PM Modi bats for simultaneous elections, changing fiscal to Jan-Dec


New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pitched for conducting simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies and shifting to a January-December fiscal year. Addressing the Niti Aayog Governing Council’s third meeting, which was attended by several state chief ministers, Modi said for long, India had suffered from economic and political mismanagement.

"Because of poor time management, many good initiatives and schemes had failed to deliver the anticipated results," he said, adding there is a need to develop robust arrangements that could function amidst diversity.

The Prime Minister called for carrying forward the debate and discussions on holding simultaneous elections to Parliament and state legislatures. On the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Modi asked the states to make legislative arrangements "without delay" for the rollout of the indirect tax regime from July 1. The GST, which will subsume central excise, service tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and other local levies, is scheduled to be rolled out from July 1.

The consensus on GST reflects the spirit of ‘one nation, one aspiration, one determination’, Modi earlier said in his opening remarks at the meeting. Referring to the change in the budget dates, he said in a country where agricultural income is exceedingly important, budgets should be prepared immediately after the receipt of agricultural incomes for the year. He added that there have been suggestions to follow January to December as financial year.

The Prime Minister asked the states to take the initiative in this regard. Currently, India follows April-March as fiscal year. Later, briefing reporters about the meeting, Niti Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya said the Prime Minister wants that "we should think of January-December financial year as this is appropriate from the point of view of farmers".

Modi also urged states, local governments and NGOs to decide goals for 2022 and work in mission mode towards achieving them. Referring to the issue of regional imbalance, which was raised by a number of chief ministers, Modi said the matter needs to be addressed on priority, both nationally, and within states. He also called upon states to "speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation" to spur growth.

"Niti Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, 7-year medium-term strategy, and 3-year action agenda," Modi said, adding the vision of ‘New India’ can only be realised through the combined efforts and cooperation of all the states. The draft of the three-year action plan was circulated at the meeting and would be finalised after seeking comments of the chief ministers.

Stating that poor infrastructure in the country is hampering the economic development, Modi said that more expenditure on basic infrastructure such as roads, ports, power and rail would help in accelerating the pace of growth. The meeting of the Governing Council at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by several chief ministers, including from non-BJP ruled states like Punjab, Bihar, Tripura and Karnataka.

The notable absentees were West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The council, which is the apex body of the Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and the Aayog’s members.

  

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Comment on this article

  • James Sequeira, Bangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    The entire world, including India is in celebratory mood from 15 December to 3 January in view of Christmas and New Year festivities. It is a period of good business too for whole sale and retail business.
    Since it is a busy period , it would be a heavy burden to give whole hearted mind to close the financial year at this time with concentration. Or, is it it the hidden agenda of the Govt., to lower the festive mood of the people mainly the Christians?

    DisAgree [10] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Karthik Karkera, Maryhill Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Fiscal year should remain April to March as we follow the Hindu calendar which starts with Ugadi , We should not adopt this Jan to Dec fiscal year of western nations

    DisAgree [8] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Dear Chaaiwaala Prime Minister, we know you wanted to make compulsory work on Christmas in the name of year end and New Year. Don't touch Christmas and New year National holidays.

    The present year ending March and beginning April is good enough to be comfortable so that we will have time to worship on Christmas eve and for Christmas. New year eve and for New Year holidays.

    DisAgree [21] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • shibu, Dubai

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    some time some people coment with saritha pudard
    congress loss starts...

    Congress will include "BURNOL SUPPLY"in their achievement before 2018 assembly election.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • shibu, Dubai

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Rampa
    i understand why u dnt support this, because u cant cry through out year in name of EVM.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rampa, Moon

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Shibu
    Chashma lagake pado. Joseph kab rampa bangaya

    DisAgree [3] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, mangaluru / bengaluru

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    For slaves of the British, yes

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian dsouza, chik/bengaluru

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Modi does not do anything without a hidden cause . Now he cannot campiagn every few months he is thinking he will campaign last four months for both state as well as centreal and that way he does not have to do it now and then !!!he is getting tired and you cannot giving speeches every six minths and you will run out of topics as well as fighiting state leaders is also not easy

    DisAgree [10] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    December 23 to January 4th should have holidays for christmas and new year. no working days for christmas, good friday & new year. remaining days do anything.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • flavian dsouza, d_flavian@hotmai.com

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    All elections should be held for state as well as central elections on the same day. Counting should be done the next day . EC is really complicating things and wasting months keeping the machines inside . Every ten years we have to spend 5000 crores for machines . BHEL can make them easily Not sure why machines should take so long to count and what is the use of the mc if you cant make it fast . ELECTROIN VOTING MACHINES are simple to make they are no different then a calculator with a little more memory and with internet it can be made faster

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian Dsouza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    I whole wholeheartedly welcome :-
    1. Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies for it will save a lot of election expenses and save man hours due election code of conduct, so many Govt decisions have to be differed.
    2. January-December financial year as this is appropriate from the point of view of several Companies, having business set up in India and abroad.
    Due to different accounting periods in many countries becoming difficult to do business and accounts reports and reconciliations. We are doing business with global world. Surely another welcome move.
    3. True - some economic and political mismanagement have to be rectified, sooner we do is better for the nation's economic growth. Surely this move will have long term positive impact on the economic liberalization.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Mangalore/ UAE

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Very good idea.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Modiji release Babu bajrangi and maya kodlani. They are innocent

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Modiji I cannot see people kill animals. Ban all non veg in india. U will be world famous. Then built ram temple Development all later sir.

    DisAgree [18] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mithun Shetty, Udupi

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Rajesh

    We also cannot see people kill vegetables and so on so ban all veg in india. U will be world famous.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, KSA

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    .......AND PROMOTE AND SUPPORT KILLING OF HUMAN TO SAVE ANIMALS. USE COW DUNG AS CHUTNEY FOR BREAKFAST AND COW URINE AS TEA. SO NO PAIN IS CAUSED NEITHER TO VEGETABLES NOR TO ANIMALS. IF NO ONE SUPPORT YOU ON THIS, RAJESH CERTAINLY WILL SUPPORT YOU.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rampa, Moon

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    COPYWRITE OF RAHUL GANDHI. AADHAR CARD, SMART CITY, GST BILL.. ALL HAVE BEEN STOLEN.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Indian, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Yes well said MODI Ji. But the elections should be held using ballot papers (like developed countries) and not using EVM's.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rampa, Moon

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    EVM MACHINE ALREADY ORDERED AND PAID QUICKLY.

    WITHOUT THAT MODI WILL BE LIKE JANARDHAN POOJARY.

    DisAgree [16] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • D.Shetty, Mangalore /Bahrain

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Yes go ahead sir, its indeed a good thought to change the federal system in place ..Until now all his predecessors was just hanging over the systems laid by British and whether its beneficial for current scenario or not. this man is for change and new India.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rampa, Moon

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    NEW STONE AGE INDIA....

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    His luck is fast running out ...

    DisAgree [16] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, mangaluru / bengaluru

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    Until 'tampered' EVMs last Jossey?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sb, mlore

    Mon, Apr 24 2017

    You wish...If ...... Would fly.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: PM Modi bats for simultaneous elections, changing fiscal to Jan-Dec



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