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The government has appointed Economic Affairs Secretary <keyword id="947916" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tarun-Bajaj">Tarun Bajaj</keyword> as a director on the <keyword id="4101192" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-board-of-reserve-bank-of-india">central board of Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI). <keyword id="6358511" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bajaj">Bajaj</keyword> replaces Atanu Chakraborty, who retired on April 30. "The Central Government has nominated Tarun Bajaj, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India as a Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India vice Atanu Chakraborty," RBI said in a statement on Wednesday. The nomination of Bajaj is effective from May 5 and until further orders, it said. Prior to taking over as Economic Affairs Secretary, Bajaj, a 1988 batch IAS officer, was the Additional Secretary in Prime Minister's Office. Before joining the Prime Minister's Office in 2015, Bajaj was Joint Secretary in Economic Affairs Department, looking after multilateral funding agencies division. He worked as Joint Secretary and Director in the <keyword id="175408" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="department-of-financial-services">Department of Financial Services</keyword>. As a Joint Secretary in the Department of Financial Services for four years, he was looking after the insurance division. DP DRRDRR

Central Government appoints Tarun Bajaj as Director on RBI Central Board

<ul><li><keyword id="2665691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Niti-Aayog">Niti Aayog</keyword> held meeting with chiefs Bajaj Auto and <keyword id="46156" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="TVS-Motor">TVS Motor</keyword> on Friday. </li></ul><ul><li>The government think tank wants two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles in India to go electric by 2023 and 2025 but the industry is protesting. </li></ul><ul><li>The meet was attended by Bajaj Auto MD, Rajiv Bajaj and TVS Motor Chairman, Venu Srinivasan, among others. Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal skipped the meeting. </li></ul>The Narendra Modi government in India is keen on electrifying as many vehicles on Indian roads as possible. However, the latest proposal to set a deadline of 2023 for two-wheeler makers and 2025 for three-wheeler makers has the companies up in arms. In a meeting with representatives of two and three wheeler manufacturing industries, the central think tank of India, the NITI Aayog on June 21, has asked the industry majors to draw up and present a plan to switch to <keyword id="6354973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles">electric vehicles</keyword> (EV’s) in the coming years, in two weeks. However manufacturers have shown disappointment with the plan sitting that they have already been forced to deal with an accelerated timeline for the new emission norms that are due to sweep in in 2020. While Rajiv Bajaj, the Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, reportedly called it ‘shock and awe’, Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor, told the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/two-wheelers-three-wheelers/india-inc-wants-nitis-ev-juggernaut-to-move-out-of-the-fast-lane/articleshow/69920504.cms">Economic Times</a> that the government seemed to “negate in one stroke” the strides made by India in building the world’s largest <keyword id="411149" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="two-wheeler-market">two wheeler market</keyword>. While Bajaj and TVS argued for more reasonable timelines, Pawan Munjal who heads India’s largest two-wheeler company, Hero Moto Corp, did not even attend the meeting on Friday. Further, the companies argued for fiscal incentives to promote manufacturing and sales of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers. “I’m in awe of the apparent willingness to subsidise EVs — an approximate ₹1 lakh per vehicle — to help achieve reasonable price parity with ICE two- and three- wheelers for an estimated minimum industry size of 25 million by 2025,” Bajaj said. However, the Niti Aayog reportedly has the support from two-wheeler EV startups, represented by Tarun Mehta, founder of Alther Energy, and Sulajja Motwani of the Firodia group. However, the current manufacturing capacity of the startups is too low to meet the government’s target.

India’s top two-wheeler makers are on a collision course with the government over the deadline for electrification

New Delhi, Dec. With the union budget-making process getting underway, <keyword id="7706673" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> held her first pre-budget consultation with top industrialists on Monday. The meeting assumed importance as it would bring <keyword id="6354887" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Industry">industry</keyword> and government together to identify <keyword id="7848060" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Critical-Areas">critical areas</keyword> of <keyword id="6473198" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="reform">reform</keyword> that would pave the way for reinvigorating growth in the economy hit hard by the pandemic this year. The ideas from the industry would go as valuable inputs for government budgetary exercise for FY22. Sources said that the who's who of India Inc., including Uday Kotak from Kotak Mahindra Bank, Biocon's Kiran Majumdar Shaw attended the meeting organised through video conferencing. Along with Finance Minister, Finance Secretary A.B. Pandey, Secretary, DEA, Tarun Bajaj, Chief Economic Advisor K. Subramanian besides other senior officials were also present in the meeting. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-future-retail-power-grid-cipla-delta-corp-yes-bank-adani-power-and-others/articleshow/79713824.cms">Top stocks to watch — Future Retail, Power Grid, Cipla, Delta Corp, Yes Bank, Adani Power and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/burger-king-india-shares-nearly-doubles-on-listing-debut-pushes-valuation-past-4000-crore/articleshow/79715269.cms">Burger King India shares nearly doubles on listing — debut pushes valuation past ₹4,000 crore</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/the-difference-between-doordash-zomato-and-swiggy-is-not-in-what-the-companies-do-its-where-they-do-it/articleshow/79715531.cms">The difference between DoorDash and Indian peers Zomato and Swiggy is not in what the companies do⁠ — it’s where they do it</a>

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds the first round of pre-budget talks with top industrialists

<keyword id="104359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Income-tax-return" source="Orion">Income tax return</keyword> forms from next year will have a separate column for making disclosures on gains made from cryptocurrencies and paying taxes, Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said on Wednesday. The government will from April 1 charge a 30 per cent tax plus cess and surcharges, on such transactions in the same manner as it treats winnings from horse races or other speculative transactions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="wazirx" comment="wazirx" text="wazirx">wazirx</cmsannotation> In an interview with PTI, Bajaj said gains from cryptocurrencies were always taxable and what the Budget proposed is not a new tax but providing certainty over the issue. "The provision in the Finance Bill is related to taxation of virtual digital assets. It is to bring certainty in taxation of cryptocurrencies. It does not convey anything on its legality which would come out once the Bill (on regulating such assets) is introduced in Parliament," he said. The government is working on legislation to regulate cryptocurrencies, but no draft has yet been released publicly. In the meanwhile, a central bank-backed digital currency will start circulating in the next fiscal to usher in cheaper, more efficient currency management. The 30 per cent plus applicable cesses and surcharge of 15 per cent on income above Rs 50 lakh will have to be paid on income from cryptocurrencies, he said adding the income tax return form from next year will have a separate column to declare gains from crypto. "Next year <keyword id="6374875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="itr" source="Orion">ITR</keyword> form will show a separate column for crypto. Yes, you will have to disclose," he said. The launch of 'Digital Rupee' by <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> as well as a 30 per cent tax from April 1 on profits from digital asset transactions, including cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) was announced by Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> in her budget speech on Tuesday, as the country keeps pace with the global move toward virtual financial instruments. "The Government was very clear that it has to push for a tax on income from crypto assets. So we have brought in maximum rate and levied 30 per cent, with an applicable surcharge. We have also brought in TDS, so we will now track the transactions," Bajaj said. The Budget 2022-23 also proposed a 1 per cent TDS on payments towards virtual currencies beyond Rs 10,000 in a year and taxation of such gifts in the hands of the recipient. The threshold limit for TDS would be Rs 50,000 a year for specified persons, which include individuals/HUFs who are required to get their accounts audited under the I-T Act. The provisions related to 1 per cent TDS will come into effect from July 1, 2022, while the gains will be taxed effective April 1. Also, no deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance shall be allowed while computing income from transactions in such assets. It has also specified that losses from the transfer of virtual digital assets will not be allowed to be set off against any other income. No deduction has been allowed since cryptocurrencies and virtual digital assets do not have any economic value, except the underlying technology, Bajaj said. The crypto market in India grew 641 per cent in the year through June 2021, according to an October report by industry research firm Chainalysis. "It was always taxable, I am not saying it's not a new tax, I'm bringing certainty in tax. Now if you show crypto in the ITR form, you will have separate head crypto and it will charge you 30 per cent tax," he said, adding that the message behind the Budget announcement is that crypto is taxable. Gains from crypto are chargeable to income tax even at present, Bajaj said, adding the Assessing Officer will assess the ITR based on crypto income that the assessee has shown. "If somebody says it's a long-term capital gains tax (LTCG), he may say no it's not LTCG tax, it is a business income and hence liable to 30 per cent tax," he said. With regard to taxability of cryptocurrency prior to April 1, 2022, Bajaj said, "For transactions before April 1 you will show in some head in your ITR and the Assessing Officer will do an assessment for you". Giving example, he said currently trading in the derivative is not considered as investment or capital gain but is treated as business income. "The Assessing Officer will take a call on what head crypto gains should be charged," the Secretary said. Bajaj said the new currency that RBI will bring will also have the underlying blockchain technology. "So, what we are also saying is that since it doesn't have economic value, we will not allow set-off of losses or carry off loses." Bajaj said currently some people are showing crypto gains as income and paying taxes, but some people are not doing it. With TDS provision introduced, transaction information will reach tax department automatically. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/ether-cardano-and-solana-surge-in-trade-most-altcoins-in-the-green/slidelist/89289934.cms">Ether, Cardano and Solana surge in trade, most altcoins in the green</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tata-motors-maruti-suzuki-tech-mahindra-hdfc-and-other-hot-stocks-on-february-2/slidelist/89287937.cms">Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Tech Mahindra, HDFC and other hot stocks on February 2</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/china-may-not-like-cryptocurrencies-but-is-pushing-blockchain-across-164-cities-companies-and-other-entities/articleshow/89246924.cms">China may not like cryptocurrencies but is pushing blockchain across 164 cities, companies and other entities</a>

Income tax return form will have a whole new column just for crypto next year

<ul><li>Government is planning to bring changes to income tax laws to bring cryptocurrencies under the tax net in Budget 2022.</li><li>Also, it is likely to introduce a bill on cryptocurrencies during the Winter Session of Parliament.</li><li>This comes amid a rising number of advertisements, featuring even film stars, promising easy and high returns on investments in cryptocurrencies.</li></ul>The government is mulling changes in the income tax laws to bring cryptocurrencies under the tax net, with some changes that could form part of the budget next year, a top official said. Revenue secretary <keyword id="947916" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tarun-bajaj" source="Orion">Tarun Bajaj</keyword> said that in terms of income tax, some people are already paying capital gains tax on the income from cryptocurrency, and in respect of goods and services tax (GST) also the law is "very clear" that the rate would be applicable as those in case of other services. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="wazirx" comment="wazirx" text="wazirx">wazirx</cmsannotation> "We will take a call. I understand that already people are paying taxes on it. Now that it has really grown a lot, we will see whether we can actually bring in some changes in law position or not. But that would be a budget activity. We are already nearing the budget, we have to look at that point of time," Bajaj told PTI in an interview. Asked if a provision of TCS (tax collected at source) could be introduced for crypto trading, the secretary said "if we come up with a new law then we will see what is to be done". "But yes, if you make money you have to pay taxes... We have already got some taxes, some have treated it as an asset and paid capital gains tax on it," he said. Asked whether people involved in cryptocurrency trading would be categorized as facilitator, brokerage and trading platform and how the taxation would be done under GST, Bajaj said "there would already be such things available in other services also. So whatever GST rate they are taxed at, that will be applicable on them." "They have to get themselves registered. The GST law is very clear. If there is an activity, if there is a broker who is helping people and charging brokerage fee, GST would get charged," he said. Separately, the government is likely to introduce a bill on cryptocurrencies during the Winter Session of Parliament beginning November 29, amid concerns over such currencies being allegedly used for luring investors with misleading claims. Notably, there have been a rising number of advertisements, featuring even film stars, promising easy and high returns on investments in cryptocurrencies in recent times. Currently, there is no regulation or any ban on use of cryptocurrencies in the country. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, last week, held a meeting on cryptocurrencies with senior officials and indications are that strong regulatory steps could be taken to deal with the issue. Earlier this week, the Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by BJP member Jayant Sinha, met the representatives of crypto exchanges, block chain and Crypto Assets Council (BACC), among others, and arrived at a conclusion that cryptocurrencies should not be banned, but it should be regulated. The RBI has repeatedly reiterated its strong views against cryptocurrencies saying they pose serious threats to the macroeconomic and financial stability of the country and also doubted the number of investors trading on them as well as their claimed market value. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das too earlier this month had reiterated his views against allowing cryptocurrencies saying they are a serious threat to any financial system since they are unregulated by central banks. The Supreme Court in early March 2020, had nullified the RBI circular banning cryptocurrencies. Following this on February 5, 2021, the central bank had instituted an internal panel to suggest a model of the central bank's digital currency. The RBI had announced its intent to come out with an official digital currency, in the face of proliferation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin about which the central bank has many concerns. Private digital currencies/virtual currencies/crypto currencies have gained popularity in the past one decade or so. Here, regulators and governments have been sceptical about these currencies and are apprehensive about the associated risks. It can be noted that on March 4, 2021, the Supreme Court had set aside an RBI circular of April 6, 2018, prohibiting banks and entities regulated by it from providing services in relation to virtual currencies. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/phonepe-announces-esop-buyback-worth-135-crore-for-employees/articleshow/87802097.cms">PhonePe announces ESOP buyback worth ₹135 crore for employees</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/what-is-bitcoin-golden-cross-and-death-cross/articleshow/87796591.cms">Bitcoin investors love the golden cross and death cross — here’s why they matter but there are other factors to keep in mind</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/mindhouse-raises-6-million-in-seed-funding-led-by-binny-bansal/articleshow/87798613.cms">Flipkart's Binny Bansal bets on Zomato cofounder's two-year-old venture</a>

Government plans to tax cryptocurrency gains in Budget 2022

<ul><li>We bring to you a series of columns from industry experts, looking back at the last 10 years.</li><li>The columns will explore how the media, marketing and advertising industry has transformed in the last decade.</li><li>Tarun Chugh, MD and CEO, <keyword id="151079" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bajaj-Allianz-Life-Insurance">Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance</keyword> tries to decode evolving consumer behaviour and shares a few ways in which the BFSI sector is reaching out to them in today's digital era.</li></ul>New-age Indians are unlike their previous generations. As a demographic, India’s population is getting younger and with more exposure to the world, the demands of the younger generation are changing. This change is forcing all industries to innovate, and the shift is more visible in the insurance space than anywhere else. For instance, young people are considering life insurance not simply for protection but to achieve their life goals. Ambitions such as entrepreneurship, world travel, preventive healthcare and having a parallel career demand financial planning by young people. According to a recent survey conducted by Kantar IMRB, 2 in 5 Indians have retirement related goals and the number is even higher in the metros with every second person wishing for a comfortable retirement as one of their life goals. In fact, retirement related life goals feature in the list of top 5 life goals for Indian millennials as well. This has led to a paradigm shift in the way financial planning has been so far. Indians are now looking at planning their retirement early on in life to maintain their standard of living and achieve life goals even post retirement. There’s a lot more interest towards long term life insurance products and the appearance of new-age online ULIPs has really helped the takeoff for these products as they offer transparency and convenience. Customers’ expectations from insurance products are rapidly changing as they demand more efficient service which match their lifestyle and needs example, Digital touchpoints, self-service apps and automated payment reminders. Increasingly, the product demand is also shifting towards new-age products which can be bought and redeemed online, have more transparency and don’t tangle the customers in complex terms and conditions. It’s not hard to see that the industry is responding to these shifts comprehensively. And regulatory changes by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India have also helped. For instance, IRDAI’s regular interventions have meant that products in the market are transparent and customer-friendly with more benefits than the terms and conditions attached to them. The intervention has also ensured that new products are innovative in terms of their structures and payouts rather than refurbished old schemes launched with newer names. This has led to renewal premium collections going up recently which has greatly helped affirmed people’s faith in life insurance as a product. Insurance premiums as a percentage of GDP have been steadily climbing up as it reached 3.69% in 2017 from 2.71% in 2001. Gross premiums in India reached Rs 5.53 trillion in FY18, with Rs 4.58 trillion contributed by life insurance and Rs 1.51 trillion coming from non-life insurance. Even though it’s a significant development, the penetration level at 3.69% of the total addressable population remains quite low and provides itself as an opportunity for companies to innovate and reach the last mile. The way to reaching new consumers is largely going to be phygital -- physical + digital. A recent research survey by PwC stated 47% of people research insurance online before making a buying decision as compared to 22% relying on agents. Moreover, 49% of consumers said that they prefer digital mode as their preferred channel for purchasing insurance followed by 32% who still prefer to call an agent. Interestingly, 18% of people want their insurance companies to communicate with them through emails – clearly emphasizing the increasing importance of two-way communication rather than a one-time sale model. The life insurance sector is set for a big boost with the increase in digital proliferation and customer awareness. According to the Kantar IMRB survey, Indians choose life insurance as their preferred investment option for 60% of their life goals. This is a clear signal of the latent demand in the country which the insurance industry is eager to fulfil with innovative products, tech-enabled seamless services and newer distribution channels. Further, with the right pace of technology adoption and customer-centric business processes, India’s life insurance sector is poised to be the fastest growing sector. - By Tarun Chugh, MD and CEO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance

How consumer behavior has evolved in the life insurance sector

New Delhi, The <keyword id="2734036" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="halwa-ceremony">Halwa ceremony</keyword>, marking the final stage of the Budget making process, was held in North Block on Saturday afternoon in the presence of <keyword id="309842" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance">Union Finance</keyword> and Corporate Affairs Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>. A customary Halwa ceremony is performed every year before the "lock-in" process of the Budget preparations gets underway. This normally happens around middle of January when the exercise to finalise and print budget details starts in the basement of North Block. This year, as the budget is going paperless, the ceremony got delayed since the need for lock-in is not required. The <keyword id="6360189" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-budget">Union Budget</keyword> 2021-22 is to be presented on February 1. The Halwa is prepared in a large utensil in the presence of <keyword id="47209" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry">Finance Ministry</keyword> officials, including ministers, and sharing the sweet dish is considered auspicious before starting any good work. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was question mark over the ceremony this year. On the occasion, the Finance Ministry also launched the 'Union Budget Mobile App' for hassle-free access to Budget documents by the MPs and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience. The app facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc. as prescribed by the Constitution. The Budget documents will be available on the app after the completion of the Budget speech by the Finance Minister on February 1. At the Halwa ceremony, Sitharaman was accompanied by Union Minister of State for Finance &amp; Corporate Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur; A.B. Pandey, Finance Secretary &amp; Secretary (Revenue); T.V. Somanathan, Secretary, Expenditure; Tarun Bajaj, Secretary, Economic Affairs; Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary, DIPAM; Debashish Panda, Secretary, Financial Services; K.V. Subramanian, Chief Economic Advisor; Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary (Budget) and other officials of the Finance Ministry. Later, Sitharaman reviewed the status of the compilation of the Union Budget 2021-22 and extended her best wishes to the officials concerned. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/recession-in-india-will-end-latest-by-march-says-a-top-economist/articleshow/80399198.cms">Recession in India will end latest by March, says a top economist</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amazfit-smartwatch-gts-2-review-feature-rich-but-theres-still-room-for-improvement/articleshow/80398998.cms">Amazfit GTS 2 review – feature-rich, but there’s still room for improvement</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-to-soon-introduce-voice-and-video-calls-for-web-multi-device-support-jiomart-integration-and-more/articleshow/80398791.cms">WhatsApp to soon introduce voice and video calls for Web, multi-device support, JioMart integration and more</a>

Final stage of Budget 2021-22 commences with Halwa ceremony

New Delhi, May 28 () Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday reviewed the state of the economy at the meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), in view of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first meeting of the FSDC, which comprises RBI Governor and other financial sector regulators, since the coronavirus outbreak. The 22nd meeting of the FSDC, which was held via video conferencing, assumes a greater significance considering that the economy is expected to contract by 5 per cent by some estimates amid the virus crisis. Various measures to maintain financial stability in the context of COVID-19 have been reviewed, an official said after the meeting. The meeting also took note of the activities undertaken by the FSDC Sub-Committee chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and the initiatives taken by the various regulators in the financial sector. The FSDC is the apex body of sectoral regulators, headed by the finance minister. Besides the RBI governor, SEBI chief Ajay Tyagi, IRDAI chairman Subhash Chandra Khuntia, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) chairman M S Sahoo and PFRDAI chairman Supratim Bandyopadhyay were present in the meeting. Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda and other top officials of the finance ministry also attended the meeting. This was be the third meeting of the FSDC after the Narendra Modi government returned for the second term in May last year. The RBI last week said the impact of COVID-19 is more severe than anticipated and the GDP growth during the current financial year is likely to remain in the negative territory. It projected some pick-up in growth impulses from the second half (October-March) of 2020-21 onwards. On Tuesday, rating agencies Fitch and Crisil drastically cut India's economic growth forecast for the current fiscal year due to a prolonged lockdown. Fitch forecast 5 per cent contraction in 2020-21, a sharp decline from 0.8 per cent growth projected by the global rating agency in late April. Crisil also predicted the economy to shrink by 5 per cent in the current fiscal. Earlier, it projected a growth of 1.8 per cent. Earlier this month, the government announced about Rs 21 lakh crore stimulus package to help the nation tide over the economic crisis induced by the coronavirus and the lockdown to curb its spread. The mega economic package includes the Reserve Bank's Rs 8.01 lakh crore worth of liquidity measures. Sitharaman had announced this economic package in five tranches, which included a Rs 3.70 lakh crore support for MSMEs, Rs 75,000 crore for NBFCs and Rs 90,000 crore for power distribution companies. Besides, free foodgrains to migrant workers, increased allocation for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), tax relief to certain sections and Rs 15,000 crore allocation to the healthcare sector to deal with the pandemic, were also announced as part of the economic package. DP MKJ

FM chairs FSDC meeting, takes stock of economy amid COVID-19

(Eds: Adding details) New Delhi, May 28 () Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday reviewed the state of the economy at the meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), in view of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first meeting of the FSDC, the apex body of sectoral regulators headed by the finance minister, since the coronavirus outbreak. The 22nd meeting of the council, held via video conferencing, assumes a greater significance considering that the economy is expected to contract by 5 per cent by some estimates amid the virus crisis. The FSDC, which also comprises RBI Governor and other financial sector regulators, underlined the need to continue with measures to address the liquidity and capital requirements of the financial sector. Among the issues discussed were: the current global and domestic macro-economic situation; financial stability and vulnerabilities; challenges likely to be faced by banks and other financial institutions; regulatory and policy responses; solvency matters of financial firms, etc, according to a finance ministry statement. Besides, market volatility, domestic resource mobilisation and capital flows issues were also discussed by the council, it said. The council noted that the COVID-19 pandemic crisis poses a serious threat to the stability of the global financial system as the ultimate impact of the crisis and the timing of recovery is uncertain at this point of time, it said."While, decisive monetary and fiscal policy actions aimed at containing the fallout from the pandemic have stabilised investor sentiment in the short-run, there is a need to keep a continuous vigil by the government and all regulators on the financial conditions that could expose financial vulnerabilities in the medium and long-term," the ministry said. The statement further said that the efforts of the government and regulators are focused on avoiding a prolonged period of dislocation in financial markets. The RBI last week said the impact of COVID-19 is more severe than anticipated and the GDP growth during the current financial year is likely to remain in the negative territory. It projected some pick-up in growth impulses from the second half (October-March) of 2020-21 onwards. The council also reviewed the action taken by members on the decision taken by the FSDC earlier. The council took note of the initiatives taken by the government and the regulators in the recent months to help revive the economy. The government and the RBI have announced various fiscal and monetary measures to pre-emptively limit the economic damage and would continue to address the liquidity and capital requirements of the financial institutions. Earlier this month, the government announced about Rs 21 lakh crore stimulus package to help the nation tide over the economic crisis induced by the coronavirus and the lockdown to curb its spread. The mega economic package includes the Reserve Bank's Rs 8.01 lakh crore worth of liquidity measures. Sitharaman had announced this economic package in five tranches, which included a Rs 3.70 lakh crore support for MSMEs, Rs 75,000 crore for NBFCs and Rs 90,000 crore for power distribution companies. Besides, free foodgrains to migrant workers, increased allocation for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), tax relief to certain sections and Rs 15,000 crore allocation to the healthcare sector to deal with the pandemic, were also announced as part of the economic package. Besides the RBI governor, SEBI chief Ajay Tyagi, IRDAI chairman Subhash Chandra Khuntia, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) chairman M S Sahoo and PFRDAI chairman Supratim Bandyopadhyay were present in the meeting. Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda and other top officials of the finance ministry also attended the meeting. DP MKJ

You Searched For "tarun bajaj" and got 9 results

Central Government appoints Tarun Bajaj as Director on RBI Central Board

PTI

India’s top two-wheeler makers are on a collision course with the government over the deadline for electrification

BI India Bureau

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds the first round of pre-budget talks with top industrialists

IANS

Income tax return form will have a whole new column just for crypto next year

PTI

Government plans to tax cryptocurrency gains in Budget 2022

PTI

How consumer behavior has evolved in the life insurance sector

Guest Author

Final stage of Budget 2021-22 commences with Halwa ceremony

IANS

FM chairs FSDC meeting, takes stock of economy amid COVID-19

PTI

FM chairs FSDC meeting, takes stock of economy amid COVID-19 crisis

PTI

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