Page 26 - Indian Government

Reducing core inflation key to easing prices: MPC member Shashanka Bhide

Core inflation, calculated after stripping out volatile food and energy prices, has stayed above 6% for 14 months in a row, while retail inflation cooled to 5.88% in November

LIVE: Covid rising in many nations; be careful, wear masks, says PM Modi

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Buoyant tax collections cushion govt on fiscal front; ITR reforms likely

Riding on the back of a 26 per cent surge in tax collections, the government is set to unveil the next set of reforms in tax administration by pruning the number of forms available for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) to improve taxpayers' experience and reduce the time taken to file returns. Both direct and indirect tax collections have been buoyant in 2022 in clear indication of revival of the economy after the pandemic and also as a result of government efforts to plug tax leakages. Going forward, as it seeks to tighten the noose around evaders, the government may also look at stricter tax deduction norms for e-commerce and online service providers, besides online gaming. Taxation of the digital economy, ensuring developing countries get their fair share of taxes and global coordination for taxation of cryptocurrencies would be one of the priority areas as India is all set to host the leaders of G-20 countries next year. Rationalisation of long-term capital gains tax structure is

States to conduct mock drills next week to review Covid preparedness

Specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources; aim is to check whether the equipment is in running condition, or needs refurbishment

Govt issues rules for random Covid testing of int'l arriving passengers

With random coronavirus testing of international arriving passengers set to start from Saturday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has said that airlines' crew members will have to bring such identified passengers to the testing facility at the airport. Against the backdrop of rising coronavirus cases in China and some other parts of the world, the government has decided to subject 2 per cent of the passengers arriving on international flights to random coronavirus test starting from Saturday morning. In a communication on Friday, the ministry said that airlines are required to direct their crew members to lead and bring identified 2 per cent of international arriving passengers to the testing facility at the airport. "The airport operators would create necessary infrastructure to facilitate random testing of international arriving passengers at their respective airports," the communication said. The communication has been sent to the aviation regulator DGCA and copies have been marke

Centre may spend less on fertiliser subsidy to narrow its budget deficit

The lower fertilizer allocation will help with India's goal of cutting its budget deficit. Food and energy costs have jumped after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Country fully prepared to deal with coronavirus situation: Scindia

The country is fully prepared to deal with the coronavirus situation, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday. In the wake of rising coronavirus infections in China and some other countries, the government is taking various measures, including random testing of arriving international passengers, to curb possible spread of infections. Scindia, who is in charge of the ministries of civil aviation and steel, said the country is fully prepared to deal with the coronavirus situation. Briefing reporters here about the healthcare initiatives taken by the BJP-led central government since 2014, he also expressed confidence that the country will achieve universal healthcare coverage. According to the minister, medicines have become more affordable and the out-of-pocket expenditure for medicines has come down. The share of out-of-pocket health expenditure as a percentage of total health expenditure has declined from 64.2 per cent in 2013-14 to 48.2 per cent in 2018-19. The pillars of

NIIF, India's first state-backed fund, faces questions from government

Critics inside and outside the government complain that NIIF - which handles about $4.3 billion in assets - lacks vision, decisiveness and the ability to win over investors

LIVE: Coronavirus' changing nature continues to pose danger, says Mandaviya

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India planning new rules for quicker resolution of builders' insolvency

The proposed change to the nation's Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code will permit resolution of the cases on a project-wise basis

Step up surveillance, wear masks: Mandaviya says in LS amid Covid concerns

Amid a spurt in Covid cases in some parts of the world, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday asked states to remain alert and create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers, especially in view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations. Making a statement in Lok Sabha, Mandaviya said the continuously evolving nature of the virus poses threat to global health in a way that impacts virtually every country. The minister said India has been reporting 153 new cases on an average every day as against 5.87 lakh on a daily basis across the world. "In view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations, states also need to focus on ensuring effective awareness within the community on adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour which includes use of masks, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene practices, besides following physical distancing," he said. Mandaviya said states have been advised to focus on heightened surveillance within the community and to ...

Ensure genome sequencing, boost scrutiny as Covid surges: Centre to states

Amid a fresh global surge in Covid-19 cases, the central government has briefed all states to conduct genome sequencing of samples, the additional chief secretary of Health informed

Latest LIVE: Mandaviya holds high-level meeting to review Covid situation

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Latest news LIVE: India crosses milestone of 2.2 bn Covid vaccine doses

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India eyes quality control measures for rubber, cement industries: Report

India aims to implement quality control measures for the light engineering, rubber, cement and concrete building materials industry by next year, a government source said

Here is why the Centre should hand over a lower share of taxes to states

The Centre should share only 25 per cent of tax revenues with states, and the states should be allowed to impose their own income tax

JSPL sees 'very good reason' to consider RINL, NMDC: MD Bimlendra Jha

State-owned companies marked out for divestment are attractive assets, he says in interview

270 urban forest projects approved since 2020: Govt tells Parliament

Nagar Van Yojana, launched in 2020, aims to enhance green cover, biodiversity in cities

Rajnath lays wreath at National War Memorial on occasion of Vijay Diwas

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday laid wreath at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, commemorating India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

Modi govt is sounding friendlier toward free trade for some nations

In recent months, senior Indian officials have insisted that their nation intends to integrate further with the global economy