Central Government Working With RBI To Ease Inflation
The performance of the rupee is not worrisome and is being monitored, the senior government official said.
The central government has been taking steps to reduce rising prices and consistently engaging with the Reserve Bank of India, according to a senior government official.
While import prices of edible oil, brent crude and fertilisers have declined, the government anticipates a good monsoon to further ease inflation, said the senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Prices of dal and pulses will continue to be monitored, the senior official said.
Following a lengthy discussion on rising prices in the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had addressed concerns on retail inflation and 5% goods and sales tax on essential commodities.
The government is managing inflation and is trying to lower retail inflation from 7%, Sitharaman had said. The Finance Minister underscored that India is not at risk of getting into a situation of stagflation or recession, as it is understood in advanced economies.
The performance of the rupee in terms of current account deficit is not worrisome and is consistently being monitored as well, the government official said.
GST Council Report
Group of Ministers’ report on levying GST on casinos, horse racing and online gaming is likely to be received in a few days.
The GoM is chaired by the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also met the Union Finance Minister last weekend.
The GoM's report will be one of the two agenda points in the upcoming 48th GST Council, which is likely to happen in September, as reported by BQ.
Healthy GST revenue collections have been recorded with July collections touching Rs 1.48 lakh crore, as reported in August.
To augment GST revenues, the government will be looking to work with states and plug any gaps, expand the tax base, and correct inverted duty structures, the senior government official said.
Stand On Disinvestment
The government is looking at a Rs 65,000 crore disinvestment target this fiscal, as stated in the Union Budget.
The central government plans to move ahead with the disinvestment of IDBI Bank Ltd. and will not relent, though a fixed timeline cannot be committed to in this fiscal, the senior official said.
Caution On Cryptocurrency
The original bill on cryptocurrencies in 2019 proposed to ban the virtual asset.
With companies like WazirX coming under the scanner of enforcement authorities, the government's position on a legislative response is awaited.
The cryptocurrency legislation is a work in progress, with a lot of issues coming to the fore and damages being looked at by enforcement agencies, the senior official said.