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New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala state finance dept warns PSEs over audit delays, threatens to withhold grants
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The finance department has asked public sector enterprises (PSEs) under the state government to finalise their accounts in a time-bound manner. A circular by Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) K R Jyothilal warned of withholding future grants to organisations failing to do so. It directed secretaries of administrative departments to ensure the direction is followed by the PSEs under their control. The circular cited the CAG's observations in the State Finances Audit Report 2022-23 that had flagged the issue. The report, tabled in the assembly this March, had pointed out that 24 autonomous bodies had not submitted annual accounts to the CAG and 79 accounts were pending for one to 10 years. The CAG report had said only 16 of 131 PSEs submitted accounts for audit. This constituted 12.21% of the total PSEs under CAG's audit jurisdiction. The circular asked all PSUs as well as autonomous bodies to ensure their accounts are up to date and 50% of the pending audit paras/annual accounts should be reduced/completed within September 30. 'Any lapse will be viewed seriously, the finance officers concerned will be held responsible and will lead to denial of further access to government grants and funds,' it said.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Seminar on GST Amnesty Scheme and trader welfare initiatives
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala state goods and services tax (GST) department, in collaboration with the Traders Welfare Board, will organise a seminar on Wednesday to discuss the 2025-26 Amnesty Scheme and welfare initiatives for traders. The scheme, announced by finance minister K N Balagopal in the 2025-26 state budget, includes four categories: general amnesty, flood cess amnesty, bar hotel amnesty, and distillery arrears settlement. The general amnesty allows settlement of arrears under pre-GST laws such as Kerala VAT, sales tax, luxury tax and others. Eligible beneficiaries can avail significant waivers on interest and penalties, with tax dues categorised into three slabs. The seminar will also feature help desks to address trader queries. Key officials, including additional chief secretary K R Jyothilal, SGST commissioner Ajit Patil, Traders Welfare Board vice chairmen Raju Apsara and E S Biju, and special commissioner Abraham Renn S will address participants. The amnesty schemes, which came into effect on April 1, 2025, will conclude on June 30. Payments must be made through and application details uploaded via
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
MEDISEP govt insurance scheme to continue in present form till new deal
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The MEDISEP insurance scheme for government employees and pensioners will continue in its current format for the time being. The government's agreement with Oriental Insurance, which ends on June 30, 2025, has been extended until a new arrangement is finalised. Recently, an expert committee submitted major recommendations to make the scheme more attractive. At present, Oriental Insurance is the service provider and the annual premium for a beneficiary is Rs 5,664 including 18% GST. The government makes advance payment of the premium amount to the insurance company in four installments a year. This amount will be recovered from the salary or pension of beneficiaries in 12 installments. The agreement with the insurance company is from July 2022 to June 30, 2025. It is learnt that the expert committee has recommended to hike the monthly premium amount from Rs 500 to Rs 750 and to enhance the coverage to Rs 5 lakh. Another recommendation is to collect premiums from only one person in a family having more than one government employee. Employees should be given the option to stay away from the scheme. The package should be revised to attract more private hospitals, especially speciality hospitals, to join the scheme, it said. At present, the scheme is mandatory for employees and pensioners. The government has directed Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) K R Jyothilal to take further steps on the report. The health secretary will also be asked to submit recommendations. New scheme to offer better packages, says minister Finance Minister K N Balagopal said the MEDISEP's second edition will be more attractive. 'We want more hospitals, especially major private institutions, to join the scheme. The treatment packages will be revised for this,' he told TNIE. On whether the premium would see an increase, he said: 'The present rates were fixed some three years ago. A decision on increasing the premium would be taken after consultations with stakeholders.' The minister said the insurance provider for the next edition will be selected through a fair and transparent bidding process. At a glance Claims approved (From Jan 1, 2025 to June 6) Total claims: 10.18 lakh Amount: Rs 1,863.22 crore Private hospitals Claims: 9.43 lakh Amount: Rs 1,745.36 crore Government hospitals Claims: 74,000 Amount: Rs 117.86 crore Total beneficiaries covered Employees and pensioners: 11.44 lakh Dependents: 19.49 lakh
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala government considers turnover tax exemption for breweries
T'puram: In what could mark a significant policy extension in favour of liquor manufacturers in Kerala, the state govt is now actively considering granting turnover tax (ToT) exemption to breweries, two-and-a-half years after a similar relief was extended to distilleries. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The file currently under review pertains to KALS Breweries Pvt Ltd — a brewery operating in the state — and has reached the ministerial level, signalling that a final decision is imminent. The move follows the state's decision in Dec 2022 to waive the 5% ToT on sales by distilleries to the Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation. At that time, the govt cited public interest while invoking powers under Section 10 of the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963. However, to cushion the revenue loss, the govt increased the sales tax on liquor by 4%. It resulted in a modest hike in Indian made foreign liquor's retail price, with most brands becoming costlier by Rs 10 to Rs 20. Now, a similar outcome appears likely with breweries as well. If the govt proceeds with granting ToT exemption to KALS Breweries, it could again result in a minor upward revision of retail liquor prices, unless alternative tax adjustments are introduced. While no official confirmation has been made, multiple layers of administrative action within the govt indicate that the matter is being taken forward with serious intent. An official digital record from the state's e-office system confirms the status of the request. A file titled "Representation from KALS Breweries Pvt Ltd for exemption of turnover tax" was formally opened on Nov 22, 2024. The file's internal movement offers a glimpse into how tax exemption proposals are examined and escalated within the state's bureaucratic framework. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On June 6, 2025, the joint secretary concerned in the taxes department made the file's two successive transfers to additional chief secretary (taxes) K R Jyothilal. The very next day, Jyothilal forwarded it to finance minister K N Balagopal, who, on the same day, passed it on to his additional private secretary. This sequence makes it clear that the proposal has reached the top political office in charge of taxation and fiscal matters in the state, in a relatively top speed for the movement of a govt file on policy matter. The 2022 exemption for distilleries was issued through govt order on Dec 1, 2022. The explanatory note attached to the notification described the move as being in the public interest, offering a policy rationale that the govt is likely to repeat while extending the same exemption to breweries. What makes this latest development particularly significant is its potential to establish a lasting policy precedent. If KALS Breweries is granted exemption from ToT, it will logically follow that any new brewery sanctioned in the state in future will also be entitled to the same benefit. This becomes crucial given the politically sensitive nature of licensing new breweries in the state. The idea of relaxing taxes for alcohol manufacturers has traditionally drawn criticism from various quarters, including public health advocates and opposition parties. However, from the govt's point of view, ToT exemptions serve as a fiscal tool that simplifies the taxation structure and encourages investment in the manufacturing sector. Given the precedent from 2022, when the removal of the turnover tax for distilleries was balanced with an increase in sales tax, a similar route may be adopted again. If so, consumers can expect a small increase in the price of beer and other brewed liquor brands in the near future.
