Govt thinks aloud on session for GST as Moody’s advises reforms

Consultations with various political parties on the GST Bill will be held before taking decision on the session

GN Bureau | August 25, 2015


#naidu   #modi   #gst bill   #reforms  

Even as union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said that government may convene second part of the monsoon session to pass key legislations, rating agency Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday cautioned that it would revise India’s rating outlook to stable from positive if there is a reversal of the policy reform process, if banking system metrics continue to weaken or if there is a decline in foreign exchange reserves coverage of external debt and imports.

The rating could be upgraded if its expectations of gradual but credit-positive reforms are realized in actual policy implementation and if the recent improvement in inflation, fiscal and current account ratios is sustained. This has been mentioned in its annual update to the market, titled Credit Analysis. Moody's has a 'Baa3' rating on India with a positive outlook. Since 2004, Moody's has rated India at 'Baa3', the lowest investment grade, just a notch above 'junk' status.

In April, the rating agency changed its outlook on India’s rating to positive from stable while maintaining the lowest investment grade status, based on its view that proposed and implemented policies are likely to lower sovereign credit risk by stabilizing inflation, improving the regulatory environment and increasing infrastructure investment while maintaining the ongoing improvement in fiscal ratios.

To calm down the high volatility in the Indian rupee, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan on Monday said India has sufficient foreign exchange reserves to prevent any undue volatility in currency markets.

“India has $355 billion of reserves and another $25 billion because our forward dollar sales are not due for the next one year; so, we have $380 billion to play with if needed,” Rajan said on the sidelines of a banking conference in Mumbai. “...we try to prevent undue volatility. If we see undue volatility, we have the resources to deal with it.”

Moody’s Analytics, the research arm of Moody’s, last week reduced its growth projection for India to 7% from 7.5% estimated earlier, blaming below-normal monsoon and its impact on rural demand and interest rates.

Meanwhile, the government has reached out to the Congress as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu met senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence.

Sources said the government will hold consultations with various political parties on the GST Bill and only after all parties express their intent to come on board for the passage of the Bill, a final call will be taken.

It was earlier reported that the government was planning to convene the special session from August 31 to September 4.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter