« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs  New Income Tax Act: ITR forms to be issued prior to FY28, says govt  GSTR-9C Explained: Turnover Limit, Due Date, Statement Format & How to Prepare It in Tally Prime (2025 Update)  Will Income Tax Department release new ITR forms by January 2026? Finance Ministry says this  The Government of India has strengthened MSME protection through strict payment rules, ensuring that Micro & Small Enterprises receive timely payments from buyers. Under the MSME Development Act (MSMED Act), 2006, buyers must make payments within:  ITR Refund Delays in India: Why They Happen & How to FastTrack Your Refund in 2025  ITR Refund Delay: From Bank Errors To Department Checks, 5 Big Reasons Your Refund Gets Stuck  Income Tax Slabs 2025: New Vs Old Regime; Which One Is Better For You For FY2025-26?  Seamless Integration: How Tally Prime Connects Businesses to the Digital Economy  Govt to notify new ITR forms, Income Tax Act 2025 rules by January 2026: CBDT chief  Digital Efficiency for MSMEs: The Tally Prime Advantage  5 Ways Tally Prime Reduces Cost and Boosts Productivity for Startups «  I-T dept to accept attachments... Revisiting Coz Law Amendment Bill... » Finmin issues guidelines for PPP project approval July, 31st 2007 The finance ministrys new scheme for hassle-free approval of public-private-partnership (PPP) projects in infrastructure came into effect last week, with the ministry notifying the guidelines in this regard. According to these guidelines formulated by the department of economic affairs in the ministry, appraisal of PPP projects of all sectors costing more than Rs 100 crore but less than Rs 250 crore would now be considered by a two-member committee comprising the DEA secretary and the secretary of the ministry sponsoring the project. Earlier these projects were required to get the approval of the larger PPP-Appraisal Committee which meets less often and functions in an allegedly tedious manner. Similarly, a two-member panel comprising the DEA secretary and the secretary, department of road transport and highways, will now appraise and approve the projects under the National Highways Development Project costing between Rs 250 crore and Rs 500 crore. These projects would also steer clear of PPP-AC. All these projects will, however, continue to require the nod of Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs. The bidding for the specified NHDP projects will be according to the procedure endorsed by PPP-AC. This includes the process of two-stage bidding, pre-bid qualification norms, etc. This implies that in the first stage, NHAI could shortlist and pre-qualify bidders on the basis of the pre-bid qualification norms for inviting financial bids in the second stage. Of course, the modal concession agreement approved by the competent authority is being followed. Prior to seeking the two-member panels nod, the projects will have to be appraised by the standing finance committee (SFC) and the request for proposals (RFP) would include a copy of all agreements that are proposed to be entered into with the successful bidder. After formulating the draft RFP, the administrative ministry would seek clearance of SFC. The finance ministry has also spelt out definite timelines for the various stages of approval to cut delays.The liberal dispensation for approvals has been put in place for road projects in view of the fact that the present mechanism comprising PPP-AC and CCEA was found hampering implementation of the National Highways Development Programme. Till about three months ago, NHAI was not able to award a single new build-operate-transfer (BOT) project as per the new Model Concession Agreement finalised as early as in March 2006. Phase III of NHDP, which is to be developed solely on a BOT basis, had been facing major delays. Of the 11,113 km of highways envisaged under Phase III, less than a quarter is under implementation. Official sources said that a number of NHDP projects have received approvals in the past few weeks and this was expected to impart a fresh momentum to the projects.