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

What the US–Iran peace deal means for India

After months of rising tensions, the United States and Iran have reached a memorandum of understanding called the "Islamabad Agreement." This agreement allows for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and provides Iran with relief from sanctions, depending on its complianc

V. M. Tarkunde: A legal luminary par excellence

14 Lawyers: Portraits from The Bar By Raju Ramachandran  Juggernaut, 248 pages, Rs. 799  

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation.   During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495  

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter