20 December 2017

year end review of ministry of finance 2017

Historic year for the Ministry of Finance with significant recognition by Moody’s Investors Service upgrading India’s local and foreign currency issuer ratings after 13 years; India moving up 30 ranks in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report  and visible signs of financial system cleansing by the Demonetization exercise.
Transformational Reforms - Overhauling of Indirect Tax System by the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to replace multiple Central and State taxes and a New Direct Tax Code also initiated to re-write the Income Tax Act.
Recapitalization of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and an Alternative Mechanism for their consolidation. The Financial Inclusion and Social Security Schemes – PMJDY and APY achieved significant milestones
Redefining fund raising by Disinvestment, the Government launched a new Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), BHARAT 22 as a unique blend of 22 stocks of CPSEs, PSBs & strategic holding of SUUTI.
Enhancing the quality of life remained primary goal for Government when it put into implementation the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission to benefit more than 48 Lakh Central Government Employees.

Year End Review – 2017  Ministry of Finance

Major achievements of the Ministry of Finance pertaining to the concerted efforts made by all the five constituent Departments of the Ministry viz. Department of Economic Affairs (DEA); Department of Revenue; Department of Financial Services (DFS); Department of Investment Promotion and Asset Management (DIPAM) and Department of Expenditure (DOE) are as follows:
I . Department of Economic Affairs
  • Overall fundamentals of the economy remained strong for the Year 2017-18
Macroeconomic Indicator
For Year 2017-18
GDP Growth Rate (%)
6.0 (Up to Q2)
CPI
3.6% (Q2)
WPI
3.6% (Q2)
Current Account Deficit
US$ 14.3 billion (Q1)
Trade Deficit
US$ 41.2 billion (Q1)
External Debt to GDP Ratio (%)
20.2
FDI Inflows
US$ 1,350.93 million
(As on October, 2017)
Foreign Exchange Reserves
US$ 401,942.0 million
(As on December 1, 2017)
(Source ; RBI Bulletin)
Manufacturing, electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services and trade, hotels, transport & communication and services related to broadcasting sectors registered growth of over 6.0 percent in Q2 of 2017-18 over Q2 of 2016-17.
  • Moody's Investors Service upgraded Government of India's local and foreign currency issuer ratings to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed the outlook on the rating to stable from positive after a period of 13 years in recognition of the Government’s commitment to macro stability which led to low inflation, declining deficit and prudent external balance along with Government’s fiscal consolidation programme
  • India’s ranking in World Bank’s doing Business Report rose to 100 - 30 places up over its rank of 130 in the Doing Business Report 2017 - highest jump in rank of any country in the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Report, 2018. This made India the only country in South Asia and BRICS economies to feature among most improved economies of the EoDB Report this year.
  • Reversal of the deceleration trend in overall growth, the real GDP growth data for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017-18 showed growth at 6.3 percent, a substantial increase from 5.7 percent in the first quarter. Real GVA growth showed similar increase from 5.6 percent in the first quarter to 6.1 percent in the second quarter. Acceleration in growth this quarter was helped by a rapid growth in manufacturing which increased from 1.2 percent in the first quarter to 7 percent in the Second Quarter. Robust growth of 7.6 percent in electricity and other utilities, and 9.9 percent in trade, transportation and communications also powered this acceleration. Overall, the services sector recorded a growth of 7.1 percent in the second quarter. The rate of growth of gross fixed capital formation also increased from 1.6 percent in the first quarter to 4.7 percent in the second quarter. Real private consumption growth broadly held steady at 6.5 percent. ​
  • One year after the landmark move to cleanse the economy of Black money, 8th November 2017 was a day to recount the successes of the continued operations after Demonetization with High Denomination Notes been brought down by 50% of value in circulation, 50 lakh new bank accounts opened to enable cashless transaction of wages, 26.6% increase in number of taxpayers added from FY 2015-16 to FY 2016-17 and 27.95% increase in number of e-returns filed, the value of IMPS transactions increasing almost 59% from August 2016 to August 2017, 2.24 Lakh shell companies were struck off, undisclosed income worth Rs. 29,213 crore was detected and admitted and revenues of the ULBs across the country increased.
  • Constitution of the Fifteenth Finance Commission was notified on 27th November 2017 to look into issues of  distribution between Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be divided between them;  the principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India and  to review the current status of the finance, deficit, debt levels, cash balances and fiscal discipline efforts of the Union and the States, and to recommend a fiscal consolidation roadmap for sound fiscal management, taking into account the responsibility of the Central Government and State Governments to adhere to appropriate levels of general and consolidated government debt and deficit levels, while fostering higher inclusive growth in the country, guided by the principles of equity, efficiency and transparency.
  • The Logistics Sector was granted Infrastructure status in the 14th Institutional Mechanism (IM) Meeting held on 10th November, 2017 to meet the need for integrated Logistics sector development in view of the fact that the logistics cost in India is very high compared to developed countries. It will thus enable the Logistics Sector to avail infrastructure lending at easier terms with enhanced limits, access to larger amounts of funds as External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), access to longer tenor funds from insurance companies and pension funds and be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company Limited (IIFCL).
  • As a significant milestone in the operationalization of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), NIIF signed its first investment agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to mobilize 1 billion USD over the long term into the fund.
  • Further to this, an Investors’ Roundtable was organised by the Department of Economic Affairs in Singapore to showcase to foreign investors slew of investor friendly reforms undertaken by the Government. Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley visited Singapore, USA and Bangladesh inviting foreign investment for India primarily in the Infrastructure Sector.
  • India also hosted the 9th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue52nd Annual Meeting of African Development Bank (AfDB), 2017 and the 2nd Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) in New Delhi. India will also host the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at Mumbai on 25th and 26th June 2018.
  • Other significant initiatives of the Department of Economic Affairs also included revision of the base year of All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2004-05 to 2011-12, release of the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP), institutionalization of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), approval for the phasing out of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), revision of the guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) Scheme and the country’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) becoming operational at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT),Gandhi Nagar (Gujarat) in April 2017.
II . Department of Revenue
GST
Key features
  • Goods and Services Tax (GST) was rolled out on the midnight of 30 June 2017 and came into effect from 1 July 2017.
  • GST is administered by both Centre and States and has subsumed several state and central indirect taxes such as State VAT, Central Excise Duty, Purchase Tax and Entry Tax.
  • GST is bringing transparency and accountability in business transactions along with ensuring ease of doing business and rationalization in tax rates.
  • GST has removed the hurdles in inter-State transactions resulting in the setting up of a common market.
  • GST allows taxpayers to take credit of taxes paid on inputs (input tax credit) and utilize the same for the payment of output tax.
GST evolving and responding to needs of the hour
  • Subsequent to the rollout of GST, 22 States in India abolished their check posts for smooth movement of goods across the country on 3rd July 2017.
  • Goods and Services Network (GSTN) released a simple excel based template to facilitate taxpayers in preparing and filing their monthly returns with maximum ease and minimal cost. The template is available on GST Common portal and can be used by taxpayers to collate all invoice related data on a regular basis. The offline tool was unveiled on 17th July 2017.
  • The Government of India set up a Central Monitoring Committee on 21st July 2017, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, to monitor the impact of GST.  
  • On 16th November 2017, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of National Anti-profiteering Authority, an apex body, to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumer. The authority, led by Shri B.N. Sharma, is playing a key role in bolstering the confidence of consumers with regards to GST.
Highlights from GST Council meetings (April – December)
  • GST council was constituted on 15 September 2016 and has conducted 24th meetings since its formation
  • This financial year commenced with 14th GST Council meeting held on 18th and 19th May 2017 at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The fitment of rates of goods were discussed, and the Council approved the GST rates for goods at nil rate, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. Also, rates of GST Compensation Cess for certain goods was also approved. Eighteen sectoral groups were constituted to seek feedback from the trade and industry and ensure smooth launch of GST.
  • In its 15th meeting, the GST Council finalised the rates of tax and cess to be levied on the commodities remaining after the fitment exercise in the 14th GST Council Meeting. Also, approval of amendments to the draft GST Rules and related Forms was on the agenda.
  • In its 16th meeting, held on 11th June 2017, the GST Council approved service tax exemptions and GST rated for services.
  • In the 17th meeting held on 18 June 107, the GST Council announced relaxation in return filing and relaxation in GST rates for certain services such as accommodation in hotels.
  • In the 18th Meeting held on 30th June 2017, the GST Council reduced tax rate on fertilizers to 5% from 12% and cut the tax rate on exclusive tractor parts to 18% from 28%. 
  • In the 19th Meeting held on 17th July 2017, took stock of the implementation of GST and increased the cess on cigarettes.
  • In the 20th meeting held on 5 August 2017, the Council recommended that Central Government move legislative amendments required for increasing the maximum ceiling of cess leviable on certain motor vehicles.
  • In the 21st meeting held on 9th September 2017, the Council revised the schedule for return filing and set up a Group of Ministers for monitoring the IT challenges.
  • Subsequent to the 21st GST Council meeting, a Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted to monitor and resolve the IT challenges faced in the implementation of GST. Also, a Committee on Exports was constituted under the convenorship of the Revenue Secretary to look at the issues of export sector and recommend to the GST Council suitable strategy for helping the export sector in the post-GST scenario.
  • GST Council, in its 22nd Meeting, announced a slew of relief and incentives for exporters to enhance the export competiveness of India.
  • GST Council, in its 23rd meeting, slashed GST rate from 28% to 18% on 178 items to bring relief to consumers by way of reduction in price of these goods.
  • The Council also proposed changes in the Composition Scheme such as increasing the eligibility for composition to Rs. 1.5 crore, and uniform tax rate of 1% for manufacturers and traders. The changes will be implemented after the necessary amendment of the CGST Act and SGST Acts.
  • GST Council, in its 24th Meeting held through video conferencing on Saturday, 16th December, 2017 decided that Inter-State e-way Bill will be made compulsory from 1st of February, 2018; the System will be ready to roll-out on a trial basis latest by 16th January, 2018;Trade and transporters can start using this system on a voluntary basis from 16th January, 2018; The Uniform System of e-way Bill for Inter-State as well as Intra-State movement will be implemented across the country by 1st June, 2018.
Direct tax
  • Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified new Safe Harbour Regime on 8th June, 2017 to minimise transfer pricing disputes, provide certainty to taxpayers, align safe harbour margins with industry standards, and to enlarge the scope of safe harbour transactions.
  • Aaykar Setu, a new taxpayer service module, was launched on 10th July 2017 to provide better taxpayer services and minimise the direct physical interface between assesses and tax assessing authorities. The module provides live chat facility, compiles various tax tools, generates dynamic updates and includes important links to several processes of the ITD.
  • Income Tax Department undertook a slew of measures to widen the tax base and bring about efficiency, transparency and fairness in tax administration. Some of the initiatives include – introduction of Single Page ITR-1 (SAHAJ) Form for taxpayers with income up to Rs. 50 lakhs and slashing of corporate tax to 25% for companies with turnover of up to Rs. 50 crore. With these initiatives, the numbers of taxpayers increased significantly from 4.72 crore in F.Y. 2012-13 to 6.26 crore during F.Y. 2016-17 as of 18th September 2017.
  • As part of the Government’s efforts to widen the tax base, Direct Tax collections for F.Y. 2017-2018 reached Rs. 4.39 lakh crore up to October 2017, accounting for 15.2% growth from the corresponding period last year.
  • Government constituted a Task Force on 22nd November 2017 to review the Income-tax Act, 1961 and draft a new Direct Tax Law in consonance with economic needs of the country.
Demonetisation and Operation Clean Money
Income Tax Department (ITD) has been undertaking extensive enforcement action including search and seizure, and surveys largely based on the information received during the demonetisation period. 
  • ITD launched Operation Clean Money (OCM) on 31st January 2017 to leverage technology for e-verification of cash deposits made during the demonetization period i.e. 9th November to 30th December 2016. The operation involves the use of advanced data analytics, allowing for optimization of government resources and causing minimum inconvenience to the taxpayers.
  • Extensive enforcement action by the Income Tax Department (ITD) during 9th November 2016 to 28thFebruary 2017 has led to seizures worth over Rs 818 crore and detection of undisclosed income of over Rs 9,334 crore. The impact of Government action translated to an increase of 21.7 % in the returns of Income received in FY 2016-17, 16% growth in Gross Collection (the highest in the last five years), 14% Growth in Net Collection (the highest in last three years) and above 18%, 25% and 22% growth in Personal Income Tax, Regular Assessment Tax and Self-assessment Tax respectively.
  • The Income tax Department conducted more than 1100 searches and surveys and issued over 5100 verification notices in the cases of suspicious high value cash deposits or related activities during 9 Nov 2016-10 Jan 2017. With these actions, the undisclosed income of over Rs. 5,400 crore was detected.
  • As part of the second phase of Operation Clean Money, ITD leveraged the information received under the Statement of Financial Transactions to identify 5.56 lakh new persons whose tax profiles were inconsistent with the cash deposits done by them during demonetization as of July 2017.
  • Subsequent to demonetisation, 91 lakh taxpayers were added to the tax net as of May 2017 as a result of action taken by the Income Tax Department.
  • A Multi-Agency Group (MAG) was constituted during November 2017 to facilitate co-ordinated and speedy investigation of cases pertaining to Paradise Papers and Panama Papers.
Combatting corruption and pilferage
  • A task force was constituted in July 2017 to effectively tackle the malpractices by shell companies.
  • The Government of India undertook various measures to curb benami transactions across the country. Some of the measures include setting up of 24 Benami Prohibition Units (BPUs) for taking effective action under the Benami Act and empowering relevant authorities to attach and eventually confiscate benami properties.
  • Department of Financial Services advised banks in September 2017 to put restrictions on bank accounts of over two lakh struck-off companies and use enhanced diligence while dealing with companies.
  • The Income Tax Department intensified actions under the new Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 (the Act) w.e.f. 1st November, 2016 and framed the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Rules, 2016.
III        Department of Financial Services (DFS)
In order to strengthen the banks, which are the key pillars of the economy, the  Government decided to take a massive step to recapitalise PSBs in a front-loaded manner, with a view to support credit growth and job creation entailing mobilization of capital of about Rs. 2,11,000 crore over the next two years, through budgetary provisions of Rs. 18,139 crore, Re-capitalisation Bonds to the tune of Rs. 1,35,000 crore, and the balance through raising of capital by banks from the market while diluting government equity.
On 23rd August 2017, Cabinet gave in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through anAlternative Mechanism (AM). The decision would facilitate consolidation among the Nationalised Banks to create strong and competitive banks. Subsequently on 1st Nov 2017, the composition of the Alternative Mechanism committee for consolidation of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) was finalized.  Under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley and two other Members - Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Coal and Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Defence, proposals from banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation will be received and a Report on the proposals cleared by it will be sent to the Cabinet every three months.
The Government also undertook some major legislative changes to facilitate recovery and resolution of stressed assets. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 was enacted as a unified framework for resolving insolvency and bankruptcy matters to put in place safeguards to prevent unscrupulous, undesirable persons from misusing or vitiating the provisions of the Code.
  • The Due Diligence Framework of the code was strengthened - Prior to approval of a Resolution Plan, the Resolution Applicants, including promoters, will be put to a stringent test with respect to their credit worthiness and credibility
  • It registered National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) as an Information Utility (IU) under the IBBI (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017
  • It also notified the IBBI (Grievance and Complaint Handling Procedure) Regulations, 2017 in the Gazette of India on 7th December, 2017.
  • Loans extended under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) during 2017-18 crossed the target of Rs. 121450.31 crore till 8th December 2017. Under the scheme a loan of upto Rs. 50000 is given under sub-scheme ‘Shishu’ between Rs. 50,000 to 5.0 Lakhs under sub-scheme ‘Kishore’ and between 5.0 Lakhs to 10.0 Lakhs under sub-scheme ‘Tarun’. About 6.28 crore loans were extended to women entrepreneurs till 21st July 2017. 76% of the borrowers under PMMY were women entrepreneurs.
  • The number of total bank accounts opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)became 30.69 crore as on 29th November 2017. The number of zero balance accounts declined from 76.81% in September 2014 to less than 20% in Sept 2017. Also, more than 23.08 crore RuPay cards were issued to the account holders along with an overdraft facility of Rs. 5000/- till 29thNovember 2017. Also, all RuPay ATM-cum-Debit Cardholders were made eligible for accidental death and permanent disability insurance cover.
  • Over 69 lacs subscribers joined Atal Pension Yojana, flagship program of the Government of India under financial inclusion and financial security, with contribution of Rs. 2690 crore till October, 2017.
  • Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) to provide social security during old age and to protect elderly persons aged 60 and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions.
  • Till August 2017, about 52.4 crore unique Aadhaar numbers are linked to 73.62 crore accounts in India. As a result, the poor are able to make payments electronically. Every month now, about 7 crore successful payments are made by the poor using their Aadhaar identification.
  • Maximum age of joining National Pension Scheme (NPS) was increased from the existing 60 years to 65 years under NPS- Private Sector

IV        Department of Disinvestment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)

  • The Central Government raised a total of Rs. 52,389.56 crore through disinvestment till 15thDecember, 2017 in the current Financial Year 2017-18.

  • With the aim of using Exchange Traded Funds as a vehicle for divestment of shares to meet the target for CPSE’s disinvestment in 2017-18 set at Rs 72,500 crore, the Government launched a new Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) by the name BHARAT 22 on 14th November 2017, managed by ICICI Prudential, targeting an initial amount of about Rs.8,000 crore. Bharat-22 is a unique blend of 22 stocks of CPSE's, PSB's & strategic holding of SUUTI. Compared to energy heavy CPSE ETF, Bharat 22 is a well-diversified portfolio with 6 sectors (Basic Materials, Energy, Finance, FMCG, Industrials and Utilities). The strength of this ETF lies in the specially created Index S&P BSE BHARAT-22 INDEX and has been demonstrated in its performance from the time of its announcement in August 2017 wherein it has out-performed the NIFTY-50 and Sensex and raised about Rs.14,500 crore.

  • Some of the other major disinvestments successfully done by the Department in the FY 2017-18 are,

NAME OF CPSES
% OF GOIS SHARES DISINVESTED
RECEIPTS (In Crores)
GOIS SHAREHOLDING POST DISINVESTMENT
OIL
5.6
1135.26
66.13%
NALCO
9.2125
1191.73
65.38%
HUDCO
10.193
1207.35
89.81%
SUUTI
Strategic Disinvestment
41.53.65
-
NIA
11.65
7653.32
85.44%
NTPC
6.63
9117.92
63.11%
GIC
12.5
9704.16
85.78%
(Source – DIPAM site)
  • On 16th August 2017, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, had approved the proposal of Department of Investment and public Asset Management (DIPAM) for the strategic disinvestment (i) For setting-up an Alternative Mechanism (AM) consisting of the Finance Minister, Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Minister of Administrative Department, to decide on the matters relating to terms and conditions of the sale from the stage of inviting of Express of Interests (Eols) till inviting of financial bid; and (ii) For empowering the Core Group of Secretaries (CGD) to take policy decisions with regard to procedural issues and to consider deviations as necessary from time to time for effective implementation of decisions of CCEA. The approval will help in speedy completion of strategic disinvestment transactions.

V.  Department of Expenditure (DOE)

  • General Financial Rules (GFRs), 2017 were released on 7th March, 2017 to enable an improved, efficient and effective framework of fiscal management while providing the necessary flexibility to facilitate timely delivery of services.
  • 7th CPC - On 28th June 2017, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the recommendations of the 7th CPC on allowances with some modifications. The revised rates of the allowances came into effect from 1st July, 2017 benefitting more than 48 lakh Central Government Employees.

While approving the recommendations of the 7th CPC, the Cabinet had decided to set-up the Committee on Allowances (CoA) in view of substantial changes in the existing provisions and a number of representations received. The 7th CPC adopted a three-pronged approach in examining a total of 197 allowances which involved an assessment of the need for continuation of each allowance, appropriateness of the set of people covered by the allowance and rationalisation which involved clubbing of allowances with similar objectives. Based on the examination on these lines, the 7th CPC recommended that 53 allowances be abolished and 37 be subsumed in an existing or a newly proposed allowance. For most of the allowances that were retained, the 7th CPC recommended a raise commensurate with inflation as reflected in the rates of Dearness Allowance (DA). A new paradigm was evolved to administer the allowances linked to risk and hardship. The myriad allowances, their categories and sub–categories pertaining to civilians employees, CAPF and defence personnel were fitted into a table called the Risk and Hardship Matrix (R&H Matrix).

Promoting Digital Platforms
  • Monitoring of funds through PFMS – On 27th October 2017, the Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley made the use of Public Finance Management System (PFMS) mandatory for all the Central Sector Schemes of the Government of India to help in tracking and monitoring the flow of funds to the implementing agencies. These Central Sector Schemes (CSS) with a Budgetary Outlay of Rs.6,66,644 crore covered over 31% of the total Central Government expenditure during the Financial Year 2017-18PFMS, with the capability of providing real time information on resource availability, flows and actual utilization has tremendous potential to improve programme/financial management, reduce the float in the financial systems by enabling ‘just in time’ releases and also the Government borrowings with direct impact on interest costs to the Government.

  • Mobile friendly format website: The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley also launched the new website of the Department of Expenditure. As part of the Digital India Programme, the up-graded common landing webpage of the new website of the Department of Expenditure is a major step towards standardization and improvement in presentation and content delivery using the Content Management Framework (CMF).

  • The Controller General of Accounts (CGA), launched the upgraded version of Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) website (www.cpao.nic.in) on 30th Nov, 2017 primarily to cater to the needs of central civil pensioners and other stakeholders in the Ministries/Departments and Banks. It provides a single window for both accessing pension related information and facilitating grievance Redressal of pensioners.

Public Expenditure Management in the North Eastern States

  • The Department of Expenditure, also took several initiatives in the area of Public Expenditure Management in the North Eastern States with special focus on capacity building of the State Government officials and integration of the State Treasuries with the Union Public Financial Management System (PFMS) in order to improve the efficiency and transparency of public expenditure. The Government also released advance grant-in-aid of Rs.51.30 crore to Arunachal Pradesh for rescue and relief operations on account of flash floods

Public Expenditure on Infrastructure

  • The Government has consistently increased Public Expenditure on Infrastructure in order to boost employment and provide renewed impetus to economic growth. The Government of India received Rs.7,67,327 crore (47.9% of corresponding BE 17-18 of Total Receipts) upto October 2017 comprising Rs. 6,33,617 crore Tax Revenues (Net to Centre), Rs. 95,151 crore of Non-Tax Revenues and Rs.38,559 crore of Non-Debt Capital Receipts. Non-Debt Capital Receipts consists of Recovery of Loans (Rs. 8,394 crore) and Disinvestment of PSUs (Rs. 30,165 crore). Rs.3,37280 crore has been transferred to the State Governments as Devolution of Share of Taxes by Government of India in this period.

  • There has been a Special thrust on key development sectors including Rural Roads, Housing, Railways, Power, Highways and Digital Infrastructure. The CAPEX target of the Government of India for 2017-18 was Rs. 3.09 lakhs crore, which is 31.28% higher than last year, out of which Rs.1.46 lakhs crore was spent on capital works till September 2017. The Government launched a new Umbrella program for Road Building of 83,677 km of roads involving CAPEX of Rs.6.92 lakhs crore over next 5 years with an outlay of Rs.5,35,000 crore that would generate 14.2 crore man-days of jobs.

6 December 2017

राजनीतिः चाबहार की अहमियत

राजनीतिः चाबहार की अहमियत
चाबहार होकर भारत को अफगानिस्तान जाने का एक रास्ता मिला है। वहीं अफगानिस्तान का व्यापार भी दुनिया के बाकी हिस्सों से बढ़ेगा। लेकिन सबसे ज्यादा लाभार्थी ईरान होगा। भविष्य में ईरान इसे उत्तर-दक्षिण परिवहन गलियारे से जोड़ेगा जो यूरोप तक जाता है। ईरान की भविष्य की योजना चीन के ‘वन बेल्ट वन रोड’ के लिए चुनौती है।
भारत-ईरान संबंधों में उतार-चढ़ाव के बीच तीन दिसंबर को चाबहार बंदरगाह के पहले चरण का उद्घाटन हो गया। चाबहार के पहले चरण की शुरुआत भारत-ईरान संबंधों में भी एक नए अध्याय की शुरुआत है। ईरान के राष्ट्रपति हसन रूहानी इस बंदरगाह का उद्घाटन किया। अब भारत, पाकिस्तान को छोड़, सीधे अफगानिस्तान और मध्य एशिया से व्यापारिक रिश्ते कायम कर सकेगा। बंदरगाह की शुरुआत पश्चिम और मध्य पूर्व एशिया की कूटनीति को सीधे प्रभावित करेगी। क्योंकि अब ईरान का कद यूरेशिया की सीमा तक बढ़ गया है। पाकिस्तान तो चिंतित है ही, चिंता चीन को भी होगी।
ईरान इस बंदरगाह के व्यापारिक इस्तेमाल से जहां मजबूत आर्थिक शक्ति बनेगा, वहीं चीन द्वारा पाकिस्तान के तट पर विकसित ग्वादर बंदरगाह के लिए चुनौती भी। मध्य एशिया और पश्चिम एशिया की कूटनीति में सऊदी अरब के नेतृत्व वाले सुन्नी गठबंधन को लगातार चुनौती दे रहा ईरान इस समय किसी को भी आंख दिखाने की स्थिति में है। सीरिया, यमन, लेबनान में अपने सफल हस्तक्षेप के बाद ईरान ने दुनिया को यह संदेश दिया है कि पश्चिम एशिया और मध्य-पूर्व एशिया में उसे कमजोर आंकना ठीक नहीं है।
चाबहार होकर भारत को अफगानिस्तान जाने का एक रास्ता मिला है। वहीं अफगानिस्तान का व्यापार भी दुनिया के बाकी हिस्सों से बढ़ेगा। लेकिन सबसे ज्यादा लाभार्थी ईरान होगा। भविष्य में ईरान इसे उत्तर-दक्षिण परिवहन गलियारे से जोड़ेगा जो यूरोप तक जाता है। ईरान की भविष्य की योजना चीन के ‘वन बेल्ट वन रोड’ के लिए चुनौती है। ईरान दुनिया को यह बताने में कामयाब रहा है कि ओमान की खाड़ी और हिंदी महासागर से मध्य एशिया और यूरोप तक पहुंचने का एक महत्त्वपूर्ण रास्ता ईरान है। चाबहार चीन के अलावा अमेरिका के लिए भी एक संदेश है। क्योंकि ईरान से खराब संबंध ने अमेरिका को पाकिस्तान पर निर्भर बना दिया। आज भी अमेरिका अफगानिस्तान में नाटो सैनिकों तक सैन्य साजो-सामान पहुंचाने के लिए कराची बंदरगाह पर निर्भर है। अमेरिका की इसी कमजोरी का लाभ पाकिस्तान ने अकसर उठाया है।
चाबहार के पहले चरण के उद््घाटन ने पाकिस्तान की चिंता बढ़ाई है। भारत को अफगानिस्तान तक पहुंचने का आसान रास्ता मिल गया है। पाकिस्तान का आरोप है कि भारत चाबहार के रास्ते अफगानिस्तान पहुंच पाकिस्तान को घेरेगा। भारत पाकिस्तान को दोनों सीमाओं पर घेरने की योजना में है। पाकिस्तान और चीन दोनों मजबूरी में चाबहार में घुसपैठ करना चाहते हैं। उधर ईरान संतुलन साधने की रणनीति पर है। अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति डोनाल्ड ट्रंप ईरान के प्रति लगातार सख्त हो रहे हैं। सऊदी अरब के दबाव में वे ईरान से हुए परमाणु करार को एकतरफा रद््द करने की बात कर रहे हैं। यही कारण है कि चाबहार खोलने का मतलब यह नहीं है कि ईरान भारत के प्रति खासा उदार हो गया है। ईरान भारत से अपनेसंबंधों को व्यावहारिकता के आधार पर तय करेगा। ईरान की व्यावहारिक कूटनीति ने उसे इराक, सीरिया और लेबनान में मजबूत किया। कतर जैसा सुन्नी देश सऊदी अरब से विद्रोह कर ईरान से संबंध बढ़ाने को तरजीह दे रहा है।
भारत, आस्ट्रेलिया, जापान और अमेरिका के चतुर्भुज गठबंधन पर ईरान की नजर है। ईरान खुले पर तौर पर भारत-अमेरिका की बढ़ती नजदीकियों पर कोई प्रतिक्रिया नहीं दे रहा है, लेकिन व्यवहार में वह भारत को समय-समय पर झटका देने में संकोच नहीं करता। ईरान ने फरजाद बी गैस क्षेत्र से गैस निकालने का अधिकार भारतीय कंपनी ओएनजीसी-विदेश को देने के बजाय एक रूसी कंपनी को दे दिया। कूटनीति के जानकारों के अनुसार भारत को ईरान ने जानबूझ कर झटका दिया। जबकि ओएनजीसी विदेश लिमिटेड ने इस गैस क्षेत्र में दिलचस्पी दिखाई थी।
गौरतलब है कि इस गैस क्षेत्र की खोज भारतीय कंपनी ने की थी। ईरान ने भारत को झटका देते हुए तर्क दिया कि गैस क्षेत्र की खोज और अनुसंधान तक का अधिकार भारतीय कंपनी के पास है। इसलिए गैस निकालने का काम वह रूसी कंपनी को दे रहा हैं। हालांकि भारत ने इस गैस क्षेत्र में 11 अरब डॉलर के निवेश का प्रस्ताव दिया था। यही नहीं, भारत-अमेरिका की बढ़ती नजदीकियों के मद््देनजर ईरान ने भारत को तेल सौदों में दी गई कुछ छूट भी वापस ले ली थी।
दक्षिण पूर्व एशिया में अमेरिका के साथ अहम सहयोगी की भूमिका निभा रहे भारत को रूस-ईरान गठजोड़ पर ध्यान रखना होगा। क्योंकि ईरान की नाराजगी भारत की परेशानी का सबब बन जाएगी। अफगानिस्तान से लेकर मध्य एशिया तक के व्यापारिक रास्ते भारत के लिए ईरान ही खोल सकता है। पाकिस्तान भारत के लिए अफगानिस्तान का रास्ता आज भी खोलने को तैयार नहीं है। वैसे में भारत के लिए चाबहार के अलावा कोई और दूसरा रास्ता नहीं है। भारत को यह सावधानी बरतनी होगी कि यहां चीन और पाकिस्तान घुसपैठ करने को तैयार हैं।
अगर मध्य एशिया और पश्चिम एशिया में भारत को अपने महत्त्व को बनाए रखना है तो ईरान से संबंध मधुर रखने ही होंगे। सऊदी अरब के तमाम अहसानों के बावजूद पाकिस्तान ईरान से संबंध खराब करने को तैयार नहीं है। पाकिस्तान ईरान के महत्त्व को समझता है। पाकिस्तान की एक बड़ी सीमा ईरान से लगती है। पाकिस्तान अच्छी तरह जानता है कि इस समय अफगान-तालिबान के कमांडरों की ईरान में काफी घुसपैठ है। अफगान-तालिबान के नेता ईरान के संपर्क में है। इसका खुलासा अमेरिकी मीडिया ने भी किया है।
चीन की चिंता अलग है। चीन-पाकिस्तान आर्थिक कॉरिडोर का एक बड़ा हिस्सा पाकिस्तान के बलूचिस्तान प्रांत में है, जिसकी सीमा ईरान के साथ लगती है। ग्वादर बंदरगाह भी बलूचिस्तान में स्थित है। ईरान से खराब संबंध सीधे चीनी निवेश को प्रभावित करेगा। बलूच विद्रोही पहले ही चीन-पाकिस्तान आर्थिक कॉरिडोर का विरोध कर रहे हैं। यही कारण है कि पाकिस्तान आतंकवाद के खिलाफ सऊदी अरब के नेतृत्व में बने 41 देशों के संयुक्त सैन्य गठबंधन में शामिल होने के बावजूद ईरान से अपने संबंधों को मधुर बनाए हुए है। इस गठबंधन में सीरिया, ईरान और इराक नहीं हैं। ईरान इस गठबंधन का घोर विरोधी है।
अफगानिस्तान भी ईरान की बढ़ती ताकत को समझ रहा है। अफगानिस्तान को पता है कि ईरान शुरू से ही उसके आंतरिक मामलों में दखल देता रहा है। क्वेटा-कंधार-अश्काबाद आर्थिक गलियारा जो पाकिस्तान से अफगानिस्तान के रास्ते तुर्कमेनिस्तान जाता है, उस पर ईरान की नजर काफी समय से है। यह आर्थिक गलियारा ईरान की सीमा से लगते हुए तुर्कमेनिस्तान को जाता है। इस गलियारे पर कब्जा करने की कोशिश पाकिस्तान ने भी की, लेकिन ईरान ने उसे सफल नहीं होने दिया। ईरान समय-समय पर इस गलियारे पर नियंत्रण के लिए स्थानीय अफगान आबादी, तालिबान और अन्य गुटों को आर्थिक और सैन्य मदद देता रहा है। अफगानिस्तान में इस समय ईरान फिर सक्रिय है। हाल ही में पश्चिमी मीडिया में इस तरह की खबरें आई हैं।
खबरों के मुताबिक अफगान-तालिबान के लड़ाके ईरानी सेना से प्रशिक्षण ले रहे हैं। वे क्वेटा से सीधे ईरान की सीमा में जाते हैं। उन्हें आर्थिक मदद भी मिलती है। अफगानिस्तान के फरह में नाटो सेना और तालिबान की लड़ाई में मारे गए तालिबानी लड़ाकों के बीच कुछ ईरानी सैनिकों के शव भी मिले। खबरों के मुताबिक अफगानिस्तान के हेलमंड, कंधार, हेरात प्रांतों में ईरानी सैनिक सीधे हस्तक्षेप कर रहे हैं। इसके बावजूद अफगानिस्तान के राष्ट्रपति अशरफ घनी ईरान से अच्छे संबंधों की वकालत कर रहे हैं, क्योंकि अफगानिस्तान को बाहरी दुनिया से व्यापारिक पहुंच के लिए चाबहार बंदरगाह की जरूरत है। अफगान-पाक संबंध इस कदर खराब है कि पाकिस्तान अफगान सीमा की बाड़बंदी में लग गया है।

The need to rethink skilling India

The need to rethink skilling India
Skill training should be viewed as a complementary part of mainstream education, rather than being regarded as an inferior alternative
Young and aspirational, the millennial generation that makes up about 40% of India’s population has long been regarded as the saviour and driver of future economic growth. Yet, the gap between the productive labour force and the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities available to them continues to widen. The fourth Industrial Revolution has already made its mark on certain sectors. The economic turmoil that could be brought on by further large-scale disruption should be a cause of concern.
India’s status as an information technology (IT) powerhouse has fostered the false hope that the nation could be saved from future disruption. It should be noted, however, that the global appeal of the Indian IT industry has been the labour cost arbitrage available to multinational corporations looking to capitalize on a young, educated, English-speaking population. Low wages cannot drive economic growth or foster innovation, and the sector’s professionals are easily replaceable if they ask for higher pay or wish to move up the ladder.
With prestigious and highly regarded Indian sectors such as IT amounting to little more than cyber “coolies”, the manufacturing and agricultural sectors are in an even more precarious situation. Much of India’s workforce is already hampered with outdated and irrelevant skills. As technology continues to surge forward in leaps and bounds, both blue- and white-collar jobs will become increasingly sparse.
To be fair, policymakers recognize the problem and have taken steps to combat it. The “Skilling India” programme aimed at accelerating the pace of skill development, creating new employment opportunities and reforming India’s archaic labour ecosystem is a positive step. Yet the challenges faced by the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) are complex and varied.
Encumbered with the Herculean challenge of skilling 400 million young Indians by 2022, the MSDE is forced to coordinate with 22 departments and ministries at the national level, and many more at the sub-national levels. The MSDE also must account for the possibility of intra-state migration, rapid urbanization and possible changes in social fabric as populations react to new job opportunities.
Fulfilling the great expectations set for the MSDE seems unlikely unless certain changes are made. A prime example of the worst-case scenario can be seen with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), an autonomous entity functioning under the MSDE. Tasked specifically with the responsibility of skilling 10 million people by 2020, the NSDC has struggled to achieve its goal. If India wishes to avoid economic stagnation and societal upheaval, additional policy measures must be undertaken to cut through bureaucratic red tape and bring clarity to the policy framework. Creating a coherent organizational structure is the first step—the NSDC, for example, has been tasked with managing the financing processes while also implementing the skilling programmes. Separating the two tasks and allowing the ministry of finance to manage the financial aspects would allow the NSDC to focus on its core competencies, allowing it to be more effective and efficient.
It is also imperative that the MSDE focus on implementing a multi-skilling aspect to its training programme moving forward. As job markets evolve at unprecedented rates, it is incumbent upon the MSDE to provide its trainees with more than one way to earn a living. Additionally, the ministry should also explore the possibility of programmes aimed at skilling and reskilling older “educated” populations that might be left behind owing to disruption and technological advances.
Furthermore, the curriculum and education system offered also needs to be overhauled. Industry sources claim that close to 90% of trainees have limited understanding of the business sectors they are entering. For many skill programme graduates, the training does very little to prepare them for their day-to-day jobs.
Targeted initiatives focused on updating skills can help ensure that the training benefits its intended audience. A solutions-based approach, where instructors employ case studies and present relevant problems, would provide students with a holistic education, allowing them to compete at both the national and international levels.
Implementation of licensing and regulation procedures can also help boost the Indian labour force’s chances globally. Most developed nations have systems in place to ensure that electricians, plumbers, agricultural machine operators and other skilled trade workers update their skills regularly through the licensing and regulatory mechanisms. Implementing such a system without creating additional layers of burdensome bureaucracy might be challenging, but could also be a key difference marker for the Indian labour force moving forward.
Cutting away excessive bureaucratic fat, implementing structural changes to the pedagogy of the skill training system, and installing licensing and regulatory mechanisms are all important steps to help reskill India. The most important change, however, needs to happen on a cultural level. Skill training should be viewed as a complementary part of mainstream education, rather than being regarded as an inferior alternative. Gainful employment through skilled trades needs to be embraced by the wider Indian public and given the respectability and opportunity it deserves, for true change to be brought about. Otherwise, India’s youth will be relegated to the same conditions that their grandparents were subject to.

first woman Secretary General of the Lok Sabha.

Snehlata Shrivastava, a 1982-batch retired IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was on Wednesday appointed the first woman Secretary General of the Lok Sabha. The appointment was made by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
.........Belonging to the Madhya Pradesh cadre (1982 batch), she is currently Secretary, Justice, in the Law Ministry. She would assume charge on December 1. Shrivastav would be the first woman to be appointed to the post, although the Rajya Sabha has had a woman secretary-general — B S Rama Devi — in the past, who also served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh after retirement.
The secretaries-general of the two Houses enjoy the rank of the Cabinet Secretary. Mishra, her predecessor, was also a serving IAS officer when he was appointed as the Secretary-General in 2014.
Q. Find incorrect statement(s) about Secretary General of Lok Sabha?
No woman has ever held this position.
The Secretary general of Lok Sabha is ex-officio secretary general of Rajya Sabha as well.
Secretary general enjoys rank of a cabinet Secretary.
In the table of precedence, LS Secretary general is ranked higher than UPSC Chairman but lower than CAG.
Answer codes
Only 1 and 4
Only 2 and 3
Only 1, 2 and 4
None of the given statement

Level of Urbanisation

Level of Urbanisation
Among all the States and Union territories, the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union territory of Chandigarh are most urbanized with 97.5 percent and 97.25 percent urban population respectively, followed by Daman and Diu (75.2 percent) and Puducherry (68.3 percent).
Among States, Goa is now the most urbanised State with 62.2 percent urban population, a significant increase since 2001 when urban population of Goa was 49.8%. Another significant instance of rapid urbanisation is that of Kerala, its urban population is now 47.7 per cent, while a decade ago it was just 25.9 percent. Among the North-Eastern States, Mizoram is most urbanised with 51.5 per cent urban population, though in terms of absolute contribution to total urban population in the country, Mizoram’s contribution is just 0.1 percent. Similarly Sikkim, which was just 11.0 urbanised a decade ago became almost 25 percent urbanised in 2011. Among major states, Tamil Nadu continues to be the most urbanized state with 48.4 percent of the population living in urban areas followed now by Kerala (47.7 per cent) upstaging Maharashtra (45.2 percent).
The proportion of urban population continues to be the lowest in Himachal Pradesh with 10.0 per cent followed by Bihar with 11.3 percent, Assam (14.1 percent) and Orissa (16.7 percent).
In terms of absolute number of persons living in urban areas, Maharashtra continues to lead with 50.8 million persons which comprises 13.5 percent of the total urban population of the country. Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 44.4 million, followed by Tamil Nadu at 34.9 million.
Urban Growth
In India out of the total population of 1210.2 million as on 1st March, 2011, about 377.1 million are in urban areas. The net addition of population in urban areas over the last decade is 91.0 million.
The percentage of urban population to the total population of the country stands at 31.6. There has been an increase 3.35 percentage points in the proportion of urban population in the country during 2001-2011.
The provisional results of Census 2011 reveals that there is an increase of 2774 towns comprising 242 Statutory and 2532 Census towns over the decade. Growth rate of population in urban areas was 31.8%.
Further the number of million plus cities/urban agglomeration UA has increased from 35 in Census 2001 to 53 in Census 2011. The new entrants are Srinagar UA Jam-mu and Kashmir,Union Territory of Chandigarh UA, Jodhpurs UA and Kota Rajas than, Ghaziabad UA Uttar Pradesh, Ranchi UA Jharkhand, Raipur UA and Durg-Bhilainagar UA Chattisgarh, Gwalior UA Madhya Pradesh, Vasai Virar and Aurangabad UA Maharashtra, Kozhikode UA, Thrissur UA, Malappuram UA, Thiruvananthapuram UA, Kannur UA and Kollam UA Kerala, and Tiruchirapalli US Tamil Nadu. So while the States of Jammu and Kashmir and Chattisgarh now also have million plus city/UA, Kerala now has as many as 7 million plus cities/UA, a quantum jump from the situation in 2001 when just Kochi UA was a million plus city/UA.
Population Census 2001 and 2011
Persons in million numbers Decadal growth in population %
2001 2011 1991-2001 2001-2011
Total 1029 1210 21.5 17.6
Rural 743 833 18.1 12.2
Urban 286
27.81% 377
31.16% 31.5 31.8
+0.3%

Urban areas

Urban areas have been recognized as “engines of inclusive economic growth”. Of the 121 crore Indians, 83.3 crore live in rural areas while 37.7 crore stay in urban areas, i.e approx 32 % of the population. The census of India, 2011 defines urban settlement as :-
All the places which have municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee
All the other places which satisfy following criteria :

a. A minimum population of 5000 persons ;
b. At least 75 % of male main working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits ; and
c. A density of population of at least 400 persons per square kilometer
The first category of urban units are known as Statutory town. These town are notified under law by respective State/UT government and have local bodies like municipal corporation, municipality, etc, irrespective of demographic characteristics. For example- Vadodara (Municipal corporation), Shimla (Municipal corporation)
The second category of towns is known as Census Town. These were identified on the basis of census 2001 data.Cities are urban areas with more than 100,000 population. Urban areas below 100,000 are called towns in India
Similarly Census of India defines:-
Urban Agglomeration (UA): An urban agglomeration is a continuous urban spread constituting a town and its adjoining outgrowths (OGs), or two or more physically contiguous towns together with or without outgrowths of such towns. An Urban Agglomeration must consist of at least a statutory town and its total population (i.e. all the constituents put together) should not be less than 20,000 as per the 2001 Census. In varying local conditions, there were similar other combinations which have been treated as urban agglomerations satisfying the basic condition of contiguity. Examples: Greater Mumbai UA, Delhi UA, etc.
Out Growths (OG): An Out Growth (OG) is a viable unit such as a village or a hamlet or an enumeration block made up of such village or hamlet and clearly identifiable in terms of its boundaries and location. Some of the examples are railway colony, university campus, port area, military camps, etc., which have come up near a statutory town outside its statutory limits but within the revenue limits of a village or villages contiguous to the town.
While determining the outgrowth of a town, it has been ensured that it possesses the urban features in terms of infrastructure and amenities such as pucca roads, electricity, taps, drainage system for disposal of waste water etc. educational institutions, post offices, medical facilities, banks etc. and physically contiguous with the core town of the UA. Examples: Central Railway Colony (OG), Triveni Nagar (N.E.C.S.W.) (OG), etc.
Each such town together with its outgrowth(s) is treated as an integrated urban area and is designated as an ‘urban agglomeration’. Number of towns/UA/OG 2011, according to Census 2011 Census are :-
1 Statutory Towns — 4,041
2 Census Towns — 3,894
3 Urban Agglomerations — 475
4 Out Growths — 981
At the central level, nodal agencies which look after program and policies for urban development are Ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation (MoHUPA) and Ministry of Urban development. Urban development is a state subject. At state level there are respective ministries, but according to 74th Constitutional Amendment act,1992, it is mandatory for every state to form ULBs and devolve power, conduct regular election, etc. Under 12 schedule of Indian constitution , 18 such functions have been defined which are to be performed by ULBs and for that states should support the ULBs through finances and decentralization of power, for more autonomy. But this is not uniform throughout all the states and still more is need to be done to empower ULBs in India.
Urban areas are managed by urban local bodies(ULBs), who look after the service delivery and grievance redressal of citizens. There are eight type of urban local government in India- municipal corporation municipality, notified area committee, town area committee, cantonment board, township, port trust and special purpose agencies.
Migration is the key process underlying growth of urbanisation; and the process of urbanization is closely related with rural to urban migration of people. In most developing countries of the world where rate of urban growth is relatively higher the urban-ward migration is usually high. Rural to urban migration is by far the major component of urbanisation and is the chief mechanism by which urbanisation trends all the world-over has been accomplished
After independence, urbanization in India is increasing at very high pace, but at the same time there are some problems, which are becoming barriers for balance, equitable and inclusive development.

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