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Domestic <keyword id="19910265" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gold-prices" source="keywords">gold prices</keyword> have risen by 10% on a year-to-date basis on the back of the strength in global gold prices, which have surged by 18% year-to-date, driven by robust <keyword id="19894998" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-bank" source="keywords">central bank</keyword> purchases, heightened geopolitical risks, and growing expectations of a monetary policy pivot from the <keyword id="19901377" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us-federal-reserve" source="keywords">US Federal Reserve</keyword>, according to the <keyword id="20195223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Gold-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Gold Council" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="World Gold Council">World Gold Council</keyword>.<br /><br />The reduction in <keyword id="20069572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="import-duty" source="keywords">import duty</keyword> has ignited a resurgence in gold demand across <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>. Reports from the recently concluded India International Jewellery Show indicate a substantial increase in order bookings from retailers, particularly in preparation for the upcoming festive and wedding season.<br /><br />Manufacturers have noted that in some cases, orders have reached levels not seen in several years, underscoring the strong buying interest among <keyword id="21595593" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jewellery-retailers" source="keywords">jewellery retailers</keyword> and consumers alike. The trend of bar and coin buying has also remained robust, with both consumers and jewellers capitalizing on the more attractive prices to stock up for future manufacturing needs.<br /><br />Historical analysis suggests that Indian consumer demand, encompassing jewellery and bar and coin demand, could see an additional 50 tonnes or more in the second half of 2024. This potential increase is fueled by a combination of an initial boost in consumer appetite due to the more attractive prices and a longer-term alignment of local prices with international rates.<br /><br />In a notable shift, domestic gold prices, which had been trading at a discount to international prices for five consecutive months, have now started trading at a premium following the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> announcement.<br /><br />The discount had widened significantly in July, reaching a peak of around $80 per ounce in the third week of the month, driven by subdued demand and an increased supply of gold through various preferential trade agreements and unofficial channels.<br /><br />However, wholesalers who had inventory purchased under the old customs duty regime began selling gold at a premium to the landed cost to mitigate their losses, further supported by increased consumer demand.<br /><br />While the premiums have moderated recently, from $28 per ounce to around USD 5 per ounce, this shift highlights the changing market sentiment and the impact of rising international gold prices and potential inventory valuation adjustments.<br /><br />The changes introduced in the Union Budget, including a reduction in the long-term investment holding period and a lower tax rate, have made gold ETFs a more attractive investment option.<br /><br />Data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) reveals that net inflows into gold ETFs in July amounted to Rs 13.4 billion (approximately USD 160 million), marking the highest monthly inflows since February 2020 and an 84% increase compared to June 2024.<br /><br />Despite these inflows, the total assets under management (AUM) for Indian gold ETFs grew marginally by 0.3% from the previous month, reaching Rs 345 billion ($4.1 billion). This modest increase can be attributed to the 8 % fall in domestic gold prices following the import duty reduction. Year-to-date, net inflows into Indian gold ETFs have totalled Rs 45 billion ($543 million), with total AUMs rising by 48 % from a year ago.<br /><br />The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) has continued its gold purchasing trend, although at a slower pace following a significant increase in June, when purchases reached 9.3 tonnes--the highest monthly total in nearly two years.<br /><br />Year-to-date, the RBI's gold acquisitions have totaled 44.3 tonnes, surpassing the total purchases of the past two years combined. The RBI's gold reserves have now reached a record 849 tonnes, representing 8.8% of total foreign reserves, compared to 7.5 % a year ago.<br /><br />In July, gold imports remained steady at $3.1 billion, maintaining the stable trend observed over the previous three months. Between April and July, imports averaged $3.2 billion, with volumes ranging between 43 and 47 tonnes during this period. The gold import bill for July 2024 was 11 % lower than the previous year, with an estimated 26% decrease in volume terms, around 47 tonnes.<br /><br />Despite a surge in international gold prices, domestic gold prices in India have experienced a notable decline, primarily due to the 9 % reduction in import duty announced in the Union Budget 2024-25. This policy change has led to a 6% decrease in the landed cost of gold, marking a shift in the domestic gold market dynamics. <br /><br />

Domestic gold prices surge 10% amid global price rally, central bank buying: World Gold Council

India's government <keyword id="21309215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare-spending" source="keywords">healthcare spending</keyword> appears to be on the rise, but a closer look reveals a concerning trend. While the headline figures might suggest an increase, the reality is a steady decline in health expenditure as a proportion of both the <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget" source="keywords">budget</keyword> and GDP over the past five years (2018-19 to 2023-24).<br /><br />This decline is even starker when adjusted for inflation. In real terms, spending has barely kept pace since 2019-20. As a percentage of the total budget, health spending has shrunk from 2.4% in 2018-19 to just 1.9% in 2023-24. Similarly, the share of GDP allocated to health has fallen from 0.30% to 0.28%, as per a report from the Times of India.<br /><br /><h2>Growing expectations ahead of <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword></h2>As the Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> prepares to present the full budget for the current fiscal on July 23, the expectations from the health sector has only been growing.<br /><br />“The Union Budget 2024-25 is a pivotal moment for India's healthcare sector. Building on the ₹64,180 crores allocated in 2023-24 under the Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, we need enhanced tax incentives and financial support for healthcare startups to catalyze innovation. Significant investments in <keyword id="21226679" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-health-infrastructure" source="keywords">digital health infrastructure</keyword>, particularly AI, will improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency,” says Dr Sravani Reddy G, Founder &amp; CEO, Soprav Healthcare Consulting.<br /><br />“Strengthening public-private partnerships will improve healthcare accessibility and quality, leveraging private sector efficiency. Additionally, focused efforts on affordability and access, such as reducing out-of-pocket expenses and improving insurance coverage, are vital for a more equitable healthcare system.”<br /><br />“The healthcare sector in India is on the brink of excellence. There is an increased focus on treating unique patient cases, robotic surgeries, and increasing prominence of AI for accurate diagnosis. To reach the next phase, emphasis must be laid on innovation, research &amp; development, and infrastructure development. These are the foundations for India’s health sector to achieve an international standard of treatment for all,” hopes Joseph Pasangha, Group COO, SPARSH Hospital, Bengaluru.<br />            <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111730426" title="Pan-India rollout of U-WIN to track routine immunisations likely by Aug end" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br /><h2>Health tax not helping enough<br /></h2>This situation is further complicated by the introduction of the <keyword id="22446013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-cess" source="keywords">health cess</keyword> in 2018. This tax levy was intended to boost government spending on healthcare, particularly for the underprivileged. However, the collected funds seem to be merely filling the gap created by cuts to regular budgetary allocations for health.<br /><br />In 2022-23, over Rs 18,300 crore of the central government's health spending came from the health cess. Excluding this amount, the actual budgetary allocation for health stands at a concerning Rs 59,840 crore. This is lower than the pre-pandemic level of Rs 66,042 crore allocated in 2019-20, even without adjusting for inflation.<br /><br /><h2>Where's the money going?</h2>The intended purpose of the health cess seems to be falling short. In 2018, health spending accounted for 2.4% of the government's total expenditure. If this ratio had remained constant in 2023-24, the health budget should have been over Rs 1.07 lakh crore. Instead, the revised expenditure, including the health cess, stands at just Rs 83,400 crore.<br /><br />Even the additional allocations for the COVID-19 pandemic (Rs 10,655 crore and Rs 15,955 crore in 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively) cannot mask the overall decline. When combined with the regular health budget (excluding health cess), the total spending in these years still falls short of what it would have been if the 2.4% share of 2018-19 had been maintained.<br /><br /><h2>More for alternative medicine</h2>While the share allocated to Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga &amp; Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) has seen a significant increase, spending on crucial areas like health research has seen only marginal growth. Additionally, a major portion of research funding goes to the Indian Council of Medical Research, with only a temporary increase during the peak of the pandemic response.<br /><br />The most concerning decrease is in the allocation for health and family welfare, encompassing national programs, the National Health Mission, and health system strengthening. This critical area has seen a substantial decline in its share of both GDP and total budget expenditure, falling from a peak of over 2% in 2017-18 to a mere 1.7% in 2023-24. Excluding the health cess, this figure drops even further to 1.5%.<br /><br /><h2>What this means</h2>This decline in government health spending raises serious concerns about India's commitment to public healthcare, particularly for its most vulnerable populations. Increased investment in health is crucial for a growing nation like India, and a reversal of this downward trend is essential to ensure accessible and quality healthcare for all.<br /><br />The 2024 Interim Health Budget saw a boost in total healthcare expenditure from Rs. 79,221 crore to Rs. 90,171 crore. Experts have opined that The healthcare budget should encompass at least 2.5% of the total budget. But it remains to be seen how the exact picture will turn out to be on July 23.<br /><br />“The 2024-25 budget presents an opportunity to build on past successes while addressing shortcomings, ensuring that India's healthcare system remains resilient, innovative, and patient-centric. This budget can pave the way for a healthier, more equitable future for all," concludes Dr Reddy.<br /><br />(With inputs from TOI)<br /><br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111689743" title="Union Budget 2024: A handy FAQ guide to decode the upcoming budget" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Despite pandemic and growing health scares, India’s budget share for healthcare continues to decline

<keyword id="20305504" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Khelo-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Khelo India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Khelo India">Khelo India</keyword>, which is the government's flagship project to promote sports at the grassroots level, was once again the biggest beneficiary in the union <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="budget" source="keywords">budget</keyword> for the <keyword id="19896478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sports-ministry" source="keywords">sports ministry</keyword> as it was assigned Rs 900 crore from the overall allocation of Rs 3,442.32 crore on Tuesday. Kehlo <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s share, announced in the budget presented by finance minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> here, is Rs 20 crore more than the revised allocation of Rs 880 crore during the previous financial year. <br /><br /> With the <keyword id="19986816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympic" source="keywords">Olympic</keyword> cycle set to come to an end in Paris in August this year, and the <keyword id="19895708" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Commonwealth-Games" source="keywords">Commonwealth Games</keyword> and <keyword id="20007738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asian-Games" source="keywords">Asian Games</keyword> still two years away, the budget for the Sports Ministry has seen only a marginal increase of Rs 45.36 crore from the previous cycle. <br /><br /> The budget for the previous cycle was Rs 3,396.96 crore for the previous financial year. <br /><br /> The government has invested heavily in Khelo India over the years as the programme continues to unearth talent from all parts of the country. <br /><br /> While Khelo India's actual allocation in 2022-23 stood at Rs 596.39 crore, it was increased by more than Rs 400 crore, to Rs 1,000 crores, in the 2023-24 budget, before being revised to Rs 880 crore. <br /><br /> The government has continued to add programmes ever since the inaugural Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) were held in 2018. <br /><br /> The ministry added Khelo India University Games in 2020, before also launching the Khelo India Winter Games the same year and the Khelo India Para Games in 2023. <br /><br /> Hundreds of Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) have been set up across the country, which aim to provide facilities for athletes with potential. Several Khelo India athletes are currently in India's Olympic-bound contingent. <br /><br /> The government's assistance to <keyword id="20418970" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Sports-Federations" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Sports Federations" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Sports Federations">National Sports Federations</keyword> (NSFs) has also seen an increase of Rs 15 crore -- from Rs 325 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 340 crore in the latest budget. <br /><br /> The budget for Sports Authority of India, which apart from maintaining its stadia across the country also manages the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to prepare athletes for the global sporting extravaganzas, has also been enhanced from Rs 795.77 crore to Rs 822.60 crore, which is a jump of Rs 26.83 crore. <br /><br /> The <keyword id="20524251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Anti-Doping-Agency" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Anti-Doping Agency" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Anti-Doping Agency">National Anti-Doping Agency</keyword> (NADA) and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), which does all the testing, have received marginal increase in their budgets. <br /><br /> While NADA's budget has gone up from Rs 21.73 crore last year to Rs 22.30 crore, NDTL has got Rs 22 crore, up from Rs 19.50 last year.

Khelo India once again gets lion's share in Union Budget for sports

Each year, the Indian Union Budget holds the nation's economic pulse. In 2024, the focus was razor-sharp: catalysing the <keyword id="19916569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-market" source="keywords">job market</keyword> and bridging the ever-widening skill gap, as the <keyword id="19916979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment" source="keywords">unemployment</keyword> figures kept upward trajectory and dissatisfaction over government’s measures grew among the younger demographic. As a response, <keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="keywords">budget 2024</keyword> unveiled a meticulously crafted strategy, a multi-pronged attack to empower India's youth.<br /><br />The Union Budget 2024-2025 intends on focussing on youth and <keyword id="19898684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment" source="keywords">employment</keyword>, prompting Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> to allocate Rs. 1.48 lakh crore for <keyword id="19907717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="education" source="keywords">education</keyword>, employment and <keyword id="20374219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skilling" source="keywords">skilling</keyword>. Further, Modi 3.0’S budget includes 5 schemes to provide opportunities to 4.1 crore youth with a central outlay of Rs. 2 lakh crore over a period of the 5 years.<br />        <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><h2>Nirmala Sitharaman announces 3 schemes for employment linked incentives:</h2><ul><li>Scheme A (First-timers): This will benefit first-time employees, providing one month’s wages to new entrants in all formal sectors. As per Sitharaman, Direct Benefit Transfer of one month salary in 3 instalments to first-time employees as registered in the EPFO will be up to ₹15,000. The eligibility limit will be a salary of ₹1 lakh per month. The scheme will benefit 210 lakh youth.</li><li>Scheme B (Job creation in manufacturing): This will provide incentives to both employees and employers for the first 4 years of employment under EPFO guidelines. It is expected to benefit 30 lakh youth and will cover additional employment across all sectors.</li><li>Scheme C (Support to employers): This will support employees with additional employment in all sectors by reimbursing employers up to ₹3,000 per month for two years for each additional employee's EPFO contributions. The scheme aims to incentivise the employment of 50 lakh additional people.</li></ul><h2>Improving participation of women in workforce</h2>As a part of Budget 2024-2025, Nirmala Sithraman announced that Modi 3.0 will focus on improving women participation in the workforce. The Government will focus on increasing women participation in the workforce. Some measures that will be taken include setting up hostels and creating partnerships to organise women-specific skilling programs and women self-help groups.<br /><br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25 key highlights: Standard deduction to increase to Rs 75,000 from Rs 50,000 under new tax regime" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br /><h2>Additional incentives for employment<br /></h2>Sitharaman announced the launch of a scheme where 500 top companies will provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in five years. Internship allowance of Rs. 5000 per month along with one-time assistance of Rs. 6000 to be provided, the Finance Minister also said that the companies will be expected to earn the training cost and 10% of the internship cost from their CSR funds.<br /><br />According to Mr. Ramesh Alluri Reddy, CEO at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, this “significant investment in skill development programs and the incentivization of industries to adopt comprehensive apprenticeships lays a solid foundation for a future-ready workforce. Integrating on-the-job training (OJT) as a mandated component of degrees, in collaboration with industry partners, allows students to gain invaluable practical experience, even if the training is not necessarily on-site.”<br /><br />“This initiative is a welcome move towards formal job creation, bridging the gap between theoretical education and real-world application, making graduates more job-ready.”<br /><br /><h2>Focus on skilling</h2>The Finance Minister said that the model skilling loan scheme will be revised to facilitate loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh. Further, a new scheme focussing on skilling will benefit 20 lakh individuals and ensure the set up of 1,000 training institutes and newly designed courses.<br /><br /><h2>Education loans</h2>The Union Budget 2024-25 proposes a revision of the Model Skill Loan Scheme to help 25,000 students every year. E-vouchers for loans up to Rs. 10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions will be given directly to 1 lakh students every year with interest subvention of 3% of loan amount, said FM Sitharaman.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in the Interim Budget detailed in February 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted a notable increase in higher educational institutes and women enrolling in STEM courses over the past decade, attributing these improvements to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.<br /><br />Further, contrary to expectations, funding for the University Grants Commission (UGC) was reduced by 60.99%, dropping to Rs. 2,500 crore from the previous year's revised estimate of Rs. 6,409 crore. Meanwhile, grants for central universities were increased by over Rs 4,000 crore, with a total allocation of Rs 15,928 crore for the financial year 2024-25.<br /><br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111951205" title="Budget 2024-25 – Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Budget 2024 Live Updates: FM Sitharaman announces comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act 1961</a><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/govt-to-provide-11-11-lakh-crore-towards-capex-for-2024-25/articleshow/111950700.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Govt to provide ₹11.11 lakh crore towards capex for 2024-25</a><br />

Budget 2024: Record allocation of Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skilling!

With the 2024 general elections handing the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> and its allies a fractured, albeit ruling majority in the country for the third consecutive time, India is now gearing up for the 2024–25 <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-budget" source="keywords">Union budget</keyword>, which will be presented on July 22 between 11 am and 1 pm. The <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">economic survey</keyword> is traditionally presented the day before. However, as per reports, the economic survey is likely to be released on July 3rd this year. The famous halwa ceremony will take place 10 days before the budget is tabled.<br /><br />Pre-budget consultations will begin on June 17th. FM <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> will become the first finance minister to have presented seven straight budgets, a record previously held by <keyword id="238033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morarji-Desai" source="Orion">Morarji Desai</keyword>, who had six consecutive budget presentations to his name. To date, Sitharaman has tabled five full and one interim budget.<br /><br />The first parliamentary session under Modi 3.0 will kick off on June 24, and the 264th session of the parliament will take place between the 27th of June and the 3rd of August. The year is set to see two budgets: one full-fledged budget in July and an interim budget presented on February 1, 2024.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What can we expect from this budget?" comment="subhead" text="What can we expect from this budget?"><span data-til="noop">What can we expect from this budget?</span></cmsannotation><br />Presenting an interim budget is customary during election years in India since it facilitates the transfer of work and finances between the outgoing and incoming governments. <br /><br />With the upcoming budget, PM Modi’s government will largely focus on tackling unemployment, issues in the agriculture sector, and maintaining the flow of capital expenditure in the economy. The simplification of the <keyword id="19993914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST-regime" source="keywords">GST regime</keyword> and rolling out the 3rd edition of the <keyword id="20359761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FAME-scheme" source="keywords">FAME scheme</keyword> (Faster Adoption &amp; Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) will also rank highly on the budget agenda. In that stead, a meeting of the GST council is also scheduled to take place on June 22nd. <br /><br />Additionally, experts are also anticipating the expansion of the PLI (production-linked incentives) schemes in this budget to include other sectors as well.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lesser-known budget milestones" comment="subhead" text="Lesser-known budget milestones"><span data-til="noop">Lesser-known budget milestones</span></cmsannotation><br />Till 2019, the union budget was carried in a briefcase, a practice initiated by India’s first FM, Sir RK Shanmukham Chetty. In 2019, the budget was presented as a traditional bahi-khata for the first time. It went paperless in 2021 after the FM introduced the budget via a tablet. Apart from having presented most budgets, Sitharaman also holds the record for having delivered the longest budget speech while presenting the Union budget for 2020–21. She spoke for two hours and 42 minutes. On the other hand, India’s shortest-ever budget speech was given in 1977 by Hirubhai Patel. <br /><br /><br />

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<div type="image" title="For the unversed, trading in futures and options can be akin to setting their hard-earned money on fire" height="900" width="1200" msid="114064202" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For the unversed, trading in futures and options can be akin to setting their hard-earned money on fire&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />Once upon a time, there thrived a wild, wild land. Here, it was all about super high monetary stakes, lightning-fast trade deals, and bucketloads of money shifting hands every single second. This wilderness lured millions of individuals with the promise of super duper high returns. But, at what cost?<br />Welcome to the unforgiving, ultra-risky wild west of <keyword id="19991165" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-equity-markets" source="keywords">Indian equity markets</keyword> called the <keyword id="145718" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Futures-and-Options" source="Orion">futures and options</keyword>. <br /><br />Here, everyone seems to just fly right through the bright red-flagged warnings of financial risks to earn even a fraction of these promised returns. Most burn themselves in the process, but carry on nevertheless, as if nothing ever happened.<br /><br /><h2>Chasing the cloudy profits</h2>The data conclusively proves that every 9 out of 10 individuals only lost their hard-earned money in this land. But hey, what do the numbers know? Some hide their losses out of shame, some out of fear. The proponents, meanwhile, proudly boast unusually high returns on their investments, some open social media channels while others encourage their friends and family to take the plunge.<br /><br />Naturally, news of this unstoppable and humongous en-masse migration to the F&amp;O (futures and options) town has reached sheriff <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SEBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SEBI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SEBI">SEBI</keyword>, galvanising them into action. After all, it was time to put a leash on this madness and save the common man. The inhabitants of this town doubled in the last 2 years, from 51 lakh in FY22 to 96 lakh in FY24—99.8% of whom were small and mid-income traders.<br /><br />But profits? Well, that's a different, rather completely absent story. <br /><br /><h2>Que Sera Sera, much?</h2>A recent report by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) that studied profits and losses made by traders in the equity derivatives segment between FY22-24 exposed the mad mania of futures and options trading in India, especially since the pandemic. <br /><br />Per the report, 91.1% of individual traders, or about 73 lakh traders had only lost money trading in futures and options in FY24. Between FY 22-24, over 1 crore traders, or about 92.8% of individual traders, had lost Rs 2 lakh each.<br /><br />But once bitten, twice shy? Well, not in this case. More than 75% of individuals, who had only made losses trading in F&amp;O in FY22 and FY23, continued to trade vigorously in FY24 as well, without any changes in the bottom line, which remained deep in red and negative. <br /><br />So, then all these traders must be uber-rich, with tons of cash and not much care to spare? Nope. 76% of traders in the F&amp;O space in FY24 had an annual income of less than Rs 5 lakh. 2 years ago, their share stood at 71%.<br /><br />And their choice of poison? Options! In FY24, 60% of traders made losses trading in futures, but a whopping 91.5% burnt their funds trading in options.<br /><br />Mind you, futures are riskier than options. With futures, which require significant capital investment, the buyer and seller both are contractually bound to adhere to the pre-determined strike price of the futures or options contract, irrespective of whether the prevailing prices are higher or lower (and thus, resulting in losses for either the buyer or seller). <br /><br />With options, since this adherence ain't necessary, individuals end up taking debt to take highly leveraged positions while trading here. <br /><br /><h2>Scale of the explosion</h2>Anyone who trades even infrequently will tell you that a demat account is the mitochondria or powerhouse of the trading cell. <br /><br />As of August 2024, India had over 17.1 crore <keyword id="20957284" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="demat-accounts" source="keywords">demat accounts</keyword>, which are a prerequisite for trading in the markets. India is the 9th biggest country in the world, in terms of total demat accounts. <br /><br />Did you know that our demat accounts are at par with the entire population of Bangladesh? Talk about scale! Just 4 years ago, in March 2020, this number was a mere 4 crore.<br /><br />Naturally, the total F&amp;O turnover on both <keyword id="20004725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NSE" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NSE">NSE</keyword> and BSE has hit the roof, and also broken it. As of October 4, 2024, the total futures and options turnover on NSE stood at a massive Rs 4,78,27,27,750.30 crore. Good luck counting the thousands! <br /><br /><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><strong>Year <br /><br /></strong></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><strong>Total Turnover (Both Futures and Options) (In Rs Crore)</strong><br /><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2020-21<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">64,36,03,951.51<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2021-22<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,69,52,33,134.47<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2022-23<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3,82,23,26,468.06<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2023-24<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7,99,27,67,152.43<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table><em>Source : NSE</em><br /><br />Another metric that underlines the meteoric growth of trading in India is the collection of STT or <keyword id="20930760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Securities-Transaction-Tax" source="keywords">Securities Transaction Tax</keyword>. As of September 2024, India's STT mop-up had gone past Rs 26,000 crore. <br /><br />Traders have to pay STT whenever they buy or sell any security in the market. So, more trading brings in more STT, and hence, more revenue for the government, so they're not really complaining. <br /><br />After all, this is certainly what they'd call enviable growth. As of August 2023, our STT collection stood at about Rs 21,599 crores. And in FY20-21, India's STT collection had been Rs 16,000 crore. If only our salaries also managed to grow at this rate! <br /><br /><h2>So, what's happening?</h2>Two things. One, it's the big bulls who are raking in all the moolah. And it's the younger lot (those aged under 30) who are propping them up for this. <br /><br />In FY24, 43% of individual traders in the market were less than 30 years of age. In just one year, this number has swelled by 12 percentage points from just 31% of individual traders.<br /><br />But who says ageing is bad? Wrinkles and silver hair seemingly have a propensity of incurring lesser losses in the market. In FY24, only 79% of traders aged above 60 years made losses, as compared to 93% of those aged below 30. <br /><br />Small and mid-income traders, which make up 98% of the total trader base, witnessed average losses per person of Rs 65,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh in FY24 in futures and options, respectively. <br /><br />The winner here? Clearly, the big bulls, who declared an annual income of over Rs 1 crore, ended up with average profits of Rs 96,000 per person this year.<br /><br /><h2>What’s the sheriff up to?</h2>The government has finally swung into action, hiking the STT rate for F&amp;O during this year’s budget.<br /><br />Effective October 1, 2024, the STT on futures stands at 0.02%, up from 0.0125%. For options, it was upped to 0.1% versus 0.0625% previously. Small margins, but huge impact oncoming. <br /><br />Says Puneet Sharma- CEO and Fund Manager at Whitespace Alpha, “SEBI aims to enhance market stability while safeguarding investor interests, reflecting the regulator's intent to balance risk management with market participation”. <br /><br />But this might come with its own share of challenges, too. “Stricter norms around leverage, transparency, and capital adequacy could limit the ability of investors to determine their own risk appetite, thereby stifling innovation in trading strategies. Over-regulation in an environment that thrives on strategic flexibility and creativity could dampen the market’s dynamism, affecting India's competitiveness in the global derivatives landscape”, he observes.<br /><br />SEBI recently came out with a set of guidelines that aim to thwart <keyword id="19972907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-investors" source="keywords">retail investors</keyword>' participation in futures and options and hinder them from taking undue risks.<br /><br />Here's a quick recap of what's to come for the residents of the F&amp;O town<br /><br /><em>Margin Requirements</em>: To battle the high volatility and chaos which is generally seen on expiry days(i.e the last mandated date, post which an option becomes invalid), SEBI will put in place an extreme loss margin (ELM) of 2% for all open short options on the day of expiry.<br /><br />Translation? Traders will need to pony up more cash upfront, leaving them with fewer funds to take on risky bets.<br /><br /><em>It ain't a choice:</em> No more of one expiry every single day! Going ahead, an exchange like BSE or NSE will just be able to offer weekly expiries, that too, only on one benchmark index, as opposed to an entire buffet it currently offers. At present, NSE offers weekly options contracts for its financial index, bank and midcap indices. But say goodbye to this, and hello to derivatives on only 1 index per exchange. <br /><br /><em>Raising the bar</em>: Effective November 30, 2024, the minimum contract value for index derivatives will be upped to Rs 15 lakh, from the present Rs 5-10 lakh. The hope is that by making it ultra-expensive to enter these trades, investors will be dissuaded from taking on risky trades.<br /><br /><em>Pay upfront</em>: Starting February 2025, those trading in options will have to pay the entire options premium upfront, even before their trades are executed. This is because options generally carry very high leverage, and paying a significant sum upfront can force traders to think twice.<br /><br /><em>Invigilation Pro Max</em>: Starting April 1 2025, to make sure that the number of positions for equity index derivatives does not slyly slip over the mandated limit, especially on expiry days when trade volumes are huge, the exchanges will have to take a minimum of 4 position snapshots randomly. <br /><br />The question is, will these injections of sobriety be enough to calm down the steroid-fed bull of the futures and options market in India? Well, only time and market turnover will tell!<br /><br />For more insights into the financial markets and business news, stay tuned to our site and social media handles. And don’t forget to subscribe to Business Insider India’s newsletters for your weekly dose of Simply Put!<br /><br /><em>Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We recommend readers consult certified, qualified and registered advisors for professional and personalised financial advice.</em><br /><br />

SIMPLY PUT: SEBI is on a mission to take on the wild, wild west of futures and options in India. Here’s why, what, and how

The government has officially announced October 1, 2024, as the starting date for <keyword id="23245808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vivad-Se-Vishwas-2-0" source="keywords">Vivad Se Vishwas 2.0</keyword>, the direct tax dispute resolution scheme. If you're involved in a tax dispute, this scheme might be your chance to resolve it efficiently.<br /><br />Originally introduced during the 2024-25 Union Budget, the scheme is designed to handle <keyword id="22518437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax-disputes" source="keywords">income tax disputes</keyword> that are currently tied up in appeals. Confirming the news, the <keyword id="19900485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Finance Ministry" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Finance Ministry">finance ministry</keyword> said in its notification: "The central government hereby appoints the 1st day of October, 2024 as the date on which the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024 shall come into force."<br /><h2>The scope of the disputes</h2>To give you an idea of the scale, about 2.7 crore direct tax demands are currently being contested, amounting to a staggering Rs 35 lakh crore. These disputes are scattered across various legal forums, and Vivad Se Vishwas 2.0 aims to help clear this backlog.<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113444994" title="In the long run, rate cut by Fed will be favourable for most US banks: Moody&amp;#39;s" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>In her Budget speech, <keyword id="19912360" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister-Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> highlighted the government’s dedication to simplifying taxes and minimising litigation. She said, "The government will continue its efforts to simplify taxes, improve <keyword id="20404572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taxpayer-services" source="keywords">taxpayer services</keyword>, provide tax certainty and reduce litigation while enhancing revenues."<br /><h2>Who can avail the scheme?</h2>If you have any pending disputes or appeals, including writs and special leave petitions, whether filed by you or the tax authorities, as of July 22, 2024, you are eligible to take advantage of this scheme. The list of eligible cases includes those pending before the Supreme Court, high courts, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, and Commissioner/Joint Commissioner (Appeals). It also covers cases before the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) and revision petitions awaiting a decision from the Commissioner of Income Tax.<br />        <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113417255" title="Individuals earning over Rs 10 cr rise by 63% in India; financial assets of high net worth individuals to nearly double by 2028" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, the window to decide whether or not to participate in the scheme is limited. As Karishma R. Phatarphekar, Partner at <keyword id="20006170" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deloitte-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Deloitte India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Deloitte India">Deloitte India</keyword>, said: "Given the limited time window, an informed decision on opting for the scheme should be made promptly." The rules and forms for the scheme are expected to be published "imminently in the coming week."<br /><h2>Success of the original Vivad Se Vishwas</h2>For those who are wondering about the potential impact, the first Vivad Se Vishwas scheme, introduced in 2020, resolved a significant number of cases. More than 1 lakh taxpayers participated, and the government collected about Rs 75,000 crore in taxes. With this track record, the expectations from Vivad Se Vishwas 2.0 are high.<br /><br />With October 1 just around the corner, now is the time to prepare if you are considering resolving your tax dispute through Vivad Se Vishwas 2.0. As the rules and forms are expected shortly, it’s wise to consult your <keyword id="23245810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-advisor" source="keywords">tax advisor</keyword> and make a decision soon. This scheme could provide the relief you’ve been waiting for while contributing to a more efficient tax system for all.<br /><br /><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em><br />

New Vivad Se Vishwas 2.0 tax resolution scheme to start on Oct 1 — what you need to know

Best budget laptops for students in India

India is poised to remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2024-25, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said in a press conference after the tabling of the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> in the Parliament on Monday.<br /><br />The Economic Survey tabled today projected India to grow at 6.5-7.0 per cent in 2024-25.<br /><br />Global institutions, including <keyword id="19896779" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IMF" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IMF" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IMF">IMF</keyword>, OECD, World Bank, S&amp;P, ADB, and Fitch, have projected India to grow in a range of 6.6-7.2 per cent.<br /><br />The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest outlook, has raised India's growth projections for 2024 from 6.8 per cent earlier to 7 per cent, with the country maintaining the fastest-growing status in emerging markets and developing economies.<br /><br />According to official data of the Indian government, the country's GDP grew at an impressive 8.2 per cent during the financial year 2023-24. India's economy grew 7.2 per cent in 2022-23 and 8.7 per cent in 2021-22 respectively.<br /><br />Further, the CEA in his press conference projected that India's <keyword id="20089672" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="per-capita-income" source="keywords">per capita income</keyword> is expected to increase from around Rs 2 lakh in 2022-23 to Rs 14.9 lakh in 2046-47.<br /><br />Further, CEA said <keyword id="20751315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-savings" source="keywords">household savings</keyword> of Indians in physical assets have been increasing over the past three financial years through 2023-24.<br /><br />The CEA, addressing the press conference, said household savings in physical assets rose from 8 per cent in 2020-21 to 12.9 per cent in 2022-23.<br /><br />"Households are not in distress, they are investing in <keyword id="20792385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-assets" source="keywords">financial assets</keyword> that have done very well. Financial assets of households are not marked to market so households are doing quite well in the aggregate," he said.<br /><br />India needs both banks and capital markets to provide the required finances sourced from a sustained high level of household savings, according to the Survey.<br /><br /><keyword id="20385790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Union Finance Minister</keyword> Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday tabled the economic survey in Parliament, a day ahead of the full Budget presentation for 2024-25.<br /><br />The Economic Survey document, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and formulated under the supervision of the chief economic adviser, gives insights into the state of the economy and various indicators of 2023-24 (April-March) and some outlook for the current year.<br /><br />The Economy Survey document also gave some idea about the tone and texture of the actual Budget for 2024-25, to be presented on Tuesday. (ANI)<br /><br />

India to remain fastest growing major economy in 2024-25, says CEA Nageswaran

Union <keyword id="25455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FINANCE" source="Orion">Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Wednesday delivered her shortest-ever Budget speech of 86 minutes. This was her fifth budget speech.<br /><br />Her budget speech in 2022 ended in about 92 minutes, while it was 110 minutes long in 2021.<br /><br />Sitharaman broke all records in 2020, when she delivered the longest-ever budget speech of 160 minutes.<br /><br />Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> thumped his desk 124 times during the budget speech on Wednesday.<br /><br />He later said that the first budget of the "<keyword id="13005152" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="amrit-kaal" source="Orion">Amrit Kaal</keyword>" provides the foundation to fulfil the resolve for a developed <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.<br /><br />"The first budget of Amrit Kaal will build a strong foundation for building a developed India. It gives priority to the deprived. This budget will fulfil the dreams of an aspirational society including poor people, middle-class people, and farmers. I congratulate Nirmala Sitharaman and his team for this historic budget," he said in a televised address.<br /><br />Prime Minister <keyword id="6354642" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="modi" source="Orion">Modi</keyword> described the middle class as a "big force", and said that the government has taken many decisions to empower them.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:

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