Kerala Finance Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 6 Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal will present the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government's fifth budget in the Legislat..

LIVE: Is Kerala growth model broken? Kerala FM on state’s slowing growth and high debt

Kerala state budget has raised many a eyebrows on the additional cess on fuel and liquor. The state is heavily dependent on tourism, remittances, both of which have been badly hit during the pandemic. Listen to what the state’s Finance Minister KN Balagopal has to say on steering the state through difficult financial times.

Don't include borrowings of state entities in debt of state govt: Kerala FM to Union FM

Raising concerns over some actions of the Centre in the past five years regarding fixing of states net borrowing ceiling, Balagopal has contended that liabilities of state instrumentalities, like statutory bodies and companies, do not come within the definition of state debt.

After Jawan Deluxe rum, Kerala to launch its own brand of brandy

Demand for the rum brand exceeds supply. Kerala is looking to replicate the success with the launch of wines and other beverages made using fruit like pineapple, banana and mango.

GST Council meets to fit rates, states come up with wish-list

The two-day meeting of the Council, headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising representatives of all states, is working on fitting most of the items in the 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent template.

Demonetisation redux? With ATMs running dry, cash crunch hits parts of country

Even today many states are facing a severe cash crunch as many ATMs are not dispensing cash and not enough currency notes available.

No fundamental dispute in GST council: Kerala FM

Speaking during the Question Hour, Issac told the House, "There were no fundamental disputes in GST council." The next meeting of the council, to be held in Srinagar, would take decision to fit different goods and services into the four approved slabs of 5, 12,18 and 28 per cent tax rates under Goods and Service Tax (GST).

Skeptical about GST passage in Winter Session: Thomas Isaac

Two days ahead of the crucial GST Council meeting, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is skeptical about the passage of Goods and Services Tax Bill during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament. The GST deadlock raises questions over the April 1, 2017 rollout of the new tax regime.

Deadlock on GST dual control continues; fingers crossed: Jaitley

Consensus on dual control eluded the second day of the GST Council meeting as states and the Centre failed to stitch together a deal. The Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, will now meet on December 11 and 12 to try and hammer out an agreeable model.

Centre failed to address hardship of public, says Kerala FM

"The Union government has literally failed in mitigating the hardship faced by the public following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes," Isaac said, during his visit to the Kerala pavilion at the India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, here.

Govt wants GST rates to be as reasonable as possible: Mani

As regards tax rates in the GST regime, the government has taken a view that the rates are to be as reasonable as possible to ensure success of the new tax system, said Mani, the Kerala Finance Minister, while addressing an Assocham conference on GST.

States demand full compensation for 5 yrs after GST rollout

Although the Union Government has agreed to compensate states fully in the first three years and partially in fourth and fifth year, the states have demanded for full compensation for the five-year period.

Confident of getting GST opposing states on board: Mani

Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani, who has just been appointed Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State FMs on GST, exudes confidence of getting all states on board and meeting the roll-out deadline for the new indirect taxes regime.