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2017 produced largely satisfactory foreign policy outcomes for India We should look at our foreign policy options realistically and judge our successes and failures keeping in mind that we do not control the policies of other sovereign countries who may view their interests differently from ours, and that even small countries can be defiant. We cannot also put a limit on the presence of outside powers in our neighbourhood. Shaping our external environment as we like for realising our goals and priorities is not possible In the light of these caveats and limitations, our foreign policy in 2017 was largely successful in promoting our interests in an uncertain international environment. We have had to cope with the reality of US foreign policy becoming unpredictable and inconsistent under Trump. We have had to deal with China's growing ambitions in Asia and the expansion of its influence in our neighbourhood at our expense. We have had to cope with the reality of US foreign po

Government to rope in banks, financial institutions to push Swachh Bharat The government is looking at roping in state-run banks and financial institutions to give a push to its Swachh Bharat campaign. The finance ministry will prod lenders to increase credit towards industries, especially small and medium enterprises, involved in sanitation products."DFS (department of financial services) & MDWS (ministry of drinking water and sanitation) join hands to increase rural sanitation credit," financial services secretary Rajiv Kumar stated in a tweet. The department held a video conference with all public sector banks and financial institutions to step up lending for rural sanitation under priority sector lending to households, self-help groups, and small and medium enterprises.State-run banks and financial institutions have been asked to use their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds towards Swachh Bharat in the next financial year. The finance ministry has also

RBI bonds Scheme not closed :Finance Minister The Finance Ministry today said RBI Bonds Scheme has not been closed but the interest rate on such papers lowered to 7.75 per cent. Yesterday, the government notified that the 8 per cent GoI Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 “shall cease for subscription with effect from the close of business on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.” “The 8 per cent Savings Bonds Scheme, also known as RBI Bonds Scheme, is not being closed. 8 per cent Scheme is being replaced by 7.75 per cent Savings Bonds Scheme,” Economic Affairs Secretary SC Garg said in a tweet. These taxable bonds are meant for individual other than Non-Resident Indians with no maximum limit for investment. In 2003, the government came out with bonds offering 8 per cent interest to encourage retail investors to invest. The bond was open for subscription from April 21, 2003, and had a fixed tenure of six years. There was no upper limit for investment. The Mint, New Delhi, 03rd January 2018

IBBI amends rules, drops need to disclose liquidation value of asset The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has done away with the requirement for disclosing the liquidation value of an asset undergoing resolution—a move that is expected to help better price discovery for stressed assets under the bankruptcy framework. IBBI amended its regulations on 31 December and the changes took effect from Monday. The regulator also said that a resolution plan needs to identify the specific sources of funds that will be used to pay the liquidation value to creditors who don’t agree to the plan. “Since the liquidation value was previously included in the information memorandum, prospective bidders who had access to the same were providing bids which were closer to the liquidation value rather than a value (based) on a going concern basis. This amendment was necessary and will help in optimal price discovery for assets and reduce haircuts for lenders,” said Aashit Shah, a partne

Govt to classify shell firms by month-end The government will come up with a proper definition of what a shell company is by the end of this month. According to sources, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had in February last year constituted a special task force to tackle malpractices by shell companies. The task force will lay down specific guidelines to validate the clampdown on shell companies. The definition of shell firms is expected to be inserted in the Companies Act, securities laws, and also in the Income-Tax (I-T) Act, wherever applicable. The Centre is working on recommendations from multiple enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies, sources said. “We have received a lot of suggestions in this regard as there is no law that defines the subject and related parameters,” said an official privy to the development. According to the official, the special task force had directed all enforcement agencies concerned, including the Central Board of Direct Taxes, Enforcement

SBI surprises with 30 bp base rate cut In a surprising move at the start of the year, State Bank of India (SBI) reduced its base rate and benchmark prime lending rates (BPLR) for existing customers by 30 basis points each effective from January 1. One basis point is a hundredth of a percentage point.The bank said it would also extend its on going waiver on home loan processing fee till March 31 for new customers and for customers switching their loans from other banks to SBI. Though all new customers are offered the marginal cost based lending rate (MCLR),alarge chunk of retail customers —especially on the home loan side —as well as old corporate loans, are still in the base rate system.About 8 million customers would benefit from this move, said PKGupta, managing director (retail and digital banking), SBI. The revised base rate for the bank is now 8.65 per cent, while the BPLR is 13.40 per cent.The base rate is the minimum a bank can offer to its customers“The reduction in t

Bankruptcy will dictate M& Atrend in 2018 On the first day of the year when most holiday, Sourav Mallik, joint managing director at Kotak Mahindra Capital, is chalking out his mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy sitting at his BandraKurla Complex office in Mumbai.“We expect domestic consolidation to be the larger M&Atheme this year Especially with the new legal process for bankruptcy, home grown firms are better placed to deal with it,” he said.According to the data available with Thomson Reuters for deals up to December 12, 2017, India had M&Aworth Rs 55.9 billion last year.Of this 33 per cent, worth Rs 18.4 billion, was in the telecom sector as the launch of Reliance Jio services at a record low price disrupted the industry. This includes the proposed merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular that is valued at Rs 11.6 billion.Besides, last week Reliance Jio also announced the acquisition of Anil Ambaniled RCom´s wireless assets for an undisclosed amount.B