[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his 2017-18 Budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday explained the rationale of demonetisation and the push towards digital transactions by citing the tax evasion figures of those who do not file returns at all and those who under-quote their profits.
He said of the 4.2 crore who were employed in the organised sector, only 1.74 crore files tax returns, and out of the 5.6 crore individual enterprises and firms doing small business, only 1.81 crore filed returns. And among the 13.94 lakh companies which are registered till March 31, 2014, only 5.97 lakh companies filed returns for 2016-17. And of the 5.97 lakh companies which have filed returns, 2.76 lakh companies have shown losses or zero income. Among those which showed profit, 2.85 lakh companies have shown less than Rs 1 crore in profit, 28,667 have shown profits between Rs 1 crore and Rs 10 crore, and only 7781 companies showed more than Rs 10 crore in profit.
Of the 3.7 crore individuals who have filed tax returns in 2015-16, 99 lakh showed the exemption limit of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum, 1.95 crore showed an annual income between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, 52 lakh showed income between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and only 24 lakh showed annual income more than Rs 10 lakh. And of the 76 lakh who showed income above Rs 5 lakh, 56 lakh were in the salaried class. Only 1.72 lakh showed income of more than Rs 50 lakh per annum.
Jaitley in his speech said, “We can contrast this with the fact that in the last five years, more than 1.25 crore cars have been sold, and the people who flew abroad, either for business or tourism, is 2 crore in the year 2015. From all these figures we can conclude that we are largely a tax non-compliant society.”
And he argues, “The predominance of cash in the economy makes it possible for the people to evade their taxes. When too many people evade taxes, the burden of their share falls on those who are honest and compliant.”
Then he referred to the preliminary analysis of data with regard to deposits in the Rs 1000 and Rs 500 denominations: “During the period November 8 to December 30 , 2016, deposits between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 80 lakh were made in 1.09 crore accounts with an average deposit size of Rs 5.03 lakh. Deposits of more Rs 80 lakh were made in 1.48 lakh accounts with average deposit size of Rs 3.31 crores.”
He concluded: “This data mining will help us immensely in expanding the tax net as well as increasing the revenues, which was one of the objectives of demonetisation.”
Lead Picture: The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley along with the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal arrives at Parliament House to present the General Budget 2017-18, in New Delhi. Photo: PIB[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.
The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”
One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.
The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.
Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew
Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.
The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.
As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.
To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
Download and save the PDF for future reference.
Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:
The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:
Student’s name
Register number
Course name
Marks obtained in each subject
Subject codes and names
Total marks
Maximum marks
Result status (Pass/Fail)
The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.
Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.
The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.
The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.
The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.
Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.
The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.
While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.
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