The Commerce Ministry is likely to come out with strict norms for SEZ units engaged in recycling of plastic next week in wake of the Environment Ministry’s concern on illegal import of the hazardous waste. Businesses interested in setting up new plastic recycling units in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), would have to invest a minimum of Rs 1 crore in plant and machinery and export 80 per cent of the turnover by the fifth year of their operations.
The government will bring a bill in the monsoon session to seek Parliament’s sanction for the ordinance it issued to end the dispute between Irda and Sebi over regulation of unit-linked plans, or Ulips, of insurance companies. “The ordinance was approved at the highest level by the Cabinet and we are preparing to introduce the bill,” said a senior finance ministry official.
Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL) said it will come out with a database on mortgage defaulters and is also looking at expanding client base to telecom and insurance companies. “We will come up with a database of mortgage defaulters very soon,” CIBIL Managing Director, Mr Arun Thukral said after announcing the launch of a database of fraudulent activities here.
The government today said that Indian accounting standards will converge with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by 2011, even as issues like fair value and depreciation are being ironed out. “We are still working on fair value concepts and other issues like depreciation, but I can assure you that we will stick to the roadmap laid for the convergence of Indian standards with the IFRS,” Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said on the sidelines of an Assocham seminar on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) here.
Nearly four months after giving the in-principle approval for physical settlement in the derivative segment, a final decision on the matter is just round the corner. The discussions between the stock exchanges and the regulatory officials are in the final phase and a decision is expected “within a month”. Meanwhile, options in the currency derivative segment are also likely to be launched “fairly soon”.
India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) has urged the Government to frame a bankruptcy code. Such a code should be introduced if the country wants to develop an infrastructure bond market, Mr S.K. Goel, Chairman and Managing Director, IIFCL, said here on Monday.
A Revised Discussion Paper (RDP) on Direct Taxes Code (DTC) has been released by the CBDT on 15th June, 2010, taking into consideration the vital and critical issues raised by the various stakeholders on the DTC. It is extremely satisfying to note that six of the eleven significant issues identified in the RDP are as per the specific suggestions of the Direct Taxes Committee of the ICAI.
The Government of Maharashtra has introduced a Scheme of Composition („Scheme?) of VAT for registered dealers undertaking construction of flats, dwellings, buildings or premises and transferring them in pursuance of an agreement along with land or interest underlying the land. The rate of Composition under the Scheme shall be 1% of * the aggregate amount specified in the agreement or * the value specified for the purpose of stamp duty in respect of the said agreement, whichever is higher
The finance ministry has set up a five-member task force to frame rules for the proposed Goods and Service Tax (GST). A bill for the GST is likely to be finalised soon. It is likely to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament after the states’ concurrence. Once the legislative amendments are passed by Parliament and assemblies, the Centre will frame the new Act, which will govern the indirect tax structure.
Anil Ambani Group firm Reliance Big Entertainment has challenged levy of service tax on sale of copyrights of movies and other artistic works in the Delhi High Court. A bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Mishra and Justice Manmohan, has issued notices to the Centre, the Central Board of Excise and the Director General of Service Tax.
