Expert Zone
Straight from the Specialists
Budget 2012: IT sector expects tax measures
(The views expressed in this column are the authors’ own and do not represent those of Reuters)
The technology sector is set to cross the $100 billion mark this year with $69 billion from exports and $32 billion from the domestic market. This is a healthy increase of around 16 pct over last year’s growth despite global economic events such as the anti-outsourcing bill in the U.S. and the euro zone crisis which had an impact on the sector.
It is anticipated that going forward, these global events will have a significant adverse impact on the Indian technology sector coupled with a number of measures taken by other developing countries to get more of outsourcing business.
Additionally, the Indian technology sector is reeling under the pressure of higher wage bills, high attrition, linear growth (direct link between sales growth and headcount addition), skyrocketing real estate prices, uncertainties surrounding SEZs, the write-off of large technology contracts due to cancellation of 2G licences by the Supreme Court.
Budget 2012: Need for innovative incentives
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
Every year as winter gives way to spring, a nation of over a billion wakes up to different expectations on Budget day.
It’s Budget week but be ready to book profits
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
The markets ended in negative territory for the third straight week after the ruling Congress party suffered a setback in the recently held assembly elections, clouding the government’s ability to push major economic reforms. However, a sharp pullback of 2 percent seen on Friday saved the indexes from suffering major losses.
India Inc hopes for action on GST
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
India Inc has time and again expressed its desire for early implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST). While implementing GST may take at least a year, the 2012 budget will clearly indicate the Centre’s seriousness in implementing GST.
Keeping fingers crossed in the run-up to Budget 2012
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
It’s interesting that in India, the run-up to the annual Budget means individuals, companies and industry associations keep their fingers crossed in the hope their annual budgets don’t get affected by the announcements of the Finance Minister.
Union Budget 2012: Need for a concrete plan
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
Like every budget since the subprime crisis of 2008, the one on March 16 will see the Finance Minister walking a tightrope between fiscal consolidation and growth. The only difference being — this time the government is really constrained to provide a fiscal boost to consumption.
China’s rise and India’s obvious partner (the U.S.)
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
The release last week of an Indian think tank report entitled “Non-Alignment 2.0: A Foreign and Strategic Policy for India in the 21st Century” has prompted robust discussion about Indian foreign policy in the age of a rising China.
Budget 2012: Common man’s expectations
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
The weeks before the Union budget are days of wishful thinking for the common man. It is always the expectation that the threshold and tax exemption limits will be increased. This year is no exception, and the common man would definitely be happy if his wishes are met.
Budget 2012-13: Expectations and exigencies
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
The Union budget has always provided major policy direction which has been anxiously awaited by the common man and the industry. But over the years, the tax system has become more crystallised and yet expectations have not ceased.
China defence spending rises as U.S. budget declines
(The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not represent those of Reuters)
As China prepares for the final plenum of the 17th Party Congress, it has announced that the new defence budget would amount to 670 billion RMB (approximately $106 billion), which equates to a 11.2 percent increase. This is in sharp contrast to the United States, which, despite a so-called “pivot to Asia,” is busily reducing its defence budget.
