Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal Concludes Japan Visit; Calls for Greater Japanese Investment and Stronger Industrial Partnerships wit...
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada Concludes Official Visit to Morocco; Co-Chairs...
Basmati rice market access may be pursued through trade agreement review, subject to import limits and safety standards. Market access for Indian basmati rice may be pursued through review of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, as rice remains a sensitive sector subject to import quantity limits and duties beyond permitted quantities. Processed food exports offer further opportunities where exporters comply with Japanese quality and safety standards. Bilateral cooperation also covers investment, supply chains, technology partnerships and capital flows supporting infrastructure, manufacturing and semiconductor ecosystems.
Capital allocation discipline governs consideration of further Air India funding alongside business strategy, cash flow and investment requirements. Further capital investment in Air India will be evaluated by Singapore Airlines' board through a disciplined capital-allocation process. Assessment will consider the group's capital requirements, Air India's business strategy, operating cash flow, investment needs for aircraft and products, and multi-hub investments intended to support long-term growth and returns. As a significant minority shareholder, Singapore Airlines supports Air India's transformation programme with Tata Sons, but no commitment to provide additional capital is indicated.
Semiconductor investment cooperation anchors expanded India-Japan industrial partnerships across technology, manufacturing, clean energy, infrastructure, and financial services. Semiconductor and artificial-intelligence cooperation centres on a six-pillar semiconductor strategy encompassing chip design, semiconductor machinery and materials, fabrication, ATMP/OSAT, research and development, and talent development. Japanese participation is sought across semiconductor materials and equipment, power semiconductors, electronics, AI, logistics and related advanced technologies. Development of semiconductor clusters is linked to reliable power, ultra-pure water, skilled manpower and social infrastructure.
Financial inclusion through basic bank accounts enables direct welfare transfers, digital payments, insurance access and credit for excluded households. PMJDY provides unbanked adults with basic bank accounts without minimum-balance or maintenance-charge requirements, free RuPay debit cards with accident insurance cover, and eligible overdraft support. Through the JAM framework, PMJDY accounts enable direct transfer of welfare benefits using bank accounts, Aadhaar-based biometric verification and mobile connectivity, reducing intermediary involvement and delays. The scheme emphasises rural, semi-urban, marginalised and women account holders while supporting access to insurance, pensions, savings, digital payments and credit, including MUDRA loans.
Contract food services expansion strengthens Rassense's nationwide institutional operations through new academic partnerships and technology-led service delivery. Rassense Pvt Ltd reports crossing a workforce of more than 5,000 employees and projects revenue exceeding INR 600 crore. Its contract food services operations serve educational institutions, corporate campuses, healthcare facilities and industrial locations. New operations at IIM Jammu, IIM Bangalore and IIT Guwahati strengthen its nationwide institutional presence. Expansion is supported by academic institution partnerships, local workforce development, operational excellence, and technology-led capabilities in food production, food waste reduction and supply-chain management.
Cyber fraud awareness promotes safe digital banking by teaching customers to verify communications, protect credentials, and report suspicious transactions. Cyber-fraud awareness and digital banking safety were promoted through community sessions addressing phishing, impersonation, OTP and UPI fraud, QR-code scams, digital-arrest fraud, and fraudulent customer-care calls. Participants were guided to identify authentic banking communications, avoid sharing confidential credentials, verify callers and links before acting, and promptly report suspected unauthorised transactions. Customer vigilance, financial literacy, and institutional security measures were emphasised as complementary safeguards against digital financial fraud.
Personal insolvency repayment plans may be approved despite minimal creditor recovery when requisite voting support and comparative valuation support them. Personal insolvency repayment plan approval was granted under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, despite objections that creditor recoveries were negligible and the proposed payment uncertain. The plan received 80.81 per cent voting support, while dissenting creditors held less than 20 per cent voting share. Valuation showed that the debtor's personal estate was materially below the offered amount, and rejection could result in bankruptcy and lower recovery. Assessment of settlement adequacy was treated as a matter of creditor commercial wisdom.
Prison escape security lapses prompt coordinated tracing measures, transport monitoring, inter-state alerts, and a detailed custodial-security inquiry. Prison escape and custodial-security lapses arose after a detainee escaped from Aluva Sub Jail, allegedly by using an under-construction structure within the premises to cross the compound wall. Following his later appearance at a police station seeking return of his Aadhaar card, search measures included a lookout circular, information sharing with police stations, railway-security coordination, and alerting police in Assam. A detailed inquiry has been initiated into the prison-security deficiencies enabling the escape.
Women's savings account selection depends on practical benefits, charges, eligibility, and banking needs rather than the account label. Women's Savings Accounts may provide standard banking facilities together with additional services or benefits for eligible women. Their suitability depends on practical use of digital banking, transfers, payments, alerts, debit-card facilities, accessibility, security features, charges, and minimum-balance conditions. Since regular Savings Accounts may offer comparable facilities, the additional benefits should be assessed against associated costs and conditions. Selection should be based on comparison of eligibility, facilities, balance requirements, benefits, customer support, and authentication safeguards rather than the account's women-focused label alone.
Retirement annuity selection prioritises payout structure, taxation, insurer strength and flexibility over brand comparison for informed retirement decisions. Retirement planning may combine market-linked accumulation during working years, deferred annuities that lock future guaranteed income, and immediate annuities that convert retirement savings into regular payments. Annuity choice depends on whether the priority is higher income, continuation for a surviving spouse, or return of capital on death. Product comparison should consider market-linked growth versus income certainty, taxation of annuity income at applicable slab rates, insurer strength, and flexibility in deferment, payout frequency and policy loans.
Foreign exchange inflows through deposit and borrowing measures provided near-term rupee support amid lower crude prices. Reserve Bank special measures relating to FCNR(B) deposits, Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings and External Commercial Borrowings were identified as attracting foreign-exchange inflows and providing near-term support to the rupee. The Reserve Bank became a net dollar buyer in June after two months of sales to support the rupee. The FCNR(B) window remained open until August 31, while the market outlook anticipated broader rupee depreciation over subsequent weeks.
Preferential trade agreement exploration advances bilateral market access, pharmaceutical cooperation, investment partnerships, and diversified trade. India-Morocco economic cooperation is expanded through the seventh Joint Commission framework, targeting deeper and more diversified trade, investment, industrial collaboration and market access across goods and services. An India-Morocco Joint Working Group is to examine bilateral trade opportunities and the feasibility of a preferential trade agreement, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, improved market access and trade facilitation. Cooperation also addresses pharmaceutical market authorisation and approval timelines, food safety, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and phosphates and fertilisers.
Hybrid cyber fraud exploits stolen smartphones and intercepted verification codes to compromise digital banking and payment accounts. Hybrid cyber fraud combines physical smartphone theft with digital financial exploitation. Offenders obtain screen-lock credentials, steal devices and use control of the active SIM card to intercept verification codes and reset UPI and digital banking credentials. Preventive measures include withholding PINs, passwords and OTPs; avoiding storage of financial and identity records on phones; and immediately blocking the SIM card and freezing digital banking and UPI services after a theft.
CEPA review aims to expand bilateral trade engagement, address export barriers, and support regulatory registrations for exporters. India and Japan are considering a review of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to make the bilateral trade framework more contemporary and expand its scope, scale and commercial opportunities. The review is linked to balanced trade and to identifying export barriers arising from procedural requirements, language issues and time involved in market access. Regulatory compliance assistance may support product registrations required for overseas markets, including costly chemical registrations and pharmaceutical registrations.
Personal loan reward eligibility depends on successful campaign-period disbursal, alongside review of borrowing costs and repayment capacity. Loan Utsav 2026 provides a limited-period reward bundle to eligible customers whose personal loan is successfully disbursed during the campaign period, subject to applicable terms and conditions. Personal loans are collateral-free and available subject to eligibility, customer profile, documentation and applicable loan terms. Applicants may choose a loan amount and repayment tenure based on their requirements. Extended tenures can reduce monthly EMI obligations but may increase total interest payable. Customers should review interest rates, EMI, processing charges, other loan costs and repayment capacity before accepting a loan offer.
Deep-tech investment cooperation advances through capital corridors, innovation bridges, manufacturing integration and startup pitching platforms for cross-border growth. India-Japan startup cooperation is proposed to advance through a deep-tech capital corridor, a two-way innovation bridge, manufacturing and technology integration, and joint startup pitching platforms. Collaboration is directed towards patient capital, early-stage research, deep-tech commercialisation, technology validation, precision manufacturing, investment and market access. The partnership also emphasises MSME integration with startups and global supply chains, co-investment mechanisms, plug-and-play infrastructure, and institutional links among universities, research institutions, incubators and industry.
Sugar price-control measures combine raw-sugar imports, stockholding limits and export restrictions to curb retail price pressures. Sugar price-control measures combine authorised raw-sugar imports, stockholding limits for dealers and bulk consumers, and an existing export prohibition to address elevated domestic prices. Imports are permitted within the specified period, while stockholding restrictions seek to curb speculation and hoarding. Retail prices continued to rise despite lower ex-mill prices, and the regulatory approach focuses on augmenting supply, limiting stock accumulation, and preventing export-related pressure on domestic availability.
Alternative dispute resolution enabled settlement of long-pending disputes, alongside reporting on court administration and regulatory compliance concerns. Legal developments include resolution of long-pending tenancy, commercial and property disputes through a special Lok Adalat mechanism, including a digitally signed international settlement. Other matters concern a challenge to a riot-related murder conviction, allegations of administrative irregularities and selective case listing, fast-track court pendency, cancellation of a recruitment process following suspected examination malpractice, fraudulent identity documents used to claim citizenship, medical-qualification standards, and opposition to uranium exploration and mining.
MSME co-lending supports digital paperless credit delivery through rural banks for underserved rural and semi-urban enterprises. SIDBI-RRB MSME co-lending arrangement is proposed for expansion to increase credit access for micro, small and medium enterprises in rural and semi-urban areas. The arrangement combines SIDBI's understanding of MSME credit requirements with Regional Rural Banks' local reach. SIDBI's Co-Lending Origination Platform provides an end-to-end digital credit process intended to enable faster, paperless loan processing, in-principle sanction communication, documentation and direct account disbursement without branch visits.
Input tax credit mismatch alone cannot support fraud-based GST demand without an assessing officer's recorded satisfaction of fraud or suppression. Section 74 GST demand proceedings require the assessing officer's independent satisfaction of fraud, wilful misstatement or suppression of facts. An input tax credit mismatch or alleged short payment alone cannot establish these conditions. Unsupported assertions of suppression for invoking extended limitation are insufficient, and audit objections cannot replace the assessing officer's satisfaction. A show cause-cum-demand notice lacking factual allegations of a deliberate device to evade tax or avail excess input tax credit is vulnerable.
Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee's opening speech, delivered in the Lok Sabha today, at the beginning of consideration of the Finance Bill-2010, is as follows:
"As I rise to move the Finance Bill, 2010 for consideration of this august House, it is with some satisfaction that I report the positive developments in the Indian economy in the last few months. The turnaround of the economy which started in the second quarter of 2009-10 is likely to result in a growth of 7.2 per cent for the full year 2009-10 as indicated in the Advance Estimates of the Central Statistical Organisation.
The upward shift in India's growth trajectory has been anchored strongly in robust growth in consumption. The salutary impact of the fiscal stimulus along with the monetary measures implemented by the RBI, facilitated the growth recovery by regenerating the investment impulses and private spending.
In the Budget for 2010-11, I have initiated a partial roll back of stimulus measures and a resumption of the fiscal consolidation process with fiscal deficit at 5.5 per cent of GDP. The Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement 2010-11 provides the roadmap with fiscal deficit declining to 4.8 per cent of GDP in 2011-12 and further to 4.1 per cent of GDP in 2012-13. A focus on bringing down the level of public debt as envisaged in the Thirteenth Finance Commission's Report and as announced in the Budget for 2010-11 would anchor the fiscal consolidation process in a sustainable debt framework
. Inflation
The year 2009 started with low WPI inflation of 1.3 per cent in April, 2009, which relapsed to the negative zone during June to August, 2009. The WPI inflation turned positive in September 2009, thereafter, an upward trend has been observed. Clearly, the current levels of inflation are elevated and more generalized and the WPI inflation in March 2010 stood at 9.9 per cent. What has led to deep concern is the double-digit food inflation. The gradual increase in food inflation observed till December 2009 was due to expectations of supply-side constraints of food items, especially due to unfavorable south-west monsoon. As per the Second Advance Estimates of production of food grains for 2009-10, the total food grains production has been estimated at 216.85 million tones, which is about 5 per cent lower than the second advance estimate of last year.
The Government has utmost concern about the current price situation. We have taken a number of short term and medium term measures to improve domestic availability of essential commodities and to moderate inflation. These include: reducing import duties for rice, wheat, pulses, edible oils and sugar to zero; allowing import of raw sugar at zero duty under open general licence; removing levy obligation for imported raw sugar and white/ refined sugar; banning export of non-basmati rice, edible oils and pulses and imposing stock limit orders in the case of paddy, rice, pulses, sugar, edible oils and edible oilseeds. A Core Group of Chief Ministers and Central Ministers has been constituted on 15th March, 2010 to discuss issues related to prices of essential commodities. Besides, to protect the interest of poor and vulnerable sections of the society, the Central Issue Prices for rice and wheat have been kept unrevised at 2002 levels.
We have sufficient stocks of wheat and rice to meet the demands of the Public Distribution System and other welfare schemes. As on 15.4.2010, 25.4 millions of wheat in RMS 2009-10 and 25.9 million tonnes of rice have been procured in KMS 2009-10 (October to September). The Central Pool stock of wheat is at a high of 183.88 lakh tonnes and of rice at 269.50 lakh tonnes as on 1.3.2010.
In the case of pulses, the shortfall of domestic production has been made up by higher imports. Considerable support has been provided to the Public Distribution System. For pulses and edible oil, the Government is bearing a subsidy of Rs.10 per kg. and Rs.15 per kg. respectively for distribution through PDS/Fair Price Shops. The Core Group of Chief Ministers and Central Ministers held its first meeting on 8th April, 2010. Three Working Groups consisting of Chief Ministers of various States are now engaged in drawing up recommendations on agricultural production, consumer affairs and food and public distribution. The reports are expected by the middle of June, 2010.
Indications of softening of food inflation are clearly visible. There has been a significant decline from the peak food inflation of over 20 per cent recorded in December 2009 to 17.7 per cent in March 2010. Besides, the inflation in essential commodities also declined from the peak of 23.8 per cent in January 2010 to 19.8 per cent in March 2010. It is expected that this decline would continue in the recent months uninterruptedly.
The monetary policy stance has also been gradually fine-tuned by RBI to face the inflationary challenges. The Repo Rate has been increased from 5 per cent to 5.25 per cent and Reverse Repo Rate from 3.50 per cent to 3.75 per cent. The CRR has also been increased from 5.75 per cent to 6 per cent. These measures are expected to anchor the inflationary expectations.
Growth Prospects
While the slowdown in agriculture, inflicted by the monsoon failure, poses concern on the food and food prices front, the impressive recovery achieved by the Indian industry in the recent months is heartening. The Index of Industrial Production recorded a growth of 10.1 per cent during April-February 2009-10, compared to 3.0 per cent during April-February 2008-09. While both manufacturing and mining grew around 10 per cent, electricity grew at 5.8 per cent during April-February 2009-10. All the major segments of industry except consumer non-durables staged a strong recovery. The intermediate goods grew at 13.7 per cent and consumer durables recorded an appreciable 25.5 per cent growth in April- February 2009-10. The growth of capital goods at 18.2 per cent in April- February 2009-10, on top of their reasonable growth in the previous year, is indicative of the pickup in investment demand.
Tax Reform
I have already informed the House that the Government is firmly committed to the goal of comprehensive tax reform through the introduction of the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) as well as the Goods and Services Tax (GST). I am happy to inform the Hon'ble Members that, in the case of DTC, the process of consultation with the stakeholders for revising the first draft is almost over. We expect to place a revised Discussion Paper in the public domain by next month. After a quick round of consultations with some of the major stakeholders, we should be able to submit the draft legislation to Parliament in the monsoon session.
I have indicated my intent to introduce GST in the country with effect from 1st April, 2011. Central Government is closely engaged with the Empowered Committee of the State Finance Ministers in finalizing the GST design. Some of the States apprehend that they may lose some revenue in the initial years of the GST regime. Central Government is willing to provide compensation to the States for these initial years, provided there is agreement on the broad framework for a common threshold for Goods and Services between the Centre and the States; common exemption lists between the Centre and the States; mechanism to check deviations and acceptable level of overall GST rates. The design and modalities of providing this compensation would be worked out in discussion with the State Governments and the Empowered Committee.
Outlook for 2010-11
There are several factors that have emerged from the performance of the economy in the recent period which augur well for the Indian economy. Attesting the impressive recovery of the industrial sector, there is a revival in investment and private consumption demand, though demand recovery is yet to attain the pre-2008 momentum. The favourable capital market conditions with improvement in capital flows and business sentiments are also encouraging. There is also a significant pick-up in corporate earnings and profits. The outlook is further brightened by the fact that a normal monsoon is predicted this year.
Going by these indications and considering that agriculture had a set-back in 2009-10 and is only gradually getting back to the projected path, the Indian economy is expected to grow around 8.5 during 2010-11 and to breach the 9 per cent mark in 2011-12.
Since the presentation of the Budget on 26th February, 2010, we have received a large number of representations and suggestions both from trade and industry as well as my colleagues in this august House. While some seek modifications to the existing proposals, others have urged for fresh reliefs. Some valuable suggestions were also made by the Hon'ble members during the general discussion on the Budget in the first phase of this session. I expect to receive many more suggestions in the course of the ensuing discussion on the Finance Bill. I shall cover the reliefs we propose to grant, the amendments that we seek in the Bill and our response to the issues that are raised in discussions, in my reply.
With these words, Madam Speaker, I move for consideration of the Finance Bill, 2010."
Goods and Services Tax proposed with central compensation mechanism to states, aligning common thresholds and exemptions.
The Government proposes fiscal consolidation together with targeted measures to moderate inflation and secure food availability, including zero duty imports, export restrictions, stock limits, and PDS subsidies; monetary policy has been tightened to anchor expectations. Concurrently, comprehensive tax reform is advanced through consultation on the Direct Taxes Code and a planned introduction of the Goods and Services Tax with a State compensation mechanism conditional on agreed common thresholds, exemptions and deviation controls.
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