Page 11 - Nirmala Sitharaman

Small savings rates unchanged for sixth straight quarter from July 1

Interest rates for the popular PPF and post office savings deposit schemes are also unchanged at 7.1 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively

FM Sitharaman to embark on six-day visit to Spain, Portugal and Brazil

During her June 30-July 5 visit, the finance minister would attend the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) organised by the United Nations

SBI, Indian, Union Bank gain up to 4%; what's driving PSU Banks today

PSU Bank shares in focus: At 10:37 AM; Nifty PSU Bank index was the top gainer among sectoral indices, up 2.4 per cent, as compared to 0.3 per cent decline in the Nifty 50.

India open to 'big, beautiful deal' with US, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

India signals willingness for a broad trade pact with the US ahead of July 9 tariff deadline. But Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said agriculture and dairy sectors remain non-negotiable red lines

FM Nirmala Sitharaman nudges public sector banks to push credit growth

After slipping to 12% in FY25, loans growth has fallen below 10%

FM asks PSBs to step up deposit mobilisation, deepen corporate lending

Sitharaman reviews PSB performance, stresses deposit growth, better service, staffing, green lending, MSME credit, and expanded presence in underserved areas

Finance Minister urges PSU banks to boost credit growth, maintain profits

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday asked public sector banks (PSBs) to take advantage of Reserve Bank's jumbo 50 basis points rate cut to increase lending toward productive sectors of the economy. During a meeting to review financial performance of PSBs, Sitharaman asked their chiefs to maintain profitability momentum in FY26, sources said. Cumulative profit of 12 PSBs rose to record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY25, registering a growth of 26 per cent over the previous year. The year-on-year increase in profit in absolute terms was about Rs 37,100 crore in FY25. According to sources, the minister expected that PSBs credit growth should improve post 50-bps rate cut by RBI. Banks were also directed to try maintain the FY25 credit growth level or increase during the current financial year. On June 6, the RBI's six-member monetary policy committee, headed by Governor Sanjay Malhotra lowered the benchmark repurchase or repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5 per cent. It also slashed

Govt urges state-run banks to boost lending amid economic growth push

Financial Services secretary M. Nagaraju said banks were also urged to boost credit to small businesses and improve deposit mobilisation, following a review meeting chaired by FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Make GIFT IFSC competitive to attract HNI funds: FM Sitharaman

The minister who was in GIFT City, Gandhinagar for a high-level review of the IFSC's progress, emphasised the need to make it competitive

IBPS allowed to use Aadhaar to verify candidates in bank exams

The move aims to reduce impersonation, simplify identity checks, and bolster trust in bank recruitment, aligning with recent Aadhaar-based steps by the SSC

FTAs with US, EU soon; exporters to get full govt backing: Sitharaman

Finance Minister says trade deals with US and EU near finalisation as she assures Indian exporters of full support amid global slowdown and volatile trade conditions

Trade agreements with US, EU to be concluded soon: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said negotiations for the proposed free trade agreements with the US and European Union (EU) are progressing at a fast pace and would be concluded soon. All efforts are being made to boost exports to achieve the ambitious target of USD 2 trillion by 2030. India has already signed free trade agreements with the UAE, Australia, and 4-nation EFTA (European Free Trade Association) bloc and negotiations have been completed with the UK, she said adding "with the US and the European Union, negotiations are really intensely going on and should come to conclusion sooner." The emphasis now is on concluding more free trade agreements, she said while inaugurating Trade Conclave by India Exim Bank here. Referring to the country's exports, the finance minister said total exports of goods and services reached a record high of USD 825 billion in FY25, achieving 6 per cent growth over previous year. While global exports grew by only 4 per cent, India

FM flags tax appeals backlog, tells CBDT to fast-track resolution

Sitharaman asks tax department to resolve 5.7 lakh pending appeals, improve grievance redressal and refunds, and adopt a more taxpayer-centric approach

Centre likely to relax the board regulations for foreign insurers

The official stressed that while the reforms are not intended to open the floodgates to foreign control, they signal a more welcoming approach to global participation in leadership roles

Fifth edition of Time Release Study shows faster import clearance at ports

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman releases CBIC's NTRS report showing average cargo release times improved at ports and airports, though delays rose at inland depots

GST evasion detection hits all-time high of ₹2.23 trillion in FY25

FM Nirmala Sitharaman urges faster probe closures and easier registrations

Make GST registration easier using tech, risk-based parameters: FM to CBIC

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday asked CBIC to make the GST registration easier, seamless, and more transparent for taxpayers, using technology and risk-based parameters. Sitharaman, who chaired the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Conclave with the Principal Chief Commissioners, Chief Commissioners and Director Generals of the field formations, reviewed the performance of Customs and CGST zones on key indicators. During the conclave, she directed the zones to prepare an action plan to improve various parameters, such as GST registration, processing of refunds, and handling taxpayers' grievances. The finance minister also directed the CGST formations to launch targeted awareness campaigns among taxpayers, trade associations, and industry bodies regarding the mandatory documentation required for GST registration, particularly those related to the principal place of business, the finance ministry said in a statement. This would help reduce rejections an

Nirmala Sitharaman ask fintechs to find solutions to prevent cyberfrauds

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday asked fintech startups to come out with solutions to deal with the rising incidence of digital arrests, cheating by fly-by-night operators, and other kinds of cyberfrauds. Lauding the success of fintechs, the Finance Minister said they have helped in speeding up financial inclusion, and taking the payment system to even the far-flung areas of the country. Speaking at the Digital Payments Awards 2025 Ceremony here, Sitharaman said it is important to ensure that startup companies come up with solutions so that people are not arrested at home digitally, or fly by night operators don't take away their money. Another major threat, she pointed out, is 'deep fake', which is causing a lot of damage to the public in large. "Today, we should take care of addressing them so we need a set of fintech companies which are constantly working to give solutions for the newer challenges which are arising," Sitharaman said. She also called upon the fin

Sitharaman says India's finance future is 'phygital', driven by UPI

At the Digital Payments Awards, Sitharaman lauds UPI's global success, urges fintech to tackle cybersecurity and deepfakes, and credits RBI's enabling regulation

Govt plans to amend refund provision in new Income Tax Bill, 2025

Section 433 of the new IT Bill, 2025, states that a refund must be claimed by filing a return - regardless of whether it is belated