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Diesel price rise may be imminent

April 25, 2012
Diesel

New Delhi, April 25: The price of diesel may go up as the government has agreed to make the prices “market determined.”

The announcement came on Tuesday in the Rajya Sabha in the form of a written reply by Minister of State Namo Narain Meena. The minister, however, said the government did not propose to deregulate prices of cooking gas.

“(The) government has, in principle, agreed to make prices of diesel market-determined. There is no proposal at present to fully de-regulate cooking gas prices,” Meena stated, sparking protests from BJP members. The members of the main Opposition party said the move would have a cascading effect on overall prices of commodities since diesel “is the basic transport fuel”. “The government wants to help the oil mafia by taking the in-principle decision on diesel price deregulation,” BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that thein-principle decision to deregulate diesel prices was taken as early as last June.

Mukherjee, while presenting the 2012-13 budget on March 16, vowed to reduce subsidies to less than 2 per cent in the current financial year (2012-13). High oil prices have swelled India’s subsidy burden to roughly 2.5 per cent of GDP.

While petrol prices have been linked to the market, the government’s control on pricing of diesel, LPG and kerosene has resulted in large public expenditure on subsidies.

The government control of diesel prices has been criticised by many in the past with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) being the most vociferous. The prices should be decontrolled fully to contain the trade deficit, which was expected to widen to $185 billion during the current fiscal, RBI has said.

A couple of days ago, the government’s chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu suggested partial decontrol of diesel in order to mirror the rise and fall of the global oil prices.

“A phased deregulation of diesel prices is required in order to rein in runaway fiscal deficit, reduce growing under-recoveries of oil marketing companies and save the common man from a rather bigger pressure of inflation, which is only being momentarily suppressed due to the government’s current policies,” Crisil chief economist Deepak Joshi told Deccan Herald.

Tough pill

* Cooking gas exempt from proposal

* Decision to deregulate diesel prices was taken as early as last June, says finance minister

* Government control of diesel prices has been criticised by many in the past with the RBI being the most vociferous

* High oil prices have caused subsidy burden to swell up to 2.5 per cent of GDP

*Diesel basic transport fuel; move will have cascading effect on overall prices of commodities, cries Opposition BJP

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Agencies
August 6,2020

Mumbai, Aug 6: Former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said on Thursday that overly focusing on what sovereign rating agencies think can take one's eyes off what needs to be done for the economy.

"It is also important to convince both domestic and international investors that after the crisis associated with the pandemic is over, we will return to fiscal responsibility over the medium term, and the government should do more to convince them of that," Rajan told the Global Markets Forum.

India was placed under one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in late March for more than two months to stem the spread of the coronavirus, but cases have continued to rise steadily since the government eased restrictions in June, stymieing hopes of an economic recovery.

The government has announced several initiatives to help the poor and small- and medium-size businesses, but actual cash outgo from the government's measures has been estimated at just about 1% of GDP.

Several attribute the fiscal prudence to fear of a downgrade after Moody's cut India's rating and outlook in early June followed closely by a change in outlook from Fitch.

The central bank on its part too has reduced the key lending rate by 115 basis points on top of the 135 bps last year and is widely expected to cut rates by another 25 bps later on Thursday.

"The RBI and government have certainly been cooperating, but it seems like it is elsewhere, the ball is in the government's court to do more," Rajan said.

He said the RBI needs to focus on whether credit is reaching the stressed areas of the economy and also if the viable firms were able to access credit and not the unviable ones.

"And I think that's where it has to focus its attentions, because resources, as you well know, are limited in India today."

Recently analysts, however, have cited the growing possibility the RBI may prefer to pause and cut rates only at its October meeting.

Government officials too have suggested the possibility of any more fiscal stimulus being announced, would only come in the second half of the fiscal year, once a recovery has taken root and coronavirus cases have peaked.

"What India should focus on at this point is protecting its economic capabilities, so that when it has dealt with the virus it can go resume activity in a reasonable way. That should be the focus," Rajan said.

"And if it does that, there is no reason why the rating agencies will not see that as an appropriate policy".

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News Network
July 21,2020

New Delhi, Jul 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday condoled the demise of Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon.

Tandon, 85, passed away at 5:35 am on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Modi posted a picture with Madhya Pradesh Governor and wrote, "Shri Lalji Tandon will be remembered for his untiring efforts to serve society. He played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He made a mark as an effective administrator, always giving importance of public welfare. Anguished by his passing away."
"Shri Lalji Tandon was well-versed with constitutional matters. He enjoyed a long and close association with beloved Atal Ji. In this hour of grief, my condolences to the family and well-wishers of Shri Tandon. Om Shanti," he added.

President Kovind expressed condolences saying that we have lost a legendary leader today.

"In the passing away of Madhya Pradesh Governor Shri Lal Ji Tandon, we have lost a legendary leader who combined cultural sophistication of Lucknow and acumen of a national stalwart. I deeply mourn his death. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," he tweeted.

His last rites will be performed at Gulala Ghat in Lucknow at 4:30 pm today.

Tandon was admitted to a hospital after complaining of breathing problems, difficulty in urination and fever. He has been undergoing treatment since June 11. 

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News Network
April 13,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 13: Three more people in Kerala tested positive for novel coronavirus disease on Monday, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"With 3 new COVID-19 cases, the total number of cases in the state has reached 378," said Vijayan at a press conference.

Giving a break-up of the three confirmed COVID-19 cases, he said, "Of the 3 cases, 2 are from Kannur and 1 is from Palakkad."

He further said, "Till date, 15,683 samples tested, out of which 14,829 tested negative."

However, the total number of positive cases is decreasing, the Chief Minister added.

According to a recent update by the Ministery of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of cases in the country has reached 9352.

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