The Indian capital markets, which has been on a losing streak since January, received one more blow when finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram announced an increase in the short-term capital gain tax from 10% to 15%, which left the day traders
The infrastructure industry is seemingly disappointed with what finance minister P Chidambaram had to offer to the sector. Caught as he were between presenting a voter-friendly Budget and offering fiscal sops to infrastructure, Chidambaram has chosen to go the people's
The build up of expectations in the energy and infrastructure industry was significant given the back drop of the growing energy needs of the nation, and recognition that development of infrastructure is of critical importance to delivery of sustained economic
A massive $495-billion investment is proposed for development of infrastructure during the 11th Plan Period. This will increase the share of infrastructure investment to 9% of the GDP from 5% in 2006-07.
The Union finance minister's Budget for 2008-09 has imparted India with the confidence that the country will be able to maintain a growth rate consistent with the Eleventh Plan target without compromising on the inflation front, which is now within
The Union Budget proposal to revitalise the ageing cardamom, rubber and coffee holdings with a special fund for re-plantation and rejuvenation has been welcomed by the plantation sector.
The Budget proposal to introduce Commodities Transaction Tax on the futures trading will inflict a serious impact on the commodity futures market and may hamper the growth of the market, which is in the nascent stage.
Taking advantage of strong revenue buoyancy, the finance minister has been able to meet his political objectives in this election year without violating either basic economic fundamentals or FRBM targets. If this is not a virtuoso performance, I wonder what
An Election Budget it was supposed to be, and a Kisan Budget it is-as publicly positioned. What does this mean for the UPA government's re-election prospects? And what does it mean for economic reforms?
The Budget resembles a Pareto optimal situation, where no one is worse-off while some people are better-off. And yet, after all these displays of benevolence, the numbers read very well with a lower fiscal deficit number in absolute terms as
Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council has hailed the Budget proposals announced for the gem & jewellery industry in order to encourage value addition and exports.
The Union Budget 2008-09 has rightly laid its focus on the social sectors mainly education and health for delivering services at the rural areas particularly to the deprived classes to make economic growth an inclusive process.
The Union Budget 2008-09 is a complex document encompassing myriad revenue and expenditure measures, not to speak of new intentions and plans. It was prepared against the background of a buoyant economy and ominous signs of slowdown in some of
Rising competition, global inflationary trends and greater uncertainty in international financial markets have made it more challenging for India to sustain 9% plus growth over the next few years, which is needed to meet the country's heightened expectations.
The agricultural credit of schedule banks, which is estimated to around Rs 2.4 lakh crore during the current fiscal, would go up by Rs 2.8 lakh crore during 2008-09, marking a significant 16.6% hike.
With an eye on polls, the government has announced a Rs 60,000-crore package for waiving off loans of three crore debt-trapped small and marginal farmers and one-time settlement of dues of one crore farmers.
Life insurers have expressed their unhappiness over the new levy of service tax the government intends to impose on the investment portion of Unit Linked Insurance Policies.
