Page 2 - Nirmala Sitharaman

Govt open to debate on LTCG tax, STT ahead of Budget: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said investors in India and abroad have raised questions about capital gains taxation, STT and whether different asset classes should be taxed on similar lines

FM Sitharaman urges multilateral action on global steel overcapacity

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says unilateral tariffs only redirect surplus steel and calls for multilateral disciplines on subsidies, citing India's growing steel demand

FM Sitharaman meets Singapore Prez, PM; discusses boosting bilateral ties

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and discussed further strengthening bilateral cooperation. "Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt @nsitharaman called on H.E. Mr. @Tharman_S, President of Singapore, at The Istana, in Singapore, today. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on taking forward the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and further strengthening bilateral cooperation," the finance ministry said in a post on X. Singapore Prime Minister, in a separate post on X, said, "We had a good discussion on global economic developments and on navigating the ongoing energy crisis. She also shared updates on developments in India and new opportunities for investment and cooperation". Besides, Sitharaman also met Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. "There are many opportunities for Singapore companies to participate in India's long-term growth prospects. ..

GST Council unveils major reforms, eases penalties and speeds up refunds

Measures ease compliance through simpler registrations, quicker refunds, wider tax credit access and relief on penalties and enforcement

GST reforms address 99% of rate, process issues, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The FM said the Council has also taken steps to make the movement of goods smoother by limiting inspections, detention and seizure to officers of the supplier or destination state

An elusive US deal

India must remain focused on its long-term interests

Trade negotiations with US have reached a 'plateau': FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says further concessions for either side 'very difficult'

New bilateral investment treaty framework to get Cabinet nod: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said a new template for bilateral investment treaties is ready and is expected to get Cabinet approval soon in a bid to make it more investor-friendly. The new template, being prepared over the last one-and-a-half years, seeks to address shortcomings in the model approved in 2016 and provide sharper protection to investors from both sides, she said. India has continued negotiations on investment protection agreements even as the new template is being finalised, she said at the Munich Security Conference here. The latest agreement, with Saudi Arabia, goes beyond the 2016 framework and incorporates elements that are more sharply focused on protecting the interests of investors from both countries, she said. India has also concluded similar agreements with the UAE, Oman and some Central Asian countries, Sitharaman said. "We have a new template which will be approved shortly. But in the meanwhile, we've not halted the process. We are ...

India, US have reached a plateau in trade talks, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Giving or taking more beyond that plateau would be 'very, very difficult' for both countries, Sitharaman said at an event in New Delhi

Private sector investment must lead next growth cycle: FM Sitharaman

Sitharaman calls for private investment and higher R&D spending to drive India's next growth phase, strengthen innovation and build resilience amid global uncertainty

India's small businesses chase a new dawn amid reforms and financing push

With legislative reforms and improved financing, MSMEs are poised for a credit revolution despite lingering global headwinds

Two trade bodies meet FM, withdraw from No UPI Day protest on October 2

AICPDF and AIMRA have withdrawn from the October 2 protest after urging the government to defer the proposed UPI MDR and raise the threshold limit to ₹5 lakh

Sitharaman discusses BIT, FTA, UPI expansion with Qatar during Doha visit

Finance minister discusses Qatar's $10 billion investment commitment, proposed BIT and FTA talks, while seeking wider adoption of India's UPI payment system

FM Sitharaman to launch ₹1 trn Rayalaseema horticulture hub this Friday

The three-year plan envisages ₹40,352 crore in public investment and about ₹60,000 crore from the private sector across 201 clusters in 10 districts.

Next large investment should be in AI infrastructure, says Sitharaman

Sitharaman said India needs more investment in AI infrastructure and training to help businesses improve productivity

UPI MDR decision purely professional, no external pressure: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has rejected as "absolutely baseless" allegations by the Opposition that the decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was taken under external pressure, saying it was a professional decision by the payment ecosystem. Talking to PTI, Sitharaman said the decision was completely professional, and it was taken jointly by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), payment banks and merchant banks, and not imposed by the government. She rubbished the Opposition's allegations that the government had yielded to foreign pressure, saying the MDR was not a tax and would not accrue to the government. "Absolutely baseless. And I totally deny it," she said when asked about Opposition allegations that the decision on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) MDR was taken under external pressure, particularly from the US. The Finance Minister said the Opposition was "searching for issues" and makin

UPI MDR is not a tax, won't mean extra cost for customers: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the charge on specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000 will be borne within the payments ecosystem, while UPI payments by customers will remain free

Sitharaman calls for stronger Brics voice in global tax negotiations

Sitharaman said India has proposed working groups on international taxation and transfer pricing, and revenue statistics to deepen cooperation among Brics tax administrations

FM Nirmala Sitharaman for dialogue over litigation in business disputes

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for greater trust and transparency, saying businesses should engage early with the government and regulators to resolve differences

Next consumption spurt hinges on wage growth: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The next phase of consumption will be driven by upward mobility into brackets where discretionary spending accelerates, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman