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New <keyword id="3324314" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="EPFO-rules">EPFO rules</keyword> restricting employees from withdrawing their full provident fund amount will be effective from May 1st, which means that if you are unemployed for 2 months or more and want to withdraw your full EPF, you only have 15 days left. If the deadline is missed, the withdrawal amount will be restricted and the full amount would only be accessible to you on turning 58. 
 
It was on Feb 10, 2016 that the ministry of labour and employment had made huge changes in the EPF rules, which would now restrict the withdrawal of EPF corpus. 
 
Earlier, a member of EPFO could withdraw 100% of the accumulated corpus, the sum total of employer's contribution, employee's contribution and their interest, if (s)he had been unemployed for a period of 2 months or more. However, the new EPF rules put a restriction on the amount that can be withdrawn. The new rule says that a member, after being unemployed for 2 months or more, will only be able to withdraw his own contribution and the interest earned on it. This means that the sum of employer's contribution and its interest will be able to be withdrawn only after the age of 58 years. 
 
However, as a lollipop for the customers, the rule says that 90% of the employer's contribution plus interest can be withdrawn at the age of 57 years. 
 
<a href="http://myfertilitychoices.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Time-to-Decide-.jpg">Image source</a>

Hurry up! 15 more days and you won't be able to withdraw your full EPF until you turn 58

A few days back, we told you about the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/New-EPFO-rules-from-May-1/articleshow/51838671.cms">imminent deadline</a> for withdrawing the PF amount for those who have been unemployed for two months. Turns out that Labour Ministry, led by <keyword id="115762" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bandaru-Dattatreya">Bandaru Dattatreya</keyword>, has decided to relax the withdrawal norms; not only this, the implementation deadline has also been set for three months ahead. 
 
The norms were already postponed once, when the implementation was set for May instead of February. 
 
As per the Ministry of Labour and Employment, people will be able to withdraw the employers’ contribution of 3.67% to PF for marriage, housing, medical emergency, and children education. 
 
Earlier, the proposal had restricted the withdrawal of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Your-PF-will-now-earn-interest-even-if-your-employer-has-stopped-contributing-to-it/articleshow/51599478.cms">employers' contribution and interest earned</a> on it under the EPF scheme until the employee reached 58 years of age. The proposal was faced strong opposition from trade unions and workers, regardless of which, the higher age limit for cumulative withdrawal has remained unchanged. 
 
<a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eMq6YCAFwb4/maxresdefault.jpg">Image source</a>

PF withdrawal deadline has been pushed for three more months

Soon, you will be able to withdraw <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=provident+fund">PF</a> money online, without running from pillar to post. 
As the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=supreme+court">Supreme Court</a> extended voluntary use of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=aadhar">Aadhaar</a> card to government schemes, the Employees' <keyword id="45028" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Provident-Fund">Provident Fund</keyword> Organisation (<keyword id="6372438" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPFO">EPFO</keyword>) is planning to launch online PF withdrawal facility by March end. 
 
With online facility, PF claims will be settled in three hours of receiving an application. 
 
"We have written to the Labour Ministry for approvals for starting an online PF withdrawal facility. We are hopeful of launching this by March end after yesterday's Supreme Court ruling," said Central Provident Fund Commissioner K K Jalan. 
 
"During this month, we will start settling all PF withdrawal claims having Aadhaar numbers within three days against the mandated period of 20 days though the claims will be filed manually only,” added Jalan. 
 EPFO has also become the registrar of the Unique Identification Authority of India (<keyword id="6355252" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="UIDAI">UIDAI</keyword>) for purpose of enrolment. 
 
But for the online facility, your Unique (portable PF) Account Numbers (UANs) should be seeded with Aadhaar numbers, including the bank account details. 
 
EPFO website claims that the authority has issued 5.6 crore <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=UAN">UANs</a>, out of which 92.88 lakh subscribers have provided their Aadhaar numbers and 2.75 crore bank account details. 
 
EPFO has verified 64.67 lakh Aadhaar numbers and 1.9 crore banks accounts for seeding those with UANs. At present, there are 1.99 crore subscribers who have actually activated their UANs. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

PF withdrawal to go online! Settlement will be within 3 hours

Aimed at ensuring basic rights and better conditions for about 3 crore people in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=unorganized+sector">unorganized sector</a>, the government might come up with a proposal to make it incumbent on households to hire domestic workers through a placement agency. 
 
The new rule might include paid leave and other benefits for those people. If new rules got implemented, the violators could find themselves in a lot of trouble, reported the Economic Times. 
 
Other key elements of the proposal include proper accommodation. 
 
Moreover, if anyone would be hired outside the placement system, he or she would be treated as bonded labour and employers would be penalised accordingly. 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ministry+of+Labour+">Ministry of Labour</a> would soon move a Cabinet note on a national policy for domestic workers. This idea was first mooted by the <keyword id="83449" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="United-Progressive-Alliance">United Progressive Alliance</keyword> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=UPA">UPA</a>) government in 2007. 
 
A senior official told the financial daily that the rules if implemented will make the employer liable to pay for the worker's social security apart from one month of paid annual leave, two months of paid <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=maternity+leave+">maternity leave</a> and a weekly off. 
 
"For the first time, we would have a rights-based policy for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=domestic+workers+">domestic workers</a> in the country. It will be a game changer and would help in formalisation of the country's growing workforce," said the official. 
 
As per the proposal, employees and employers will have to sign a contract that lists standard practices which both sides will have to abide by. "The placement agencies involved will be the third party to the agreement besides two representatives from trade unions to ensure that the employee is not denied of his or her basic rights," he said. 
 The draft agreement, which is being finalised and could be taken up for stakeholder consultation in two weeks, has proposed that the employer will have to mandatorily contribute to the <keyword id="686752" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Employee-State-Insurance-Corporation">Employee State Insurance Corporation</keyword> and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Employee+Provident+Fund+Organisation+">Employee Provident Fund Organisation</a> (<keyword id="6372438" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="EPFO">EPFO</keyword>) to ensure medical and life coverage to the employee. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Placement agencies will help hire domestic help soon

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<ul><li>Employees can now withdraw 75% of the <keyword id="114854" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Employee-Provident-Fund">Employee Provident Fund</keyword> (<keyword id="45027" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPF">EPF</keyword>) if they’ve been unemployed for a month. </li><li>This also means that the EPF account won’t be shut. </li><li>The continuity of the EPF account is crucial for pension and taxation on withdrawals.</li></ul>There have been a number of changes made to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) over the past couple of years, so many that it is sometimes hard to keep track of. Most recently, however, the big change has been that subscribers can <a href="https://www.newsx.com/business/epfo-allows-members-to-withdraw-funds-for-marriage-house-purchase">withdraw 75% of their EPF balance</a> provided that they’ve been unemployed for at least a month. And, you won’t have to close your account. This is important because according to earlier rules if someone’s been unemployed for more than two months, they could withdraw their entire balance. But, that also meant that they would have to discontinue their account. The account lives on The EPF is the <a href="https://www.bankbazaar.com/tax/all-about-epf.html">culmination</a> of your contribution, your employer’s contribution and interest accrued on that principal amount. So, this measure lets you liquidate your investment like an advance against the principal. Liquidity may be the short-run gain, but in the long-run, the survival of the EPF account is much more significant. As per the rules of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in order for a subscriber to be <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/epfo-pf-withdrawal-procedure-employer-employee-salary/story/279312.html">eligible</a> for pension, they have to maintain their EPF account for at least 10 years. In case the account shuts down before the stated time period, the process will have to be started all over again with a new account. So since your account won’t be discontinued if you’re withdrawing 75% of your EPF, it will remain eligible for pension. That being said, the continuity of your account is also important for <a href="https://www.bankbazaar.com/saving-schemes/pf-withdrawal-rules.html?ck=Y%2BziX71XnZjIM9ZwEflsyDYlRL7gaN4W0xhuJSr9Iq7aMYwRm2IPACTQB2XBBtGG&amp;rc=1">taxation</a> purposes. Any withdrawals that are made from the EPF account before five years are taxable. But should your account stay intact, the withdrawals are completely <keyword id="880043" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tax-free">tax-free</keyword> after the first five years. The withdrawal you make if you’ve been unemployed for a month is tax-free in either situation, but the interruption would affect withdrawals for marriage, education, home loans etc. And, it’s not just the interest that’s taxed. It’s the principal amount as well. Overall, the EPFO has taken progressive steps towards evolving the fund for today’s market even though the latest interest of 8.55% is the <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/money/epfo-alert-modi-government-to-notify-8-55-interest-on-provident-fund-this-week-check-details-here/1157155/">lowest</a> it has witnessed in 5 years. They’ve introduced equity traded funds (ETFs) instead of being limited to fixed income instruments. Reports say that the EPFO may even have plans of letting subscribers <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/personal-finance-news/epfo-members-to-get-option-to-hike-investments-in-etfs-by-this-fiscal/articleshow/63815546.cms">choose</a> the amount of money they would want to be put into equity instead of the blanket 15% implemented right now.

Here's why the new EPF rules make good sense in the long-run

Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Tuesday announced <keyword id="20404375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax-relief" source="keywords">income tax relief</keyword> for the <keyword id="20071167" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="middle-class" source="keywords">middle class</keyword>, a Rs 2 lakh crore outlay for <keyword id="22517841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-creation-schemes" source="keywords">job creation schemes</keyword> over the next five years and a spending splurge for states run by her party's new coalition partners as she unveiled <keyword id="20509939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-3-0" source="keywords">Modi 3.0</keyword> government's first budget after the general elections. With rural distress and unemployment being blamed for BJP losing its majority, Sitharaman in her seventh straight budget provided Rs 2.66 lakh crore for <keyword id="20027688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-development" source="keywords">rural development</keyword> and maintained spending on long-term infrastructure projects at Rs 11.11 lakh crore to boost <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword>. She abolished 'angel tax' for all classes of investors in startups, cut customs duty on mobile phones and gold and simplified capital gains tax. She, however, raised the securities transaction tax (STT) on futures and options of securities, which led to tanking of stock markets. "India's economic growth continues to be the shining exception (in a world that is gripped by policy uncertainties) and will remain so in the years ahead," she said. "In this budget, we particularly focus on <keyword id="19898684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment" source="keywords">employment</keyword>, <keyword id="20374219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skilling" source="keywords">skilling</keyword>, MSMEs, and the middle class." Besides Rs 2 lakh crore provided over a five year period for schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth, "I have made a provision of Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling," she said. For Bihar, where assembly elections are due next year, the finance minister announced spending of Rs 60,000 crore on infrastructure projects like expressways, power plant, heritage corridors and new airports. The support to Bihar, whose ruling party and BJP's partner JD-U has been demanding an economic package and special category status for the state, is in the form of capital projects but not subsidy or cash dole. Similarly, for Andhra Pradesh, whose ruling TDP recently joined BJP-led NDA, she allocated Rs 15,000 crore in financial aid through multilateral agencies. A similar request for support to Bihar will be expedited, she said. For the middle class, she raised standard deduction -- a flat deduction from total salary earned by an employee in a year before calculating applicable income tax rate -- by 50 per cent to Rs 75,000 and tweaked tax slabs for taxpayers opting for the new income tax regime. This will lead to taxpayers under the new tax regime -- which offers lower rates of taxes but permits limited deductions and exemptions -- saving up to Rs 17,500 in tax annually, she said. To spur employment, the Budget provided for incentives for companies, including paying for one-month salary for first-time employees, incentive at specified sale to both employee and empower with respect to their retirement fund contribution in the first four years of employment and reimbursing employers up to Rs 3,000 per month for 2 years towards EPFO contribution of each additional employee. Also, a programme to improve skills as well internship for students and subsidised loans for higher education will be provided, she said. India's official unemployment rate in urban areas is pegged at 6.7 per cent but private agencies put it at much higher levels. Buoyed by robust tax collections and a higher-than-expected dividend receipt from the Reserve Bank, Sitharaman said the government's fiscal deficit -- the difference between the total revenue earned and total expenditure -- will be trimmed to 4.9 per cent of the GDP in 2024-25, below the 5.1 per cent figure estimated in the interim budget she presented in February. She reduced gross market borrowing marginally to Rs 14.01 lakh crore. The Budget for 2024-25 fiscal (April 2024 to March 2025) allocated Rs 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors, aid for building 3 crore affordable housing units in urban and rural areas, provided credit support to small and medium businesses, raised small loans to Rs 20 lakh for small business, proposed setting up 12 industrial parks, and provided for setting up a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for space sector.

Modi 3.0 1st Budget: Tax relief for middle class, Rs 2 lakh cr job scheme

<keyword id="19898052" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister-Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> on Tuesday said <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> is firmly on the path to becoming the world's third-biggest <keyword id="19931030" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economy" source="keywords">economy</keyword> within next five years and that <keyword id="20632552" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="global-investors" source="keywords">global investors</keyword> are eyeing it as an <keyword id="19931391" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment-destination" source="keywords">investment destination</keyword>, as he exhorted the domestic <keyword id="19894756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="industry" source="keywords">industry</keyword> to seize the golden opportunity to be part of the journey of '<keyword id="19916816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Viksit-Bharat" source="keywords">Viksit Bharat</keyword>'. Addressing a <keyword id="19920246" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CII" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CII" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CII">CII</keyword> post-Budget conference on 'Journey Towards Viksit Bharat', he said, wealth creators are the main driving force of the country's <keyword id="19910261" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="growth" source="keywords">growth</keyword> story at a time when India's policies, commitment, determination, decisions and investments are becoming the basis of global progress. "Today, the whole world is looking at India and you (industry). Policies of the government and commitment and investment are becoming foundation of global development. Investors across the world are keen to come to India. World leaders are filled with positivity for India. This is the golden chance for the Indian industry and we should not lose this opportunity," Modi said. Pointing towards the growing interest in India among global investors, the prime minister informed the industry about his call in the recent NITI Aayog meeting to state chief ministers for creating investor-friendly charters, bringing clarity in investment policies and creating a conducive atmosphere for investment. With high growth and low inflation, he said, India is a beacon of growth and stability in a world which is facing high inflation and low growth and other geopolitical challenges. India is growing at 8 per cent and the day is not far when the country will become the third-largest economy globally from the current fifth position, he said. The prime minister exuded confidence that this feat of becoming the third- largest economy will be achieved in his ongoing third term. The Modi government does not lack political will and will take all decisions keeping in mind 'nation first approach', he said. "The Commitment of 'Nation First' is reflected in the 5 trillion dollar economy goal, saturation approach, emphasis on Zero Effect-Zero Defect and pledge of Aatmnirbhar Bharat or Viksit Bharat," he said. The domestic industry, he said, should compete with the government to make India a developed nation by 2047 and also make it a global player in sunrise sectors. He also recalled various measures announced in the <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget" source="keywords">Budget</keyword>, especially for promoting the MSME sector which creates crores of jobs. The prime minister said the government is highly focused on skill development and employment keeping in mind Industry 4.0 standards. India is home to 1.40 lakh startups employing lakhs of youth, and more than 8 crore people have started new business with the help of Mudra Yojana, Startup India and Standup India schemes. Referring to the much-praised PM Package worth Rs 2 lakh crore in this year's budget, he said it will benefit more than 4 crore youth. "PM Package is holistic and comprehensive. It is interlinked with end-to-end solutions. It aims to make India's manpower and products globally competitive in terms of quality and value," he said. Modi also touched upon the Internship scheme introduced to enhance skill and exposure for the youth, thereby boosting their chances of employment, while at the same time incentivizing those generating employment on a large scale, he said. Therefore, he said, the government has announced incentives in EPFO contribution. Observing that the manufacturing ecosystem has transformed in the last 10 years, he said, Make in India and simplification of FDI rules in various sectors along with multi purpose logistics parks, PLI for 14 sectors are some of the measures taken in the past. The Budget has announced plug-and-play investment-ready investment parks for 100 districts of the country, he said, adding, these 100 cities will become new hubs of Viksit Bharat. The prime minister underlined some points in the budget such as increased allocation for nuclear power generation, Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture, Bhu-Aadhar card for providing number to land parcels of farmers, Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for space economy, Critical Mineral Mission, and upcoming auction of offshore blocks for mining. These new announcements will open new avenues of progress, he said. Highlighting that opportunities are being created, especially in the sunrise sectors, he said, there is a need to make a name in the semiconductor value chain to play a crucial role in the future and therefore, the government is laying emphasis on promoting the semiconductor industry. He also touched upon encouraging electronics manufacturing, especially during the present era of mobile manufacturing revolution. Noting that the clean energy initiatives in this year's budget are being highly discussed, the prime minister said that in today's era, both energy security and energy transition are equally important for the economy and ecology. "Our industries and entrepreneurs have always shown their commitment to the development of the country", he said expressing confidence that they will play a key role in making India a global player in all the sunrise sectors. Pointing out that the nation is moving forward with the resolutions of Viksit Bharat, he said 25 crore people have risen out of poverty in the last 10 years, and emphasized the government's efforts to increase ease of living and boost quality of life. PM Modi also drew a comparison with the Budget of the previous government and Budget presented during his government. "In 2013-14, during the Manmohan Singh's government's last budget, it was of Rs 16 lakh crore. Today, our Budget has increased three times to Rs 48 lakh crore," he said. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that capital expenditure (capex) under the NDA government has risen to Rs 11 lakh crore, more than five times of Rs 2 lakh crore capex in 2014.

Global investors eyeing India, don't miss this 'golden chance': PM to India Inc.

As expected, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword>) cannot stop singing praises of the Union Budget 2024-2025 presented by Finiance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> earlier today. However, moments after <keyword id="20385790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance-Minister" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Union Finance Minister" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Union Finance Minister">Union Finance Minister</keyword> Nirmala Sitharaman presented the <keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget-2024" source="keywords">Budget 2024</keyword> in Parliament, the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> party launched a critical attack on the ruling Centre. They claimed that portions of the fiscal document had been lifted directly from their <keyword id="19977669" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manifesto" source="keywords">manifesto</keyword> for the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. <h2><keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>'s "Kursi Bachao" Budget comment</h2>Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised the Budget, describing it as the "Kursi Bachao" (Save the Seat) Budget, aimed at appeasing the BJP's allies and cronies. He alleged that the document was copied from the Congress party's Lok Sabha polls manifesto. "Kursi Bachao Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets," Gandhi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). <div type="twitter" handle="RahulGandhi" handlename="RahulGandhi" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1815672226584166514"></div><h2><keyword id="19934649" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="P-Chidambaram" source="keywords">P Chidambaram</keyword> takes dig at the Nirmala Sitharaman</h2>Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram expressed his satisfaction over what he perceived as the government's adoption of ideas originally proposed by the Congress. "I am happy the Union Finance Minister has virtually adopted the Employment-linked Incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto," tweeted Chidambaram. He further noted his approval of the introduction of an apprenticeship scheme with allowances for apprentices, a concept detailed on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto. <div type="twitter" handle="PChidambaram_IN" handlename="PChidambaram_IN" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1815638125168783772"></div> <div type="twitter" handle="PChidambaram_IN" handlename="PChidambaram_IN" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1815641688922063221"></div><h2><keyword id="19897159" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mallikarjun-Kharge" source="keywords">Mallikarjun Kharge</keyword> highlights 10 areas the Budget 2024 went wrong</h2>The President of the Indian National Congress Karge called the <keyword id="19916814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-Government" source="keywords">Modi Government</keyword> a "copycat" while going on to suggest that they could not even copy Congress' justice agenda properly. Here’s an English translation of his tweet: “The Modi Government's budget is distributing half-hearted "rewadis" to dupe its coalition partners so that the NDA survives. This is not a budget for "progress of the country", it is a "save Modi government" budget! 1. After 10 years, limited announcements have been made for the youth who are bearing the brunt of the slogan of two crore jobs per year. 2. Only superficial talks have been held for farmers, one and a half times MSP and doubling of income - all turned out to be electoral fraud! This government has no intention of increasing rural wages. 3. There is no revolutionary scheme for Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities, middle class and rural poor people like the one implemented by Congress-UPA. The word "poor" has become just a means of self-branding, there is nothing concrete! 4. There is nothing in this budget for women that would enhance their economic capacity and enable them to participate more and more in the workforce. 5. On the contrary, the government is patting its back on the back for rising inflation; it is robbing people of their hard-earned money and distributing it among its capitalist friends! 6. Less money has been spent on agriculture, health, education, public welfare and tribals than the budget allocation because these are not the priorities of the BJP. Similarly, Rs 1 lakh crore less has been spent on Capital Expenditure, so how will jobs increase? 7. Urban Development, Rural Development, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, MSME, Investment, EV scheme - only Document, Policy, Vision, Review etc. have been discussed, but no major announcement has been made. 8. Railway accidents are happening every day, trains have been stopped, the number of coaches has been reduced, ordinary passengers are troubled, but nothing has been said about the railways in the budget, there is no accountability. 9. Nothing has been said about Census and caste census, whereas this is the fifth budget which is being presented without Census! This is a shocking and unprecedented failure - which is against democracy and the Constitution! 10. On 20 May 2024, i.e. during the elections, Modi ji claimed in an interview that "We already have a 100-day action plan "... When the Action Plan was there two months ago, they should have at least told it in the budget! There is no plan in the budget and BJP is only busy in the action of cheating the public.” <div type="twitter" handle="kharge" handlename="kharge" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1815669463284416605"></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111917247" title="Budget 2024: Can Lakhpati Didi Yojana’s reality inspire better focus on women?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Jairam Ramesh accuses Centre of stealing ideas from the Congress</h2>In her Budget address, Sitharaman announced that the government would provide a month's wage to all first-time employees in formal sectors. This direct benefit transfer, disbursed in three installments, will cover employees registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and amount up to ₹15,000 per individual. The eligibility limit is set at ₹1 lakh per month, potentially benefiting 2.1 crore youth across the country. Congress MP and communications in charge Jairam Ramesh also accused the Finance Minister of taking ideas from the Congress's "Nyay Patra 2024." He claimed the internship program announced in the budget was a clear adaptation of the Congress's proposed Apprenticeship Program called "Pehli Naukri Pakki." He also insinuated that this particular scheme seemed to have been come up with in haste. <div type="twitter" handle="jairam_ramesh" handlename="jairam_ramesh" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1815714388340568111"></div>Ramesh critiqued the government's approach, describing it as a "festive offer" designed to capture headlines with arbitrary targets, such as the promise of one crore internships. He argued that the Congress's vision offered a programmatic guarantee for all diploma holders and graduates, rather than the broad and unfocused targets announced by the government. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111944393" title="Here&amp;#39;s a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government&amp;#39;s first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Ramesh also pointedly criticised the government over a special package for Andhra Pradesh, highlighting a ₹15,000 crore allocation aimed at developing Amaravati, the state's capital city and a significant project for Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. "Why has it taken 10 years to announce that what was already committed to in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 will be implemented?" questioned Ramesh in a post on X.

From ‘Copycat’ to ‘Kursi Bachao Budget' — Here’s what Rahul and other Congress leaders had to say about Budget 2024

<ul><li>The Union Cabinet had approved the <keyword id="10403683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="atmanirbhar-bharat-rojgar-yojana">Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana</keyword> at an expenditure of ₹22,810 crore for two years. </li><li>Under this new employment scheme, the government will provide both employee and employer contributions to the retirement fund for new hires for two years.</li><li>This subsidy will be eligible for new employees engaged on or after October 1. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Check out the latest news and updates on Business Insider.</a></li></ul>The Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar at cabinet briefing said the Union Cabinet had approved the Atmanirbhar Bharat <keyword id="638835" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rojgar-Yojana">Rojgar Yojana</keyword> at an expenditure of ₹1,584 crore for the current financial year. The scheme will cost ₹22,810 crore to the government for the entire period of 2020-2023 and aims to benefit around 58.5 lakh employees in the country. <div type="twitter" handle="PIB_India" handlename="PIB India" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1313803439340548097/jcQYJdhp_normal.jpg" favoritecount="214" retweetcount="65" status="📡LIVE NOW📡#Cabinet briefing by Union Ministers @PrakashJavdekar, @rsprasad and @santoshgangwar… https://t.co/aic3trQbp0" createdat="1607506554000" id="1336605482685886464"></div> Under this new employment scheme, the government will provide both employee and employer contributions to the retirement fund for new hires for two years, Labour Minister Gangwar said. The ministry will notify rules for the scheme soon, which is applicable for enterprises having up to 1000 employees and are creating new jobs. For the enterprises having more than 1000 workers, the reimbursement will be restricted to 12% of the employees contribution only. Who benefits from this scheme? <ul><li>Any new employee joining employment in the EPFO registered establishments with monthly wages less than ₹15,000.</li><li>EPFO members drawing monthly wages of less than ₹15,000 who exited employment during COVID-19 pandemic from March 1 to September 30 and had been hired on or after October 1, 2020. </li></ul>Benefits for companies registered with EPFO The central government will give the subsidy for two years for new eligible employees engaged on or after October 1 at the following scale. <ul><li>Establishments employing up to 1,000 employees will get a contribution of 12% of employee wages and 12% as employers contributions, totalling up to 24% of wages. </li><li>For establishments employing over 1000 employees, only 12% of wages of the employees will be given. </li></ul>Here’s the eligibility criteria for companies to obtain benefits under this scheme To avail of benefits under this scheme, organisations with fewer than 50 employees will have to hire at least two employees. And those with more than 50 employees will have to hire five or more employees. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/farmers-protest-talks-between-amit-shah-and-farmer-leaders-fail-sixth-round-of-talks-uncertain/articleshow/79635770.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Farmers' protest: Talks between Amit Shah and farmer leaders fail — sixth round of talks uncertain</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/supreme-court-told-that-blanket-waiver-of-moratorium-loans-would-take-6-lakh-crore-and-wipe-out-the-net-worth-of-banks/articleshow/79636002.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Supreme Court told that blanket waiver of moratorium loans would take ₹6 lakh crore and wipe out the net worth of banks</a>

Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana — India's new employment scheme will cost the government ₹22,810 crore

<ul><li>The <keyword id="47209" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-ministry" source="Orion">finance ministry</keyword> had proposed in its latest Budget Session that employee accounts with more than ₹2.5 lakh annual contribution will be taxable sooner.</li><li>Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has over six crore subscribers.</li><li>The move is aimed to tax HNIs who benefit from tax-free interest income on their large contributions to PF accounts.</li></ul>The government on August 31 announced that Employees Provident Fund (EPF) accounts with more than ₹2.5 lakh annual contribution will be taxed. It was proposed by the government in Budget 2021 that interest on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) contributions above ₹2.5 lakh in a financial year will be taxable. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Why did the government decide to impose tax on excess EPF contributions?" comment="subhead" text="Why did the government decide to impose tax on excess EPF contributions?">Why did the government decide to impose tax on excess EPF contributions?</cmsannotation> The government found out that employees were contributing huge amounts to the PF funds as it ensured 8% returns and tax exemptions at all stages. EPF accounts are like a common man’s retirement fund as they earn average earnings. It is mandatory for employees earning up to ₹15,000 a month in firms with over 20 workers, with 12% of the basic pay and dearness allowance (DA) deducted as employees’ contribution and another 12% remitted by the employer. However, government as well as private sector employees are allowed to make voluntary contributions over and above the statutory deductions. So, to exclude high net worth individuals (HNIs) from the benefit of tax-free interest income on their large contributions, the government has set a threshold limit of ₹2.5 lakh for tax exemption. Those who have contributions below ₹2.5 lakh will not be charged. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How will the contribution be taxed?" comment="subhead" text="How will the contribution be taxed?">How will the contribution be taxed?</cmsannotation> The new rules say that for better calculation, two separate accounts shall be maintained from 2021-22 for taxable and non-taxable contributions made by a person. For individuals in the higher tax bracket of 30%, the interest income on contributions above ₹2.5 lakh would get taxed at the same marginal tax rate. For instance, if an individual contributes ₹3 lakh every year to the provident fund (including the voluntary PF contribution) then the interest on his contribution above ₹2.5 lakh, which is ₹ 50,000 will be taxed. This only applies to contributions made from 1 April 2021. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/vijaya-diagnostic-ipo-last-day-for-subscription-allotment-on-september-8/articleshow/85879245.cms">Vijaya Diagnostic IPO’s last day to subscribe, grey market indicates ₹15-₹20 premium</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ami-organics-ipo-last-day-for-subscription-and-allotment-on-september-8/articleshow/85879032.cms">Last day to subscribe to Ami Organics IPO, issue oversubscribed by almost four times</a>

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