Aadhar : The Omnipresent ?

Hindustan Times ( 23 March 2017 ) carries following news report :

“ Jaitley : Aadhar made mandatory to check fraud  “

Aadhaar might become the sole identity card in the future, finance minister Arun Jaitley said in Parliament on Wednesday, a move that could possibly replace PAN, voter and ration cards.

His remarks came during a debate on the finance bill, which the Lok Sabha passed during the day.

“A STAGE MAY COME THAT THE UNIQUE IDENTITY WILL BECOME THE ONLY CARD,” Jaitley said, responding to the Opposition’s protest against the government’s decision to make Aadhaar mandatory for filing tax returns.

 “There are many countries where such a situation exists. There is a social security number in America and in India it (Aadhaar) could be the counterpart,”  he said.

He affirmed that it was a deliberate step to prevent tax evasion and financial frauds that bleed the economy.

Thank you , Shri Jaitleyji :

Thank you for your consideration to simplify the lives of millions of our CITIZENS and millions of our BUSINESSES , as requested in my following blogs :

Thursday, 12 May 2016

An " Aadhar " for Corporate ?

How many types of  NUMBERS, do Indian Companies need to register and acquire , to do business ?

Writing in MINT ( 02 May 2016 ), Narayan Ramchandran quotes Manish Sabharwal , who has researched and listed the following :

#   Corporate Identity Number...........................................   ( 21 digits )

#   Tax-payer Identification Number for commercial taxes......  ( 11 digits )

#   Service Tax Number...... ( Alpha-Numeric ) ....................  (  15 digits )

#   Permanent Account Number - PAN  ( Alpha-Numeric )........ (  10 digits )

#   Central Excise Number..................................... ( PAN + 2 Characters )

#   Provident Fund Number .................( Alpha-Numeric )...... (  11 digits  )

#   Profession Tax Registration Certificate ( Numeric )...............  ( 9 digits )

#   Profession tax Enrolment Certificate    ( Numeric ).............    ( 9 digits )

#   Income tax Deduction/Calculation Number ( Alpha-Numeric ) ( 10 digits )

#   ESIC Number ( Numeric )................................................  ( 17 digits )

#   Labour Department Registration(State specific alphanumeric) (13 digits )

#   Importer-Exporter Code  ( Numeric )................................. ( 10 digits )

#   Shops/Establishment Reg Number ( alphanumeric )............  ( 20 digits )

#   Contract Labour Registration ( alphanumeric ).................. ( 15+ digits )

#   Labour Welfare Board ( Numeric ).....................................   ( 5 digits )

#   Higher Court Case Number ( Alphanumeric ).....................   ( 12 digits )

Now , CBDT and MCA are in the process of integrating their back-end operations , to provide ONE SIMPLE IDENTITY to companies, doing away with the above multiple numbers

Without doubt , this long overdue simplification will make it easy to do business in India

But , it seems , that each State will have unique number ( for each Company registered in its territory ), as far as GST is concerned

I hope , someday soon , an India Start-Up comes up with a digital solution ( pasting, a unique RFID sensor on the forehead of each child , at birth ? ) to get rid of all the CARDS , a person needs to acquire in a life-time , as mentioned in my following blog :

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Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Raining Cards ?

Some 70 years ago , I had only one card – the Ration Card

I was using it to buy , either wheat or bread or war-disposal biscuits from a Shivaji Park ration shop in Mumbai

Now I have,

*   Driving License Card

*   Senior Citizen Card

*   Voting Card

*   Credit Card

*   PAN Card

*   Aadhar Card ( UID )

Apart from sundry cards issued by private / commercial companies and NGOs

As if this was not enough , Central Government of India wants me to carry one more card !

National Population Register ( NPR ) is all set to issue,

 RESIDENT IDENTITY CARD ( RIC )

It will contain demographic and biometric details of the owner and will be issued to 820 million adult Indians at a cost of Rs 5,552 Crores

I believe only those holding RIC will be entitled to receive subsidized food-grains under the Food Security Act

HOW ABOUT A CARD TO REPLACE ALL THE ABOVE-MENTIONED CARDS ?

23  March  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

One Infrastructure SPV ? More will follow

Economic Times  ( 19 March 2017 ) carries following news report :

“  Maharashtra to set up infra SPV to raise Rs 1 lakh crore  “

Envisaging an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years in the infrastructure sector, the Maharashtra government today proposed to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to raise the fund. 

The SPV, 'Mahainfra', was announced by Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar while presenting the budget in the assembly today. 

Mungantiwar said infrastructure development is one of the top priorities of the BJP-led government. 

"However, infrastructure requires a large sum of capital. In the next five years, we envisage that about Rs 1 lakh crore will be required to finance key projects," he said. 

Given the constraints in raising such a huge amount, there is a need to look at alternative methods to generate funds for infrastructure development, he added. 

It is only a matter of time when all the States come out with their own Infra SPVs – something which I have been urging the State Chief Ministers through my following blogs / emails :

·         Creating Wealth to Create Jobs   (  26 Feb 2014  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/02/create-wealth-to-create-jobs.html }

·         Don’t  Ask  How  ?  ( 14  April  2014  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/04/dont-ask-how.html  }

·         A  Case for  Zero  Personal Income  Tax  ( 11  Nov  2014  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-case-for-zero-personal-income-tax.html }

·         AVirtuous  Circle  ( 04  Jan  2015  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-virtuous-circle.html  }

·         A  Dream House  by  2020  ? (  01  Sept  2015  )

·          

{  https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/09/dream-house-by-2020.html  }

·         Making  Molehill out  of  a Mountain  ?  ( 19  Nov  2015  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/11/making-molehill-out-of-mountain.html }

·         Structural  Reforms ?  (  30  Jan  2016  )

·          

{  https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/01/structural-reforms.html  }

·         Make  Opposition  Irrelevant  ( 18  Feb  2016  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/02/make-opposition-irrelevant.html  }

·         Making  India a  Tax  Haven ?  (  04  April  2016  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/04/making-india-tax-haven.html  }

·         “Not  So Smart  “ Cities  ?  (  05  Sept  2016  )

·          

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/09/not-so-smart-cities.html  }

And there will be a virtual race among the States if Shri Mungantiwar succeeds in persuading Shri Arun Jaitleyji to declare a INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AMNESTY SCHEME , under which :

·         Holders of BLACK MONEY ( domestically or abroad ) can invest into such State Infra SPVS ( Bonds / Equity / Fix Deposits etc )

·         There will be no restriction on the amount of the BLACK MONEY that they may invest

·         No questions will be asked as to the source of the investments

·         All investments will need to be made from a bank account

·         There will be no inquiry / litigation / prosecution / punishment , in respect of such BLACK MONEY investments , under any law

·         A person can invest in any number of SPVs floated by any number of States

·         All such investments shall remain locked-in for a period of 10 years

·         Investment Instruments can be gifted to close relatives

·         Amounts maturing after the lock-in period ( with accumulated interest or capital gain ) will be exempted from Personal Income Tax

If such a SPV-specific AMNESTY SCHEME is introduced , within 6 months , we will see BILLIONS of DOLLARS worth of BLACK MONEY flowing into INFRA SPVs – obviating the need for FDI .  There will be an unprecedented push to Infrastructure , with consequent generation of millions of jobs  !

Remember , how , a few months back , Indonesia succeeded in converting $ 300 BILLION worth of BLACK MONEY into productive WHITE MONEY , by taxing at 4 %  !

The Scheme suggested by me will set up a fierce – but healthy – competition among the States to woo the BLACK MONEY holders !

21  March  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Piyush Goyal is a Visionary !

He has a vision of ,

Unlimited / Cheap / Clean / Round- the-Clock , electric  power to fuel India’s growth , which , in turn will create millions of jobs

To know how he plans to bring this about , read :

UnlimitedPower : and round the clock ?

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/07/unlimited-power-and-round-clock.html }

As if to vindicate his vision , German-Dutch company TenneT and Danish company Energinet , are planning to generate Solar and Wind power on an artificial island in the North Sea and supply the same to UK / Norway / the Netherlands / Germany / Denmark and Belgium

Times of India ( 19 March 2017 ) carries following news report re this venture :

“ Artificial island to power six countries  “

A vast artificial island is to be built at Dogger Bank in the North Sea, complete with a harbour, airstrip and homes, to help provide a vast new supply of renewable energy , under plans drawn up by two companies with the blessing of the European Union.

The North Sea Wind Power Hub would act as a hub for offshore wind turbines and a new place to put solar panels, according to the German and Dutch arms of electricity firm TenneT and Danish company Energinet.

The firms will sign a deal creating a consortium to develop the plan further in Brussels on 23 March in the presence of European Energy Union Commissioner, Maos Sefcovic..

Torben Glar Nielsen, Energinet's Danish technical director, said: “Maybe it sounds a bit crazy and science fiction-like, but an island on Dogger Bank could make the wind power of the future a lot cheaper and more effective.“

It is thought the island ­ or possibly islands ­ could act as a hub for thousands of new wind turbines, which would eventually generate green electricity for more than 80 million people.

Under the proposals, the island would be connected by electricity cables to the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Belgium.

Mel Kroon, TenneT's chief executive, said:

“ This project can significantly contribute to a completely renewable supply of electricity in north-west Europe “.

 In a statement, Energinet said European targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions meant that major new sources of solar and wind energy were required.

“ Wind and solar energy complement each other: there is more sun from spring to autumn, and more wind in the colder and darker months of the year,“ it said.

“So a sustainable and stable energy system for the future will need solar and wind energy , both on a large scale. This requires optimum cooperation and synergy because it cannot be accomplished by individual member states on their own.“

The company said Dogger Bank was an ideal location for an artificial island as it was “centrally located and in relatively shallow water“ and also had optimal wind conditions.

“ Staff, components and assembly workshops can be stationed on the island, thus optimising and simplifying complex offshore logistics,“ it said.

“ An island in an area with a lot of space will provide the scale necessary to reduce costs (through economies of scale).“

Dear Piyush Goyalji :

Please expedite your approval of the proposal submitted by the Power Grid Corporation of India , to generate 315.7 GW of Solar power in the deserts of Rajasthan / Kutchh / Lahul and Spiti / Ladakh

Make a beginning with 10 GW  

That will enable you to provide power to homes / offices and factories all over India at Rs 1.0 per Kwh !

Then challenge Elon Musk , to set up 100 BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS ( of 100 MW each ) all over India , using his POWERPACK batteries , the way he plans to do in Australia

And, do it  FREE  ( in his own , long term interest , of course ! )

Tell him :

Welcome  !  ElonMusk 

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/02/welcome-elon-musk.html }

Unless you install these BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS in 100 Indian cities to supply uninterrupted power to 5,000 EV Charging Stations , you will not be able to sell those ONE MILLION electric cars that Masayoshi Son wants to buy from you in the next 5 years ( read following news report of 03 Dec 2016 ) , nor replace those 6 million petrol / diesel cars that India wants replaced by 2020 , with your Tesla Model 3

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SoftBank Group chairman Masayoshi Son said on Friday that Indian cab-hailing company Ola, in which SoftBank is an investor, may introduce a fleet of one million electric cars in partnership with an electric vehicle maker and the government—a move that could transform the electric mobility sector in the country.

Son said he was bullish on the electric vehicle segment in India and would look at investment opportunities in this space. The vehicles will be locally manufactured to support the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, he added.

“I think this will be the biggest initiative for electric vehicles in India,” Son, who attended the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, said in an interview on Friday.

Son, 59, also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the day and proposed to partner with the government in the initiative.

 “He was excited about it,” said Son, who wants to reach the one million electric cars target in the next five years.

20  March  2017

www.hemenparekh,in / blogs

YOGI ! A Method behind Madness ?

Yesterday , BJP’s MLAs of UP selected Shri Yogi Adityanath , as their leader , paving the way for him to take over as UP Chief Minister , today afternoon

{ It would be closer to the truth to say : they endorsed the selection of Shri Modi  !  )

During the hectic parleys of the past week , Yogi was hardly considered as a potential CM candidate

What made him come up from the rear and overtake the likes of Rajnath Singh , Uma Bharati , Keshav Maurya and Manoj Sinha ?

A Dark horse , indeed  !

Over the next few hours , political pundits / analysts / TV anchors etc will be advancing the following “ reasons “ behind his “ coup “ :

·         He is close to RSS and Shri Modi wants to please RSS / thank them for the UP win

·         He is most charismatic Hindu leader among the BJP cadre in UP

·         He is non-corrupt

·         Modiji wants to send a clear message of his unwavering commitment to Hindutva

·         Yogi will expedite the construction of Ram Mandir

By end of today , we will have the full list !

No doubt , there will be many experts who will not hesitate to declare this selection of Shri Modi , as nothing more than madness !

They may even wonder : “ Why does BJP want to alienate itself from those 19 % of UP’s Muslim voters , and commit a political hara-kiri ? “

But , I see ( in this selection ) , a “ Motive behind Madness “

Feel free to call it , a “ Modi behind Madness “

Same “ Madness “ ( as per many prominent economists and leaders of opposition parties ) , that Shri Modi displayed while announcing “ De-monetization “ on 08 Nov

According to my wishful thinking , that Modi-Motive can be best described in the form of the following ( imaginary , no doubt ! ), Modi’s “ VISION of NEW INDIA “, viz :

“ A INDIA FREE OF ANY INFLUENCE OF ISIS –ISIL / TALIBAN / JAISH-E-MOHAMED / LASHKAR-E-TEYABA / SIMI / ANY OTHER GROUP , BELONGING TO ANY RELIGION WHICH PROFESSES VIOLENCE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF CHANGE OF BELIEFS “

To achieve this vision , here are the COMMANDMENTS that Shri Modi has handed out to Yogi Adityanath :

·         Thou shall rise above religious bigotry and treat all religions with same respect ( just as Bapu himself changed his attitude from “ Sarva-Dharma-Sahishnuta / Tolerance for all religions “ , to “ Sarva-Dharma-SamaBhava / Respect for all religions “ )

·         Thou shall ensure EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES for DEVELOPMENT / ADVANCEMENT to persons belonging to ALL religions

·         Thou shall not discriminate based on Caste / Creed , nor on the eating habits of people belonging to different “ Belief – Systems “

·         Thou SHALL discriminate , only on the basis of  POVERTY and ensure that the POOR are favoured over the RICH , while offering any opportunity

·         During the next 2 years , thou shall bring about such a harmonious relations between the Hindus and Muslims of UP that these become a BENCHMARK for the rest of India and render “ irrelevant “ those oppositions parties which claim to be “ Secular “ but have done nothing to uplift the poor minorities and only perpetuated the “ Concept of Minorities “ with the sole purpose of winning votes

·         To implement all of the above , thou shall make a beginning by reaching out to the leaders of both the Hindu and the Muslim of UP , and convince them to, agree to implement :

Reach  Out Time  ?  (  20  Sept  2013  )

{ https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2013/09/reach-out-time.html  }

Do the opposition parties recognize this MANDATE ( to Shri Yogi Adityanath ) as that much talked about question :

“ After winning 4 State elections , what BIG BANG REFORM will Shri Modi announce ? “

19  March  2017

www.hemenparekh,in / blogs