Cabinet approves new strategic disinvestment process

On 4^th October, 2019, Cabinet approved new process of strategic disinvestment to privatize selected PSUs – Public Sector Units. The process was approved by PM Modi under which DIPAM – Department of Investment and Public Asset Management operating under Ministry of Finance will be the nodal agency to implement the process.

The PSUs to be put under sale will be identified by NITI Aayog along with DIPAM.

The Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman announced during the Budget that the divestment target from 90,000 crore rupees will be increased to 1.05 lakh crore rupees.

Divestment history of India – Major events

When the government sells its share of PSU to a private sector or an individual it is called divestment.

The divestment process in India began in 1991 when 20% of selected PSUs were announced to be divested in the interim budget. In 1993, it was increased to 49%. However, this was not implemented.

In 1996, GV Ramakrishna Committee was formed to make suggestions about the divestment process.

Between 1998 and 2000 under Vajpayee Government several divestment processes were included

• The PSUs were divided into strategic and non – strategic. Strategic included railway, arms – ammunition, energy, etc. Non – strategic included others that were not part of the above category.
• Department of Disinvestment was set up under Ministry of Finance to complete the projects successfully.

NIIF – National Investment Fund

The money earned by the government through the disinvestment policy will be deposited in NIIF. It does not go into the Consolidated funds of India. It is managed by UTI, SBI and LIC.

The money from the NIIF can be used to execute government schemes and reviving or expanding other PSUs. The rule is that 75% of the money should be used for government schemes and 25% for reviving PSUs

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2019