication with India on import policies
India is working on a treaty with the UK under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to avoid double contribution to social security funds by Indian professionals working for limited time period in Britain, an official said on Thursday. Indian professionals working for a limited period in Britain contribute to their social security funds but not able to get its benefit as they return once the projects are complete. "We are negotiating the double contribution treaty with the UK under the FTA. There should not be any double contribution towards social security schemes," the official said. It is a long-standing demand of Indian businesses operating in Britain to cut down on the additional cost burden associated with bringing in skilled Indian professionals on a short-term basis. The compulsory National Insurance (NI) contributions of skilled Indian professionals in the UK on temporary visas remains an additional cost burden of about GBP 500 per employee a year, over and above all .
The government has budgeted to collect Rs 18.23 trn from direct taxes (personal income tax and corporate tax), 9.75 per cent higher than Rs 16.61 trn mopped up last fiscal
Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today
Many companies plan to increase hiring and most expect they will need loans
India must approach its industrial policy with a lighter and practical, reform-oriented touch instead of trying to deal with individual companies like Apple or Tesla
The agricultural sector needs policy intervention
Private-sector investment revival is crucial
The analysis is based on lead macroeconomic indicators including the GDP Growth, Export Growth, Gross National Savings, Total Investments, and Debt to GDP Ratio
India will become the third largest economy by 2027-28, with a GDP of over USD 5 trillion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday. Even going by conservative estimates, the size of the Indian economy will be USD 30 trillion by 2047, she noted. "It is possible that we will be the third largest economy by 2027-28, and our GDP will cross USD 5 trillion by that time. By 2047, it is a conservative estimate that we will reach at least USD 30 trillion in terms of economy," Sitharaman said at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. India, with a GDP of roughly USD 3.4 trillion, is currently the fifth largest economy in the world, after the US, China, Japan and Germany. Indian economy is projected to grow by 7.3 per cent in the current fiscal, higher than 7.2 per cent in 2022-23. Sitharaman said India has received USD 919 billion in foreign direct investment in 23 years till 2023. Of this, 65 per cent, or USD 595 billion, came in the last 8-9 years of the Narendra Modi government. Refe
Asserting that 'Viksit Bharat' is not just a dream but a possibility, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam on Wednesday said by most conservative estimates, India will be a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047. Speaking at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit here, Subrahmanyam further said India is in a position to take a quantum leap. "Viksit Bharat is not just a dream, it's a possibility," he said. According to him, a vision document is being prepared for India to become a developed economy of USD 30 trillion by 2047, and it will be released by the Prime Minister by the end of January. "By most conservative estimates, India is going to be a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047," Subrahmanyam said. He noted that if all states become 'viksit' (developed) then the nation can also become viksit. The NITI Aayog CEO noted that massive expansion in physical and digital infrastructure has taken place in India. "India is outperforming other emerging economies," he said, adding that this is a turni
Have the markets already played out their dynamics before the economy has even properly taken off?
Amid the India-Maldives diplomatic row, traders' body CAIT on Monday called upon domestic traders and exporters to refrain from conducting business dealings with the island nation. CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal observed that the offensive comments targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been deemed unacceptable by the business community, and this call to boycott aims to express solidarity and register disapproval against such disrespectful behaviour. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) stated it has "urged traders and exporters to refrain from conducting business dealings with the Maldives". Khandelwal said the appeal "encourages traders to stand united in sending a strong message against such behaviour by temporarily abstaining from trade engagements with the Maldives". Khandelwal stressed upon the need for mutual respect in diplomatic discourse and condemned any form of disrespect towards the leaders of friendly nations. Meanwhile, the Maldivian envoy t
Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today
Here's what keeps the Indian economy booming amidst the global slowdown
Despite revising the growth estimates for 2024 downward by 0.5 percentage points, the report projects a rebound in 2025, with a GDP growth projection of 6.6 per cent
A new system and people's government was a good slogan for Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma but implementation may face challenges
According to a statement, the growth in real GDP during 2023-24 is estimated at 7.3 per cent compared to 7.2 per cent in 2022-23
India registered strong investment performance in 2023, driven by government infrastructure projects and multinational investments, the United Nations has said while noting that investment prospects in China face "headwinds" from a struggling property sector. The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 report, launched here on Thursday, said that investment has been more resilient in developing economies than in developed economies. Investment in South Asia, particularly in India, remained strong in 2023. Investment prospects in China face headwinds from a struggling property sector, though government-led infrastructure investments are partially offsetting the shortfall in private investments. In contrast, India registered strong investment performance in 2023, driven by government infrastructure projects and multinational investments, the report said. Among the developing regions, Africa, Western Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean continue to struggle with high
The government will issue 65 quality control orders (QCOs) covering over 500 products to contain imports of sub-standard goods and boost domestic manufacturing, a senior government official said on Thursday. Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Sanjiv said these orders are promoting safe products to consumers. Under these orders, items cannot be produced, sold, traded, imported and stocked unless they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark. "We are coming up with almost 65 QCOs, covering more than 500 products. QCO is benefitting consumers and reducing sub-standard imports," he told reporters here. These orders are already issued for goods like smart meters, nuts, bolts and fasteners. Violation of the law can attract a penalty of up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence, which increases to Rs 5 lakh minimum for the second and subsequent offences. These orders are issued by the .