Mr Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group

@SkochSameer

Jai Hind Keynote:

Dr K V Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India

@SubramanianKri

Jai Hind Keynote:

Dr Arvind Virmani, Chairman, EGROW Foundation

@dravirmani

Mr Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group

@SkochSameer

Jai Hind Keynote:

Dr K V Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India

@SubramanianKri

Jai Hind Keynote:

Dr Arvind Virmani, Chairman, EGROW Foundation

@dravirmani

Recent measures announced by the government to reverse the economic slowdown, especially tax cuts, will improve the sentiment and support growth and jobs creation. But more needs to be done, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its GDP growth projection for this year to 6.1 per cent from 6.9 per cent it made in August.

The RBI’s Consumer Confidence Index shows a slowdown in consumption demand. The aggregate capacity utilisation has declined. More worryingly, while bank credit to commercial sector turned negative at Rs 1,287 billion in the first six months of the financial year (April-September 2019) against Rs 1,850 billion in the same period last year (Apri -September 2018), non-bank credit to commercial sector declined to Rs 2,197 billion against Rs 5,510 billion in the same period.

In good news, the current account deficit is expected to decline to below 2 per cent of GDP from 2.1 per cent of GDP in 2018-19. Ratings agencies expect that growing foreign direct investments, foreign portfolio investments and banking capital inflows will tip the capital account into surplus – of $70.0 billion – this year.

Key Issues:

1. How to put Indian economy back on a high growth trajectory?
2. How to ensure that the growth is job generative and spatially dispersed?
3. What measures should be taken for lifting business and consumer mood and reviving animal spirit?

Dr Shubhada Rao, Chief Economist, YES Bank

Practical Ideas for $10 Trillion Economy: Mr Rohan Kochhar, Director, Public Policy, SKOCH Group

@RohanSkoch

Recent measures announced by the government to reverse the economic slowdown, especially tax cuts, will improve the sentiment and support growth and jobs creation. But more needs to be done, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its GDP growth projection for this year to 6.1 per cent from 6.9 per cent it made in August.

The RBI’s Consumer Confidence Index shows a slowdown in consumption demand. The aggregate capacity utilisation has declined. More worryingly, while bank credit to commercial sector turned negative at Rs 1,287 billion in the first six months of the financial year (April-September 2019) against Rs 1,850 billion in the same period last year (Apri -September 2018), non-bank credit to commercial sector declined to Rs 2,197 billion against Rs 5,510 billion in the same period.

In good news, the current account deficit is expected to decline to below 2 per cent of GDP from 2.1 per cent of GDP in 2018-19. Ratings agencies expect that growing foreign direct investments, foreign portfolio investments and banking capital inflows will tip the capital account into surplus – of $70.0 billion – this year.

Key Issues:

1. How to put Indian economy back on a high growth trajectory?
2. How to ensure that the growth is job generative and spatially dispersed?
3. What measures should be taken for lifting business and consumer mood and reviving animal spirit?

Practical Ideas for $10 Trillion Economy:

@RohanSkoch

Dr Shubhada Rao, Chief Economist, YES Bank

After the cuts, the Indian tax rate is now competitive with other economies including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and China. The timing of the move is excellent, given that many companies are looking to relocate their manufacturing base out of China in the wake of rising US-China trade tensions. The move can act as a big catalyst to attract fresh investments from foreign and domestic players over the medium term.

Is there is scope for relief on taxes on individuals now without bringing revenue under too much pressure? On the indirect taxes side, the Goods & Services Tax (GST) needs to become simpler, stable and predictable quickly. Its weaknesses are proving to be a drag on GDP growth, especially for the exports sector and the MSME segment. Plus, its collections are falling short of targets and potential. Perhaps a source of boosting revenue and making taxes more fair and efficient is the area of taxation of global companies in the digital space on which the OECD has proposed a major overhaul of the international tax system.

Key Issues:

1. What immediate corrections are needed in the GST rates and collection system?
2. Can GSTN based bill discounting be leveraged for better availability of credit?
3. How can digital MNCs be taxed more efficiently in India? Is the OECD model an option?

Dr M Govinda Rao, Former Member, Fourteenth Finance Commission, Former Director, NIPFP

@MMgrao

Moderator: Mr Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group

Dr Ravi Kant Gupta, Author and Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, HQ Administration, New Delhi

After the cuts, the Indian tax rate is now competitive with other economies including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and China. The timing of the move is excellent, given that many companies are looking to relocate their manufacturing base out of China in the wake of rising US-China trade tensions. The move can act as a big catalyst to attract fresh investments from foreign and domestic players over the medium term.

Is there is scope for relief on taxes on individuals now without bringing revenue under too much pressure? On the indirect taxes side, the Goods & Services Tax (GST) needs to become simpler, stable and predictable quickly. Its weaknesses are proving to be a drag on GDP growth, especially for the exports sector and the MSME segment. Plus, its collections are falling short of targets and potential. Perhaps a source of boosting revenue and making taxes more fair and efficient is the area of taxation of global companies in the digital space on which the OECD has proposed a major overhaul of the international tax system.

Key Issues:

1. What immediate corrections are needed in the GST rates and collection system?
2. Can GSTN based bill discounting be leveraged for better availability of credit?
3. How can digital MNCs be taxed more efficiently in India? Is the OECD model an option?

Dr M Govinda Rao, Former Member, Fourteenth Finance Commission, Former Director, NIPFP

@MMgrao

Moderator: Mr Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group

Dr Ravi Kant Gupta, Author and Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, HQ Administration, New Delhi

Against this backdrop, the new terms of reference communicated to the 15th Finance Commission suggest to consider carving out a separate fund from the divisible pool of taxes to be specifically earmarked for internal security and defence-related spending—something that is constitutionally a central government responsibility.

Already, the RBI’s latest report on states’ finances shows, there is an increase in states’ indebtedness, with inter-generational consequences and sharp retrenchment in development expenditures.

Debt has risen persistently since 2015-16, led by schemes like UDAY. Non-development expenditure rose sharply during 2017-18 in a break from the past, led by committed expenditures such as salaries, pension and interest payments.

Financing via market borrowings is slated to go up. Debt liabilities rose through 2016-19 and are likely to remain around 25% of GDP in 2019-20, making sustainability of debt the main fiscal challenge.

Key Issues:

1. What is the state of the states’ finances?
2. What is the impact of the new terms of reference for the 15th Finance Commission on centre-state fiscal relations?
3. What are the states’ fiscal challenges and what do these mean for the ongoing economic slowdown?

Mr Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group

Jai Hind Keynote: Mr N K Singh, Hon’ble Chairman, 15th Finance Commission

@NKSingh_MP

Moderator: Prof V N Alok, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)

@vnalok

Dr Charan Singh, Distinguished Fellow, SKOCH Development Foundation and Non Executive Chairman, Punjab & Sind Bank

Against this backdrop, the new terms of reference communicated to the 15th Finance Commission suggest to consider carving out a separate fund from the divisible pool of taxes to be specifically earmarked for internal security and defence-related spending—something that is constitutionally a central government responsibility.

Already, the RBI’s latest report on states’ finances shows, there is an increase in states’ indebtedness, with inter-generational consequences and sharp retrenchment in development expenditures.

Debt has risen persistently since 2015-16, led by schemes like UDAY. Non-development expenditure rose sharply during 2017-18 in a break from the past, led by committed expenditures such as salaries, pension and interest payments.

Financing via market borrowings is slated to go up. Debt liabilities rose through 2016-19 and are likely to remain around 25% of GDP in 2019-20, making sustainability of debt the main fiscal challenge.

Key Issues:

1. What is the state of the states’ finances?
2. What is the impact of the new terms of reference for the 15th Finance Commission on centre-state fiscal relations?
3. What are the states’ fiscal challenges and what do these mean for the ongoing economic slowdown?

Mr Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group

Jai Hind Keynote: Mr N K Singh, Hon’ble Chairman, 15th Finance Commission

@NKSingh_MP

Moderator: Prof V N Alok, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)

@vnalok

Dr Charan Singh, Distinguished Fellow, SKOCH Development Foundation and Non Executive Chairman, Punjab & Sind Bank

Among the programmes that stand out in the overall welfare bouquet are: One, Ayushman Bharat has improved capacity utilisation of healthcare infrastructure through better monitoring. Combining insurance and technology, the scheme has revolutionised delivery of free and quality healthcare services. 40 lakh poor Indians have availed free insurance benefits in less than a year, without having to do any paperwork. Two, Swachch Bharat is changing behaviour towards cleanliness and hygiene. India is now an ‘open defecation-free’ country, as declared by Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It’s only a matter of time when this achievement will lead to improvements in health outcomes. And three, PMGSY, DDU-GKY and other rural schemes for low-cost housing, electricity connections, cooking gas connections, no-frills bank accounts and MUDRA loans.

These schemes for skilling, physical and financial rural infrastructure will unleash entrepreneurial energies in the villages and unlock the economic potential there, reducing the India-Bharat divide.

Key Issues:

1. Supporting systemic reform for ensuring there’s no undue pressure on state and central government finances and future liabilities?
2. Having got the key welfare schemes right, should the next logical steps such as convergence of schemes and a complete digital delivery be taken?
3. If despite a host of welfare schemes rural consumption is slowing, then does the approach need a re-look?

Jai Hind Keynote: Rural Transformation –

Mr Amarjeet Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development

@Secretary_MoPR

Jai Hind Keynote: Health Systems for New India –

Dr Vinod K Paul, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog

Moderator: Ms Smita Sharma, Senior Independent Journalist

Ms Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research

Dr Dhiraj Nayyar, Director – Economy & Policy, Vedanta

Dr N R Bhanumurthy, Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy

SKOCH Order-of-Merit | Speaker Hall (Main Building)

SKOCH Order-of-Merit | Dy Speaker Hall (Main Building)

Jury Presentation

Among the programmes that stand out in the overall welfare bouquet are: One, Ayushman Bharat has improved capacity utilisation of healthcare infrastructure through better monitoring. Combining insurance and technology, the scheme has revolutionised delivery of free and quality healthcare services. 40 lakh poor Indians have availed free insurance benefits in less than a year, without having to do any paperwork. Two, Swachch Bharat is changing behaviour towards cleanliness and hygiene. India is now an ‘open defecation-free’ country, as declared by Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It’s only a matter of time when this achievement will lead to improvements in health outcomes. And three, PMGSY, DDU-GKY and other rural schemes for low-cost housing, electricity connections, cooking gas connections, no-frills bank accounts and MUDRA loans.

These schemes for skilling, physical and financial rural infrastructure will unleash entrepreneurial energies in the villages and unlock the economic potential there, reducing the India-Bharat divide.

Key Issues:

1. Supporting systemic reform for ensuring there’s no undue pressure on state and central government finances and future liabilities?
2. Having got the key welfare schemes right, should the next logical steps such as convergence of schemes and a complete digital delivery be taken?
3. If despite a host of welfare schemes rural consumption is slowing, then does the approach need a re-look?

Jai Hind Keynote: Rural Transformation –

Mr Amarjeet Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development

@Secretary_MoPR

Jai Hind Keynote: Health Systems for New India –

Dr Vinod K Paul, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog

Moderator: Ms Smita Sharma, Senior Independent Journalist

Ms Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research

Dr Dhiraj Nayyar, Director – Economy & Policy, Vedanta

Dr N R Bhanumurthy, Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy

SKOCH Order-of-Merit | Speaker Hall (Main Building)

SKOCH Order-of-Merit | Dy Speaker Hall (Main Building)

Jury Presentation