Insights
#Budget2018 pledges quality education (but where are the resources?)
February 8, 2018
Finance minister Arun Jaitley was quite generous with promises relating to reformation of the education sector – along with other priority sectors like agriculture and rural economy – while giving his #Budget2018 speech on February 1.
Health budget just one-third of the 2025 target
February 8, 2018
In the union budget for 2018-19, some big announcements have been made especially for the health sector but not supported by corresponding budgetary allocations. While, on the one hand, allocations for some of the key programmes have not shown any increase, on the other, promises have been made for rolling out a big insurance scheme for the poor with no specific budgetary provisions.
Why Arun Jaitley might have chosen standard deduction instead of raising income tax exemption limit
February 8, 2018
Ahead of the Union Budget 2018, there was a lot of anticipation about possible tax relief for direct taxpayers with either a change in the income tax slabs; lowering of the tax rates; or an increase in the income tax exemption limit from the current Rs 2.5 lakhs to Rs 3 lakhs or even to Rs 5 lakhs.
#Budget2018’s job promise is hollow
February 7, 2018
India’s employment statistics have been grim for some time now.
In the face of the brouhaha over the pakoda business, the Union Budget for 2018-19 – the fifth and final full budget of the current government – was looked at with hope by the people of the nation.
For Religious Minorities, Budget 2018 Fails to Live up to Promise of ‘Achhe Din’
February 6, 2018
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government rode to power in 2014, riding on promises such as reducing corruption and generating meaningful employment opportunities for all. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election manifesto also included assurances on tackling inflation (especially food inflation), reducing inequality and pushing the economy on a higher growth path.
India half-way through in promoting budget transparency - reports a Global Survey
January 30, 2018
The idea of ‘good governance’ has gained a lot of momentum in the recent years and ‘Budget Transparency’ has acquired importance as one of the parameters of ‘good governance’ across the globe. In light of this, it is pertinent to see where India stands in a global survey of budget transparency covering more than 100 countries.
Cracking the Whip on Shell Companies? Not Really
December 20, 2017
In mid-September, the corporate affairs ministry (MoCA) publicly disclosed a list of 1.06 lakh (1,06,578) disqualified directors with association to ‘shell or on-paper companies’. While the Companies Act 2013 does not define what a shell company really is, shell or on-paper companies are legal entities with no real economic operations typically used for the purposes of tax dodging or to launder funds.
नोटबंदी से टूटी है खेती की कमर, बड़े कदम उठाए बिना नहीं बनेगी बात
November 11, 2017
गुजरे साल 8 नवंबर को प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने 1,000 रुपए और 500 रुपए के नोट बंद करने का ऐलान कर दिया था. इस फैसले से देश की 86 फीसदी करेंसी अचानक से सिस्टम से बाहर हो गई. इस कदम का मकसद अर्थव्यस्था में मौजूद कालेधन का पता लगाना और इसे खत्म करना था. इसके जरिए देश में भ्रष्टाचार पर लगाम लगाने का भी लक्ष्य रखा गया था.
Govt's war on black money will not be complete unless tax evasion by big corporates is curbed
November 10, 2017
Exactly a year ago, when the government banned the high-value currency notes declaring that the move will curb the size of black economy in the country, many people hoped that ‘’short term pain would make way for long term gain” as promised.
Demonetisation dealt a body blow to agriculture; govt should find holistic solution to farmer debt issue
November 10, 2017
Last year, on 8 November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the obsolescence of two high value paper currency, Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, constituting 86 percent of the total cash money in circulation, at a short notice of barely four hours with an objective to unearth and dispose black money and control corruption in the economy.
Can the Green Climate Fund lead to a more democratic climate finance governance?
October 20, 2017
Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the new international fund established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to mobilize and channel concessional climate finance for developing countries. GCF’s mandate is to support transformative climate action in developing countries, helping them achieve low – carbon, climate resilient development. It particularly seeks to support clean energy, low carbon cities, low emission agriculture, forestry and adaptation.
Asia’s Regional Tax Wars Indicate That It’s Time to Review Tax Incentives
September 22, 2017
Revelations like the Panama Papers, Bahamas leaks and the recent Azerbaijani Laundromat scandal have seen countries adopting “global” transparency standards endorsed by the OECD and G20. Asian countries like Indonesia, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and China have agreed to bilaterally share financial information of taxpayers in the beginning of 2018 to combat corporate tax avoidance.
Recent OP-Blogs
- In Bihar, low registration for a govt scheme keeps pregnant women from accessing healthcare
- What does the Interim Budget Say about Government Expenditure Priority?
- Empowering agriculture: Prioritising farmers and addressing sector challenges
- Need for SDG-linked outcome budgeting in India: A case of Assam
- How much did the Interim Budget push for India’s Climate Action?
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