The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked all primary urban cooperative banks (UCBs) in the country to ensure more than the prescribed provision for non-performing assets (NPAs).RBI said that the norms for provisioning represented only the minimum requirement. Banks could put in place policies to provide for estimated actual losses in collect able amounts and make provisions accordingly.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has made it clear that press Notes 2 and 4 issued in February 2009, which changed the way indirect foreign equity would be treated in calculating foreign investment levels in Indian corporations, cannot take effect retrospectively for proposals before the board.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has recommended reservation for domestic mutual funds within the quota allocated for “anchor investors” in initial public offers (IPOs).The concept of anchor investors was introduced with a view to bring high quality investors. This allows for 30 per cent of the quota for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) to be allocated to anchor investors. For domestic mutual funds, SEBI said the quota should be one-third of the anchor investor portion or 10 per cent of the QIB portion. Anchor investors will have to invest a minimum of Rs. 10
crore and bring in 25 per cent of the margin money on application and the remaining 75 per cent within two days of the issue closing. SEBI has also said if the anchor investor allocation is less than 30 per cent of the QIB quota, the remainder can be allocated to other investors. Those allotted shares under the anchor investor quota can also apply for the same IPO under the general QIB quota.

Retail investors can put their money in mutual funds in small lots without giving their PAN card details for up to Rs 50, 000.

• There shall be no entry load for all mutual fund schemes.
• The scheme application forms shall carry a suitable disclosure to the effect that the upfront commission to distributors will be paid by the investor directly to the distributor, based on his assessment of various factors including the service rendered by the distributor.
• Of the exit load or CDSC charged to the investor, a maximum of 1% of the redemption proceeds shall be maintained in a separate account which can be used by the AMC to pay commissions to the distributor and to take care of other marketing and selling expenses. Any balance shall be credited to the scheme immediately.
• The distributors should disclose all the commissions (in the form of trail commission or any other mode) payable to them for the different competing schemes of various mutual funds from among st which the scheme is being recommended to the investor.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has modified the accounting norms for non-banking finance companies. NBFCs were earlier advised in July 2008 that in terms of Accounting Standard 22, the tax effects of timing differences are included in the tax expense in the statement of profit and loss as deferred tax assets (DTA) (subject to the consideration of prudence) or as deferred tax liabilities (DTL) in the balance sheet. Further that the balance in DTL account will not be eligible for inclusion in Tier I or Tier II capital for capital adequacy purpose and that DTA being an intangible asset, should
be deducted from Tier I capital. However RBI has further clarified that DTL created by debit to opening balance of revenue reserves or to profit and loss account for the current year should be included under ‘others’ of “Other Liabilities and Provisions.”

The Supreme Court has reiterated that high courts have no power to condone delay in filing an appeal under section 35-G of the Central Excise Act. This question was raised in the case of Chaudharana steels (P) Ltd vs. The Commissioner of Central Excise, Allahabad. The Supreme Court pointed out that in one of its earlier judgment, Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise, Noida vs. Punjab Fibres Ltd, the court had held last year that high courts have no power to condone delay in seeking reference under Section 35-H of the Act. Doubting the correctness of that view, a reference was made to a larger bench. A three-judge bench then upheld the view of the Punjab Fibres judgment in March this year in the case of Commissioner of Customs & Central Excise vs. Hongo India (P) Ltd. Thus the Supreme Court said while dismissing the appeal that there was no doubt about this question after the judgement in the Hongo India case.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has barred insurance companies from investing in Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs), saying the Insurance Act forbids investments outside the country.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of the National Insurance Company against the award of compensation in a road accident death, and ruled that the accident claims tribunal can award damages more than asked for by the dependant of the victim. In this case, a technician of Maruti Udyog Ltd died in a road accident because of the negligence of the driver of a truck insured by National Insurance. The widow and her two children sought Rs. 20 lakh as compensation from the truck owner. The tribunal awarded Rs. 22 lakh, to be paid by the insurer. It appealed to the Punjab and Haryana high court, without success. Its appeal to the SC also was rejected. The judgement emphasized that the tribunal has powers to give more than asked for.

The Supreme Court has set aside the judgement of the Delhi High Court and ruled that in a case of bounced Cheque, both civil and criminal cases can go on at the same time. In this case, Vishnu Dutt vs. Daya Sapra, the drawer of bounced Cheque stated that her Cheque book was forcibly taken by a former policeman and used in lieu of a bribe in a property transaction. The criminal court believed it and acquitted her of the charge of issuing Cheque without sufficient funds in the bank account. However, she was sued for repayment of the loan. She argued that since the criminal court had acquitted her, the civil suit for recovery of the loan could not stand. The high court accepted this contention, but the Supreme Court quashed the high court decision, stating that the civil suit for recovery of loan would continue even if she was acquitted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Kerala high court in the case of Apollo Tyres Ltd. vs. CP Sebastian, and asserted that civil courts have no jurisdiction to decide labour matters. In this case, the general secretary of the trade union in the Kerala factory was promoted and transferred to a unit in West Bengal. He refused the promotion and resisted the transfer. He moved the civil court asking it to restrain the management from interfering with his right to perform legitimate trade
union activities in the Kerala unit. He also asked the court not to force him to accept any promoted post. The civil court dismissed his petition, but high court ruled that the issue could be decided by the civil court. On appeal by the company, the apex court declared that the issue was in the nature of an industrial dispute. There are many powers which the labour court or the industrial tribunal enjoys which the civil court does not enjoy, e.g. the power to enforce contracts of personal service, to create contracts, to change contracts.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex body administering direct taxes, put on hold the new form and conditions to improve tax deduction at source filing system. The new rules which had been brought out without any notice had drawn criticism from the taxpayers as it allegedly made the process further cumbersome. This was particularly as even tax department’s own software was allegedly found lacking in supporting the new form and conditions. Thus, taxpayers filling their income tax return for assessment year 2009-10, or any other earlier assessment year, may continue to file their returns without mentioning the unique transaction number (UTN) as required under these rules.

The Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has ruled that the foreign telecom firms operating without a permanent establishment in India are no more required to pay any tax on income from carrying international calls and data services in pacts with domestic operators. Giving a ruling on an application from Cable & Wireless Networks India which proposed to enter a pact with the UK arm of the same parent company, AAR said that in the absence of there being any permanent establishment of C&W Uk in India, this income is not at all taxable here.

The government has launched a new scheme on interest subsidy on educational loans taken for professional courses by economically weaker students. Under the new scheme, students can get loans from government with subsidized interest.

In an effort to prevent fraud in cases involving multiple banking arrangements, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked that the details of such frauds should immediately be shared by the detector bank with consortium banks for joint action.

The Government of India has decided to extend Interest Subvention of 2 percentage points w.e.f. June 01, 2009 till September 30, 2009 on pre and post shipment rupee export credit extended by scheduled Urban Cooperative Bank (UCBs) holding AD category licenses, for certain employment oriented export sectors as under:

• Textiles (including Hand loom)
• Handicrafts
• Carpets
• Leather
• Gems and Jewellery
• Marine Products, and
• Small & Medium Enterprises (as defined in the Annex)

• External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) for Integrated Township

The Market Practices Committee and Fixed Income Money Market & Derivative Association of India
(FIMMDA) Board in consultation with National Stock Exchange (NSE), has decided to introduce a 3-Day MIBOR, with effect from Friday 6th June 2008. Banks which are on the polling list for polling MIBOR rates to NSE are requested to poll two rates on Fridays commencing from 6th June 2008, that is:

• A one day MIBOR, as usual.
• An additional 3-Day MIBOR.

• Four new taxable services have been added:
• Cosmetic Surgery or Plastic Surgery
• Transport of Coastal Goods; and Goods transported through Inland water.
• Legal Consultancy Service
• Transport of Goods through Rail
• Following services to be exempt from services tax
• The inter-bank transactions of purchase or sale of foreign currency, when undertaken by scheduled banks
• Service provided by tour operator undertaking point-to-point transportation of passengers in a vehicle bearing contract carriage permit.
• Export Promotion Council and the Federation of Indian Export Organisation on membership and fees collected by them till 31st march 2010.
• The following two services have been exempted, if they are used for export of goods and where the liability to pay the tax on such services is on the exporter himself, on reverse charge basis
• Transport of goods by road, from the place of removal to any ICD, CFS, port or airport; or from any CFS or ICD to the port or airport; and
• Services provided by a foreign commission agent for procuring orders.
• Services provided by sub- brokers excluded from the purview of service tax.
• Rate of service tax for provider of taxable as well as exempt services not maintaining separate books of accounts, reduced from 8% to 6%.

• Basic exemption limits in personal tax is proposed to be raised. Accordingly, the new exemption limits in case of different categories of individual assesses shall be as under:

The Corporate Laws Committee of the Institute, under the leadership of Mr. Vinod Jain as its Chairman also launched a 3 month Course on valuation to equip members with expertise in valuation of Business, Valuation of shares, Valuation of Brands, Valuation of Intellectual Property Right,
Valuation of Assets, Valuation of Jewelry and Valuation of Companies under restructuring and all other types of valuations including valuation of Art and Artifacts. The 1st round of Course started in November, 2008 and has been successfully completed in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Exams have been held and more than 200 highly equipped top quality Valuation Expert Chartered Accountants are already serving the market places. The 2nd batch of Valuation Course has already begun at Delhi and Mumbai. In the Valuation Course professors from IIMs, IITs, Top Management Institutes, CFO’s, Big 4 Accounting Firms and top notch Consultants have shared their knowledge and expertise with Chartered Accountants. All best quality books on valuation including case studies which are about 75 in numbers are available in the library of the Institute to equip Chartered Accountants in delivering value by preparing high quality Valuation Reports. ICAI Council passed has passed “Valuation Standards” to be effective from 1st April, 2010 as a part of the series of Corporate Affairs Standards. India has become 3rd country in the world having international level of
Valuation Standards for being observed by the Valuers and the users. It maybe noted that Valuation Standards are currently re commendatory in nature. Full details of the Course are available at www.icai.org on the home page

The ICAI – Management Accounting Committee under the able leadership of CA Vinod Jain, Member Central Council and National Course Director has taken a major leap by launching Certificate Course in Masters in Business Finance in Delhi and Mumbai on 11th and 12th July, 2009. This is a historical occasion for the Chartered Accountants. The Course Contents provide for imbibing expert knowledge and exposure to Chartered Accountants in the finesse of the field of finance including resource raising in India, international resource raising, investment banking, merchant banking, private equity funds, venture capital funds, international funding agencies, banks, pension fund, valuation, mergers and acquisitions and corporate structuring. ICAI has developed MBF syllabus after thorough review and the detailed study of syllabi of Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, International School of Business at Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) at  Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, other top 20 management institutes in India, ICFAI and Certified Financial Analysts Institute of USA and various universities within India and outside India including London School of Economics and European Management Institutions. ICAI has acquired a very large number of all possible top rated literature and books by best authors irrespective of the cost constraints but overtly useful, in the field of finance and management from various countries across the world and has made them available in the library of
the Institute as well as to the participants of the Course. The Course has received overwhelming response from Chartered Accountants in India as well as outside India and the seats had to be increased to from 100 to 150 at Delhi as well at Mumbai to meet the tremendous demand among the aspirants. Even now 100s of Chartered Accountants across India are aspiring to join the Course.
Very prominent faculties from IIMs, XLRI, Jamshedpur, ISB, Top Management Institutes and Universities in India have given their consent and have already started participating as faculty and visiting professors to the Course. In addition Bank Chairmen, Executive Directors, private equity fund chiefs, heads of Mutual Funds, Top Investment Bankers and topmost merchant bankers are sharing their knowledge with the students of Masters in Business Finance Course. In addition top leading Chartered Accountants including Chief Financial Officers of various large companies are
expected to share their skill and practical experiences with a view to create wealth of knowledge within the Institute. The Masters in Business Course is being delivered through classroom teaching over one year on Saturdays / Sundays, besides case studies, group discussions and research being undertaken by the MBF students. Full details of the Course are available at www.icai.org on the home page.