nationalised banks

The Public Provident Fund is the darling of all tax saving investments.No wonder! You invest in it and you get a deduction on your income. Besides, the interest you earn on it is tax-free. Since it is a scheme run by the Government of India, it is also totally safe. You can be sure no one is going to run away with your money. Here, we summarise the scheme, tell you how to open a PPF account and what to expect. Full Article

Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee has asked the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to bring their Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) below 5% by this year itself. Finance Minister also announced the wage revision of the pay-scale and allowances of the employees of the RRBs corresponding to those of Nationalised Banks as per 9th Bipartite Settlement. The additional cost burden of the arrears on this account would be about Rs. 791 crores. Full Article

This seems to be the message of the I-T department, which has undertaken a sensitisation drive to make the DDOs aware of their responsibilities. As part of this, the I-T's TDS wing organised a seminar on Friday for officers of nationalised banks' branches, except those of the State Bank of India, in Patna in which about 90 bankers took part. Full Article

The matter regarding assignment of the tax audit work to one of the SCAs and fee payable to SCA so selected was reviewed and it has been decided that PSBs may appoint at the Head office level also any chartered accountant firm as their tax auditor at a reasonable fee with the approval of their Board /ACB. Full Article

A bill enabling the State Bank of India (SBI) to split its shares and issue bonus shares may be placed in the current winter session of Parliament. Besides, the amendments to the State Bank of India Act, 1955, envisage the preferential or private placement of shares. The SBI (Amendment) Bill also proposes to allow India’s No. 1 bank to bring down the government holding to 51 per cent, which is on a par with other nationalised banks. Full Article