Budget 2014 News - Page 2

Budget 2012 primer: What does govt spend money on?

Spending on rural employment takes away much needed resources for building infrastructure. Similarly, any loan waiver program will eat into capital spending on infrastructure.

Bring MNREGA under Food Security Bill in Budget 2012

The priorities for the government while preparing Budget 2012 should be to start looking at the whole situation in a multi-dimensional way and not take growth for granted.

Budget 2012 is for being responsible, minus populism

Manika Premsingh talked to Surjit Bhalla of Oxus Investments on behalf of Firstpost, and he made it plain that "the top priority must be move away from populist measures".

This Budget 2012, shift govt spending focus from consumption to investment

Dr Ashima Goyal of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai told Firstpost's R Jagannathan that it is not the raw numbers that matter to fiscal consolidation, but the quality of the adjustment.

'A 5.6% deficit may not be a problem for India': IGIDR

In an exclusive interview to Firstpost, Ashima Goyal of IGIDR, said the challenge for the government is to rein in the deficit while addressing the issue of slowing economic growth.

DTC: I-T exemption limit should be raised to Rs 3 lakh, says panel

The report suggested that the wealth tax limit be pegged at Rs 5 crore, while the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) be abolished.

'GST, DTC game-changers, Budget 2012 must ensure passage'

The Infosys CFO is hoping for an aspirational budget which must revive the confidence of global investors in the India Growth story.

Budget will test if govt can live within its means: Walker

"The government has boxed itself into a corner, where the only priority is fiscal consolidation," Walker told Firstpost in Hong Kong.

Govt track record says Budget 2012 will be bad: Jim Walker

The government's willingness to cut back subsidies will be on stern test, but it will likely disappoint, says the economist.

Why Budget 2012 is likely to be a non-event for IT sector

While the industry would like to abolish or reduce the Minimum Alternative Tax on SEZs, the likelihood of this getting announced in the budget is almost nil.

Cut oil subsidies first to tackle fiscal deficit: Crisil

Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist, Crisil, believes, you have to start with cutting oil subsidies – with diesel deregulation taking the prime spot in reforms.

Money less, PPP more in Budget 2012: Educators

Rather than allocating more money for govt-run schools, there should be a bigger thrust towards involving the private sector by subsidising loans and providing tax-breaks to set up schools.

NREGA lifted consumption, not productivity: Crisil

The government needs to increase its focus on the agricultural supply chain, if it wants to lower inflation.

Cutting subsidies is key to fiscal correction: Surjit Bhalla

Economist Surjit Bhalla of Oxus Investment says that the budget must target subsidies and also reduce the NREGA allocations next year.

Demand boost through tax exemptions tops realty wishlist

The industry is asking for tax exemption on interest on housing loan to be raised to Rs 3 lakh from the current Rs 1 lakh.

Budget 2012 primer: Tackling the fiscal deficit

Deficit numbers for 2011-12, while higher in absolute terms may not be alarming. This is called "inflating away the fiscal deficit".

Budget 2012 must revive investment: Ajit Ranade

Ajit Ranade, chief economist of the Aditya Birla Group, he would prefer to avoid being seen as a fiscal hawk - where the first priority of the finance minister would be to balance his books.

'Only second generation reforms can tackle a slowing economy'

Rana Kapoor, CEO of YES Bank says he would prefer to push for second generation reforms, increase investment in infrastructure, introduce Goods and service tax and rationalise revenue collection methods this budget.

Fitch predicts 8% India growth, despite rough patch

Fitch Ratings analyst Art Woo gives Firstpost an 8 percent growth rating for India, despite its economy having hit a rough spot.

Budget 2012 must strike a balance between revenue and expenditure

Making ends meet is the biggest challenge facing the finance minister, come 16 March.

Either way - it's inflation, baby!

No matter what the finance minister does in his budget, he will end up stoking some kind of inflation.

Who must the government tax this Budget 2012?

If Pranab Mukherjee must tax, where must he go looking for additional revenue?

Budget 2012 must rein in populist spending

Manika Premsingh talked to Surjit Bhalla of Oxus Investments on behalf of Firstpost, and he made it plain that "the top priority must be move away from populist measures".

Shift from consumption to investment spends: Goyal

Dr Ashima Goyal of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai told Firstpost's R Jagannathan that it is not the raw numbers that matter to fiscal consolidation, but the quality of the adjustment.

Who must the government tax this Budget 2012?

If Pranab Mukherjee must tax, where must he go looking for additional revenue?

It's going to be a one way street for inflation - upwards

No matter what the finance minister does in his budget, he will end up stoking some kind of inflation.

Budget 2012 must strike a balance between revenue and expenditure

Making ends meet is the biggest challenge facing the finance minister today.

The Frankenstein called subsidies

Whether it is food, or fuel or fertilisers - the 3Fs for the FM - the subsidy bill has, through benign political neglect, burgeoned into something frightening over the last eight years.

We need a tax signal more than a fiscal one

Ajit Ranade, chief economist of the Aditya Birla Group, he would prefer to avoid being seen as a fiscal hawk - where the first priority of the finance minister would be to balance his books.

Populist or reformist? What kind of Budget will FM announce?

Two expectations seem to be common among experts: an increase in excise duties by about 200 bps and expansion of service tax net.