Indian Economy on Higher Growth Path; Resilient to Both External and Domestic Shocks:FM. Increase in International Crude Oil and Other Commodity Prices is a Matter of Concern. Emphasizes Need to Step up Investment in Agriculture Sector Both by Private and Public Sector to Achieve 4% Growth. Calls for Increase in Private Sector Savings . Infrastructure Financing a Big Challenge and Requires Innovative ideas and New Models . Manufacturing Sector Productivity Needs to be Increased . Finance Minister addresses 83rd AGM of FICCI
The WPI inflation in mineral oils increased to 16.7 per cent in January 2011 from 7.9 per cent in the corresponding period last year. This is mainly because of the rise in crude oil prices (Brent) in international market, which rose to US $96 per barrel in January 2011 from US $77 per barrel in January 2010 and US $45 per barrel in January 2009. The weighted contribution to overall inflation of mineral oils (weight 9.36%) was 19.7 per cent in January 2011 compared to 9 per cent in January last year.
Delhi bench of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (the Tribunal), in the case of DCIT v. Select Holiday Resorts Pvt. Ltd. (ITA Nos. 1184 & 2460/Del/2008) (Judgment Date: 23 December 2010, Assessment Years: 2004-05 & 2005-06) held that where a parent company merged with its subsidiary, the benefit of brought forward and set off of losses under Section 79 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) claimed by the amalgamated company, cannot be disallowed on the grounds that there was a change in the shareholding of more than 51 percent of the share capital of the subsidiary company since there was no change in control and management of amalgamated company pre and post merger.
Several amendments have been carried out in the provisions of the Cenvat Credit Rules (CCR), 2004. The basic thrust of these changes is to broad base and simplify definitions to reduce disputes and to achieve a more realistic attribution when common inputs or input services are used for the manufacture of both dutiable and exempt goods.
The provisions of sections 11A relating to the recovery of duty not levied, short levied, not paid, short paid or erroneously refunded have been redrafted with a view to improve the sequence in which provisions occur and simplify their language. Each sub-section consists of one sentence and conveys a single point. As far as possible, active voice has been used and provisos have been eliminated. In terms of content, the following important amendments have been proposed in this section:
Air-conditioning equipment, panels and refrigeration panels for installation of cold-chain infrastructure for preservation, storage or transport of agricultural produce and apiary, horticultural, dairy, poultry, aquatic & marine produce and meat as well as processing thereof
A number of exemptions from Central Excise duty (about 130 exemption entries) are being withdrawn. These include some cases where the rate of duty is Nil by tariff. A nominal duty of 1% ad valorem is being imposed on these items with the condition that no credit of the duty paid on input and input services is taken.
The standard rate of Central Excise duty for non-POL products has been maintained at 10%. The merit rate of excise duty (CENVAT) for non-petroleum goods has been increased from 4% to 5%. The increased rate would apply to all such goods that hitherto attracted the rate of 4%.
Unless otherwise stated, all changes in rates of duty take effect from the midnight of 28th February/1st March, 2011. A declaration has been made under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931 in respect of clauses 57(a)(i), 57 (b) and 70(a)(i) of the Finance Bill, 2011 so that changes proposed therein take effect from the midnight of 28th February/1st March, 2011. The remaining legislative changes would come into effect only upon the enactment of the Finance Bill, 2010. Retrospective amendments in the provisions of law or notifications issued under the respective Acts shall have the force of law only upon the enactment of the Finance Bill, 2011 but with effect from the date indicated in the relevant clause or Schedule. These dates may be carefully noted.
The First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 is being amended vide Clause 57 of the Bill to give effect to the tariff changes relating to the Union Customs Duties. The basic customs duty rates of 2%, 2.5% and 3% are being unified at the median rate of 2.5%.
