Debt relief eligibility: clarifies which agricultural loan components and interest qualify for waiver and reimbursement.
Clarifies computation and scope of the eligible amount under the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008: interest on accounts classified as NPA after NPA date cannot be claimed or recovered; for non NPA accounts, applicable interest overdue as of December 31, 2007 and unpaid by February 29, 2008 may be included but interest claims shall not exceed principal; certain loan types (short term production credit, investment credit for asset acquisition, specified allied activity loans) are covered subject to ceilings; back ended subsidies, crop insurance payouts and other non qualifying charges must be adjusted or excluded; SHG loans are eligible if borrower wise data can be satisfied; loans disbursed before the cut off are excluded except for restructured loans under specified packages.

Inflation driven by crude oil prices prompts government to coordinate fiscal and supply measures to moderate prices.
Inflation is chiefly driven by sustained crude oil price increases, with administered and market-priced petroleum products accounting for the bulk of recent week-on-week rises; other groups showed limited movement. The Government, after consulting the central bank, has implemented fiscal measures including tax cuts, will explore further tax options, considers monetary actions to quell expectations, and will use public wheat and rice stocks via the Public Distribution System to moderate food prices and contain inflation.

Service tax applicability on hire purchase finance clarified as outside the specified service provision, affirmed on appeal.
The determination held that hire purchase finance is distinct from hire purchase and therefore does not fall within the specified taxable service provision under the Finance Act, 1994; that finding was affirmed on appeal, confirming that such financial accommodation is outside the contested service tax head concerning banking and other financial services.