-The Hindu FM's Budget speech dwelt on agriculture, public investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and social sector spending. States to be equal partners in economic growth; move to making India cashless society; social sector programmes to continue. Some of the challenges mentioned by the Finance Minister are: poor agricultural income, decline in manufacturing ; and the need for fiscal discipline. Here are sector-wise highlights: TAXATION 1 Abolition of Wealth Tax. 2 Additional 2% surcharge for the super...
More »SEARCH RESULT
Tax-free medical expenses cap may be hiked -Sidhartha & Surojit Gupta
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government is reviewing the tax-free medical reimbursement limit, currently fixed at Rs 15,000 a year, besides looking at making it more attractive for individuals to buy medical insurance policies. Sources said both the issues are being looked at ahead of the Budget with some indicating that there is a possibility that the limit on tax-free medical reimbursement from employers may be raised to Rs 25,000...
More »SC seeks Centre's response on PIL challenging Aadhaar project
-Business Standard Petition claims private parties outsourced to collect citizens' data can misuse massive personal information in their hands The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Monday to state within two weeks its stand on the unique identification (UID) project, Aadhaar. A Bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu was hearing a new public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the project. According to the petition moved by Mathew Thomas, private parties who have...
More »The Questions We Should Be Asking Frequently About the Land Acquisition Act -Usha Ramanathan
-GRISTMedia.com In the course of my work as part of a team set up to look into the socio-economic status of Adivasi communities, there were several things I learned about the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and the amendments to it. Here are some important questions about land and the Act that we should be asking: * What is the State's relationship to land and its citizens? This a key question - and one...
More »How effective are social security and welfare in India? -Anumeha Yadav
-The Hindu India's growth story of the last two decades has had one recurring theme: that the pattern of economic growth is accentuating insecurities. Yet, there continues to be a deep divide over whether the gains from growth ought to be ploughed back to achieve social security for everyone. Social security has come to be linked to job benefits, tying it to one's status as a worker in the formal or...
More »