FM Sitharaman holds separate pre-Budget meeting with start-ups for the first time

FM Sitharaman holds separate pre-Budget meeting with start-ups for the first time

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman meeting with startup founders and representatives as part of her pre-Budget consultations in New Delhi on November 18, 2025. Photo: X/@FinMinIndia For the first time, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday (November 18, 2025) held a separate meeting with startup founders and representatives as part […]

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India needs big, world-class banks: Nirmala Sitharaman

India needs big, world-class banks: Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the 12th SBI Banking and Economics Conclave 2025, in Mumbai, on November 6, 2025. Picture: X/@nsitharamanoffc Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (November 6, 2025) asked banks to adhere to system driven lending practices and learn from the past so that financial discipline is not threatened. “We have many self-reliant […]

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GST rate cut benefits reaching consumers, government monitoring prices of 54 items

GST rate cut benefits reaching consumers, government monitoring prices of 54 items

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a press conference, in New Delhi on October 18, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (October 18, 2025) said the benefits of GST reforms are reaching consumers in the form of reduced prices. Addressing a press conference on GST Bachat Utsav, she said the […]

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Financial assets worth ₹1.84 lakh crore lying unclaimed with banks, regulators: Nirmala Sitharaman

Financial assets worth ₹1.84 lakh crore lying unclaimed with banks, regulators: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with other dignitaries during the launch of the Nationwide Awareness Campaign of Unclaimed Financial Assets, in Gandhinagar on Saturday (October 4, 2025). | Photo Credit: ANI Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (October 4, 2025) said financial assets worth ₹1.84 lakh crore were lying unclaimed with banks and […]

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Demand to reduce GST on pumpsets

Demand to reduce GST on pumpsets

The Laghu Udyog Bharati – Gujarat has sought a reduction of GST from 18% to 5% for submersible pumps. The Association said the more than 90% of submersible pumps (HSN: 84137010) are used in the agricultural sector for irrigation and drinking water supply. The GST Council has considered these pumps under industrial-use classification. But, submersible […]

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18% GST on labour charges alarms MSMEs

18% GST on labour charges alarms MSMEs

Representative image | Photo Credit: Reuters The GST rate for labour charges (job work) has been increased from 12% to 18% and it is expected to hit hard the Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs). C. Sivakumar, president of the Coimbatore Tiruppur district Micro and Cottage Entrepreneurs Association, said one of the long-pending demands of […]

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CMAI seeks uniform 5% GST on apparel to correct ‘anomaly’

CMAI seeks uniform 5% GST on apparel to correct ‘anomaly’

The increase of the 5% limit for garments from ₹1,000 each to ₹2,500 is a positive move, said the Cloth Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI).  File | Photo Credit: The Hindu The textile industry, which welcomed the revision of GST rates for the textile value chain in both manmade fibre and cotton sectors, expressed disappointment […]

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GST Revamp: Who benefits? Full item-wise roundup

GST Revamp: Who benefits? Full item-wise roundup

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) unveiled tax cuts for hundreds of consumer items – from soap to cars – in the biggest overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), set to take effect from September 22. Briefing reporters after a marathon daylong GST Council meeting, Ms. Sitharaman said all decisions […]

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FM Sitharaman addresses GoMs, explains the importance of the Centre’s GST proposals

FM Sitharaman addresses GoMs, explains the importance of the Centre’s GST proposals

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. File. | Photo Credit: PTI Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) addressed the three Groups of Ministers set up by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to emphasise the importance of the Centre’s proposed reforms to the GST system, including the rate rationalisation efforts. The […]

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Lok Sabha passes two tax Bills without debate; Rijiju slams Opposition over disruptions

Lok Sabha passes two tax Bills without debate; Rijiju slams Opposition over disruptions

Opposition Members protest in the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2025. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI As the Opposition members continued their protest, the Lok Sabha on Monday (August 11, 2025) passed the two crucial Bills pertaining to taxation without any debate. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Income-Tax (No 2) Bill and the […]

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