We are what we are !!

The only thing certain about Tax is, it is always taxing.  India abolished LTCG(Long Term Capital Gains) tax some years back while STT(Securities Transaction Tax) was introduced. After few years Arun Jaitley,the then FM at the Central Govt, thought it fit to reintroduce LTCG Tax from Fy 18-19, with an exemption if STT had been paid on the transaction. Now many Economists have recommended for abolition of LTCG tax showing the distortion it brings in transactions involving Digital Gold, unlisted shares and the black money generation it encourages in all and sundry especially in Real estate transactions. The arguments against LTCG Tax are strong and valid. The vagueness it brings in matters of valuation brings lot of confusion and uncertainty giving the incentive to hide part of the consideration received. What demo wanted to flush out, LTCG Tax has encouraged inadvertently. It has sent wrong signals across the economy. What is the remedy then. One simple alternative is to bring Trans...

Policy prescriptions are flying thick and fast and on my part, I am adding one more . All Economists including me are prescribing deficit monetisation, pump priming etc. taking a leaf out of Modern Monetary Theory. As against this,Central Govt. has an alternative which is called Asset monetisation, according to me.Govt calls it Disinvestment/Divestment of PSUs. When the whole world is reeling under Covid pandemic , will there be a suitor for Air India? Even if there is a good buyer will he be willing to pay the right price for Air India.What will be the benchmark for its valuation when the whole industry is bogged down by this pandemic and its repercussions on the travel industry. In such unprecedented situations , it is best advised not to go in for outright sale transactions of Government stake in PSUs including Air India, BPCL,etc. Similarly, other intangible but real assets are Spectrum waves ( link ), Mining/Abiotic  ,Biotic Resources which are hidden inside the Ear...