THE
INDIAN
TIFFIN
INDIAN
TIFFIN
EDITION XLII
The Hon'ble Finance Minister (FM) of India, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled her third annual budget on 1 February 2022. Both her earlier budgets have been defensive - two years ago, India's economy had hit a low ebb, and last year’s budget was released in the midst of the pandemic and thus affected. Pleasantly, this time most of the economic indicators seemed favourable and that helped her conceive one of the finest budgets that will hopefully set the tone in redefining India's economic destiny.
Balancing a financial budget for a large economy such as India, the agenda always is meaningfully disparate. The coverage includes deregulation, process simplification, privatisation, foreign exchange reserves accumulation, inflation-targeting, housing-for all, green technology, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, health insurance for the poor, financial inclusion, infrastructure spending, direct benefit transfers…and the list goes on.
The overall economic activity has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. the Indian economy is expected to witness real GDP expansion of 9.2% in the current fiscal year (April-March). This will be propelled by widespread vaccine coverage, gains from supply-side reforms and easing of regulations, robust export growth, and availability of fiscal space to ramp up capital spending. The projected GDP growth during 2022-23 assumes that there will be no further debilitating pandemic related economic disruption, the monsoon will be normal, withdrawal of global liquidity by major central banks will be largely orderly, oil prices will be in the range of USD70-USD75/barrel, and global supply chain disruptions will steadily ease over the year.
In the last week of January, the world markets were spooked by the looming threat of high inflation. India's Consumer Price Index inflation stood at 5.6% YoY in December 2021, within the targeted tolerance band. However, India does need to be wary of imported inflation, especially from elevated global energy prices.
Amid frequent disruptions caused by the global pandemic, India's balance of payments remained in surplus throughout the last two years, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accumulating foreign exchange reserves at USD 634bn as of 31 December 2021. The size of the reserves is equivalent to 13.2 months of merchandise imports and is higher than the country's external debt. With this, India has the fourth largest foreign exchange reserves, globally, after China, Japan, and Switzerland. In the budget speech, a pleasant surprise was a strong rebound in government revenues in fiscal 2021-22 indicating that the government will comfortably meet its targets for the year while maintaining support to the economy and ramping up capital expenditure. The revenue receipts were up over 67.2% YoY in April-November 2021, and unsurprisingly, the fiscal deficit for April-November 2021 has been contained at 46.2% of budget estimates.
The FM laid out four priorities in the budget, i.e., ‘PM Gati Shakti’, ‘Inclusive Development’, ‘Productivity Enhancement & Investment, Sunrise Opportunities, Energy Transition, and Climate Action’ and ‘Financing of Investments’. In preparedness for the electric vehicle revolution on the anvil, the FM promised to release a battery swapping policy to define interoperability standards. The plan is to encourage the private sector to develop sustainable and innovative business models for 'Battery or Energy as a Service'.
However, the most stellar budgetary announcement was the promised outlay for capital expenditure. The capital expenditure is being stepped up sharply by 35.4% from USD 74bn in the current year to USD 100bn during fiscal 2022-23. Further, this investment taken together with the provision made for the creation of capital assets through grants-in-aid to States, the 'Effective Capital Expenditure' of the Central Government is estimated at USD 142bn in 2022-23, which will be about 4.1% of GDP. While the government has taken on the mantle to do the heavy lifting when it comes to CAPEX, most believe that the private sector will eventually trump the government, given the strength in the economy.
On the divestment front, India's flagship airline, Air India has returned to the Tatas, ending decades of public ownership. The airline has been a totemic example of mismanagement in the public sector and the government retaining a hold on sectors in which it has no rational reason to participate. Like many other public sector enterprises, the airline provided dubious utility to the government, soaked up vast amounts of taxpayer cash and distorted the civil aviation industry. However, in the past, all attempts to privatise the airline had failed for decades. Much else in the public sector, including elements of the state-controlled banking sector, remain hopelessly inefficient and underperforming, with privatisation seeming the only way out. It is therefore understandable why the FM has only factored in a paltry USD 8.67bn in the budget, given the snail’s pace of privatisation efforts.
As India readies for summer of 2022, the mood in the government and business is buoyant. It is hoped that collectively, India will be able to leapfrog into the digital economy bridging the urban-rural gap and be able to cross many milestones to bring livelihood and prosperity for its millions.
M&A Tax and Regulatory
Deal Advisory Services
Between 29 November 2021 to 30 January 2022, around 157 M&A deals were announced of which 103 M&A deals were completed. The aggregate value of deals announced is USD 7010.70mn; dominated by 107 domestic deals (USD 4052.81mn) followed by 50 cross border deals (USD 2957.89mn)
In terms of sectors (considering only closed deals), the Information Technology sector saw the maximum deal value, with deals worth USD 1620.01mn followed by the Health Care sector with deals worth USD 165.40mn and the Consumer Discretionary sector with deals worth USD 143.52mn
.png)
While the Indian economy has been no exception to the pandemic, the sharp rebound and recovery is reflective of the country’s resilience. In the backdrop of economic revival, the Finance Minister presented a pro-growth Budget that chartered a blueprint to steer the economy over the next 25 years.
While the Budget kept the tax rates for corporates and individuals unchanged, it outlined key tax proposals to simplify the tax system, promote voluntary compliance by taxpayers, and reduce litigation.
The Budget proposed to grant multiple tax exemptions on income earned by a non-resident from its investments in International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Accordingly, income on transfer of offshore derivative instruments or over-the-counter derivatives, portfolio income from a portfolio managed by an eligible IFSC Offshore Banking Unit, royalty and interest income arising from the lease of ships are exempted from tax.
In a pro-active effort, the Budget proposed to cap surcharge applicable to Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) at 15% of tax on LTCG earned on all capital assets. As a relief to COVID affected individuals, the Budget provides for a tax exemption in respect of any amount received by individuals towards medical expenditure, as also compensation received by a family member of a deceased person.
To ease concerns of businesses in view of the pandemic, the incorporation threshold for eligible start-ups, and the commercial production commencement threshold of domestic manufacturing companies, has been extended to 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024 respectively.
The Budget also introduced the concept of filing updated returns within 24 months from the end of the assessment year providing a one-time window to taxpayers to correct any discrepancy or omissions in their tax returns and declare such additional income. An additional tax of 25% (for returns filed within 12 months from the end of the assessment year) or 50% (for returns filed beyond 12 months but before 24 months) on the tax and interest due on the additional income will be payable.
Recognising the growing popularity of Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) and in an attempt to bring this emerging market under the tax net, the Government has proposed to tax income arising on transfer of VDA at a flat rate of 30% (plus applicable surcharge and cess) with no deduction of expenses (except the cost of acquisition). A gift of VDA is also proposed to be taxed in the hands of the recipient. Further, any loss arising from such transfer will not be permitted to be set off against any other income in the same year or subsequent years. To keep track, withholding tax @ 1% on transfer and exchange of VDA is also introduced.
The current Special Economic Zones Act and Rules which imposes restrictions on location/area, tax exemptions, sales to the domestic market, etc. seem to have caused loss of interest for fresh investments and employment generation. The Finance Minister announced that this law is sought to be replaced with a new legislation, factoring present-day needs.
Further Customs duty exemptions on certain capital goods, project imports and more than 40 other notifications are proposed to be gradually phased out. This is expected to encourage domestic investment in manufacturing and local value additions and give a fillip to its policy reforms on its Atmanirbhar (self-reliance) framework.
In the backdrop of buoyant GST revenues, the Budget proposals signal continuation of the policy that seeks to strike a balance between facilitation and enforcement.
Amongst other policy announcements, some significant ones were -
With a significant push to capital expenditure to propel growth, India has delivered a pro-growth budget to boost the supply side and attract private investment. A transformative approach for economic growth and intention to steer India toward sustainable development would accelerate key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, transportation, defence, cleantech and EV, and will enhance ‘ease of doing business’ in the country.
.png)
Budget 2022-23 drew a blueprint to steer the Indian economy over the next 25 years. Though tabled at a time when many state elections are on the cards, the Budget did not have even an iota of populism but retained its avatar as a ‘Booster Budget’.
Capital expenditures increasing by 35% to USD 100bn (INR 7.5 lakh Cr) can generate economic production worth USD 245bn, while for USD 0.1mn (INR 1Cr) Capex by the Government, the economic production increases by USD 0.3mn (INR 2.45 Cr). The hope is that such huge investment from the Government will also encourage the private sector to come forward and become a major partner in India’s economic development.
Despite being the third-largest start-up base globally, the Budget provisioned to further encourage start-ups, by extending the existing tax exemption to all start-ups for another year till 31 March 2023. Therefore, now start-ups incorporated till 31 March 2023 will be eligible for the Income tax exemption for 3 consecutive years, out of 10 years since incorporation. Similarly, to encourage investments by domestic companies, the 15% concessional tax facility has been extended to companies commencing manufacturing or production by 31 March 2024. The seven engines of PM GATI Shakti: Road, Railways, Seaport, Airport, Mass rapid system, Waterways and Logistics are expected to transform the country’s infrastructure as it moves towards a USD 5tn economy by FY 26. Establishing 100 cargo terminals and 4 mega logistic parks in FY 23 will help reduce the cost and time of logistics.
The recognition of the need for skilling, re-skilling and upskilling through the online route is set to aid quality skill training at a large scale which will further enhance the quality of manufacturing and exports.
The Budget addresses the concerns of both domestic and international trade. Looking into the liquidity challenges, the Emergency Credit Linked Guarantee (ECLGS) has been extended for one more year with an additional provision of USD 6.67bn (INR 50000 Cr) for hospitality and related sectors. The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) now provides for an additional credit of USD 26.67bn INR (2 lakh Cr). The provision has been made for the Interest Equalisation Scheme for exporters and we await the announcement of the policy by the Government. The reduction of duty on cut & polished diamonds, gemstones, few chemicals, exemption from duty on steel scrap will provide competitiveness to exports of gems & jewellery, chemicals, and engineering. It is encouraging that the duty-free facility for the import of trimmings and embellishments has been restored to help the handicraft, apparel, textile, leather, and sports good sectors.
The SEZ Act will be repealed and replaced with the new Act to convert such zones into economic conclaves, creating employment besides exports. Much needed flexibility in operations will be available under the new legislation, digital risk-based administration of SEZ by Customs and filing of all information on ICEGATE instead of NSDL will certainly simplify the process.
The budget is not merely a statement of revenues and expenditures, but reflects the Government’s vision, not only for the next few years but until India is 100 in 2047. The emphasis on growing urbanisation to facilitate mobility over the next 25 years and therefore building infrastructure is a well-conceived idea.
The move towards a digital currency will not only keep India aligned with global developments but at the same time will address the challenges imposed by crypto and virtual currencies besides reducing the cost of currency printing. The Government’s vision to unlock potential in sunrise sectors such as AI, geospatial systems and drones, semiconductors, space, genomics and pharma, green energy and clean mobility systems augur well for sustainable development on a massive scale.
Watch India’s Finance Minister Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, in her first private media interaction post the announcement of Union Budget 2022. The Finance Minister in this exclusive interview talks to the Editor-in Chief of Network 18 - One of the largest media conglomerates in India having successful strategic alliances with global media players such as Viacom, CNBC, CNN, A+E Networks and Forbes.
1Indian Tiffin’s Editorial team also refers BDO in India and its associates, partners, employees, advisors and assigns
Engaging the international palate for over 6 years with exclusive stories, economic trends, and pertinent themes from India
BDO India introduced the Indian Tiffin in 2015 with an aim to provide international audiences, insights into key economic variables and themes trending in India.
Having completed 6 successful years, with fantastically encouraging feedback from readers, we are delighted to re-introduce the Indian Tiffin with a digital refresh.
Anchored on the concept of The Indian ‘Dabbawala’ legacy (accurate, efficient, and timely delivery) each edition of the Indian Tiffin, endeavours to bring forth the right blend of information, significant for cross-border business considerations, enabling informed decision making.
LOADING
