The Annual Policy for 2011-12 is set in conditions significantly different than they were a year ago. Last year’s policy was made in an environment of incipient domestic recovery amidst uncertainty about the state of the global economy, a perception that was reinforced with the precipitation of the Greek sovereign debt crisis a few weeks later. While signs of inflation were visible, they were driven primarily by food. However, food price pressure spilling over into more generalised inflation was clearly a risk as the recovery consolidated and domestic resource utilisation rose to levels which stretched capacities. Throughout the year, the goal of monetary policy was to nurture the recovery in the face of persistent global uncertainty while trying to contain the spillover of supply-side inflation.
MCA has clarified that the revised limits for disclosure of details of employees drawing remuneration in excess of Rs. 5 lacs per month or Rs. 60 lacs per annum under Section 217(2A) of the Act is applicable to all annual reports approved, published and circulated on or after.
As announced today in the Annual Monetary Policy 2011-12, it has been decided to increase the repo rate under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) by 50 basis points from 6.75 per cent to 7.25 per cent with immediate effect. Further, as announced in the Policy, the reverse repo rate under the LAF, determined with a spread of 100 basis points below the repo rate, will stand at 6.25 per cent with immediate effect.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and in partial modification of its directive DBOD.No.Dir.BC.75/13.03.00/2002-03 dated February 28, 2003 as amended from time to time, the Reserve Bank of India, being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby directs that, the rate of interest on domestic and ordinary Non-Resident savings deposits as well as savings deposits under Non-Resident (External) Accounts Scheme shall be 4.0 per cent per annum with immediate effect.
Please refer to the Monetary Policy Statement 2011-12 dated May 3, 2011, in terms of which the repo rate under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) has been increased by 50 basis points from 6.75 per cent to 7.25 per cent with immediate effect. Accordingly, the Standing Liquidity Facilities provided to banks (export credit refinance) and Primary Dealers (PDs) (collateralised liquidity support) from the Reserve Bank would be available at the revised repo rate, i.e., at 7.25 per cent with effect from May 3, 2011.
It has been decided to regulate microfinance sector by the Reserve Bank as a separate category. In this connection, we advise that bank credit to Micro Finance Institutions extended on, or after, April 1, 2011 for on-lending to individuals and also to members of SHGs / JLGs will be eligible for categorisation as priority sector advance under respective categoriesviz., agriculture, micro and small enterprise, and micro credit (for other purposes), as indirect finance, provided not less than 85% of total assets of MFI (other than cash, balances with banks and financial institutions, government securities and money market instruments) are in the nature of “qualifying assets”. In addition, aggregate amount of loan, extended for income generating activity, is not less than 75% of the total loans given by MFIs.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has clarified that only a duly approved agency approved by it will have to be appointed for providing and supervising electronic platform for electronic voting to have a secured electronic platform for capturing accurate voting processes. Accordingly, the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and the Central Depository Services (India) Limited are being approved by the MCA subject to the condition that they obtain a certificate from the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification Directorate (STQC), Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & IT, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010 has been notified and it has come into force with effect from 1/5/2011. FCR Rules 2011 have also come into force from 1/5/2011. Key features of FCRA 2010 include the following- Concept of ‘permanent’ registration done away with; A five-year registration is provided so that dorman organisations do not continue. All existing registered organisations are deemed to be on a five-year validity from now.
ORDER NO. 76 OF 2011 – The following local transfers/postings in the grade of Commissioner/Director of Income Tax are hereby ordered with immediate effect and until further orders:
The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing of the petition filed by the Sahara Group against the orders of the Allahabad High Court which necessitated the company to share full details of investors participating in its fund raising exercise with the market regulator Sebi. A three judges bench headed by the Chief Justice S H Kapadia adjourned the matter for a week after the group’s investment arm Sahara India Real Estate Corporation sought some time to file recent documents.
