Measures to Achieve

Higher Economic Growth

 Global Economic Scenario

Growth Rate of GDP (%) Top 10 major Economies in the world

9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
(P)
World
Advanced economies
Emerging market and developing economies
India
Note: Size of circle represents GDP (PPP) at
current international dollar terms. 2
Data Source: WEO, IMF
Reform & Simplification – An Ongoing Endeavour
Taxation – Ease of life .• Prefilling of IT returns
for tax payers – Income • Faceless scrutiny from Vijaya Dashmi 2019
tax, GST, Customs • Reduction in GST returns and simplification of forms
• Refund process of GST simplified.
• Risk based approach in dealing with tax payers

Labour laws • Fixed term employment for flexibility in hiring

• Contribution of ESIC reduced from 6.5% to 4%
• Web-based and jurisdiction-free Inspections
• Inspection report to be uploaded within 48 hours
• Compounding of offences
• Self certification for start-ups - 6 labour laws

Environment • Single air and water clearance for MSMEs

clearances • Single consent to establish a factory by MSMEs
Reform & Simplification – an ongoing endeavour
Corporate • 1 day to incorporate a company - Central Registration
Affairs Centre for name reservation & incorporation
• Integrated Incorporation Form
• Shifting of 16 offence sections to monetary penalty
only
• Faster & easier approvals for mergers and acquisitions
• Modifications in provisions for Differential Voting
Rights
• Withdrawal of over 14,000 prosecutions under
Companies Act
• Robust IBC framework with amendments supporting
MSMEs and home buyers
 Measures to Boost Economy
Facilitating wealth creators
1
• Not to be treated as criminal offence and would instead be
CSR violations civil liability. Ministry of Corporate Affairs to review the sections
under Companies Act. Government has provided companies
through revised orders, time for completing ongoing projects
towards fulfil their CSR obligations.

2
Issue of IT orders, notices,
summons, letters etc
through a centralized
system
In order to address complaints of harassment on account of issue
of notices, summons, orders etc. by certain income-tax authorities:
• On or after 1st October, 2019 all notices, summons, orders
etc. by the income-tax authorities shall be issued through a
centralized computer system and will contain a computer-
generated unique Document Identification Number.
• Any communication issued without computer-generated unique
Document Identification Number shall be non est in law.
• All old notices to be decided by 1st October 2019 or uploaded
again through the system
• From 1st October, 2019 all notices to be disposed off within three
months from the date of reply.
 Measures to Boost Economy
Taxation Measures
3
Relief from enhanced • In order to encourage investment in the capital market, it
surcharge on Long- has been decided to withdraw the enhanced surcharge
term/Short-term Capital levied by Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 on long/ short term
capital gains arising from transfer of equity shares/units
Gains referred in section 111A and 112 A respectively.

4 • To mitigate genuine difficulties of startups and their

Withdrawal of Angel investors, it has been decided that section 56(2)(viib) of the
Tax provisions for Income-tax Act shall not be applicable to a startup
registered with DPIIT.
Startups and their
investors • It has also been decided to set up a dedicated cell under
Member of CBDT for addressing the problems of startups. A
startup having any income-tax issue can approach the cell
for quick resolution of the same.
 Measures to Boost Economy
Banks/NBFCs/MSMEs
5 Additional Credit • Upfront release of Rs. 70,000 Cr., additional lending and
liquidity to the tune of ~ Rs 5 Lakh crore by providing
expansion upfront Capital to PSBs
through PSBs • This will benefit Corporates, Retail borrowers, MSMEs, small
traders, etc

6 • Banks have decided to pass on rate cuts through MCLR

Banks to effect
reduction to benefit all borrowers
timely rate cuts

7 Banks to launch • Reduced EMI for housing loans, vehicle and other retail
loans by directly linking Repo rate to interest rates. Working
Repo rate /external
capital loans for industry will also become cheaper
benchmark linked
loan products
8 • To reduce harassment and bring in greater efficiency,
Customer Ease PSBs to ensure mandated return of loan documents within
• This will benefit MSMEs, small traders, Mudra borrowers,
15 days of loanSelf Help Groups, MFI clients etc.
closure.
• Benefit: Borrowers who have mortgaged assets
 Measures to Boost Economy
Banks/NBFCs/MSMEs
9 • On line tracking of loan applications by customers of
Customer Ease: Retail, MSME, Housing, Vehicle, working Capital, limit
Online tracking of enhancements ,renewals etc.
loan applications • Would increase transparency, reduce harassment,
and improve turn around time for customers.

10 • Banks to issue improved transparent OTS policy to

Transparent One Time benefit MSME and retail borrowers in settling their
Settlement (OTS) Policy overdues.
• Policy to be based on check box approach
• Benefit: Increased transparency

11 • To support decision making and to prevent harassment

for genuine commercial decisions by bankers, CVC has
Protecting honest
issued directions that Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) in
decision making banks to classify cases as vigilance and non-vigilance.
• Decision of the IAC and bank CVO/ DA to be treated as
final.
 Measures to Boost Economy
Banks/NBFCs/MSMEs
12 More credit support for purchase of houses, vehicles, consumption goods,
Support to • Additional liquidity support to HFCs Rs. 20,000 Cr by NHB thereby
NBFCs/HFCs increasing it to Rs. 30,000 Cr.
• Partial Credit Guarantee scheme for purchase of pooled assets of NBFCs/
HFCs upto Rs 1 lakh Cr - to be monitored at highest level in each bank
• Prepayment notices issued to NBFCs to be monitored by Banks

13
Use of Bank • NBFCs to be permitted to use the Aadhaar authenticated bank KYC to avoid
KYCs by NBFCs repeated processes.
• Necessary changes shall be made in PMLA rules and Aadhaar
Regulations
• Easier, fast tracked onboarding of customers

14 Co-origination of • To take advantage of liquidity with PSBs and last mile customer
loans by connect of NBFCs, PSBs to fast track collaboration for loans to
PSBs jointly MSMEs, small traders Self Help Groups, MFI clients borrowers in co-
with NBFCs origination mode with NBFCs
 Measures to Boost Economy
Banks/NBFCs/MSMEs
15 GST Refund to • All pending GST refund due to MSMEs shall be
MSME within paid within 30 days. In future all GST refunds shall
be paid within 60 days from the date of application
30 days

16 MSME Bill • TReDS to use GSTN system in medium term to

discounting enhance market for bill discounting for MSMEs

17
MSME • Amendment to MSME Act to move towards single
definition to be considered
Definition
18 • Decisions on recommendations such as on ease
UK Sinha Committee
of credit, marketing, technology, delayed payments
recommendations
etc. within 30 days
 Measures to Boost Economy
Increasing capital flows and energising financial markets
19 • In order to improve access to long term finance, it is
proposed to establish an organisation to provide Credit
Deepening of bond Enhancement for infrastructure and housing projects.
markets in India This would enhance debt flow towards such projects.
• The government would soon take further action on
development of Credit Default Swap markets soon, in
consultation with RBI and SEBI.
• In order to improve domestic market in bonds, Ministry of
Finance will work with RBI to make it more conducive for
investors and bond issuers, as well as facilitate increased
trading for price discovery
• Government has amended the Companies (Share capital
and Debenture rules) 2014 to remove the requirement for
creation of a Debenture Redemption Reserve (DRR) of
outstanding debentures in respect of listed companies,
NBFCs and for HFCs.
 Measures to Boost Economy
Increasing capital flows and energising financial markets
20
33TheDepository • The Depository Receipt Scheme 2014 is expected
Access of Indian
Receipts
Companies to the to be operationalised soon by SEBI. This will give
Global Markets
Scheme 2014 Indian companies increased access to foreign
funds through ADR/GDR.
21 • In order to improve market access for the
Use of Aadhaar based domestic retail investors, Aadhaar-based KYC to
KYCs for domestic retail be permitted for opening of Demat account and
investors making investment in mutual funds
• Necessary notification for amendments in
PMLA Rules to be issued

33 Simplified KYC for

22 • Simplified KYC procedure to improve market
foreign and access for foreign investors including FPIs
investors and FPIs
 Measures to Boost Economy
Increasing capital flows and energising financial markets

23 To bring offshore 24
Rupee market to domestic stock
exchanges and permit trading of USD -INR
Offshore Rupee market derivatives in GIFT IFSC, Ministry of Finance is
working with RBI to introduce this measure shortly.
 Measures to Boost Economy
Infrastructure
24 Delayed Payments • Delayed payments from Government/ CPSEs to be
monitored by Department of Expenditure and
performance reviewed by Cabinet Secretariat

25 Decision to pay • In contractual disputes by Government/ CPSEs to be

75% of the
arbitration awards
26
Rs 100 lakh crores for
developing modern
infrastructure over 5 years
implemented and monitored by Cabinet Secretariat
• An inter-ministerial Task force is being formed
by Department of Economic Affairs to finalise the
pipeline of infrastructure projects.
• The above initiative is expected to boost growth
and creation of jobs. These projects would be
monitored actively to accelerate capital
expenditure and investments in the economy.
 Measures to Boost Economy
Automotive Sector
27 BS IV vehicles • To remain operational for entire period of registration
purchased till 31.3.20

28 Revision of one time • Being deferred till June 2020

registration fees
29
Higher depreciation • Additional 15% depreciation on all vehicles, to increase
it to 30% acquired during the period from now till 31.03.20
for all vehicles

30 Both EVs and ICVs • Government’s focus will be on setting up of infrastructure

will continue to be for development of ancillaries /components including
27 registered batteries for export

31 • Government shall lift the ban on purchase of new

To boost demand vehicles for replacing all old vehicles by Departments
• Government will consider various measures including
scrappage policy.
 Measures to Boost Economy

32
• With stakeholders for timely and suitable
Ministry of Finance to interventions for different sectors
continue to engage
Thanks
Opening remarks: Theme 1: Continuing push to Decriminalisation and reduction in harassment
• Reform, simplification, debottlenecking and in general making it easier to do business has been an abiding
priority for this Government. In five years, the jump in India’s EODB ranking speaks for itself. The narrative.
therefore, that the Government is anti business is not just false, it is also misleading
• It might be useful to simply recall, just some of these changes, which we today take for granted or indeed
do not even think about. These are changes which happened in taxation, in labour laws, in respect of
environmental clearances and these are only a few illustrations. Some may be even more mundane for
instance greater acceptance of self certification in place of attestation and so on. These happened, because
of single minded focus of chipping away at anything and everything which could hamper growth of business
and the creation of jobs.
• Hon’ble Prime Minister had been unambiguous. “We respect wealth creators.” “We will make India a
better place to do business”
• For Government it has been about direction and speed to make sure that business grow to scale with speed
• Changes made by Government in recent months have been consistent in their approach - reducing
harassment and ensuring that an oversight or a minor infringement does not get treated as crime. This has
been evident in the move towards faceless processing and assessment of matters relating to income tax
including IT Returns, changes in the Companies Act which promote ease as well as increase responsibility on
companies.
• We will take forward this spirit, with a few more changes on the Company Law side and on the taxation
side. I am confident that these will set at rest the apprehensions and the angst. You said this to us and we
have heard you and hereby responding.
 Theme 2: Encouraging Enterprise and Investment

• In addition to the reduction in harassment thereby making life a little easier in respect of compliance under
various laws, it is equally important to actively address some of the other constraints which have perhaps
been holding back investment and enterprise. I have received a number of representations and requests in
this regard and I think it is appropriate that we use this forum to inform you how we are sorting out these
issues.
• Both of these have to do with taxation and perhaps more than the amount of revenue involved, the
mindshare taken up by these has been huge. Once again, it is time to put these to rest, conclusively. We
want to build businesses for tomorrow and those which others will seek to emulate.
 Theme 3 : Banking and credit is central to most economic activity

• Concerns have been expressed whether our banks are robust enough to support the kind of credit growth
which India needs. We need to break though the negativity, the noise and the clutter which has seeped into
the discourse about the health of our banks. We are taking measures to simplify processes and make them
transparent.
• Equally, customers and borrowers look forward to better service as well as hassle free transactions with
banks.
• For those of you who may have taken loans, there is anxiety that you should get benefits of rate cuts
announced by the RBI, quickly and seamlessly.
• There are those who want to settle loans which they could not pay back in time earlier.
• On the other hand bankers have consistently, represented to me that bonafide decisions taken by bankers
need to be supported.
• Government has taken a few decisions in this regard which I hope will meet this multiple objectives.
 Theme 4: NBFCs and MSMEs

• Availability of credit involves banks. It also involves NBFCs and HFCs. In the last few months there has been a sense of
crises which appeared to be engulfing this sector. RBI took a number of steps to ease liquidity. You would also recall the
announcements I had made during the Budget Speech on supporting NBFCs and HFCs.
• Since then we have made considerable progress and liquidity for well established NBFCs and HFCs is far more comfortable
today, than it was about a year ago.
• The details of the Partial Guarantee Scheme and NHB’s LIFt scheme have been announced.
• Yesterday itself, NHB has approved the first four proposals from small and mid sized HFCs under LIFt and is already
evaluating another half a dozen new proposals. Banks, on their part are in the midst of obtaining ratings of asset pools
offered to them by NBFCs and are looking to close deals very quickly.
• Banks and NBFCs are simultaneously partnering through co-origination making it easier to reach more customers
especially those in dispersed locations. Co-origination is particularly helpful for MSME borrowers.
• MSMEs in fact have been a priority for us beyond just the partnerships with banks. In November last year the Prime
Minister made a series of announcements including an interest subvention, online loan approvals, mandatory
procurement, technology centres etc. Subsequently, RBI also announced a loan restructuring scheme. Today, we want to
go further. We will focus on getting money to MSMEs faster from GST and Government buyers as well as taking up the
various recommendations of the U K Sinha Committee
• MSMES will also benefit from our thrust on infrastructure and unlocking of payments held up due to arbitration
 Theme 5 : Capital Flows and Financial Markets

• New business, capacity expansion and additional infrastructure will need equity and
will need debt. Each new factory and each new project in infrastructure has a multiplier
effect in terms of jobs, economic activity, new value chains and indeed a small eco
system which gets built around it.
• Functioning, well regulated markets make possible access to equity and debt by giving
confidence to new providers of capital and making it easier for demand to match supply.
• Between Government, RBI and SEBI, a number of steps have been taken to expand the
marketplace in terms of number of players, size, depth and better rules of the game
which are certain and applied without discrimination. In all this there is also an element
of enhancing the ability of Indian corporates to tap overseas funding opportunities
• As markets evolve constantly, so must regulation and procedures. Through a series of
measures we hope to send out a strong signal that not only are our markets well
functioning and our companies well placed to access them as well as overseas markets,
but also, an equally strong signal that if you are still choosing to sit out, you are missing
out a great opportunity.
 Theme 6: Automotive Sector

• You could say that our attention has been on the big picture for the economy, on banking and shadow
banking, on MSMEs, on financial markets and we are ignoring the picture on the ground and as some of you
may want to say, it is not pretty.
• From the general to the specific, please remember that I have been talking to stakeholders in various
sectors. These conversations have been in Delhi which some of you have reported on. They have also been
in India’s cities and towns. Yesterday, itself I was in Mysore getting first hand feedback.
• I thought to pick up one sector to illustrate to you that we are conscious of the problems and have solutions.
The contribution of the automotive sector to manufacturing in India has been enormous. We have a world
class industrial base in automotives and if there are issues which are impeding its growth, it is time to take
them head on.
 Closing remark

• This is only a start. We will continue to engage with other sectors and keep calibrating our response as our
stakeholder consultation progresses. To be sure, our overall growth story continues to be not just intact but
also rather strong.
• In an age when trade tensions are increasing, global trade is down, threats of currency wars are being
made, our growth continues to be the envy of many. We are alive to challenges and will continue to
respond to them in real time basis, not in a knee jerk manner but in a well thought through and carefully
nuanced manner.
 Measures to Boost Economy
22 This requires boosting capital flows both from
Boosting capital flows domestic and foreign sources, into the corporate
and energising financial sector. Simplifying regulations will also provide
markets additional avenues for channelising domestic
savings into investments.

India thus actively seeks capital through its robust

well-regulated market mechanism in both debt
and equity markets