This report summarizes the findings of a review aimed at understanding emerging approaches to energy subsidy reform, discerning trends, and identifying major strands of thinking and research in the field, as reflected in major policy and academic journals relevant to the subject. The review was initiated in early 2020 as …
B.S. Satish Kumar With tax cuts, Yeddyurappa will find it tough to fund poll promises Money for milk, rice subsidy remains a problem Escoms want quarterly payment of power subsidy BANGALORE: The promise of supplying free power to irrigation pumpsets of farmers will be an expensive affair for the B.S. …
CONSUMERS may expect some more relief from high fuel prices soon. The empowered group of state finance ministers is likely to discuss a proposal of the Centre to reduce sales tax on petrol, diesel, cooking gas (LPG) and jet fuel on Monday. States may consider shielding consumers from the recent …
It's almost a replay of the 1973 oil shock. Even though the circumstances behind the current price rise, and even the rise itself, are less dramatic than in 1973, the impact is no less debilitating, particularly for India. Crude prices are now ruling at $135 (Rs 5,805) per barrel levels, …
For a beleaguered UPA government, increasingly under fire from the Left and the Opposition over galloping inflation, the sharp rise in global crude oil prices couldn't have come at a more inopportune time. The under-recoveries of the oil marketing companies (OMCs) are mounting and there are very real fears that …
The spiralling fuel prices in the international market have hit European fishing fleets. Angered fishers are blockading ports in several countries. France and Scotland have initiated a negotiation with the eu for permission to give subsidies or release cash-aid for their ailing fishing sectors. To maintain a level commercial playing …
In the face of an economic meltdown, Zimbabwe has suspended import duty on basic commodities for 90 days, with effect from May 12. The cost of imported basic commodities has sky-rocketed since the government floated the currency at an exchange rate of z $250 million to us $1. Previously the …
By Rashme Sehgal Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent statement claiming India's "commitment to an early positive conclusion of the Doha Development Round" has farmer lobbies worried. With WTO mini-ministerial meetings expected mid-July, farmer leaders warned that a U-turn in India's stated agricultural policies would adversely impact 800 million farmers. The …
In a bid to encourage the fertiliser industry to increase its production volumes, the government today extended the system of actual freight reimbursement to all types of fertilisers. Currently, only urea enjoys this concession. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which met here today, also approved a uniform nutrient …
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday announced a new nutrient-based pricing policy for all subsidised fertilizers that would lead to lowering of prices of some varieties. It also approved a uniform freight subsidy for all fertilizers to ensure its adequate availability across the nation at a uniform price. It will …
At around 11 a.m., Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar eagerly awaits an SMS. No, the message is not about the Indian Premier League. It is from his officials who send him the scores on a day-to-day basis on harvesting and procurement of foodgrain. Last week, as his slim mobile phone silently …
The duty on buses which carry more people is the same as that on small cars, such is our warped policy. After much vacillation and prevarication, the government has finally done the inevitable
Delhi Power Minister AK Walia on Wednesday said that the benefit of subsidised electricity on consumption up to 150/200 units per month has started percolating down to the consumers and around 10 lakh consumers have benefited from this scheme during March, 2008. The Delhi Government has released Rs 13 crore …
Haryana Governor Dr A.R. Kidwai and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today called for a check on the use of oxytocin and waste water on plants at a meeting of the State Environment Protection Council of Haryana, held under council chairman Dr A.R. Kidwai at Raj Bhavan today. Reuse and …
Rich countries came under attack yesterday at the United Nations food summit for their biofuel subsidies and production targets, declining spending on development aid for agriculture and large subsidies to European and US farmers. Jacques Diouf, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, told heads of state and governments gathered …
European Union finance ministers struggled yesterday to forge a response to food and fuel price inflation, proposing remedies from windfall taxes on oil companies to the suspension of various food import tariffs. Several ministers, notably Wilhelm Molterer of Austria, denounced what they termed "speculation" on commodities futures markets, saying it …
DEBATE There is no doubt the oil companies are bleeding, but the issue is whether the government should also reduce the extra taxes it gets from high oil prices Dharmakirti Joshi Director and Principal Economist, CRISIL Ltd "India's level of taxes on oil is comparable with that in most countries, …
PM Manmohan Singh on Monday hinted that there may not be any alternative to raising fuel prices, even as the government continued to grapple with working out a consensus on measures to tackle high global crude prices. A decision can possibly be taken only by Thursday after a meeting of …
Should private diesel cars be taxed more than petrol cars to neutralize the subsidy they get on retail fuel prices, originally kept low for benefiting commercial vehicle operations like public transport vehicles and goods carriers that have a direct bearing on inflation. Noted industrialist Vivek Bharatram has suggested the government …
India's oil subsidy may shoot up three times to 2.2% of the GDP this year even as the government dithers on raising fuel prices in step with the rise in input (crude oil) cost. The country paid $8.7 billion in oil subsidies in 2007 or 0.7% of the GDP. In …
For more than 25 years, wealthy countries have been using aid and other foreign assistance to subsidize the expansion of the international oil industry, a practice known as
