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The government has managed to collect a total of Rs 329.6 crore within a month from the 0.5 per cent <keyword id="2692614" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-cess">Swachh Bharat cess</keyword> imposed on all <keyword id="640715" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="taxable-services">taxable services</keyword>. "The provisional figures of Swachh Bharat cess collected till December 16, 2015, is about Rs 329.6 crore," MoS Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the <keyword id="48510" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajya-Sabha">Rajya Sabha</keyword>. 

	The government had imposed the cess with effect from November 15 to fund Swachh Bharat programme. 
 

	Between November 15 and March 31, 2016, the revenue estimated to be collected is about Rs 3,750 crore, Sinha said. 
 

	The minister added that the proceeds collected through the cess would be allocated to the state governments to fund Swachh Bharat initiatives. 
 

	The amount estimated to be collected from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Swachh+Bharat">Swachh Bharat</a> cess on all taxable services which are not exempt or in negative list in a full financial year is about Rs 10,000 crore. 
 

	Revenue for the next financial year has not been estimated so far, he said. 
 With the Swachh Bharat cess, the <keyword id="118144" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Service-tax-rate">Service Tax rate</keyword> has gone up to 14.5 per cent from 14 per cent. 
	 
	(Image credits: BCCL)

Swachh Bharat cess garners Rs 329 crore in a month!

Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, who became the faces of <keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword> might feature in its upcoming campaign as the government tries to impart new energy into Modi cabinet’s mission for national cleanliness. 
 
Reportedly, the government has reached out to the actors for featuring in radio advertisements on Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani's radio channels, and for their participation in a short promotional film which would soon be produced to raise awareness about the mission. 
 
"Bachchan and Chopra have assured their time for any promo film we make, for free," a senior official told ET on the condition of anonymity. "Brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar last year lent his voice to a Swachh Bharat video anthem," he added. 
 
Once Ambani gives his consent for government’s proposal to run subsidised, if not free, advertisements on BIG FM, the Swachh Bharat team will start working with the Reliance Group for a communications campaign. 
 
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched by PM Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, and aims for nation cleanliness by 2019. 
 
<a href="http://datastore01.rediff.com/h1500-w1500/thumb/4F6259655A5464655B656B586A636B716D72/1w9orw4ro8e9xpnj.D.0.Amitabh-Bachchan-with-Priyanka-Chopra-at-Dettol-NDTV-Banega-Swachh-India-Cleanathon--2-.JPG">Image source </a>

Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra will power up Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

As the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Indian+government" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Indian government</a> is all set to levy its <keyword id="2692614" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-cess">Swachh Bharat cess</keyword>, the Indian Inc says it is not ready for it yet. 
 
The government, in its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=union+budget" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Union Budget</a>, had announced that a cess of up to 2% would be levied to fund <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">PM Narendra </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Modi</a>’s pet campaign ‘<keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword>’. 
 
The 0.5% cess on all taxable services was notified by the Centre. 
 
"It may be seen that all issues relating to Swachh Bharat cess are addressed in the service tax provisions itself by virtue of the applicability of Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994, and the rules made thereunder," the finance ministry stated. 
 But, the Indian industry says this is against the PM’s claims of <keyword id="6354423" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ease-of-Doing-Business">ease of doing business</keyword> in India and also sought clarity on certain issues. 
 
Also, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ficci" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &amp; Industry</a> (<keyword id="6355001" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="FICCI">FICCI</keyword>) said the eight day's notice was too short and that the cess should be implemented from January. 
Experts in India Inc say that changing billing system in the middle of the month, especially in festive season, will prove to be difficult. 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cii" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Confederation of Indian Industry</a> (CII) also asked if the cess would be creditable. 
 Meanwhile, India Inc said the cess should have been levied in line with the Goods &amp; Services Tax (<keyword id="6354679" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST">GST</keyword>). 
 
Even telecom operators voiced the same concern and asked for a delay. 
 
“There is no clarity whether credit of Swachh Bharat would be available as in the case of service tax. In case the credit is not available, the net incidence of the cess would be higher than 0.5% on services on account of cascading. Similarly, the cess would also impact the price of goods as there would be an incidence of cess on input services,” Bipin Sapra, partner, EY, told ET. 
 
Also, the value and rate is unclear, what the effective rate of tax would be for services that are taxable at an abated rate. 
 
The finance ministry explained that the taxable value for the levy of Swachh Bharat cess would be the same on which service tax is levied. 
 
“The cess would be calculated on abated value or value arrived at under service tax. On the issue of point of taxation, the statement said norms laid down in Rule 5 would apply. Therefore, in case where payment has been received and invoice is raised before the service becomes taxable, i.e., prior to November 15, 2015, there is no liability of Swachh Bharat cess,” stated the finance ministry. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

India Inc wants deferment in Swachh Bharat cess, says it will affect ease of doing business

Providing relief to SEZ units and developers, the <keyword id="47209" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry">Finance Ministry</keyword> today said they will be entitled to refund of the Swachh Bharat cess, a levy imposed by the government from November last year to fund its cleanliness drive. 

	"The SEZ Unit or the Developer shall be entitled to refund of the Swachh Bharat Cess paid on the specified services on which ab-initio exemption is admissible but not claimed," the Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a notification.
 

	It has also specified a formula for calculating refund due to SEZ units and developers. 
 Government had imposed 0.5 per cent Swachh Bharat cess on taxable services from November 15, 2015. With the imposition of the cess, <keyword id="6355686" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Service-tax">service tax</keyword> rate has gone up from 14 per cent to 14.5 per cent. The cess is levied only on the portion of taxable services (after abatement) and will go towards <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> of the Swachh Bharat scheme, a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The concessions provided to the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is expected to generate some interest of investors in them. Investors have been losing interest in these zones for various reasons including global economic slowdown, imposition of minimum alternate tax (MAT) and dividend distribution tax ( <keyword id="375780" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="DDT">DDT</keyword>). 

	Many business houses have surrendered SEZs while the government on its part has given more time to some developers to execute the projects. 
	 
	(Image credit: BCCL)

Finance Ministry to refund Swachh Bharat cess paid by SEZs

At a time when people have started questioning government’s expenditure in advertisements, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=modi">Narendra Modi</a> government is all set to initiate a massive advertisement campaign in print media and on radio and television glorifying the anniversary of the ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan"> Bharat Mission’</a>. 
 
On October 2, Prime Minister Modi’s pet project of cleanliness completes a year. To commemorate the success, Modi’s ministers have received plan blueprint from the PM himself. 
 
Modi has formed a team of ministers to plan a 17-day anniversary celebration between September 25 and October 11. The team includes Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Road Transport Minister <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Nitin+Gadkari">Nitin Gadkari</a>, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore. 
 
Apart from advertisements, there would be appraising performance of all the states and printing the achievements in booklets. The chief ministers of the states would also be roped in and encouraged to conduct walkathons with the high-profile Swachh Bharat ambassadors. The states have also been asked to rope in governors to administer the "Swachhta pledge" to government officials to keep their surroundings clean. 
 
The government will also honour NGOs and volunteers who have contributed in the cleanliness programme. Swachh Bharat ambassadors would also visit households where toilets have been built under the scheme. 
 
 A senior government official told The Economic Times, "We plan to organise events in states and in the capital with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan brand ambassadors like Baba Ramdev, actor Kamal Hassan and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.” 
 
(Image: PIB)

Swachh Bharat’s first anniversary will be huge! Modi is ensuring the Govt goes all out

As the Indian government wants to scale up PM Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘<keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword>’ and invest around Rs 2.23 lakh crore by October 2019, it may levy cess from the common man even to provide basic sanitation. 
 
The government is mulling over levying 0.5% cess on petrol, diesel and telecom services, a 1% cess on accumulated waste produced by mineral generation plants and a 0.5 percentage point increase in service tax. 
 If everything falls in place, this could be announced during <keyword id="6360189" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget">Union Budget</keyword> on February 29. 
 
This recommendation was given by a sub-group of chief ministers on Swachh Bharat set up by Niti Aayog. 
 
"The sharing pattern of funds for this programme between the Centre and states may be in the ratio of 75:25, while for hilly states it may be kept at 90:10," said the sub-group. 
 Under the <keyword id="63500" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cleanliness-Drive">cleanliness drive</keyword>, the government wants to construct household toilets, community and public toilets and scientific waste management. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

Tax Alert! You could soon be paying cess for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan!

<ul><li><keyword id="2312336" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Mission">Swachh Bharat Mission</keyword> will complete 5 years on October 2, 2019. </li><li>The Indian government has built over a 100 million toilets as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. </li><li>However, a large proportion of people in rural India still defecates in public even as they have access to toilets. </li></ul> India launched Swachh Bharat Mission on October 4, 2014, with an ambitious plan to declare the country open-defecation free by October 2, 2019. The programme could be termed partly successful as it provided access to toilet facilities to millions of rural households in the country. However, it failed to change the mindset of people who want to defecate in public. An increasing number of toilets According to government figures, more than 100 million toilets were built in the last five years. "Twenty-seven states, 601 districts, 5,934 blocks, 2,46,116 gram panchayats and 5,50,151 villages have been declared open defecation free (ODF),” the former Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinag told Lok Sabha in February. Yet, one in every four people still prefer to defecate in public<a href="https://riceinstitute.org/research/changes-in-open-defecation-in-rural-north-india-2014-2018-2/">, revealed research. </a> A large proportion of people still choose to defecate in open The increase in the number of toilets could not alter the age-old practice As many as 40-50% of the rural people in four states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- continue to defecate in public. However, the number of such people was earlier at 70% in 2014. "The fraction of people who own a latrine, but who nevertheless defecate in the open, did not change between 2014 and 2018: it was about 23% in both years,” reported India spend.

India built 100 million rural toilets, but Indians are yet to learn to use them

<keyword id="6696781" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-development-ministry">Urban Development Ministry</keyword> today announced it would launch a mobile App for citizens to post their complaints about <keyword id="56059" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garbage">garbage</keyword> pile-up in their areas and seek timely redress of their grievance. Named '<keyword id="3232838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-City-Solutions">Swachh City Solutions</keyword>', the proposed mobile and web-based application will be developed in partnership with an NGO 'Janaagraha' Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, to ensure timely and effective implementation of the <keyword id="2312336" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Mission">Swachh Bharat Mission</keyword> objectives in 4041 statutory towns in the country. 

	A Memorandum of Understanding to the effect was signed today between the Ministry and the NGO 'Janaagraha' here. 
 

	The application is likely to become operational by April and will give citizens access to the latest technology to lodge their complaint and actively participate in keeping their cities clean. 
 

	Speaking on the occasion, UD Ministry Joint Secretary Praveen Prakash said, "Through this App, the government is providing the citizens with a platform to express their concerns regarding their areas and build community participation and consensus towards maintaining the cleanliness in their cities." 
 

	Prakash, who is also the Mission Director for Swachh Bharat said "The App will also enable municipal officials/field engineers to see each complaint and update the status of the resolution along with photos, hence building accountability in the system by ensuring timely grievance redressal." 
 

	Citizens will have features that will allow them to view complaints posted nearby, and show support by 'Voting up' on various complaints. 
 The App, in addition to enabling the creation of a community around complaints, leading to community participation and faster complaint resolution, will also enable the Ministry to rate and rank the 4041 <keyword id="6374279" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Urban-local-bodies">urban local bodies</keyword> (ULBs) in India, based on their efficiency of redressing citizen grievances. The application aims at realising the vision of Swachh Bharat Mission towards a clean and <keyword id="1459267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Garbage-Free-India">garbage free India</keyword> by 2019. 
	 
	(Image credits: Reuters)

Swachh City Solutions App for garbage free India by April

Nearly ten months after the Prime Minister Narendra <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword> assumed office, his ambitious projects meant for the betterment of the society seems to be ‘full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’. As per a news report by The Economic Times, Modi’s much hyped <keyword id="6361202" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat">Swachh Bharat</keyword> scheme has suffered a <keyword id="841422" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="budget-cut">budget cut</keyword> of Rs 635 crore across the country for the fiscal year 2015-16. 
 
However, this move might mean a better execution of the projects. With less funds involved and better grounding of the projects, this might mean less misuse of the funds at various levels. 
 
Erstwhile Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh’s Integrated Child Development Scheme for undernourished children in anganwadis has also been cut by a whopping cut of Rs 9,858 crore, which is less than half of last year's budget of Rs 17,858 crore. 
 
According to the financial daily, the Modi government has also cut funds to the Rashtirya Grameen Drinking Water Scheme that sees a slash of Rs 8,390 crore. 
 
Even the allocation for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA) has come down drastically from Rs 9,193.75 crore last year to just Rs 2,000 crore. SSA has garnered a mounting success over the years in most parts of the country where school drop outs were on rise. 
While the Congress in opposition has managed to activate the blame mode towards the ruling BJP, political experts opine that this would enhance the investment in infrastructures, agriculture and agribusiness, research and innovation, upgradation of industries, foreign investment, secondary education and vocational training . 
 
Political analyst Harish Ramaswamy has told the financial daily that the allocations were "more practical and pragmatic" this time, as states often did not utilise the funds that were allotted to them. 
 
(Image: India Times)

Modi’s pet scheme, ‘Swachha Bharat’ now lacks funds!

The <keyword id="6356595" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="South-Delhi-Municipal-Corporation">South Delhi Municipal Corporation</keyword> (<keyword id="413995" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="SDMC">SDMC</keyword>) has mandated all <keyword id="6361054" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="South-Delhi">South Delhi</keyword> <keyword id="4365660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hotels-and-restaurants">hotels and restaurants</keyword> to make their <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/World-Toilet-Day-Funny-signs-outside-toilets-in-India/articleshow/49845942.cms">restrooms</a> accessible to the general public. 
 
This idea, which would give a boost to the ambitious <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Tax-Alert-You-could-soon-be-paying-cess-for-the-Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan/articleshow/50667026.cms">Swachh Bharat campaign</a>, was given by Lt Governor Anil Baijal. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Modis-Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan-gets-one-more-partner/articleshow/54561345.cms">Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan gets one more partner</a> 
 
The hotels and restaurants are allowed to charge upto Rs 5 per usage, so that their maintenance and cleaning charges are covered. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Students-of-IIM-A-are-helping-this-Gujarat-village-market-toilets-to-tribals-villagers/articleshow/51852988.cms">Students of IIM-A are helping this Gujarat village market toilets to tribals, villagers</a> 
 The change, which would instantly make over 3500 <keyword id="4513296" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Restrooms">restrooms</keyword> accessible to Delhi public, will be brought into effect from April 1. 
 
(Image source: Smashing)

SDMC to make restrooms in South Delhi hotels and restaurants open to all

According to <keyword id="6354424" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="World-Bank">World Bank</keyword> President <keyword id="983419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jim-Young-Kim">Jim Young Kim</keyword>, reforms initiated by Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> have had a huge impact on the way world looks at India. He also praised the progress made in 'Swachh Bharat' campaign and 'Clean Ganga' programme. 
 During a meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session, the World Bank President praised the progress made in 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Clean Ganga' programme where the World Bank is an important partner, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson <keyword id="32893" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="vikas-swarup">Vikas Swarup</keyword> told PTI 
 
"He (Jim Young Kim) said that the Prime Minister's reforms has had a huge impact on the way in which the world looks at India," Swarup added. 
 
Kim acknowledged that what was happening in India was actually very different from what had actually happened in different countries. 
 
"He maintained that the World Bank wanted to be a strong partner as India moved forward on these targets," Swarup said. 
 
The Prime Minister spoke on the progress made on the thousands of toilets that has been constructed, and also on the international technology that is being sought now on the 'Clean Ganga' program, on his ambitious programs for 175 gigawatts of renewable energy, Swarup said. 
 
The two leaders also discussed on the governance structure of the World Bank.
 

	Image credit: Indiatimes

World Bank's Jim Young Kim is a fan of PM Modi's reforms. Know why!

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s <keyword id="6361202" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat">Swachh Bharat</keyword> Abhiyaan, this year’s Rail Budget will focus on cleanliness and financial viability of Indian <keyword id="6360676" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Railways">Railways</keyword>, as per a report by The Economic Times (ET). In his maiden Budget, Railway Minister <keyword id="6356597" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suresh-Prabhu">Suresh Prabhu</keyword> is expected to take measures to improve the financial health of Indian Railways. 
 
According to the ET report, Prabhu is likely to announce a number of measures to promote cleanliness, which may include coverage of more trains under on-board housekeeping services (OBHS), building bio-toilets and providing dustbins in all coaches. Moreover, he may also introduce some measures to improve facilities at stations. 
 
The budget this year will also consider problems faced by visually challenged passengers as the railway minister is expected to come up with a proposal to provide Braille signs at stations. 
 
However, due to the poor financial health of the railways, there is less probability of any big announcement this year. Currently, Indian Railways faces the challenge to generate funds worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore to finance about 300 projects. 
 
In addition to this, the ministry also plans to raise funds from Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme, state governments and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.

You Searched For "Swachh Bharat" and got 12 results

Swachh Bharat cess garners Rs 329 crore in a month!

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Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra will power up Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

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India Inc wants deferment in Swachh Bharat cess, says it will affect ease of doing business

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Finance Ministry to refund Swachh Bharat cess paid by SEZs

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Swachh Bharat’s first anniversary will be huge! Modi is ensuring the Govt goes all out

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Tax Alert! You could soon be paying cess for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan!

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India built 100 million rural toilets, but Indians are yet to learn to use them

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Swachh City Solutions App for garbage free India by April

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Modi’s pet scheme, ‘Swachha Bharat’ now lacks funds!

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SDMC to make restrooms in South Delhi hotels and restaurants open to all

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World Bank's Jim Young Kim is a fan of PM Modi's reforms. Know why!

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Rail Budget 2015 to run on Swachh Bharat track

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