New Delhi: Government on Thursday unleashed a second wave of reforms deciding to open the pension sector to foreign investment and raising the FDI cap in insurance to 49 percent, undeterred by opposition to its decisions on FDI in retail and threats to block these legislations.

The Union Cabinet cleared a raft of big-ticket legislative proposals including the new Companies Bill, amendments to Competition Act and Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act.

“The Cabinet has approved necessary official amendments in the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008…It also approved introduction of certain official amendments to Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011.

“We hope these will be passed in the next session of Parliament,” Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters while briefing on the Cabinet decision.

Apparently anticipating resistance, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the government would reach out to political parties, especially the principal Opposition BJP, in seeking their support for passage of the Bills on insurance and pension sector in the Winter session of Parliament.

Trinamool Congress, which a fortnight ago withdrew support to UPA, and the Left parties vowed to defeat these bills in Parliament.

Significantly, the Cabinet decided to fix a cap of 49 percent of FDI in the insurance sector raising it from 26 percent. While doing this, it straightaway took the cap in the pension sector to 49 percent saying it generally follows the insurance sector.

For more visit: Zeenews.com

Similar Posts:

• Govt set to notify 51% multi-brand retail FDI in Sept
• Retail FDI on hold
• Govt liberalises FDI limits in 12 sectors, including telecom
• Govt to announce more big-ticket reforms today
• Fuel price rise likely after budget, says finance ministry