India’s Forex reserves rise to lifetime high of $621.5 billion

In the reporting week, the increase in the forex kitty was due to a rise in foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major component of the overall reserves, as per weekly data by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The country’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $889 million to a lifetime high of $621.464 billion in the week ended August 6, 2021, RBI data showed on Friday.
 
In the previous week ended July 30, 2021, the reserves had surged by $9.427 billion to reach $620.576 billion.

In the reporting week, the increase in the forex kitty was due to a rise in foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major component of the overall reserves, as per weekly data by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

FCAs rose by $1.508 billion to $577.732 billion in the reporting week.

Gold reserves were down by $588 million to $37.057 billion in the reporting week, the data showed.

The special drawing rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dipped by $1 million to $1.551 billion.

The country’s reserve position with the IMF also fell by $31 million to $5.125 billion, as per the data.

Source: Economic Times

 

Forex reserves increase by over $100 billion since March lockdown; hit lifetime high at $572 billion

Amid a severe hit to the Indian economy by the Covid pandemic in the past eight months, the country’s foreign exchange reserves increased by more than $100 billion since the Covid-induced lockdown was enforced in March-end.

From $469.9 billion in the week ended March 20, 2020, the forex reserves jumped by $102.8 billion to a lifetime high of $572.7 billion in the week ended November 13, 2020, according to the data released by the Reserve Bank of India.

Importantly, the reserves grew by $4.277 billion from the week ended November 6, 2020. The jump was on account of Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), a major component of the country’s reserves, that increased by $5.526 billion to $530.2 billion from $524.7 billion in the preceding week.

However, the gold reserves reduced by $1.233 billion from $37.587 billion to $36.354 billion in the week. On the other hand, the special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were unchanged from the preceding week at $1.488 billion, the data showed.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPI) have invested Rs 49,553 crore in Indian markets in November so far on the back of high liquidity along with improving global indicators and clarity after the US presidential elections, PTI reported.

The investment stood at Rs 44,378 crore in equities and Rs 5,175 crore in the debt segment between November 3-20 while FPI’s October investment was Rs 22,033 crore.

On the other hand, India saw its highest ever Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the first five months April-August of the current financial year. The total inflow was $35.73 billion, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that was also 13 per cent up from the year-ago period.

Meanwhile, bank credit grew 5.67 per cent to Rs 104.04 lakh crore in the fortnight ended November 6, 2020, according to the RBI data.

The bank credit stood at Rs 98.46 lakh crore in the fortnight ended November 8, 2019. Moreover, deposits had jumped 10.63 per cent to Rs 143.80 lakh crore from Rs 129.98 lakh crore during the said period.

Source: Financial Express

Don’t let the tax scrutiny spoil happy returns

The income tax department issues notices when it has doubts about income or expenses declared by the taxpayer. Unless you have misreported your income or assets or made wrong claims, you need not worry. Here is a rundown on when you may get a notice.

What happens after you file your return?

Once you file your income tax return (ITR), it is processed by the income tax department. The department first examines the return of income for its correctness, a process called assessment. At first, a preliminary assessment under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is done, wherein the department checks for arithmetical error, incorrect claim and so on. The department has to complete the assessment under Section 143(1) within a year from the end of the fiscal in which the return of income is filed. At this stage, no detailed scrutiny of the return of income of a taxpayer is carried out.

What are the most common tax notices?

Based on the preliminary assessment, routine notices are sent regarding mistakes you might have made while filing the ITR. Often you don’t have to respond to the notices: mostly, it’s intimation that the ITR has been processed. If the department has made any adjustment in return that you don’t agree with, you can respond within 30 days. If the department doesn’t receive a response, it will consider the ITR as acceptable. Notices under Section 143(1) for errors and omissions are the most common, but taxpayers may get notices for not disclosing certain income or due to adjustment of pending tax dues against refund.

What’s the reason behind this year’s scrutiny notices?

In the first phase, about 58,000 taxpayers, who filed their ITR for FY18, were served scrutiny notices. In the last few years, there has been a spike in the declaration of foreign incomes and assets. This could be a reason why more scrutiny notices have been issued in cases where tax filers have declared foreign assets and incomes.

When do you get a tax notice for scrutiny?

Scrutiny is of two types—limited and detailed. If the department needs more information, it sends limited scrutiny notices. Detailed scrutiny notices are sent to check the correctness of claims and deductions made in the ITR. Notices are sent within six months from the end of the fiscal in which the return is filed. A case can be opened afresh within six years from the end of the assessment year. If the return included foreign income and assets, notices can be issued up to 16 years from the end of the relevant year.

How should you reply to a scrutiny notice?

Under the “e-proceeding” facility, tax officers have to take recourse to electronic communication for all scrutiny notices. For each tax notice, a particular response procedure has to be followed. Once you get a notice, access your income tax account under “My Account”, click on “My Pending Actions” tab or on “Worklist” and go to “For your action” to see if any demands or arrears are pending. You must submit the information needed within the time mentioned in the notice. A delay can have a bearing on your refunds, if any.

Forex reserves jump by $168 million to $421 billion

The country’s foreign exchange reserves rose by USD 167.8 million to USD 420.758 billion in the week to March 2 on an increase in core currency assets, the Reserve Bank of India said today.

In the previous reporting week, the reserves had declined by USD 1.13 billion to USD 420.591 billion. The reserves had touched a life-time high of USD 421.914 billion on February 9.

 

It had crossed the USD 400-billion mark for the first time in the week to September 8 last year, but has been fluctuating since then. In the week to March 2, the foreign currency assets, a major component of the overall reserves, rose by USD 177.2 million to USD 395.642 billion, the apex bank said.

 

Expressed in the US dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of the non-US currencies such as the euro, the pound and the yen held in the reserves.

 

The value of gold reserves increased by USD 8.1 million to USD 21.522 billion, the central bank said.

 

The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund declined by USD 7.4 million to USD 1.529 billion. The country’s reserve position with IMF also declined by USD 10.1 million to USD 2.064 billion, the RBI said.

 

Source: Business Standard

 

Forex reserves rise to $421.72 bn

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $1.96 billion to $421.72 billion on February 16, compared to the previous week. Foreign currency assets (FCAs), which form a key component of reserves, rose by $1.925 billion from the previous week to $396.572 billion.

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $1.96 billion to $421.72 billion on February 16, compared to the previous week.

Foreign currency assets (FCAs), which form a key component of reserves, rose by $1.925 billion from the previous week to $396.572 billion.

FCAs are maintained in major currencies like US dollar, euro, pound sterling and Japanese yen.

Movement in the FCAs occur mainly on account of purchase and sale of foreign exchange by the RBI, income arising out of the deployment of foreign exchange reserves, external aid receipts of the government and revaluation of assets.

Gold reserves remained stable at $21.514 billion.

Special drawing rights (SDR) from the International Monetary Fund rose by $13 million from the previous week to $1.546 billion.

SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF and allocated to its members in proportion of their quota at the IMF.

The Reserve Position in the IMF rose by $21.7 million to $2.087 billion.

 

Source: Financial Express

Forex reserves surge by $4.1 bn to a new high of $421 bn

India’s foreign exchange reserves swelled by USD 4.12 billion to a new high of USD 421.914 billion on a healthy increase in the core currency assets and uptick in the gold stock, the Reserve Bank said today.

 

The total reserves had risen by USD 3 billion to USD 417.89 billion in the previous reporting week.

 

The reserves had crossed the USD 400-billion mark for the first time in the week to September 8, 2017 but have been fluctuating since then.

 

However, there has been a continuous surge since the start of this year for the fifth straight week. In reporting week to February 2, foreign currency assets, a major component of the overall reserves, rose by USD 3.025 billion to USD 396.769 billion, the RBI said.

 

Expressed in US dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of the non-US currencies such as the euro, the pound and the yen held in the reserves.

 

The value of gold reserves rose USD 1.092 billion to USD 21.514 billion during the week, the central bank said.

 

The country’s special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund rose by USD 3.2 million to USD 1.547 billion, while the country’s reserve position with the Fund jumped by USD 4.3 million to USD 2.084 billion during the reporting week, the central bank said.

 

Source: Business Standard

 

Forex reserves jump by $1.2 bn to $401.94 bn

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by USD 1.2 billion to touch USD 401.942 billion in the week to December 1.

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 1.2 billion to touch USD 401.942 billion in the week to December 1, according to the RBI data.

The surge in reserves was aided by an increase in foreign currency assets, a major component of the overall reserves.

The reserves once again crossed USD 400 billion mark in the previous week, after they rose by USD 1.208 billion to USD 400.741 billion.

The foreign currency reserves increased by USD 1.151 billion to USD 377.456 billion for the reporting week, the RBI said today.

Expressed in the US dollar terms, foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of the non- US currencies such as the euro, the pound and the yen held in the reserves.

After remaining stable for many months, gold reserves also rose by USD 36.5 million to USD 20.703 billion.

The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund rose by USD 4.9 million to USD 1.502 billion.

The country’s reserve position with the Fund also rose by USD 7.4 million to USD 2.280 billion, the Reserve Bank of India said.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Online