Budget as poll slogan: Jai kisan, jai gareeb insaan, jai taxpayer

The BJP defeat in key state polls recently has more or less decided that the government would use the interim Budget as a vehicle to launch welfare schemes and sops.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2B9JHtJ

Goods and Services Tax collections for January expected at Rs 103,000 cr

"There has been a significant improvement over collection of Rs 94,725 crore last month (December) and Rs 89,825 crore during the same month last year."

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Gd2iZr

Budget 2019: FM Piyush Goyal announces 2% interest subvention for farmers hit by natural calamities

There is need for structured income support for poor, landless farmers to meet input cost, the FM said, adding that the government will also implement special strategy for uplift of nomadic tribes.

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

Road construction trebled under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: FM Piyush Goyal in Budget 2019

FM Goyal said 143 crore LED bulbs were made available for lower and middle class families. The use of LED bulbs saved power bill of about Rs 50,000 crore.

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

Mega relief for middle class: No tax up to Rs 5 lakh

Goyal announced today in his Interim Budget 2019 speech that there would be no tax till Rs 5 lakh income for individuals taxpayers.

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

Budget 2019: GeM platform saw transactions worth Rs 17,500 cr in last 2 years, says FM Piyush Goyal

The commerce and industry ministry launched the GeM in August 2016 with the objective of creating an open and transparent procurement platform for government departments and agencies.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2sX0VpT

Budget 2019: Fiscal deficit for FY20 pegged at 3.4%

The fiscal deficit for the current fiscal has been revised upward to 3.4 per cent from the Budgeted target of 3.3 per cent.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2MJGV2Z

Budget 2019: Single window clearance mechanism for Indian film makers announced

The single window clearance was earlier available only for foreign films. Considering the huge job creating potential of the film industry, Piyush Goyal extended the single window clearance for Indian films.

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

Govt broke the back of high inflation: FM Goyal in Budget 2019

Presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20, Goyal said during the previous UPA government (2009-14), inflation averaged as high as 10.1 per cent.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2HKY25E

Government to create 1 lakh digital villages in 5 years: Piyush Goyal

Presenting the concept in the interim Budget, the finance minister said that the government has set an aim of buidling 1 lakh digital villages in the next 5 years.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2RtDAG7

Poor have the first right over nation's resources: FM Piyush Goyal

Goyal said India has achieved over 98 per cent rural sanitation coverage and about 5.4 lakh villages have been made open defecation-free.

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

All identified 2.5 cr unelectrifed households to be energised by March: FM Piyush Goyal in Budget 2019

As many as 28,594 households including 8,460 in Rajasthan and 20,134 in Chhattisgarh are yet to be electrified.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2RvLH4T

India attracted massive FDI worth USD 239 bn in last 5 years: FM Piyush Goyal in Budget 2019

The main sectors that receive the maximum foreign inflows include services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading, construction, automobile, and power.

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

Budget 2019: Rs 3 lakh cr recovered from big corporate loan defaulters, says FM

Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said, "We have stopped culture of phone banking".

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2DO90mY

Budget 2019: Huge gift for the poor, pension for maids, drivers, plumbers

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan will give monthly pension of Rs 3000, with contribution of Rs 100 a month.

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

Budget 2019: India brightest spot in the world; GDP growth fastest in last 5 years, says FM Piyush Goyal

Presenting the Interim Budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said India has been recognised as the brightest spot in the world in last 5 years.

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

Budget boost for the Kisan! Farmers owning land of up to 2 hectares to get Rs 6,000 a year

The money will be transferred directly to accounts in three tranches. The package will cost Rs 75,000 crore.

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

Budget 2019: Have mandate to continue reforms, moving towards New India by 2022, says Piyush Goyal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the polls due by May is an interim budget or a 'Vote on Account'.

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

Big Budget number! Rs 60,000 crore set aside for MGNREGA this year

Announcing the highest-ever allocation to MGNREGA in his 2015-16 Budget speech, Jaitley gave Rs 34,699 crore to the scheme, nearly 12 per cent hike over the previous fiscal.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2HJ7AhM

January sees fastest rise in factory orders since Dec 2017; mfg activity edges higher: PMI

This is the 18th consecutive month that the manufacturing PMI remained above the 50-point mark. In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.

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

Budget 2019 highlights: Fiscal deficit seen at 3.4% in FY19, CAD at 2.5% of GDP

Goyal is presenting the interim Budget as finance minister in absence of Arun Jaitley who in undergoing medical treatment in US.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2HLjI1y

Piyush Goyal announces a slight slippage in fiscal deficit

Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has announced in his Interim Budget 2019 speech today that the government had revised the target down to 3.4 per cent.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2sZO46w

Modi's sop opera today: Farm giveaways, tax cuts for the middle class likely

Modi is facing growing discontent over depressed farm incomes and doubts over whether his policies are creating enough jobs.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2RwV18G

Interim Budget: 10 Things to watch out for

What should you watch out for in today's interim budget.

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

Revised numbers for FY17, FY18 show economy grew much faster

The statistics office on Thursday revised the growth rate for India’s gross domestic product for fiscal 2017 to 8.2%.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2G04XGx

Jobs data not finalised: Government after NSSO ‘Report’

Govt seeks to quell speculation that info was suppressed ahead of elections, says final report by March.

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

Technew

Libby's father says he reported disturbing content to Instagram, but the company did nothing.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2t2rtpz

Instagram: Girl tells how she was 'hooked' on self-harm images

Libby's father says he reported disturbing content to Instagram, but the company did nothing.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2t2rtpz

Modi govt delivered highest growth rate during demonetisation year: CSO data

The CSO released the first revised estimates of GDP for 2017-18 along with second revised estimates for 2016-17 and third revised estimates for 2015-16.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2G1iWvB

Here's the budget that India needs

At this stage of India’s development, this could be the dream budget that India needs.

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

Technew

Guidelines about what constitutes "obscene" pornography have been relaxed in England and Wales.

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

Obscene porn rules relaxed in England and Wales

Guidelines about what constitutes "obscene" pornography have been relaxed in England and Wales.

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

Technew

Nintendo announces the Mario Kart Tour app will be delayed until summer 2019.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2G1broD

Mario Kart mobile delayed until summer 2019

Nintendo announces the Mario Kart Tour app will be delayed until summer 2019.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2G1broD

How Ahmedabad & Mumbai NCLTs set to clear cases faster

These two are the busiest as well as the ones hearing the most high profile cases in the country.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Gd1CmP

Technew

Hackers are trying to discredit the inquiry into alleged Russian interference in US politics, prosecutors say.

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

Russian hackers 'stole Mueller inquiry evidence'

Hackers are trying to discredit the inquiry into alleged Russian interference in US politics, prosecutors say.

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

What are India's new foreign direct investment rules for e-commerce?

At the heart of the problem is India's view on the two e-commerce models that exist today: marketplace and inventory.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2RrnkW8

CPI inflation for industrial workers rises to 5.24% in December

According to the statement, the food inflation in December stood at (-) 0.96 per cent against (-) 1.57 per cent in November and 4.32 per cent in the year-ago month.

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

Income tax concessions, farm relief package may figure in Piyush Goyal's Budget

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's sixth and final budget before the polls due by May is supposed to be an interim budget or a Vote on Account.

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

Technew

Tonnes of poison was laid down by drones in a project to get rid of the invasive species.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CXz8KE

Drones help Galapagos tackle rat infestation

Tonnes of poison was laid down by drones in a project to get rid of the invasive species.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CXz8KE

RBI launches ombudsman scheme for digital payments

The RBI said that the new ombudsman will start working from the 21 existing offices of the Banking Ombudsman and work within the existing territorial jurisdictions.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2t002gq

Government not to extend February 1 deadline on revised norms for e-tailers

While Amazon has asked for time until June 1 this year, Flipkart has asked for six months.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2MJIs9c

Corporate affairs ministry initiates inquiry into DHFL matter

The official said that certain offices that were reported as shell companies "were not found at their (given) addresses".

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2MK5mgP

Technew

Facebook's approach to parental consent was "most concerning", says a member of its Safety Advisory Board.

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

Facebook adviser attacks 'lax' child checks

Facebook's approach to parental consent was "most concerning", says a member of its Safety Advisory Board.

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

Report that says unemployment at 45-year high in 2017-18 not verified, says Niti Aayog

Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said the data is being collected in a new manner.

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

GDP growth rate for 2017-18 revised upwards to 7.2 %

The CSO has also released the Second Revised Estimates of National Income, Consumption Expenditure, Saving and Capital Formation for 2016-17.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2DM3Tnk

GST collections cross Rs 1 lakh crore in January: Finance Ministry

Final figures and details of collections for the entire month will be intimated on February 2.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2t1ZNkF

Core sector output growth slows to 2.6% in December 2018

The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 132.1 in December, 2018, which was 2.6 per cent higher as compared to the index of December, 2017. Its cumulative growth during April to December, 2018-19 was 4.8 per cent.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2G0AS9R

It could be a please-all budget on Friday

Goyal, who has been given charge of the finance portfolio in place of Arun Jaitley who is in the US for medical treatment, is widely expected to break tradition by going beyond a vote-on-account budget by showering sops in various categories.

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

Maharashtra extends compensation deadline to December 31 for onion farmers

Earlier, the government had announced compensation of Rs 200/quintal per farmer for those farmers who had sold their onion between November 1 to December 15, 2018

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2TmQ18n

Technew

Those breaching sanctions aimed at cutting rising violence could face up to two years in prison.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2S9v6bN

Knife crime: Suspects could be banned from social media

Those breaching sanctions aimed at cutting rising violence could face up to two years in prison.

from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2S9v6bN

Modi plans to raise rural spending in Budget by 16% to woo rural voters

Modi's government is under pressure to step up support for the countryside, where more than two-thirds of India's 1.3 billion people live.

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

Fitch warns of fiscal slippage if government goes for populist interim budget

Fitch said longer-term trends are more important to the sovereign rating profile.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Rp0yyc

Govt may spell out rules to tax global digital cos like Google and Facebook

Such a move would also follow the introduction of the basic framework on “significant economic presence” or digital permanent establishment (PE) last year.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2SbW16I

View: India must rethink a full tilt to the US

US is pressurising India and others to not buy arms from Russia or oil from Iran and drop the idea of joining any trade pacts that have China.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2CXuwE2

India's unemployment rate hit a 45-year high in 2017/18

An NSSO survey showed India's jobless rate stood at 6.1 per cent, the highest since 1972-73.

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

View: India needs and can afford minimum income, but will it really reach the poor?

Imagine if India scrapped all handouts for companies and well-off folk. Businesses might feel aggrieved. They shouldn’t: 99.94% get no breaks anyway.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Wyw40e

India can't afford to guarantee a minimum income

While governments everywhere should take care of their most vulnerable citizens, the idea of guaranteeing a basic income is wrong for India right now.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2Bd3WHb

Minimum income guarantee could cost Rs 7 lakh crore

A minimum guaranteed income to one member each of the country’s 25% poorest households could cost over Rs 7 lakh cr. The calculation was based on a minimum wage payment of Rs 321 a day, translating into Rs 9,630 a month. The cost was expected to be over Rs 5 lakh crore if 18-20% of the households were targeted, as was indicated by P Chidambaram.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2DKf8Nb

Ministry of Women set to get Rs 5,000 cr boost

Sources in the ministry said the budget allocation for the ministry is likely to be Rs 29,000 crore the highest till now.

from Economy-News-Economic Times http://bit.ly/2FZDOn6