Further concessions in central excise & service tax announced in Interim Indian Union Budget 2009-2010: Banknet India

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Interim Indian Union Budget 2009-2010

Further concessions in central excise & service tax announced: Customs duty exemption on naptha extended beyond this fiscal

Monetary Policy Measures

RBI took a number of liquidity enhancing measures to deal with the global crisis. These include:

• Reduction of the repo rate from 9 per cent in August 2008 to 5.50 per cent in January 2009.

• Reduction of the reverse repo rate which remained at 6 per cent from mid 2006 in December 2008 and January 2009 respectively by 1 per cent each to bring it to a level of 4 per cent.

• Reduction of the Cash Reserve Ratio from 9 per cent as on August 30, 2008 to 5 per cent with effect from January 17, 2009.

It is important to recognize that there is always some time lag between the announcement of a measure, be it fiscal or monetary, its implementation and its intended impact on the economy and financial parameters of the economy.

Latest figures confirm that our two fiscal packages are steps in the right direction. The data available for the month of December 2008 shows that some of the key sectors of manufacture are exhibiting early signs of recovery compared to November 2008. Cement production has gone up by 8 per cent in December- January and Steel has recorded a production of 22.8 million Metric Tons which is equivalent to the production in May 2008. For the quarter ending December 2008, FMCG registered a growth of more than 25 per cent and Food and Beverages 28 per cent. Railway freight which had declined to 2.2 per cent in October-November 2008 has recovered to a growth of 7 per cent in December, 2008. These are encouraging signs considering that all forecasts point towards a much bleaker 2009 as far as international economy is concerned.

New Concessions

Within the constitutional constraints, I have some flexibility which I want to use to provide further stimulus to the economy.

Even though the signals are encouraging, the full impact of the recession in other parts of the world specially Europe and Asia is yet to unfold. Due to the strong export linkages with these economies, it is likely that the Indian economy may feel further impact in coming months. To counter any such effects, the UPA Government has taken the following decisions:

Central Excise

• General reduction in Excise Duty rates by 4 per cent points was made with effect from 7.12.2008. It is now being extended beyond 31 March, 2009. In addition, it has now been decided to:

• reduce the general rate of Central Excise duty from 10 per cent to 8 per cent.

• retain the rate of central excise duty on goods currently attracting ad valorem rates of 8 per cent and 4 per cent respectively;

• reduce the rate of central excise duty on bulk cement from 10 per cent or Rs. 290 PMT, whichever is higher to 8 per cent or Rs.230 PMT, whichever is higher.

Service Tax

The Government is keen that the business confidence in the Services sector is restored. It is also our objective that the dispersal between CENVAT rate and the Service Tax rate is reduced with a view to move towards the stated goal of a Uniform Goods and Service Tax. In line with this objective, it has been decided to reduce the rate of service tax on taxable services from 12 percent to 10 per cent.

To provide relief to the power sector, Naptha imported for generation of electric energy has been fully exempted from basic Customs Duty. This exemption which was available upto 31 March 2009, is now being extended beyond that date.

Section 10 AA of the Income Tax provides for exemption in respect of export profits of a unit located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The export profits are required to be computed with reference to the total turn over of the assessee. This has resulted in discriminatory treatment of assessees having units located both in SEZ and the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) vis-à-vis assessees having units located only within the SEZs. It has now been decided to remove this anomaly through necessary changes in the Act.

Hon’ble Members may recall that in my Budget Speech, I had indicated that we may have to review the ceiling of fiscal deficit that the States can incur in 2009-10 in terms of the debt consolidation and relief facility. As a part of the first stimulus package, it was increased by 0.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2008-09. To spur the development of infrastructure and employment generation, this arrangement is being extended to 2009-10 with the possibility of further review, if required, in the coming months.

Our priorities are clear. Rapid development of infrastructure, both in rural and urban areas, and agriculture growth leading to employment generation and distributive justice tops the list. For us economic growth is an instrument for development and not an end in itself. Economic growth has to be both inclusive and equitable. It must provide social justice and lead to the empowerment of Aam Aadmi. In the last five years, the UPA Government has moved steadfastly in that direction. But a social revolution which must flow from these measures is a long process and has to be worked out carefully and systematically, not only through economic growth and mobilization of resources, but also through institutional changes and mobilization of the masses. It is my earnest hope that we will all walk together in the journey ahead to achieve this shared vision.”

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