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ICAI welcomes Budget as "anti-inflationary, pro-agriculture"

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) today welcomed Union Budget 2007-08 saying it addressed the critical issues of rising prices, investments in agriculture and infrastructure.

Describing the emphasis on agriculture as the crying need of the hour, ICAI President Sunil H Talati said the stress on raising power capacity, national highway and energy security besides a social security scheme for the unauthorised sector were also welcome.

Terming as anti-inflationary the cuts in customs and excise duties levied on a variety of products including on petrol and diesel, he warned that this may, however, lead to competition from cheaper imported goods.

On the proposal to increase the exemption limit from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore for small scale industries, Mr Talati said it would give more operational freedom to the small scale sector while the extension of the TUF scheme would give fillip to textile sector and generate large scale employment for rural womenfolk.

While small scale service providers had got relief due to the increase in the exemption limit from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh, the ICAI noted the small increase in the basic exemption by Rs 10,000 had been offset by an additional one per cent levy on education cess.

Mr G Ramaswamy, Chairman, Fiscal Laws Committee of ICAI, said the increase in dividend distribution tax and for mutual fund companies would have some consequences for small investors as also inclusion of ESOPs in FBT.

UNI

Stock markets don't have to worry on Budget: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the capital markets need not have any apprehensions over the Budget proposals on minimum alternate tax (MAT), fringe benefit tax (FBT) and dividend distribution tax (DDT) even as the sensex fell 540 points (4.01 per cent) to close at 12,398, lowest since October 27, 2006. While MAT was not an additional liability as it was only an advance tax, esop would be treated as a fringe benefit only if the.....

Indo-US JWG on counter-terrorism decides to enhance cooperation

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) India and the United States today agreed to find new ways to forge institutional linkages for closer cooperation against global terrorism and held discussions on bio-terrorism and threat assessments in South Asia and West Asia. The Indo-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter-Terrorism which mere here for day-long deliberations, also discussed regional counter-terrorism efforts, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and the on-going Anti-Terrorism Assistance Training Programme. They also discussed terrorist financing and money laundering, ideological.....

Aam Aadmi is all over Budget: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) 'Aam Aadmi,' the Congress party's mascot, is writ all over Budget 2007-08, according to Finance Minister P Chidambaram. The one lakh means-cum-merit scholarship, employment for one lakh physically challenged people a year, grant for ground water re-charge for seven million dug wells and social security for 10 million rural landless households were all meant to benefit the 'aam aadmi,' Mr Chidambaram said today. The Finance Minister made the observation at his post-Budget press conference in reply.....
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