<ul><li>The stalemate over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation cess remains. The GST Council will meet again on October 12 to discuss the issue. </li><li>Finance Ministry to dole out ₹20,000 crore of <keyword id="3889993" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST-Compensation-Cess">GST compensation cess</keyword> to states tonight. </li><li>Small businesses with turnover of less than ₹5 crore will only be required to file returns every quarter starting January 1, 2021, instead of monthly returns. </li><li>Companies looking to launch satellites will be exempt from paying 18% GST if they use Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) or New Space India Limited (NSIL) facilities. </li></ul>The 42nd meeting of the GST Council led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stretched over seven hours, but did not reach a consensus on borrowing for compensation cess. “We did take a decision that the cess will have to extend beyond the five years that it was originally mandated,” said Sitharaman. Now, the next meeting is scheduled to take place on October 12 to discuss the issue on compensation borrowing options further. For now, the states will be coming into some money as soon as tonight. “This year, till now, whatever has been collected under the compensation cess which totals to around ₹20,000 crore will get disbursed tonight to all the states,” said the Finance Minister iterating that nothing will be kept with the government. She also disclosed that Integrated Good and Services Tax (IGST) dues to the tune of ₹ 24,000 crore will be released to the states who received less than their fair share back in 2018 by the end of next week. Others changes to the GST announced include: <ul><li>From Jan 1, 2021, taxpayers in the ‘small’ category (turnover of less than ₹5 crore) will not be required to file monthly returns. They will only file quarterly returns. </li><li>For taxpayers with turnover more than ₹5 crore, they will have to mention HSM code up to six digits to facilitate transparency in the system. </li><li>Refunds will be given from only those bank accounts validated with PAN and Aadhaar starting 1 Jan 2021. The refund application can be signed using Aadhaar authentication. </li><li>Those companies and startups launching satellites using Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) or New Space India Limited (NSIL) facilities will be exempt from paying 18% GST.</li></ul>GST compensation cess deadlock continues According to Sitharaman, the majority of the states opted for option 1. However, others didn’t go for any of the options. The ones who chose desist from a preference believed that states shouldn’t be borrowing; it should be the Centre that bears the burden. “It was felt you can’t really decide on the basis of the 20 who have written to you, you need to talk further. I was subjectively reminded that I should not be taking anyone for granted,” she said, explaining why another meeting will now be held on October 12. According to the Finance Minister of Kerala <a href="https://twitter.com/drthomasisaac/status/1313111306845609985">Thomas Isaac</a>, ten states demanded that full compensation should be paid to the states during the current year as per clauses in the law and centre should borrow. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/supreme-court-defers-loan-moratorium-case-hearing-to-october-13-gives-rbi-and-the-government-another-week-to-file-additional-affidavits/articleshow/78487586.cms">Supreme Court defers loan moratorium case hearing to October 13 — gives RBI and the government another week to file additional affidavits</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tcs-shares-hit-record-high-board-to-mull-over-share-buyback-and-earnings-on-october-7/articleshow/78486980.cms">TCS rallies nearly 5%, shares hit fresh high — board to mull over share buyback and earnings on October 7</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/indusind-icici-rbl-axis-hdfc-kotak-mahindra-bank-share-price-and-other-stocks-surge-on-loan-moratorium-case/articleshow/78486360.cms">Relief rally in bank stocks continues as Supreme Court defers loan moratorium hearing to October 13</a>

GST compensation deadlock continues — government to release ₹20,000 crore cess tonight and offers relief for small companies

<ul><li>Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> is scheduled to address the nation tonight, March 24 at 8:00 pm.</li><li>While many believe that the measures announced by Finance Minister <keyword id="2512217" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharam">Nirmala Sitharam</keyword> were in the right direction, more is needed to address the Coronavirus pandemic in India.</li><li>Here’s what experts like former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and others expect from the Modi administration’s financial package.</li></ul>As the government moves to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy is on a pause mode and the stock markets are slipping into an abyss. At the same time, there are concerns that daily wagers and other workers who lost their jobs will suffer from acute poverty, and small businesses will close down. Experts hope that some direction can come from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech tonight at 8:00 pm. Finance Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcements on statutory and compliance changes — where many deadlines including income tax returns and GST filings have been postponed to June 30 among others things — have been lauded. However, many feel that more stringent measures are long overdue. Market expert Ajay Bagga told <a href="https://hindi.moneycontrol.com/tv/">CNBC Awaaz</a> that these changes, while needed, were ill-timed and took up one-and-a-half hours of market time. Earlier, former director of Infosys TV <a href="https://swarajyamag.com/economy/economic-impact-of-covid-19-india-needs-an-economic-stimulus-package-of-more-than-rs-5-lakh-crore">Mohandas Pai</a> also questioned the administration on why the Corona package is taking so long to pass. “We must take stock of the economic losses in different sectors and announce a stimulus package that will help citizens in dire straits as well as industries directly impacted by the virus,” wrote Pai. Here’s what India is expecting from Modi’s Financial package:

Here's what India wants from Modi’s financial package

Expectations from Modi's package - Here's what Raghuram Rajan, Amitabh Kant, and others expect

<ul><li><keyword id="7832818" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-space-india-limited">New Space India Limited</keyword> (NSIL) will be the <keyword id="116095" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Space-Research-Organisation">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword>’s (ISRO) new commercial arm.</li><li>During the <keyword id="6200577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-budget-2019">Union Budget 2019</keyword>, India’s finance minister — Nirmala Sitharaman — announced that NSIL will aid ISRO to commercialise its space products like launch vehicles and the transfer of technology.</li><li>The country is already processing its ‘Space Activities Bill’ to align its liability in outer space with international standards.</li></ul> The Indian government has been pushing to become a space power with testing its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nasa-comments-on-mission-shakti-impacts-mission-ganganyaan/articleshow/68682092.cms">anti-satellite weapon</a>, planning a manned mission — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-pads-up-to-make-indias-manned-mission-into-space-a-reality/articleshow/64887057.cms">Ganganyaan</a> — and launching its second mission to moon, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-chandrayaan-2-is-landmark-moon-mission-for-india/articleshow/69842571.cms">Chandrayaan 2</a>, next month. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-interesting-facts/articleshow/69940950.cms">Nirmala Sitharam</a>, India’s new finance minister, during the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget">Union Budget 2019</a> just announced a new commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=isro&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">ISRO</a>) — New Space India Limited (NSIL). She said that “the time has come” for India to harness its space technology commercially. While NSIL will be a public sector enterprise, it will aid ISRO to tackle the benefits of its research and development. Sitharam specified that NSIL will spearhead commercialisation of various space products, including production of launch vehicles, transfer of technology and marketing of space products. India is currently processing its ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-activities-bill-addresses-damage-in-outer-space/articleshow/69960212.cms">Space Activities Bill</a>’ as well to align its liability in outer space with international standards. This means that in case any Indian space objects cause damage to another, natural or man-made, object in space, India will have a financial plan in place. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-station-plan-by-isro-plans-k-sivan/articleshow/69775780.cms">India wants to set up its own space station to carry out experiments in microgravity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-why-indias-isro-is-going-to-the-moon/articleshow/69893150.cms">Chandrayaan 2 will give India bragging rights even if it doesn’t find water</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isro-nasa-just-spotted-a-black-hole-spinning-so-fast-that-it-could-be-making-space-itself-rotate/articleshow/66416605.cms">ISRO, NASA just spotted a black hole spinning so fast that it could be making space itself rotate</a>

India forms a new space company to sell ISRO’s space technology products

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/53976181.cms" />We all have come across <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ecommerce&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">e-commerce</a> websites selling high-end products at one-tenth of the price, claiming it to be original. Don’t fall in the trap as it might be another <keyword id="1728284" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fraud-website">fraud website</keyword>, which might not even exist and you may end up losing all your money. 
 The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (<keyword id="6391107" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="DIPP">DIPP</keyword>) has received numerous such complaints and have now zeroed down to 200 such companies, suspected to be fraud e-commerce sites. Commerce and Industry Minister <keyword id="2512217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharam">Nirmala Sitharam</keyword> told ET the department will coordinate with state governments and the ministry will address the issue. 
 
In a recent meeting of the consumer affairs ministry, DIPP and NITI Aayog, it was decided all complaints by consumers regarding the fraud e-commerce companies will be acknowledged and addressed within two days via Twitter. 
 
"Our department does not deal with consumer complaints. However, this issue is complicated as many of the companies in question seem non-existent. We will look into it together with the consumer affairs ministry," Sitharaman told ET. 
 
She has asked the consumer affairs ministry to set up a grievance redressal cell along with the commerce ministry for ecommerce-related issues and queries. 
 
The names of the 200 suspected companies have not been shared by the ministry yet. Apart from online shoppers, few offline retailers and their associations have also registered complaints in this matter. 
 
"We had held a meeting with the Enforcement Directorate as well on this matter...ecommerce companies were also asked if they were operating in an inventory and not the marketplace model," Sitharaman told ET. 
 
E-commerce companies are only supposed to be a platform for buyers and seller and should strictly stick to a business-to-business model. 
 
(Image Credits: Indiatimes)

200 ‘fraud’ e-commerce companies under DIPP radar

<ul><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>’s finance minister told Parliament that the tax called ‘equalization levy’ applies to e-commerce firms, not investors.</li><li><keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> also disclosed that the government has no data on how many <keyword id="2721952" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="crypto">crypto</keyword> exchanges are currently operational in the country or how many Indian investors are on the platforms.</li><li>According to her, the Modi administration has no conclusive information on whether or not these exchanges are involved in any illicit activities.</li></ul>India may not be looking to impose its equalisation levy, often called the ‘Google Tax’, on investors putting money into <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite&amp;is_retargeting=false&amp;shortlink=BI&amp;c=site&amp;pid=Business%20Insider&amp;af_click_lookback=7d&amp;af_channel=Business%20Insider&amp;af_adset=article&amp;af_force_deeplink=true">cryptocurrencies</a>. <div type="ExtQuote" text="Equalisation levy is imposed on e-commerce operators, not on the investor." auname="India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman said on July 27, during the Monsoon session of Parliament"></div> The controversial Google Tax, which has historically been imposed on foreign companies — like Amazon, Facebook and others — earning revenues from India for advertising online. Earlier <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/trading-on-crypto-exchanges-based-outside-of-india-may-get-more-expensive/articleshow/83747213.cms">reports</a> had indicated that trading cryptocurrencies on foreign exchanges may attract a 2% equalisation levy, but they did not relieve how the tax would be imposed. Sitharaman’s comments, in response to a query from Sushil Kumar Modi — the deputy chief minister of the eastern state of Bihar — shed some clarity. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Indian government data has no data on crypto exchanges or investors" comment="subhead" text="The Indian government data has no data on crypto exchanges or investors">The Indian government data has no data on crypto exchanges or investors</cmsannotation> Modi’s original question to Sitharaman was whether or not the government collects information about <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite&amp;is_retargeting=false&amp;shortlink=BI&amp;c=site&amp;pid=Business%20Insider&amp;af_click_lookback=7d&amp;af_channel=Business%20Insider&amp;af_adset=article&amp;af_force_deeplink=true">crypto exchanges</a> and their investors in India. According to the Finance Minister, the Modi administration does not collect any such information. As per data shared by WazirX CEO, <a href="https://twitter.com/nischalshetty/status/1389437595327733764?lang=en">Nischal Shetty</a>, the country has over 15 million investors trading in crypto and the monetary value of that trade comes up to around ₹15,000 crore. In addition to exchanges, India is home to over 350 blockchain and crypto startups — many of which have raised money from bigger global exchanges. WazirX — the largest crypto exchange in the country — for instance, is owned by crypto giant Binance. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Finance Ministry has no insight into the how cryptocurrencies are being used" comment="subhead" text="Finance Ministry has no insight into the how cryptocurrencies are being used">Finance Ministry has no insight into the how cryptocurrencies are being used</cmsannotation> In addition to highlighting the lack of data on how many companies are operating within the crypto space, Sitharam also disclosed that her department has not received information on whether any of these exchanges are involved in drug trafficking or other forms of money laundering in the country. However, the authorities have been digging in. Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/cryptocurrency-wazirxs-founder-nischal-shetty-gets-notice-from-ed-for-2971-crore-transactions/articleshow/83427891.cms">accused</a> WazirX of allegedly violating provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMO) for <keyword id="6357017" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</keyword> deals worth ₹2,790.74 crore. More recently, an individual got arrested by the Hyderabad police for running a cryptocurrency scam to the tune of ₹3,145 crore. According to the cops, the person allegedly used WazirX to befriend the victims. Meanwhile, the crypto exchange told <a href="https://www.medianama.com/2021/07/223-cryptocurrency-scam-wazirx-binance/">Medianama</a> that it is not involved in any way. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Crypto regulation in India still hangs in the balance" comment="subhead" text="Crypto regulation in India still hangs in the balance">Crypto regulation in India still hangs in the balance</cmsannotation> India has been on the verge of formulating a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies in the country. It was expected to be tabled during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament, but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indias-crypto-bill-is-unlikely-to-be-up-for-discussion-this-month-and-it-may-be-a-while-before-we-see-it-in-parliament/articleshow/84401863.cms">stakeholders</a> now believe that is unlikely. The crypto industry in India has been in a flux of sorts, following clashes with the country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The bank had issued an informal note to lenders in May, which led them to withdraw services from many crypto exchanges in the country. Exchanges in turn had to stop taking rupee deposits from investors, and though the situation has improved since, some have still limited the services they can provide. <a href="https://forum.businessinsider.in/">For a more in-depth discussion, come on over to Business Insider Cryptosphere</a> — a forum where users can deep dive into all things crypto, engage in interesting discussions and stay ahead of the curve. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/imf-remains-wary-of-cryptocurrencies-calls-legalisation-an-inadvisable-shortcut/articleshow/84790881.cms">Inadvisable shortcut, a step too far, and dire consequences — the IMF warns countries against using Bitcoin as a national currency</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/elon-musk-and-michael-saylor-had-the-most-influence-on-crypto-markets-over-the-last-three-months/articleshow/84789343.cms">Elon Musk and Michael Saylor’s influence on crypto markets have made it as volatile as the ‘crypto winter’ of 2017</a>

Equalisation levy on crypto exchanges in India will not apply to investors, according to the Finance Minister

<ul><li>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam announced agricultural policy changes today, May 15.</li><li>The prices of <keyword id="110766" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="essential-commodities">essential commodities</keyword> will now be deregulated under the Essential Commoties Act and Agriculture Produce Market Committee will be open to competition.</li><li><keyword id="4158335" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashok-Gulati">Ashok Gulati</keyword>, former chairman of the Commission for <keyword id="691323" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Agricultural-Costs">Agricultural Costs</keyword> and Prices (CACP) — in an exclusive interview — told Business Insider how these reforms should have been brought in years ago.</li></ul>Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> introduced a slew of policy changes to help the agriculture sector in her third instalment of measures help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus lockdown. “I have been asking for this for 20 years,” Ashok Gulati, former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), told Business Insider in an exclusive interview. The big hits were deregulating the <keyword id="95281" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Essential-Commodities-Act">Essential Commodities Act</keyword> to allow market prices to prevail over essential commodities — and reforms to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), which will now let farmers sell their product across India. Combined, they are targetted at making farming more competitive. Here are the excerpts from the conversation: Q. How will the APMC reforms effect farmers? Ashok Gulati: Positively. It would have been better if it was done a few years back. When Mr.Modi came in 1.0 — but better. This is trying to open up the markets. Q. So, but won't this compound what e-NAM already brings to the table? Ashok Gulati: So yeah, e-NAM is there, the main thing is today you increasing the stickiness of the APMC markets and your are denotifying that farmers can sell anywhere and that’s very important to any process in the coming years. And that's the main thing. Q.So why is this for benefit farmers? Ashok Gulati: When you create competition for their produce, the price improves. There are more buyers, more choices. They will get the benefits of that. Whether you have one buyer or ten buyers for a service makes a difference. Q. Since they will be able to sell anywhere, will it take away the power of the states in the agricultural sector? Ashok Gulati: So what is the problem in that? Like I’ve said, it's a big, positive step. Q. Aside from APMC, I wanted to ask about the Essential Commodities Act... Ashok Gulati: That's a big-ticket item. All of the last three reforms are bigger than the first eight points. It was completely positive. I might response is congratulations, kudos to but you should have done it in the first year of Modi 1.0. We’ve done now. It’s a corona gift. Q. How are they going to build up storage to support this amendment? Ashok Gulati: The government doesn’t need to do anything. A lot has changed. The private sector will come forward and will fight over it. Reliance, Adani and all the others will figure it out. They will pump in the money. You have to change the law, there is ample interest in the private sector. You just need to stay the course. Essential commodities act will not be reinforced. Q. When the essential commodities act was introduced, it was with the objective to disincentivise hoarding. Who will monitor and ensure that speculation does not occur? Ashok Gulati: We are not in 1955. Enforcement is exactly what we don’t want. Inspector Raj has to be thrown out of the window. What you need is private-sector competition. These are all useless topics of discussion. All nonsense. They have an unnecessary stronghold on India as though we’re living in the pre-Independence era. Q. So, basically, the agricultural sector has been liberalised? Ashok Gulati: Which was overdue. I’ve been asking for this for 20 years. At least with corona, the reforms have finally come in. What hasn’t happened in years, it finally happening thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. There are positive and big bold steps. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/essential-commodities-act-to-deregulate-price-of-potatoes-onions-and-pulses/articleshow/75758676.cms">India proposes to deregulate prices of onions, potatoes, pulses and other essential food — prices won’t be capped and one can store as much as needed</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/india-sets-up-fund-for-cold-storage-for-farm-products-startups-are-eligible/articleshow/75758088.cms">India now has a ₹1 lakh crore fund to boost farm products storage⁠— and startups are invited too</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-live-updates-from-third-tranche-modi-20-lakh-crore-stimulus/articleshow/75756781.cms">These are the top takeaways from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's third installment from Modi's ₹20 lakh crore stimulus</a>

"I have been asking for this for 20 years," says Ashok Gulati, agriculture scientist ⁠— cheering the changes to Essential Commodities Act and APMC

<ul><li><keyword id="6355261" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister">Finance Minister</keyword> Nirmala Sitharam announced that <keyword id="6354751" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax">Income tax</keyword> filing has been deferred for another three months till 30 November.</li><li>This gives you more time to make your <keyword id="865686" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-saving-investments">tax-saving investments</keyword> before your company or employer asks for Form-16 details.</li><li>Archit Gupta, Founder and CEO of ClearTax told Business Insider that the coronavirus lockdown was announced right around the time people usually rush to complete their investments — leaving many in a bind.</li></ul>It’s not uncommon for the new-age millennial to wait till the last minute to make good on the tax-saving investment promises, which they made at the beginning of the year. In fact, it even holds true for generation-Z, which is just entering the workforce and the preceding generation-X. “The lockdown was announced on 25 March. But, if you look at historical data, there’s a huge rush in the last 10 days of March, when people start to renew their policies, make their PPF deposit, or other mandatory investments to close,” Archit Gupta, Founder and CEO of ClearTax told Business Insider. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75717906" title="Deadlines for tax returns deferred⁠— and other tax reliefs announced by Nirmala Sitharaman" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The coronavirus lockdown threw a wrench in many an employee’s plans when they suddenly found themselves unable to go to the bank to make their deposits or make the requisite investments that they had planned. After all, the new no-stress tax regime was only going to kick in in the next financial year. After extending the deadline to file tax returns to July 2020 in the first set of relief measures announced by India’s Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>, it has been extended by another three months till 30 November. This means you have another three months to make your investments before the government asks for its annual tax cut from your salary. “On the due date extension, for your tax savings in FY19-20, you have been given an additional quarter to make tax-saving investments,” said Gupta. So, how will you file income tax come November? Right, the deferment is a boon for companies as well. “Even employers haven’t been able to access their workplaces and prepare their Form-16. Especially those who don’t use cloud services,” explained Gupta. So, once the deadline finally comes up — provided if they don’t extend it yet again depending on how the coronavirus lockdown plays out — Gupta expects that companies will ask you if you have made any new investments in the past three months. At that time, you’ll have a choice. You can either claim a particular deduction for the financial year 2019-20, or for 2020-21. Some may choose to opt for the latter if they have already exhausted their deductions prior to the lockdown. “The Income Tax Act says that you cannot claim the same deduction twice,” said Gupta. So, keep in mind, if you claim a particular deduction for the financial year 2019-20, then you won’t be able to claim in 2020-21 — given that you’re not switching over the new “simplified” tax rates. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/epf-provident-fund-deduction-cut-to-boost-take-home-salaries/articleshow/75718392.cms">Take home salaries for employees will increase as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reduces provident fund deduction</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/top-highlights-of-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-speech-on-modi-20-lakh-crore-covid-19-stimulus/articleshow/75714287.cms">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reveals the details of Modi's ₹20 lakh crore stimulus package</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-labour-reforms-need-these-three-safety-nets-or-else-the-people-will-be-exposed-to-exploitation/articleshow/75729269.cms">India’s ‘labour reforms’ need these three safety nets⁠— or else the people will be exposed to exploitation</a>

Reminder⁠ — You have time till June 30 to make tax-saving investments for the last financial year

<ul><li>Indian Finance Minister, <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>, has announced a ban on e-cigarettes in India. </li><li>She said e-cigarettes are being used as a 'style statement' rather than a tool to quit smoking.</li><li>The ban is subject to approval from the Indian parliament.</li></ul> Indian Finance Minister and cabinet member, Nirmala Sitharam, announced a total ban on every aspect of e-cigarettes in the country. "Production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisements related to e-cigarettes are all banned in India. It is banned in all these nine forms," stated Sitharam during the cabinet briefing. She said that the decision is being taken in lieu of the seven deaths, which occurred in the US over the past week, directly linked to the use of e-cigarettes. <div type="twitter" handle="PIB_India" handlename="PIB India" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/974552536408444928/TVZG_9jP_normal.jpg" favoritecount="104" retweetcount="38" status="#UnionCabinet approves the promulgation of the prohibition of E-Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019. The decision to prohib… https://t.co/DF4OUMqGGa" createdat="1568800703000" id="1174261375339827201"></div>

 "The cabinet, rightly, thought it's time to immediately take a decision so that the health of our youth and citizens is not risked," said Sitharam. E-cigarettes are a 'style statement' A large number of e-cigarette models are available in the market today. However, none of them are produced in India. The government believes that are currently over 400 brands of e-cigarettes in the country available in over 150 flavours. The varieties on offer tend to make people try them due to the 'cool' factor, rather than the devices being used for their original purpose, which is to help people quit smoking. "In India, ground reports say that e-cigs are being used as a 'style statement'," said Sitharaman. "Reports say many people are not using it to quit smoking but actually smoking cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes, if they're already smokers. Some are getting into the habit because it seems cool," she explained. Passive smoking E-cigarettes were banned as they are not only harmful to the user and those around them. The fact that're odourless makes even more dangerous, according to Sitharaman. "The smoke exhaled by a user of e-cigarettes, contains a high level of residual nicotine, which for people around standing as passive smokers — it will affect them too," she said. While the cabinet approved the ban, it is subject to approval from the government. The ordinance advises the government to analyse the impact of e-cigarettes on people and their health. The cabinet will take the matter forward during the next session of parliament.

Cabinet bans e-cigarettes which are 'harmful' and a 'style statement'

<ul><li>The Indian smartphone industry expects fewer or no increase in component duties for smartphones.</li><li>A 2.5 per cent customs duty on imports of electronics along with other factors led to an increase in smartphone prices.</li><li>For homegrown brands in particular, a separate budget to help bring more Indian smartphone brands is expected.</li></ul>In the 2021 Union Budget, a 2.5 per cent customs duty was imposed on the import of electronics. This was in line with the Indian government’s larger plan to boost local manufacturing of electronics. Higher duties on components would lead to smartphone companies relying on local production in the country. But this also led to an increase in smartphone prices along with other factors such as the ongoing global chip shortage. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget" data-type="tilCustomLink">Union Budget 2022</a> will be announced on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam, and this year fewer or no increases in component duties are expected from the smartphone industry. According to Hari Om Rai, chairman and managing director of phone maker Lava International, there are two major demands from the industry. One is to not impose any “further increase in component duties in this budget as it impacts our global competitiveness.” The other demand is to create a separate budget for homegrown brands. “We are looking at creating economies of scale to create global competitiveness, [and] value-addition will follow,” Rai said. Lava is among the few Indian smartphone brands that still operate and launch products. Other brands like Intex Technologies and Karbonn Mobiles shut shop primarily due to the influx of Chinese brands in the country. Lava launched its first 5G smartphone ‘Agni 5G’ in India last November. Another Indian smartphone brand still floating is Micromax, which made a comeback last year with new smartphones and wireless earbuds as well. But the majority of the Indian smartphone market is occupied by Chinese brands including Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme and Oppo, according to quarterly data from Counterpoint Research. The reason is aggressive pricing and high-specced devices. <div type="image" title="nft - 2022-01-31T192425.461" msid="89251597" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indian smartphone market share in 2021.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> An example of this is Bengaluru-based <a href="https://www.vccircle.com/sachin-tendulkar-backed-smartron-gets-up-to-200-mn-gem-group-s-commitment">Smartron</a>, a tech brand backed by Sachin Tendulkar that silently exited the smartphone market in India. It launched budget smartphones under ₹10,000, and it also launched tablets under its product portfolio. The brand is now focusing on expanding its smart home segment with its IoT ecosystem ‘tronX’. Another homegrown and Bengaluru-based startup Creo that tried its luck not only in smartphones but a custom OS as well. Founded by former Hike employees, Creo had launched the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/in/news/hike-acquires-creo-the-makers-of-os-centric-mark-1-smartphone">Mark 1 smartphone</a> that ran on Android-based Fuel OS. The company soon decided to end production of the device and focus on Fuel OS. According to Upasana Joshi, research manager, client devices at IDC India, Indian smartphone brands “continue to struggle in comparison to global or Chinese players owing to the large scale of business and acceptability in the market.” One way of helping bring up more Indian smartphone brands would be a separate budget to build “National Champions” according to Rai. “To acquire strategic skills and become global Indian champions have a remarkable potential to create national wealth and become beacons of economic progress for India's long term technological and financial independence. It is highly imperative to develop and bolster Indian champions to bring strategic skills and technology and augment GDP, employment, and foreign exchange,” Rai said. Another expectation is “huge investments to match production, marketing and operational spends in a consolidated smartphone market like India,” according to Joshi. For the smartphone industry in general, <keyword id="10547300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2022" source="Orion">Budget 2022</keyword> is expected to continue the “push for establishing component factories and making them available locally, along with fewer exemptions,” Joshi added. But we may continue to see smartphone prices increasing even in 2022. “IDC expects ASPs (average selling price) for smartphones to only rise further and peak annually,” Joshi said. Regardless, as per research firm Counterpoint, India's smartphone market revenue crossed $38 billion in 2021 with 27 per cent (on-year) growth, as shipments grew 11 per cent to reach 169 million units. It would be interesting to see how the upcoming budget will aid the existing Indian manufacturers to bolster their share to survive, unlike their counterparts that had to quit the business. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2022-expectation-why-india-needs-an-urban-mgnrega/articleshow/89199969.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Budget 2022 expectation: Why India needs an urban MGNREGA</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-defence-budget-2022-submarines-drones-warships-and-aircraft-carriers/articleshow/88989045.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">This year’s defence budget may focus on building submarines, drones, warships and aircraft carriers</a>

India Budget 2022 expectations: Fewer or no increase in component duties for smartphones

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharam announced allocation of ₹3150 crore for Ministry of Culture and proposes the establishment of <keyword id="8696744" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-institute-of-heritage">Indian Institute of Heritage</keyword> and Conservation under the ministry. “Five archaeological sites in Haryana, UP, Assam, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, to be developed with on-site museums, to be developed with on-site museums,” says finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The list of five archaeological sites includes: <ul><li>Hastinapur in UP, the city is described in Hindu puranas and Mahabharata, as the capital of Kuru Kingdom. The city also finds its mention in the ancient Jain texts.</li><li>Dholavira in Khadirbet, Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District,is one of the two largest Harappan sites in India, and fifth largest in the subcontinent.</li><li>Adichanallur in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu is one of the earliest ancient sites according to the carbon dating of samples excavated from the Adichanallur site in Thoothukudi.</li><li>Rakhigarhi in Haryana dates back to the pre-Indus valley civilization as old as 6500 BCE. It was also a part of matured Indus-valley civilization. The site was recently in the news for the scientific paper on the DNA analysis of the Harappan skeleton. </li><li>Sivasagar in Assam gets its name from the big lake Sivasagar. The lake was commissioned by the Ahom king Siva Singha and lies in an area of about 360 kilometres. </li></ul>However, the list missed out two important archaeological cultural sites RoopKund in Uttarakhand and Keeladi in Madurai. The Financial minister also said a tribal museum will be set up in Ranchi, Jharkhand and a Maritime site will be set up in Lothal, Gujarat. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/nirmala-skitharaman-recites-kashmiri-poem-comparing-india-to-a-daal-lake-lotus/articleshow/73832846.cms?src=hp_latest">Nirmala Sitharaman ditches Tamil to recite a Kashmiri poem - comparing India to a Dal Lake lotus</a>

Budget 2020 allocates a unique part of budget to Ministry of Culture for Archaeological sites

New Delhi, Dec 22 () LIC-controlled IDBI Bank expected to come out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework in the last quarter of the current fiscal with the support of capital infusion and recovery from large IBC cases.
According to sources, some of the restrictions with regard to lending by the bank have been eased recently.
With money coming from resolution on Essar Steel and expected flow from resolution of Bhushan Power and Steel and Alok Industries, sources said the bank is likely to be posting profit during the third quarter and the subsequent quarter.
The bank has already come below net NPA threshold of 6 per cent, one of the three parameters for triggering PCA framework. The net NPA of the bank reduced to below 6 per cent in the second quarter ended September 2019.
Recently, Parliament approved Rs 9,300 crore capital infusion in IDBI Bank. The department of financial services got an additional Rs 4,557 crore for infusion into IDBI Bank through recap bonds for their share of 47.11 per cent in IDBI Bank. State-owned LIC, which is the promoter of the debt-ridden lender with 51 per cent stake, will pump in an additional Rs 4,743 crore to improve the bank's capital position.
Wtih this kind of capital infusion coupled with write back from the recoveries from large NPA cases, the bank is expected to come out from the weak bank watch list by the end of the current fiscal, sources said.
The PCA framework kicks in when banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points namely capital to risk weighted assets ratio, net non-performing assets (NPA) and return on assets (RoA).
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam said the recapitalisation was done by the government by infusing Rs 21,157 crore into IDBI Bank since 2015 after we came back to power and LIC infused Rs 21,624 crore.
"So both put together have given Rs 42,781 crore to the bank. This has help reduce the net NPAs from a peak of 17.3 per cent in September, 2018 to 5.97 per cent in September, 2019. It has come below RBI's 6 per cent net NPA threshold level," she had said.
Earlier this year, the RBI removed five banks - Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Allahabad Bank and Corporation Bank - from the PCA framework in two phases after capital support from the government that resulted in improvement in their financial parameters.
The capital infusion helped these lenders meet requisite capital thresholds and reduced their net NPA levels to below 6 per cent. DP MKJ

IDBI Bank likely to be out of PCA framework in fourth quarter

<ul><li>The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has recommended increasing the tax benefits under the <keyword id="475509" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Pension-System">National Pension System</keyword> from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. </li><li>Any Indian resident between the age of 18 to 60 years can apply for an <keyword id="2649803" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPS-account">NPS account</keyword> at their nearly PSU bank, select private banks or post offices. </li><li>Opening a Tier I NPS account is compulsory for all subscribers, however, they will have the option to choose between auto, active and default accounts. </li><li>NPS account holders can also choose between seven different fund managers. </li></ul> The Union Budget is around the corner and expectations are high from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam. Analysts forecast that she will introduce a number of measures to boost the economy — including doubling the tax benefit on the National Pension System (NPS) contributions. This will take the tax benefit from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh, as recommended by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Currently, any Indian resident between the age of 18 to 60 years can open an NPS account and save up ₹1.5 lakh per annum under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. This includes investments in insurance plans and other select instruments — including buying a pension plan. Additional tax benefits are available for up to ₹50,000 of self contribution under section 80CCD (1B), which is the NPS tax benefit. This is the amount that the PFRDA has recommended that the government should double. NPS has an EET status — exemption on investment, exemption on returns, but taxation on redemption. 40% of the corpus that you will get on retirement will be tax-free. Getting a Tier I NPS account — you don’t have a choice Any Indian resident between the age of 18 to 60 years old can apply for NPS, including government employees that joined prior to January 2004 — although the measure is not compulsory for them. Tier I accounts are mandatory for anyone who subscribes to NPS. Government employees have to pitch in a contribution of 10% from their basic salary and dearness allowance. The government matches that contribution. For non-government employees to open an NPS account, they have to make an initial minimum contribution of ₹500. Every year, the cumulative contribution has to add up to at least ₹6,000. For private-sector salaried employees, the company will provide two options — NPS and Employees Provident Fund. In choosing NPS, they will be subject to the same requirements as government employees. The only difference will be that the matching contribution would be provided by the employer, rather than the government. The employer’s contribution to NPS is non-taxable. Taxpayers can find it under 80CCD2 in Form 16. Tier II NPS accounts — Take it or leave it A Tier II NPS account is not mandatory. It’s a type of saving account from which subscribers can make withdrawals at any time. It’s not subject to tax exemptions and there’s no equivalent contribution by the employer or the government. In order to open a Tier II account, subscribers need to deposit a minimum of ₹1,000. Each contribution has to be a minimum of ₹250 and, at the end of the year, the account must have a minimum balance of ₹2,000. Any returns from Tier II accounts are treated the same as returns from mutual funds. How do you open an NPS account? You can open an NPS account by approaching your nearest PSU Bank, select private banks— like ICICI, Kotak, and HDFC among others — and post offices. At the bank, you will need to fill out the required NPS form and submit the relevant KYC documents. After your request is processed, the Central Record Keeping Agency will send you a Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). This account number will be unique to you and can be moved from employer to employer. The minimum account opening fee is ₹500 and the fund management fee is 0.1%. Picking an account and fund managers NPS accounts are run through fund managers. These fund managers invest contributions into equity, corporate debt and government securities. Proportions vary according to market conditions and the type of NPS account you have. The equity portion is invested in index stocks — these stocks make up NIFTY and Sensex. Choice of fund managers: <ol><li>HDFC Pension Management Company </li><li>ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company </li><li>Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company </li><li>LIC Pension Fund </li><li>Reliance Capital Asset Management Company </li><li>SBI Pension Fund </li><li>UTI Retirement Solutions </li></ol> There are still three types of NPS accounts that you can choose from — active, auto and default. In choosing active, you will have control over how your money gets divided between different financial instruments. However, only a maximum of 50% can be allocated towards equities. In choosing an auto account, the money will be invested according to the subscriber’s age. Till the time you are 35 years old, 50% of the investment will go towards equity and 30% will be divided allocated to corporate debt. Thereafter, investment in equity will be reduced by 2% each year and investment in corporate debt will be reduced by 1%. By the time you will be 55 years old, 10% will be invested in equity, 10% in corporate debt and the other 80% will be allocated to government securities — a low-risk financial instrument. The default account comes with the least amount of risk. As much as 55% of your contribution is invested in government securities, 40% goes towards corporate debt, 15% is allocated to equities and only 5% is put into money market instruments. Government employees have no choice, but to opt for the default account. When can you finally withdraw your money? Withdrawals of up to 25% can be made after you’ve subscribed to the scheme for at least 10 years for reasons like children’s education or buying a house. You can make three such withdrawals from NPS at a gap of at least 5 years between each withdrawal. However, an exception can be made in the case of critical illness, accidents or life-threatening diseases. If you choose to retire before the age of 60 years, 80% of your corpus has to go towards annuity and up to 20% can be withdrawn. However, that amount will be taxed according to your tax slab. If you retire at 60 years of age, you can withdraw up to 60% of the corpus and will only have to pay tax on 20% of the amount. As much as 40% of the corpus still has to go towards buying annuity. Any returns on the annuity are taxed as per tax slabs. In the event of the death of the NPS account holder, the entire corpus amount is allocated to the nominee.

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Equalisation levy on crypto exchanges in India will not apply to investors, according to the Finance Minister

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Reminder⁠ — You have time till June 30 to make tax-saving investments for the last financial year

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Cabinet bans e-cigarettes which are 'harmful' and a 'style statement'

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India Budget 2022 expectations: Fewer or no increase in component duties for smartphones

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Budget 2020 allocates a unique part of budget to Ministry of Culture for Archaeological sites

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Budget 2020: What is the National Pension System and how do you open an NPS account?

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