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Budget

budget

Interim Budget projections for 2024-25 should conform to standard practices of transparency, pragmatism and caution

Preventing the mistakes of 2019

Business Standard

direct taxes

The recent focus on direct taxes must be complemented with an analysis of what is causing the slowdown in their collections

A new direction for direct taxes

capital expenditure

With foreign investments declining, it is necessary to maintain growth in government capital expenditure

Nurturing capex

While the Centre's tax revenue growth has decelerated, the states have put up a better performance

States surge ahead

capex, states capex, capital expenditure

Higher Central funds for states' capital outlay are welcome, but these should lead to additionality

More capex for states

tax, revenue department

The rollback in TCS rates for remittances reveals a pre-reform mindset of tax collectors

The rise of revenue department

restructuring, PSU

It is time all non-strategic PSUs were transferred to the department of public enterprises

An incomplete restructuring

election and government

What could be on the cards to bolster its prospects?

Govt in election mode

After five years, it seems GST has begun to show sustained growth even as it has many weaknesses and policy challenges

The unsung hero

polls and freebies

Promises of free cooking gas and job reservations in Karnataka show how political discourse even in a relatively rich state is unchanged

Freebies in a prosperous state

exports, trade, trade policy

The credibility of foreign trade policies will improve if they are not obsessed with setting export targets

Get real with targets

Parliament

The recent passage of the Budget for 2023-24 without discussion underlines the need for an institutional fix

Ensuring scrutiny by Parliament

Illustration: Binay Sinha

Karnataka cannot relax after its bold move on labour law changes and should focus on their careful execution

Managing reform risks

India's oil pricing policies must be fine-tuned to reflect the new Russian reality

The challenge from Urals

In assessing Narendra Modi's success with many schemes, Manmohan Singh's fundamental work should not be ignored

With some help from the predecessor

States may have got more through tax transfer, but the composition of the PSU capital outlay causes concern

Signs of a weakening public sector

In 2022-23, the finance minister hopes to grow her net revenue receipts by 8 per cent even as her revenue expenditure would increase by a similar rate

Fiscally prudent, but electorally savvy

Centre, States' budget, budget

A sharp reduction in states' deficit augurs well for the Centre's fiscal planning

States do Centre a good turn

Budget, GDP Growth, GDP estimates

The system of releasing numerous GDP growth estimates over three years calls for an overhaul. Budget making will also benefit as a result

What is in a number?

food subsidy

The free food scheme is driven by electoral considerations, but its long-term fiscal risks outweigh the short-term gains

No free lunches

Indifference of voters to municipal corporation elections is an outcome of a serious governance flaw that needs to be fixed

Unshackling the third tier

Reducing transaction time beyond a certain threshold may not enhance equity market quality. On the contrary, it could reduce participation and diversity and harm the markets

equity market

How the rise of nuclear families in business transformed succession

Isha Ambani, Mukesh Ambani

Gender bias in cancer care reflects a larger health care crisis

cancer

A (then) pan-masala chomping man notorious for putting down management theories, strategic thinking, and all the stuff that agencies thought was going to save them

Piyush Pandey

Tata Steel on Thursday said it has signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited and its business associate to further reduce carbon footprint at its Ferro Alloys plant.
The agreement encompasses LPG supply, installation of LPG facilities, and the operation and maintenance of the same at the company's Ferro Alloys Plants in Gopalpur of Ganjam and Athagarh of Cuttack districts in Odisha, the steel major said in a statement.
Tata Steel has decided to transition from Furnace Oil and High-Speed Diesel to a more sustainable fuel option - Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) in response to the pressing environmental concerns and the global imperative to reduce carbon emissions.
This eco-friendly move is expected to bring about a considerable reduction in carbon emissions, it said.
Tata Steel's Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division Executive-In-Charge Pankaj Satija said, "The agreement, which is a part of our sustainability initiatives, will help us in reducing the carbon footprint at our

tata steelwork, tata, tata group

Normal life is likely to be affected, especially in the southern part of the state, with pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations calling for Karnataka Bandh' on Friday to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers' bodies have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.
There will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate, the organisers said.
They have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports.
The opposition BJP and JD(S) too have extended their support to the bandh, as also hotels, autorickshaws and hail riders associations in Karnataka.
"Autorickshaw Drivers' Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners' Association .

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As governance regulations evolve, the task of building a board that truly serves a company's needs is going to become more challenging

board of director

Crises in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan reveal their structural weaknesses

A K Bhattacharya