INDIAN MEDIA : Way Forward

The Indian media was once a monopoly in radio and Television with AIR and Doordarshan being the only players in the market along with print media. This was the times of 70s and 80s.   People across the country would take time out from their routine activities to hear the news on radio and the evening news in Doordarshan.  Then in 19901, Indian government initiated the economic reforms, an era of liberalisation and privatisation. 

 In February 1995 a landmark Supreme Court judgement ruling declares that " airwaves are a public property. They have to be controlled and regulated by a public authority in the interest of the public and to prevent the invasion of their rights." The judgement outlines autonomy for Prasar Bharati and opened the broadcasting to private players.

Since then, we have started seeing many private channels enter the News channel segment. Today, we have over 100 news channel in India with all different channels in nature of language and content.  Same we have seen increase in print media also.

Every morning I see the newspaper being delivered just outside my door step, reading early in the morning, hoping to read some good stuff in paper.   I open the newspaper only to find not so good things on the social front in the very first page be it on corruption, rape, murder, terrorism, politics and others. This doesn’t leave a good feeling early in the morning.  The same I see in TV. The television channels go extra mile on such news though their prime time shows, panel discussion and in regular news.   

What I have noticed during my short stay abroad of 6 months, people abroad were saying that they are very scared to travel to India on a holiday. The reason given to me was because of insecurity feeling which is due to reasons stated above.  How do they come to know the happenings of such event? Yes, its the way Indian media has projected India to the outside world. India was projected as a country with corruption, lack of safety feeling, downward trend in economy and whole lot of social issues.  This had left a poor portrayal of our image abroad.  Sometimes, our media by blowing news out of proportion gives more courage to the hooligans to go extra mile and makes things even worse. (JNU, Mumbai attacks, Politics) . Tell me one thing, if the media didn’t give a damn over publicise such news, none of this would have lasted for such long time as they are now. But when we see foreign news channel, we don’t see such things being blown out.  Our media shows us what they want to show and not what people want to see. 

Our media must realise that they are also ambassadors of our country and they have huge responsibility along with freedom of speech. This must not be misused. It is important that they show the social issues in television/ print media so as to make people aware of same. At the same time, it is important that they do not blow it out of proportion so as to send wrong messages outside the country. 

Our country is very beautiful, has rich culture, heritage which should be used in the right channel and right manner. No doubt, the Indian media can play a huge part for our country to grow. The media has showcased very good initiatives with Siachen coverage, flood relief, earthquake relief, Swach Bharat and Green environment, save the tiger initiatives, Citizen Journalists and others.

This is what we would like to see the media do. Bring out issues by showcasing the effects of wrong doing, creating awareness on contribution each one can make for the country’s growth.  I hope, our media realises this at earliest and use the freedom of speech in right manner.

69 YEARS OF LOST OPPORTUNITY

If we go back into the history, Since the British Have started ruling India, the necessary infrastructure development started taking place with Railways and connectivity in terms of roads being brought in to India. Let us now keep aside all the wealth they have looted out of India. 

As I write this article in the 69^th year of India Independence, a look into what we have as a country have done will present some interesting food for thoughts. 

At the time of Independence, India and China were at par in terms of PPP and infrastructure. But 69 years down the lane, undoubtedly China is well ahead of India in all terms.  China today is a world super power. When China sneezes, it sends shivers across the world. Be in any field (sports, infrastructure, defence, economy and others), today China is supreme over all 

It would be very interesting to note that until 1960s India and China were having the same growth. Then why have we lagged behind?

For decades the Indian government has squandered its future through lack of policy reforms, bureaucracy, inconsistency, corruption and many other factors. India desperately needs strong growth for years, even decades, to move to the first rank of nations, as China has done. India has extraordinary potential. 

Without sustainable growth, India will not follow China’s example to build a competitive manufacturing sector, generate broad-based income growth, and create a new great power capable of influencing global affairs. Such reforms will not be easy, but making tough decisions will enable the process. India needs to act fast as loss of time will only hinder the security and future of our nation. 

With the recently launched "Digital India" and "Make in India" Initiative, the 21st  century can be in our favour, just the way China boomed in later 20th Century and 1st decade of 21st century.  I hope all the MPs come together to enable a vision of prosperity for India. This can be India’s Century.  Jai Hind.

Why You Should Rethink Fixed Deposit Investments

Fixed deposit rates have come down over the last few months and are expected to fall further. Analysts say investors should look at other avenues to maximise returns at a time when interest rates are headed lower.

Here are some options that may offer higher returns.
1) Tax-Free Bonds: They are issued by government-backed entities and have low default risk. Interest is typically paid annually and is not subjected to tax, unlike fixed deposits. Such bonds can also be purchased from the secondary market, where tax-free bonds like NHB are yielding around 7 per cent for a 9-year residual maturity. In contrast, a fixed deposit for a similar tenor from SBI is offering 8.25 per cent, says Vishal Dhawan of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors. Investors in the 30 per cent tax bracket will have to pay taxes on the interest earned on fixed deposits, so the 8.25 per cent rate translates to 5.70 per cent on a post-tax basis. If interest rates fall further, bond prices will appreciate, increasing returns.

2) Debt Funds: Fund managers remain bullish on debt mutual funds that invest in longer tenure government and corporate bonds, given the prospect of further rate cuts. In the past one year, the average mutual fund return from schemes that invest in medium to long-term government bonds is 17.65 per cent, according to Value Research, with the top performers fetching returns of more than 20 per cent. Debt mutual funds are also more tax efficient than FDs.

3) Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) in debt funds is a good option for those investors who want to withdraw money from an existing mutual fund at predetermined intervals. There are two options. In the fixed withdrawal option, investors get specified amount on a monthly/quarterly basis, while in appreciation withdrawal, only the appreciated amount can be withdrawn on a monthly/quarterly basis. As compared to bank fixed deposits, systematic withdrawal plans are also more tax efficient. They also don't attract TDS (tax deducted at source) unlike bank FDs.

4) Corporate deposits are a good option, but investors should focus only on top-rated schemes, analysts say.

5) Monthly Income Plans (MIPs) offered by mutual funds are a good option for investors who can take moderate amount of risk. Such schemes invest bulk of their portfolio in debt securities and the equity allocation remains typically capped between 10 per cent and 25 per cent.

Income Tax return Amendment

CBDT has notified Income Tax Return Forms SAHAJ (ITR-1), ITR-2 and SUGAM (ITR-4S) for AY 2015-16.
Key changes of new forms are as follows:

• Aadhaar number to be mentioned in the ITRs
• New 'Schedule BA : Details of Bank Accounts' introduced. Assessee will now have to disclose details of all bank accounts held during the year (including opened/closed)
• New 'Schedule FT : Details of Foreign travel and expenses' incurred by the assessee during the year
• Introduction of EVC for verification of return of income filed as an option to send ITR-V to CPC, Bangalore

Comments:

Earlier even after electronic filing, taxpayers had to post a physical copy of the ITR-V, to the income tax department, Bengaluru within 120 days of filing of return. Under new forms, Taxpayers with Aadhar cards are exempted from submitting their ITR V by post after filing their returns online. This will make the online filing procedure truly paperless. The new ITR forms- ITR 1 (Sahaj), 2 and 4S for FY 2014-15 (assessment year 2015-16) will link your EVC system verified Aadhar Card to the ITR forms and the verification of the return shall take place electronically.

CBDT has also amended Rule 12 of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 expanding the scope of e-filing.

1. Returns can be furnished in any of the following manner
   1. Electronically under Digital Signature; or
   2. Transmitting the data in the return electronically, under electronic verification code; or
   3. Transmitting the data in the return electronically and thereafter submitting Form ITR-V; or
   4. Paper form
2. e-Filing NOT mandatory for:
   1. Individuals above 80 years and are furnishing ITR-1 or ITR-2
   2. Individuals/HUF with total income upto five lakhs
3. Individuals claiming refund should mandatorily e-file the return
4. Mandatory e-Filing with Digital Signature in the below mentioned cases
   1. Companies
   2. Assessees whose accounts are required to be audited U/s 44AB of the Act;
   3. Political party filing ITR 7
5. ITR 1 and ITR 4S shall not be applicable to persons, who is a resident and has
   1. Assets (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India
   2. Signing authority in any account located outside India;
   3. Income from any source outside India.

Reference:

http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/downloads/income-tax-return.aspx

http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/communications/notification/notification41_2015.pdf