India

New Delhi, Feb 1: In a move to push digital payments, the government today removed all duties on devices used in the process of cashless transactions like point of sales machines, finger print readers etc. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech, "To promote cashless transactions, I propose to exempt BCD (basic custom duties), excise duties, CVD (countervailing duties), SAD

New Delhi, Feb 1: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the focus of his Budget for 2017-18 will be on 10 important sectors, including farmers, infrastructure, digital economy and tax administration to transform, energise and clean India. The other areas of focus include rural India, the youth, poor and under-privileged, the financial sector, public service and prudent fiscal management. "The

New Delhi, Feb 1: Terming demonetisation as "bold and decisive" measure, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said it will have a multiplier effect on the economy and will create bigger, cleaner and real GDP. "We are moving from informal to formal economy and the government is now seen as a trusted custodian of public money," he said while delivering the Union Budget 2017-18. Demonetisation was a

New Delhi, Feb 1: The Income Tax department has identified 18 lakh people who have made 'suspicious' cash deposits post demonetisation, including those having deposited over Rs 5 lakh, and will send emails and SMSes seeking explanation about their source of funds. These people will have to reply within 10 days to avoid any notice from the tax department or further enforcement action. The

New Delhi, Jan 31: IT stocks plunged over 4% on Tuesday, knocking off more than Rs 33,000 crore in market valuation of top five firms, after a new H-1B Bill in the US+ set off concerns that it will adversely impact hiring plans of Indian technology firms. TCS slumped by as much as 4.47%+ to settle at Rs 2,229.90 on BSE. Intra-day, the stock had hit a low of Rs 2,206.55. Infosys lost 2.01% to close

Srinagar, Jan 31: Two snowshoers from Kashmir have alleged they have been denied visa to the US due to "current (US) policy". "Indian Snowshoers Denied Visas, due to 'current (US) policy'. This from our good friend Abid Khan, from Kashmir, minutes ago in our Facebook Messaging," Clyde Rabideau, Mayor of the Village of Saranac Lake in New York, wrote on his Facebook page. The snowshoers reportedly

Bulandshahr, Jan 31: BJP lawmaker Yogi Adityanath has praised US President Donald Trump's temporary ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries - roundly condemned within the US and worldwide - and said similar action is needed to check terrorism in India. While campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh polls to be held from February 7, the firebrand leader also focused on his party colleague's

New Delhi, Jan 31: Demonetisation will shave off the economic growth for the current fiscal by 0.25 per cent to 0.50 per cent though it will have long-term benefits for the economy by reducing interest rates and eliminating corruption, besides bringing in more activities in the formal sector. The cash squeeze, following junking of high value notes of Rs 500/1000 on November 8, 2016, the Economic

New Delhi, Jan 31: President Pranab Mukherjee today favoured a constructive debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assemblies and funding of polls to eradicate money power. The Government, he said, is also committed to combating terrorism and to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice. In his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament marking the

Srinagar, Jan 30: Five soldiers, found trapped under snow in Macchil sector and rescued on Saturday, succumbed to injuries today, taking the toll of army personnel killed in avalanches in Kashmir to 20. Braving inclement weather, Army aviation pilots today airlifted the five injured soldiers from Macchil to Srinagar for specialised treatment, an army official said. "Unfortunately, all five brave