The government today said it may consider changes in recently announced norms for minimum 25 per cent public holding in listed companies, if need arises. “The Ministry of Finance and the Department of Disinvestment are receiving different points of view from public sector enterprises and other stakeholders. So, if there is any need for modification or correction or amendment, that will be done,” Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters on the sidelines of a CII seminar here.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has now proposed to streamline the promotion of insurance products through distance sales channels, such as the telephone and the internet. It has said it will issue rules in this regard and these will cover selling by ‘voice mode’, which includes telephone calls, ‘electronic mode’ (e-mails, internet and interactive television) and also the ‘physical mode’, though postal mail and newspapers.
Punjab Planning and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, has maintained Punjab is ready for implementation of GST by 2011, provided the centre could exclude purchase tax. Manpreet Badal was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a conference organised for chairpersons and member secretaries (deputy commissioners) of all the District Planning Committees of Punjab.
SEBI has received feedback from investor associations regarding improving transparency in disclosing the regulatory orders and arbitration awards issued by depositories. Based on the feedback and inputs received from them, in the interest of investors and to improve transparency; all regulatory orders i.e., orders against listed companies, depository participants, trading / clearing members and arbitration awards issued by Depositories need to be made available to investors.
Direct Taxes, now the major resource provider to the Central Government, have grown at an average annual rate of 24 percent in the last five years and have nearly trebled from Rs.1,32,771 crore in financial year 2004-05 to about Rs.3,78,000 crore in financial year 2009-10, increasing its share from 4.1 percent to 6.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
