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A look at Jaitley's successes and failures in the past one year
By Arup Roychoudhury
May 26, 2015

As Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, and the government's troubleshooter-in-chief in Parliament, Arun Jaitley has emerged perhaps the most important minister in the Narendra Modi's Cabinet, after the prime minister himself.

Here is a look at Jaitley's successes and failures in his first year as the man tasked with reviving the economy:

One year of Modi sarkar: Complete coverage

HITS HANDLING THE FISCAL BEAT:

Initial estimates say the fiscal deficit for FY15 came in at 4% of GDP against Budgeted estimates of 4.1%; perhaps the most fiscally astute move Jaitley made was delaying the fiscal deficit road map and projecting 3.9% for FY16 instead of the advised 3.6%

PUBLIC SPENDING PUSH:

Better fiscal situation helped free up Rs 70,000 cr or Rs 700 billion for increased public sector spending in infrastructure; With weak corporate results lowering private sector expenditure, the Centre's spending surge will give to push to Smart Cities, infra corridors and other projects

COMPETITIVE CORPORATE TAX RATES:

Proposal to reduce corporate tax rates to 25% from 30% over four years would make India's corporate tax rates more attractive to investors than those of other emerging economies' 

BLACK MONEY ACT:

A new stringent law promises to come down hard on those with unaccounted wealth abroad

JAN DHAN:

One year of Modi sarkar: Complete coverage

By May 13, more than 150 mn new accounts were opened; shortfalls remain but the Direct Benefits Transfer programme expected to fill the gaps

INCREASED DEVOLUTION TO STATES:

The government approved the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission to give states a greater share of money; Jaitley said in Parliament states have got Rs 1.8 lakh crore extra after the increase in devolution

MUDRA BANK AND UNIVERSAL SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES:

Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (Mudra) Bank set up to finance small businesses in unorganised sector; Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojna launched on May 9

MISSES MAT:

Jaitley said in the Budget that foreign institutional investors would be exempted from MAT from 2015; immediately afterwards, the I-T dept started sending minimum alternate tax (MAT) notices to 68 foreign institutional investors (FIIs) for previous years, leading to confusion

TAX FORMS:

The 14-page income-tax return form sought details such as bank accounts and foreign trip details; Jaitley later clarified the form would be simplified GST: With just 11 months left for the Goods and Service Tax (GST) roll-out date, Jaitley had to admit that they were cutting it 'too fine'; the opposition forced the Constitution amendment Bill to a select panel; states haven't agreed on a revenue-neutral rate and there are demands to increase the additional levy

PDMA:

Provisions were included in the Finance Bill-2015 to take away the Reserve Bank's power to issue government bonds and regulate money markets; but provisions removed and officials said more deliberations required on setting up a public debt management agency, indicating a lack of cohesion between the government and the central bank

UNREALISTIC DISINVESTMENT TARGETS:

The combined stake sale target in FY15 was Rs 58,425 cr or Rs 584.25 billion, which was revised to Rs 26,353 cr or Rs 263.53 billion; FY16 target at Rs 69,500 cr or Rs 695 billion is the highest

LACK OF MAJOR CAPITAL MARKET REFORMS:

The Centre hasn't accepted the Sahoo panel recommendations on revamping external commercial borrowings; no clarity on the promised opening up of currency derivatives market

NPA AND RECAPITALISATION OF BANKS:

Jaitley has budgeted bank recapitalisation of Rs 7,940 cr for FY16; From budgeted Rs 11,200 cr or Rs 112 billion in FY15 only Rs 6,990 cr or Rs 69.90 billion given to nine state-owned banks based on certain parameters, which were criticised by experts; though non-performing assets reduced slightly in the last quarter, it was more due to banks' cautiousness.

Photograph: PTI

Arup Roychoudhury
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