1. COMPANIES TOLD TO DISCLOSE DUES TO MSME SECTOR: In its latest attempt to improve the liquidity crunch faced by Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and to bring in more transparency, the government is mandating all companies to disclose arrears (payables) of more than 45 days to MSMEs. Corporate Affairs Ministry is expected to notify the rules within a few days. In future every company will have to make half yearly disclosures regarding the unpaid bills to MSMEs. The government has clarified that the rules are in line with what is prescribed in the law governing MSME sector and the same is being implemented now.

2. YES BANK PARTNERS WITH MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT FOR ELECTRONIC PDS: Yes Bank has partnered with Maharashtra Government for the state government’s e-PDS State Programme to enrol Fair Price Shops as Business Correspondent Agents. Yes bank will enrol around 40% Fair Price Shops across the state and this will cover more than 20,000 ration shops and over 70 lakh citizen. This facility will enable Fair Price Shops to provide banking services such as small value deposits and withdrawals from any bank account via Aadhaar-enabled payment system. These shops will also be able to collect digital payments through Aadhaar enabled payment for ration and also will provide value added services like bill payments and mobile recharge.

3. NON-ITR FILERS TO SUBMIT INCOME TAX RETURN OR REPLY TO TAX QUERY WITHIN 21 DAYS: The Finance Ministry has identified several individuals as potential non-filers who have carried out high value transactions in the Financial Year 2017-18 (Assessment Year 2018-19) but have still not filed their Income Tax Returns (ITRs)for FY 2017-18. These Non-Filers have been asked to assess their tax liability for F Y 2017-18 and file their tax returns or submit online response within 21 days.

4. GOVERNMENT TO SEEK SPECIAL DISPENSATION FROM RBI FOR IL&FS CRISIS: Following the crisis at IL&FS late last year, some of the companies of the diversified IL&FS group, which has a debt of over Rs. 91,000 crore, have failed to repay loans. This has raised concerns over liquidity in the system and hence the Corporate Affairs Ministry has superseded its board by deciding to approach the RBI for seeking a special dispensation for deferment of provisioning requirements for bank loans extended to IL&FS since the group is expected to come out of the trouble as it is planning to monetise some of its assets.

5. NO e-WAY BILLS FOR NON-FILERS OF GST RETURNS: Non-filers of GST returns for consecutive six months will be barred from generating e-way bills for movement of goods. The Service Tax Network is developing a new IT system wherein such businesses that have not filed GST Returns for consecutive six months will not be able to generate e-way bills. The new rules will be notified and will bring in to force once the new IT system is ready.

6. RBI ANNOUNCES Rs. 10,000 CRORE BOND BUYBACK TO IMPROVE LIQUIDITY POSITION: The Reserve Bank of India has announced a Rs. 10,000 Crore Bond Buyback under its Open Market Operations (OMO). RBI has committed to purchase an aggregate amount of Rs. 50,000 crore government securities under OMO and so far has purchased Rs. 30,000. The latest purchase of Rs. 10,000 crore is based on the assessment of prevailing liquidity conditions and it is a continuing effort by RBI to provide adequate liquidity.

7. CANARA BANK PROPOSES TO SELL ITS STAKE IN SIDBI AND NSDL: Canara Bank proposes to sell one crore shares in Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). It has invited bids at a floor price of Rs. 225/- per share. The bank also proposes to sell 4 lakh shares in NSDL at a floor price of Rs.850/- per share.

8. GOVERNMENT SACKS TWO PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK EXECUTIVES: The government has removed Mr. K Veera Brahmaji and Mr. Sanjeev Saran, two senior executives of Punjab National Bank from the office of Executive Director with immediate effect for failing to prevent the $2 billion Nirav Modi fraud.