Overwhelming response received from the retail investors for Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB)
Overwhelming response received
from the retail investors for Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB) ; 63,000
applications received for a total of Rs 246.20 crore by the Banks and Post
Offices for 917 kgs of gold; Number of decisions taken to improve the reach of
Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS)
The Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi had launched three Gold related Schemes i.e. Sovereign Gold
Bond Scheme (SGB), Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) and Indian Gold Coins and
Bullions on 5th November, 2015. There has been a mixed response to these
schemes from the public. The status of two of the schemes implemented by
Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance is as follows:-
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB):
The main objectives of the scheme is to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the gold imported every year for investment purposes into financial savings through Gold Bonds.
The first tranche of SGB was issued on behalf of the Government of India by RBI at the branches of scheduled commercial banks and designated post offices through its e-kuber system from 5th November, 2015 to 20th November, 2015. More tranches will be issued during the financial year 2015-16.
This scheme saw an overwhelming response from the investors throughout the country and initial figures show that about 63,000 applications were received for a total of Rs 246.20 crore by the Banks and Post Offices for 917 kgs of gold.
It may be noted that this overwhelming response has been received from the retail investors who are the focus of this scheme. The positive response to this new and innovative saving instrument has elicited response from across the country and it is expected that subsequent tranches will continue to receive such enthusiastic response.
Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS):
The Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) provides different options to the people to monetize the gold. The idea is to mobilize the gold held by households and institutions in the country and putting this gold into productive use. The scheme aims to reduce the country’s reliance on the import of gold to meet the domestic demand.
Presently there are 33 Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) and 5 refiners that have been notified in the scheme. This had resulted into signing of limited number of tripartite agreements among banks, CPTCs and refiners. After the slow response to this scheme, a meeting of all the stakeholders of the scheme was held in the Department of Economic Affairs. In the meeting, a number of decisions were taken to improve the reach of the scheme. These decisions include:-
• Gold depositors can give their gold directly to the refiner without involving the Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) where ever it is acceptable to the Banks. This will encourage the bulk depositors like HUFs and Institutions to participate in the scheme.
• Fees to the banks on account of testing , transport , refining and storage services at Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs ) and refiners for Medium and Long Term Government Deposits will be reimbursed based on the actuals, removing such doubts in the minds of the Banks.
• A circular clarifying the tax treatment clauses on the scheme is being published to clarify that, tax exemptions on Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax would be available to the customers.
• BIS is expected to complete the registration of 55 numbers of Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) by the end of December 2015.
• BIS has published an EOI on its website inviting applications from the more than 13,000 licensed jewellers to act as a CPTC in the scheme provided they have tie-up with BIS’s licensed refiners.
• BIS has modified the licensing condition to refiners already having NABL accreditation from existing three years refining experience to one year refining experience. This is likely to increase number of licensed refiners to nearly 20.
• To increase the awareness among depositors, Government will continue the awareness campaign in the print media, social media, Radio and Television.
The above steps and the clarifications are expected to fetch a better response from the depositors. Above two schemes are innovative schemes and these are early days of implementation. Based on the feedback received from the stakeholders of the schemes, Government will continuously monitor and review the progress of the schemes at the regular intervals and make necessary improvements, in order to increase the reach of the schemes.
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGB):
The main objectives of the scheme is to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the gold imported every year for investment purposes into financial savings through Gold Bonds.
The first tranche of SGB was issued on behalf of the Government of India by RBI at the branches of scheduled commercial banks and designated post offices through its e-kuber system from 5th November, 2015 to 20th November, 2015. More tranches will be issued during the financial year 2015-16.
This scheme saw an overwhelming response from the investors throughout the country and initial figures show that about 63,000 applications were received for a total of Rs 246.20 crore by the Banks and Post Offices for 917 kgs of gold.
It may be noted that this overwhelming response has been received from the retail investors who are the focus of this scheme. The positive response to this new and innovative saving instrument has elicited response from across the country and it is expected that subsequent tranches will continue to receive such enthusiastic response.
Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS):
The Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) provides different options to the people to monetize the gold. The idea is to mobilize the gold held by households and institutions in the country and putting this gold into productive use. The scheme aims to reduce the country’s reliance on the import of gold to meet the domestic demand.
Presently there are 33 Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) and 5 refiners that have been notified in the scheme. This had resulted into signing of limited number of tripartite agreements among banks, CPTCs and refiners. After the slow response to this scheme, a meeting of all the stakeholders of the scheme was held in the Department of Economic Affairs. In the meeting, a number of decisions were taken to improve the reach of the scheme. These decisions include:-
• Gold depositors can give their gold directly to the refiner without involving the Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) where ever it is acceptable to the Banks. This will encourage the bulk depositors like HUFs and Institutions to participate in the scheme.
• Fees to the banks on account of testing , transport , refining and storage services at Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs ) and refiners for Medium and Long Term Government Deposits will be reimbursed based on the actuals, removing such doubts in the minds of the Banks.
• A circular clarifying the tax treatment clauses on the scheme is being published to clarify that, tax exemptions on Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax would be available to the customers.
• BIS is expected to complete the registration of 55 numbers of Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) by the end of December 2015.
• BIS has published an EOI on its website inviting applications from the more than 13,000 licensed jewellers to act as a CPTC in the scheme provided they have tie-up with BIS’s licensed refiners.
• BIS has modified the licensing condition to refiners already having NABL accreditation from existing three years refining experience to one year refining experience. This is likely to increase number of licensed refiners to nearly 20.
• To increase the awareness among depositors, Government will continue the awareness campaign in the print media, social media, Radio and Television.
The above steps and the clarifications are expected to fetch a better response from the depositors. Above two schemes are innovative schemes and these are early days of implementation. Based on the feedback received from the stakeholders of the schemes, Government will continuously monitor and review the progress of the schemes at the regular intervals and make necessary improvements, in order to increase the reach of the schemes.
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Central Board of Direct Taxes
(CBDT) Signs 11 more Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAS)
It has been the
endeavor of the Government to foster an environment of co-operation in matters
of taxation through predictability of laws and reduced litigation. In a major
push towards providing certainty to foreign investors in the arena of transfer
pricing, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into 11 more
unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs). These APAs were signed with
Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies operating in various segments of the
economy like investment advisory services, engineering design services, marine
products, contract R&D, software development services, IT enabled services,
cargo handling support services, etc.
While seven (7) of these APAs have rollback provisions contained in them, the other four (4) are Agreements for future five years. APAs with rollback provisions can cover a maximum period of 9 years in total. With this round of signing, CBDT has so far entered into 31 APAs (30 unilateral and one bilateral).
The APA Programme was introduced in the Income-tax Act, 1961 in 2012 vide the Finance Act, 2012. Five (5) APAs were concluded in the first year and four (4) APAs got signed in the second year. The pace of negotiations has picked-up in the current year. This year has already witnessed the conclusion of 22 APAs. It is the aim of the CBDT to finalise another 30 to 40 APAs before the end of this fiscal to provide stability and confidence to foreign enterprises operating in India.
While seven (7) of these APAs have rollback provisions contained in them, the other four (4) are Agreements for future five years. APAs with rollback provisions can cover a maximum period of 9 years in total. With this round of signing, CBDT has so far entered into 31 APAs (30 unilateral and one bilateral).
The APA Programme was introduced in the Income-tax Act, 1961 in 2012 vide the Finance Act, 2012. Five (5) APAs were concluded in the first year and four (4) APAs got signed in the second year. The pace of negotiations has picked-up in the current year. This year has already witnessed the conclusion of 22 APAs. It is the aim of the CBDT to finalise another 30 to 40 APAs before the end of this fiscal to provide stability and confidence to foreign enterprises operating in India.
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India and Japan exchange Notes
for Japan’s Official Development Loan Assistance worth Rs. 5,536 crore to India
for Chennai Metro Rail Project (IV) and Ahmedabad Metro Project
The Notes were
exchanged here today between Mr. S. Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs, Government of India and Mr.Yutaka Kikuta, Charge d’ Affaires
a.i., Embassy of Japan to India. The Government of Japan has committed Official
Development Assistance (ODA) loan of an amount of JPY 19.981 billion (= approx.
Rs.1080 crore) for the Chennai Metro Rail Project (IV) and JPY 82.434 billion
(=approx. Rs.4456 Crore) for the Ahmedabad Metro Project.
India and Japan have had mutually beneficial economic development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has strengthened and grown into strategic partnership. With general political consensus and popular support for the greater cooperation between India and Japan, the partnership is poised for a great future.
Exchange Rate: Re.1 = Yen 1.85.
India and Japan have had mutually beneficial economic development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has strengthened and grown into strategic partnership. With general political consensus and popular support for the greater cooperation between India and Japan, the partnership is poised for a great future.
Exchange Rate: Re.1 = Yen 1.85.
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