Despite the efforts initiated by the 11th Finance Commission, financial devolution to urban areas remains inadequate. Municipalities suffer from poor fiscal health, and rapid urbanization without sufficient fiscal measures hinders development. Financial Devolution to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) India allocates only 0.5% of its GDP to ULBs, whereas countries like …
Read More »National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP)
Unlocking Value in Infrastructure The NMP is a government initiative launched in the 2021-22 Union Budget to leverage private sector expertise for infrastructure development. It focuses on monetizing core government assets (roads, railways, power) through partnerships, not privatization (ownership transfer). Goals and Benefits: Generate Rs 6 lakh crore over four …
Read More »PMLA: Combating Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Concept : The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), enacted by the Indian government, targets money laundering and associated financial offenses. Enacted in 2002, the PMLA aims to prevent and control money laundering activities and confiscate proceeds of crime derived from illicit activities. Key Provisions: Offences and Penalties: The PMLA …
Read More »Purchasing Managers’ Index: The Economic Health Indicator
TABLE OF CONTENTS News Concept Calculation Components of PMI PMI Releases News: Business activity in the services sectors likely clocked their fastest expansion in more than 13 and a half years in March, aided by a record uptick in export orders, as per the HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index …
Read More »Exchange Traded Currency Derivatives
TABLE OF CONTENTS News Concept Types of Exchange-Traded Currency Derivatives Currency Options News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Thursday deferred the implementation of norms on exchange-traded currency derivatives (ETCDs) linked to Indian rupee until May 3 following concerns by investors. Concept : Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is …
Read More »The Finance Commission
The Finance Commission is a quasi-judicial body established by Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. Every five years or earlier if deemed necessary, it is established by the President of India. The Parliament determines the qualifications of the members of the Commission and their selection methods. Their recommendation is not …
Read More »Parliament paves way for 28% GST on online gaming
Syllabus: Government Budgeting. Context Parliament on Friday cleared amendments to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws to facilitate the levy of 28% GST on the face value of all bets made in casinos, horse-racing and online gaming. Approval done Approved by the GST Council earlier this month, the legislative …
Read More »BUDGET 2023 IS A CASE OF EDUCATION TAKING A HIT
The allocation made for education in the Union Budget 2023 reminds a person of these lines from the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, “Work without Hope”: “Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve, And Hope without an object cannot live. ” However, the news headlines shouted out a different story: …
Read More »INDIA NEEDS A BUDGET FOR ITS YOUNG
The world is indeed looking up to the Indian economy as a ‘bright star’, as the Finance Minister noted in the Budget speech on February 1. In 2020, India accounted for 20.6% of the worldwide population of 15 to 29 year olds. Which means that in the years ahead, one …
Read More »FISCAL CONSOLIDATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET
Growth is affected by the size of government expenditure and its revenue and capital components. Government expenditure is budgeted to grow at 7.5% while nominal GDP growth is estimated to fall from 15.4% in 2022-23 to 10.5% in 2023-24. Thus, the total expenditure relative to GDP is shown to fall …
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