View: 8 things India must do in 2019 to tide over economic challenges

India will face plenty of challenges this year. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in reforms.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2QfaFF8

RBI vs Govt in 2018: A 'husband-wife' relation that turned stormy

Differences between the Centre and the RBI over easing of lending restrictions and the appropriate size of reserves, among other issues, spilled out.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2VmGFLl

Government mulling policy sops for Apple, others

The Cupertino-based technology giant is in talks with the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Revenue to seek certain sops for its component manufacturers.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2LFrzMq

Exporters raise concern over China’s hike in VAT refund

India competes with China on certain items and domestic exporters will feel the pinch, people in the know of the development said.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2AqzqZZ

Government monitoring economic conditions to ensure fiscal deficit remains within target: Finance Ministry

Net tax revenue in first half of 2018-19 is 39.4 per cent of BE but in comparison to past trend, it is 4.8 per cent below corresponding period and 0.4 per cent above five years' moving average, the ministry said.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EUVEGF

New e-comm FDI norms show lack of predictability: American advocacy group

Since India and US are negotiating a plethora of issues in a trade package, the new norms “become cumbersome and painful”, the group said.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EZoNRS

23 goods and services to get cheaper from January 1 as reduced GST rates kick in

The GST Council on December 22 cut tax rates on 23 goods and services, including movie tickets, TV.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EW7f8l

MHA extends deadline for NGOs to submit annual returns on foreign funds

All NGOs receiving funds from abroad have to mandatory file their annual returns online within nine months of completion of each financial year.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EXcIwt

India's external debt declines 3.6% to $510.4 billion at Sept-end

"The decrease in the magnitude of external debt was primarily due to valuation gains resulting from the appreciation of the US dollar against the rupee," RBI said

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2GPl6Qx

Technew

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance after a 30-minute closure.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Aqvqsn

Severn Bridge shuts as drone flown from tower

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance after a 30-minute closure.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Aqvqsn

Technew

Dr Roberts was chief scientist in charge of designing and building the tech that became the internet.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2EVSmDX

Net's founding father Dr Larry Roberts dies aged 81

Dr Roberts was chief scientist in charge of designing and building the tech that became the internet.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2EVSmDX

Government not seeking RBI reserves to meet fiscal deficit: Arun Jaitley

Jaitley said the Modi government has brought down fiscal deficit and kept inflation and the Current Account Deficit (CAD) under check, while India retained the fastest growing economy tag for 5 years.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2GMbp5h

Core sectors' output growth hits 16 month low at 3.5% in November

During April-November, the output growth was 5.1 percent from the year-earlier period, according to the data.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2AqODdv

Technew

The NYPD will use camera-equipped drones to watch over New Year's Eve celebrations.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CHUA7m

Drone to watch over New Year celebration in New York

The NYPD will use camera-equipped drones to watch over New Year's Eve celebrations.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CHUA7m

Deep chill brings delight in Bengal tea belt

“We are hopeful of positive post winter first flush if overall normal weather condition prevails for entire January,” said veteran planter K. K. Mintri.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2RrjEb4

Farm woes to take centrestage as poll battle looms

The proposals being considered range from waiving off interest for farmers who repay crop loans on time to lowering the insurance premium and providing income support

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EXHLIr

Modi is said to plan cash handout for India farmers before vote

The government is weighing options including a monthly income support program for farmers.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2s2aCCR

Govt confident of strategic sales in 3 PSUs this fiscal

The Narendra Modi government had vowed to pursue an aggressive policy of strategic disinvestment but has so far shied away from taking any big steps on this front.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2SsbCvF

Technew

The malware, which affected papers owned by Tribune Publishing, is believed to be from outside the US.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Q8aWd2

Cyber-attack disrupts distribution of multiple US newspapers

The malware, which affected papers owned by Tribune Publishing, is believed to be from outside the US.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Q8aWd2

Online electronics brands looking at fresh strategies to de-risk play

While online-exclusive brands such as Vu, BPL, TCL explore ways to push sales, Flipkart and Amazon are unlikely to change their hiring plans

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2GO8yZD

Punjab for fewer GST exclusions, higher exemption threshold

Manpreet Badal in his letter to Arun Jaitley said there should be a common composition limit for goods and services.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EUkYwe

The only two ways India can sway

Answer to, How did the economy do under the Modi govt? - will decide if 2019 will be a defining year for the economy, or if it will go down in history as the year when populism killed promise.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2CIxsWx

View: Das Capital - Next year will test how smartly RBI plays the game

There are trails that connect Das to his predecessors -- the flamboyant Rajan and the reclusive Patel, both hardcore economists, unlike Das.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2CHyQZq

Settled GST, credit flows among 7 reforms to aid India grow 7.5% in 2019: CII

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects India’s economy to grow 7.4% in 2018-19.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2LGYgcu

Make enough financial allocations to make crop insurance schemes attractive for farmers: Parliamentary Panel

​​The parliamentary panel, chaired by Murli Manohar Joshi also recommended re-formulation of agricultural insurance scheme in order to suit the needs of farmers who engage in organic farming.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EZzFio

Bangladesh polls: Indo-Bangla trade stops for two days

Regular trade through all checkposts and land customs stations along the 4,096-km borders is expected to be resumed by Wednesday.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2SuIlAA

Govt proposes to invest Rs 1,227 cr through EDF to push IPR in electronics

Electronics Development Fund (EDF) is set up as a "Fund of Funds" to participate in professionally managed "daughter funds".

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2s1tDW1

India's robust economic growth to continue in 2019: CII

The positive outlook is buttressed by strong drivers emanating from services sector and better demand conditions arising out of poll spend, with the general elections slated next year, according to the chamber.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2SzloMs

New NHAI norms may slow down project awards: Report

The target for FY19 is to award 20,000 km projects with majority to be awarded on the EPC mode, it noted.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Via2OP

Engineering exporters urge government to set up shipping regulator

EEPC India has stated that reduction in ocean freight is important to increase competitiveness of engineering exporters in the global market.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2rYyXtn

Need a monitoring mechanism to ensure prompt use of funds under DMF: Parliamentary panel to Mines Ministry

The DMF has been created in each district under the provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2015 and falls under the purview of the Ministry of Mines.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2TfRhd5

RBI exploring mobile phone-based solution to help visually impaired identify banknotes

Currently, intaglio printing-based identification marks are present in banknotes of Rs 100 and above for helping the visually challenged identify them.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EYrlzH

Focussing on improving compliance, identifying areas which have escaped tax net: Revenue Secretary

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier said that while the salaried class pays its due share of taxes, "most other sections" have to improve their tax payment record, which is keeping India "far from being a tax-compliant society".

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2AjVo0I

Inflation in 2018: Data shows price rise within comfort zone, but farmers hit

The data showed retail as well as wholesale price inflation remaining low for most part of the year, though spikes in petrol and diesel prices came as a spoiler.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2AgpfqT

Niti Aayog's new year focus: Pushing growth, implementation of govt's reform measures

Preparation had already began by the CSO, which is the technical competent organisation," vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EZjfqD

Nitin Gadkari says 2019 focus will be on creating world-class expressways network

The focus in 2019 now would be to build a network of "world-class expressways", Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Tgt5an

Modi government seen going full throttle on labour reforms in 2019

The Code on Wages Bill 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2017 and thereafter referred to the standing committee.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Aj01Ib

2018: BBC Tech's biggest stories and what happened next

From fake porn to Facebook scandals, security alerts to Google protests - 2018 was a busy year.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2GJvUQ1

Technew

From fake porn to Facebook scandals, security alerts to Google protests - 2018 was a busy year.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2GJvUQ1

GDP figures to job creation: What numbers from 2018 reveal

From revised GDP figures and creation of new jobs to farmers’ income, here's what 2018 numbers reveal.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2SqLvW7

Government plans to sanction one crore houses before 2020

The official said that construction of almost 62 lakh individual household toilets and 5 lakh community and public toilet seats is already over or nearing completion.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2VaMTOp

Narendra Modi considers 3 options to aid Indian farmers hit by low crop prices: Sources

The quickest option, and currently the most favored inside the government, is to directly pay landowning farmers 1,700-2,000 rupees per acre, said two of the sources, including one at the farm ministry.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Ssv0ZI

Small online sellers doubt impact of revised ecommerce FDI policy

E-commerce attracted several small and medium traders, giving them an additional sales avenue and a larger market base in the beginning.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Tey1wA

AAAR okays GST on inter-state office services

In-house service functions such as human resources and payrolls, if carried out from a centre in one state for offices in other states, will attract GST for which it will have to issue an invoice.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Tbs5nY

View: Is the new e-commerce policy really new?

The wording of the clause is meant to plug loopholes of earlier policy. In itself, it isn’t a new policy direction.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2CEA7jV

Google and Facebook put ads in child porn discovery apps

Google and Facebook's ad networks placed promotions for major brands before apps were banned.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2EUSFyC

Technew

Google and Facebook's ad networks placed promotions for major brands before apps were banned.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2EUSFyC

I-T department seizes Rs 992.5-crore assets in FY18; tax-to-GDP ratio improves: Govt

The values of assets seized during the past two financial year are Rs 1,469.62 crore in 2016-17 and Rs 992.52 crore in 2017-18, Shukla said.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2VgUDy9

Uzbekistan promotes 2019 as year of investment in backdrop of wider business with India

He said that it would be a logical continuation of activities that begun in 2018 under the program of the ‘Year of support of active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies’.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Sq8lNt

Tesla adds Larry Ellison to its board

Tesla beefs up its board with executives from Oracle and Walgreens to reassure investors.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2EUxQTR

Technew

Tesla beefs up its board with executives from Oracle and Walgreens to reassure investors.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2EUxQTR

Parliamentary panel for classifying MSMEs according to annual turnover

New Delhi, Dec 28 () A parliamentary panel has suggested to classify micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) according to their annual turnovers instead of investments in plant and machinery.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2RgyTn6

Technew

Viewers can decide the characters' fates in Bandersnatch, the latest instalment of the Netflix drama.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2SmlreA

Bandersnatch: Netflix's interactive Black Mirror film puts viewers in control

Viewers can decide the characters' fates in Bandersnatch, the latest instalment of the Netflix drama.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2SmlreA

Government approves CRZ notification 2018; gives impetus to promotion of tourism

The move comes in the backdrop of a series of representations received by the Environment Ministry from various coastal states/UTs and other stakeholders.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Re0eq7

Technew

Louis Theroux, Eamonn Holmes and others were targeted by researchers worried about flaws in Twitter.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RgprA8

Security firm hijacks high-profile Twitter accounts

Louis Theroux, Eamonn Holmes and others were targeted by researchers worried about flaws in Twitter.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RgprA8

RBI says banks under PCA report slower NPA growth in FY18

The PCA banks have also increased recoveries, while containing the growth in advances and deposits, reducing riskiness of assets and focusing on better rated assets.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EVlvie

Government doubles export incentive on onion to shore up prices, boost shipments

At present, onion traders get 5 per cent export incentive on fresh crop under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2ET0CEH

RBI to ensure sustainable growth of NBFCs with adequate credit

The NBFC sector is liquidity crisis after a series of defaults by Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) and its many subsidiaries since late August.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2rZEAYk

Union Budget 2016: Highlights

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2rZvzhL

Income tax slabs for 2018: How they are

​The latest income tax slabs applicable for financial year 2018-19 (assessment year 2019-20) are given below. These slabs and tax rates are as amended by Budget 2018.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2LFOWp2

Huawei: China accuses UK of 'pride and prejudice'

Beijing was responding to claims it might use Huawei's 5G kit to act "in a malign way".

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CEijp3

Technew

Beijing was responding to claims it might use Huawei's 5G kit to act "in a malign way".

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CEijp3

Wheat output likely to rise in India as acreage rises in key states

The sowing this season has progressed earlier than the last year in most states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, a trend usually seen favourable for yield of wheat.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EPGF0A

GST evasion worth Rs 38,896 cr detected during April-Oct

Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said while central excise evasion of Rs 3,028.58 crore in 398 cases was unearthed during the seven-month period, service tax evasion of Rs 26,108.43 crore was detected in 3,922 cases.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EUBGwh

From Posco to manned space mission, what all the Centre said yes to

Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a press briefing, announced the decisions.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2EO3Rwh