RBI seeks tenure extension for rate panel members

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is seeking extension of the tenure of external members on its rate-setting panel until March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, government officials aware of the matter said.

The central bank has written to the finance ministry and the letter is under consideration, the officials said.

NEW DELHI: India’s plan to levy a customs duty on solar panels will be framed in a way that it does not severely hit domestic companies who operate from special economic zones, or SEZs, said a person familiar the matter.

Such zones are typically considered as foreign territories for import duty purposes. The government, hence, plans to charge a small ‘equalization levy’ on imports of solar panels from factories based in such SEZs and run by Indian companies to sell to domestic customers, said the person requesting anonymity. This would be in lieu of the basic customs duty that is set to be levied on imports of solar components from other nations, mainly China and Malaysia.

Such a move will allow units based in SEZs to be competitive, compared to imports while sellforeign ing to local customers, and at the same time, make a level-playing field for companies outside these zones who do not receive similar tax and other benefits.

India had set up these SEZs to boost exports and earn valuable exchange. The plan to impose the tax on solar panel imports has, however, led companies based in these zones to approach the government to exclude them from it when they sell to domestic buyers.

SEZ units say the tax incentives that initially helped them set up shop have dried up.

The government is in the process of quantifying these benefits, said the person cited above and familiar with the discussions between the government and industry.

India is set to impose a basic customs duty, which could be up to 20%, on imports of solar panels and modules as soon as a safeguard duty, currently in place, expires on 29 July, Mint reported on 22 June. Modules make up nearly 60% of a solar power project’s total cost.

Chinese companies dominate the growing Indian market for solar components.

SEZ UNITS SAY THE TAX INCENTIVES THAT HAD HELPED THEM SET UP SHOP HAVE DRIED UP