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Legally Enforceable Systems of Redress

September 9, 2017

( Inayat Anaita Sabhikhi )

As India faced back-to-back drought years, a Public Interest Litigation on the shoddy state of implementation of drought relief measures and welfare programmes was filed in the Supreme Court in 2015.[1] Over the course of the hearings, the Supreme Court narrowed down on the lack of functioning of the inbuilt accountability mechanisms in the two rights based legislations, the National Food Security Act (NFSA),

How Gorakhpur was choked

September 1, 2017

(The Indian Express; Abhay Shukla, Ravi Duggal and Richa Chintan )

Discussion on the recent tragic deaths of children in the BRD Medical College Hospital at Gorakhpur has, so far, been focussed on the apparent immediate cause — the interruption of oxygen supply to the hospital, linked with continued default in payments to the oxygen supplier.

Is Hong Kong's Reputation for Financial Secrecy About to Change?

August 28, 2017

(The Diplomat; Neeti Biyani )

Hong Kong is currently one of the fastest growing international financial centers in the world. Between 2008 and 2013, Hong Kong’s wealth management industry witnessed a growth rate of 146 per cent. There has also been estimation about Hong Kong’s offshore wealth sector growing by approximately 10 percent annually to 2020 – the fastest for any major center.

Scheduled Tribe Component Monitoring System: A Step Forward?

August 23, 2017

( Saumya Shrivastava )

Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) were the twin strategies introduced in the 1970’s to ensure flow of funds for the development of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) respectively. Till 2014, the erstwhile Planning Commission was responsible for overseeing the implementation of SCSP and TSP.

जीएसटी एवं उपभोक्ताओं पर इसका प्रभाव

August 4, 2017

( सूरज जायसवाल )

सरकार राजस्व उगाही के लिए अनेक प्रकार के कर लगाती हैं l आमतौर पर इन सारे करों को दो वर्गो में बाँटा जा सकता हैं – प्रत्यक्ष कर एवं अप्रत्यक्ष कर l जहां प्रत्यक्ष कर मुख्यतौर पर आय एवं सम्पति में लगाया जाता हैं, जैसे – आयकर, कंपनी कर, सम्पति कर; वही अप्रत्यक्ष कर वस्तुओं एवं सेवाओं के खरीद-बिक्री पर लगाया जाता हैं l उदाहरण के तौर पर – विदेशों से लाये जाने वाली सामानों पर आयात शुल्क, व्यवसायिक इकाइयों द्वारा दी जाने वाली सेवाओं पर सेवा कर, औद्योगिक वस्तुओं के उत्पादन पर ऐक्साइज या उत्पाद शुल्क, इत्यादि I

India’s Transparency Reforms to Curb Illicit Financial Flows

July 17, 2017

(Global Daily; Neeti Biyani )

Domestic resource mobilization is crucial for a state to finance development, provide social security and redistribute wealth. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regard domestic revenue as fundamental for countries to meet their developmental goals.

Transparency in Corporate Ownership Key to Breaking India’s Financial Secrecy

May 19, 2017

(The Wire; Sakshi Rai )

Financial secrecy deprives countries, especially developing ones, of key revenue resources by eroding their tax base. India must thus build a robust legal system to lift the veil of secrecy on both onshore and offshore financing.

Is the Union budget still relevant?

April 5, 2017

(Down To Earth; Happy Pant )

The Union Budget, also referred to as the annual financial statement, is a comprehensive statement of the government’s finances for a given fiscal year. The Union government is constitutionally required to lay the annual financial statement of estimated receipts and expenditure before both Houses of Parliament.

Budgeting for quality education

February 11, 2017

(DNA; Protiva Kundu )

The Union Budget 2017-18 has not shown imagination in planning for many sectors, especially school education. In the budget speech of last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley spoke about the universalisation of primary education with an emphasis on “quality education as the next big step forward”.

Women’s safety: More rhetoric than reality

February 11, 2017

(DNA; Kanika Kaul )

The need to address the high levels of crime against women in different parts of the country has been a stated priority of political parties across the board. Recent Budget speeches of the Union Finance Ministers too have underscored the need for policy pronouncements for women’s safety to be backed by adequate budgetary outlays.

Union Budget 2017: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan gets good funds but what about water?

February 6, 2017

(Firstpost; Trisha Agarwala )

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), one of the flagship programme’s of the government, has heralded a change in the sphere of sanitation programmes in the country. Though India has made strides in improving sanitations standards, the dismal sanitation statistics for both rural and urban areas still leave much to be desired.

Budget 2017: Here are a few black money steps Arun Jaitley did not spell out on Wednesday

February 3, 2017

(Firstpost; Neeti Biyani )

The Union Budget 2017-18 tabled in Parliament yesterday was one of many firsts. The Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley began his speech on taxation by acknowledging that the country’s tax-GDP ratio, as well as the direct-indirect tax ratio are lower than optimal. A high-tax GDP ratio and a higher emphasis on direct taxes are elements central to a healthy, progressive tax system and greater equity in society.