scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Friday, February 20, 2026
TopicMinistry of Finance

Topic: Ministry of Finance

Wintrack founder’s spat with Chennai Customs started in January. He had ordered handcuffs

A senior officer told Wintrack founder Prawin Ganesan's staff that not only his department, but the whole Chennai Customs is against Ganesan.

Boost for govt research institutes as Centre eases procurement rules for scientific equipment

Union Minister of Science & Technology Jitendra Singh said the simplified general financial rules will promote ease of doing research & empower institutes to innovate faster.

Of 36 PSUs up for sale since 2016, just 10 sold so far, and 8 of these were bought by other PSUs

Ministry of Finance also informed Parliament that from 2023-24 onwards, it has stopped providing targets in budget for how much it expects to receive through disinvestment. 

Shaktikanta Das has handled govt better than rockstar RBI chiefs. The real test is now

The next few weeks will show how successfully Governor Shaktikanta Das can navigate the latest butting of heads between the government and the RBI.

‘BJP never believed in reform’—what ex-PM Manmohan Singh said in 2004

What did Manmohan Singh have to say about 1991 economic reforms, working with Indira Gandhi & Narasimha Rao, and more. Read this transcript of his Walk The Talk interview to find out.

Research funds exempt from GST, finance ministry not to pursue notices issued to IIT-D, Anna University

GST council in its 54th meeting exempted universities, research centres governed by central or state govt, or those exempted from Income Tax, from paying GST on research grants.

India’s next cabinet secretary, TV Somanathan, is an overachiever with blunt words for pvt sector

Somanathan, currently finance secy, will take over as cabinet secy for 2 yrs starting 30 August. A vital adviser to finance minister & close to PMO, he is vocal about views on taxation.

After uproar over hike in Budget, govt reverts to 10% customs duty on lab chemicals, with 1 condition

The condition is that importers now have to give an undertaking that they will only supply labs. How this affects the supply chain remains to be seen.

Arvind Subramanian on India having missed its chance to rationalise GST rates — ‘moment has passed’

Speaking at an event, the former CEA says he no longer thinks fuel & electricity should be included in GST and added that India has only now, 7 yrs later, reached pre-GST revenue levels.

Embarrassment of riches? Govt halts monthly GST releases as high collections ‘creating resentment’

July 2024 was first time no official release on GST collections was issued. Collections were Rs 1.74 lakh crore in June & average collections this fiscal yr are highest ever, it is learnt.

On Camera

India must govern AI with confidence. Use guardrails, not handcuffs

The good news is that India is not starting from zero. It knows how to innovate privately while also empowering innovation publicly.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.