Amid demand from some banks to impose a tax on commodity derivatives in the forthcoming Budget, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas has written to the Finance Minister saying that any such move will distort the nascent market.
Last year too, he had requested the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee not to reopen the old proposal made in Budget 2008-09 to levy a 0.017 per cent tax on commodity derivatives (Rs 17 on Rs 1 lakh worth transaction).
According to sources, Thomas has written to Finance Minister P Chidambaram saying his ministry would 'like (him) to defer, if there is an intent to introduce commodity transaction tax (CTT) on the commodity derivatives in the ensuing Finance Bill 2013'.
The minister said that a tax on commodities derivatives trade, on the lines of Security Transaction Tax (STT) will hamper the growth of the organised commodity market in India.
Introduction of CTT will distort the market, sources added. In the letter, the minister has also made a reference to the views of former consumer affairs minister Sharad Pawar and Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) chairman C Rangarajan, who had opposed CTT when it was announced in the 2008 Budget. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs regulates commodities market through the Forward Markets Commission. There are five national and 16 regional commodity exchanges.
Thomas's observation came in reaction to recommendations made by some banks in the pre-budget discussions with the Finance Minister that the government should consider either imposing CTT or abolition of STT on equity markets to bring both markets at par.
The CTT of 0.017 per cent on commodity derivatives was proposed in the 2008-09, but was not operationalised. The proposal was kept in abeyance following apprehensions aired by Pawar and the PMEAC.
Commodity players and industry chambers like Assocham are also opposed to the introduction of CTT. They fear it would divert hedgers and speculators to rampant 'dabba trading' (illegal trading). The tax would also impact the volume and liquidity of commodity exchanges.
They said while stock markets channelise investments for capital formation, commodity markets are price discovery and risk management platforms.
Last year too, he had requested the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee not to reopen the old proposal made in Budget 2008-09 to levy a 0.017 per cent tax on commodity derivatives (Rs 17 on Rs 1 lakh worth transaction).
According to sources, Thomas has written to Finance Minister P Chidambaram saying his ministry would 'like (him) to defer, if there is an intent to introduce commodity transaction tax (CTT) on the commodity derivatives in the ensuing Finance Bill 2013'.
The minister said that a tax on commodities derivatives trade, on the lines of Security Transaction Tax (STT) will hamper the growth of the organised commodity market in India.
Introduction of CTT will distort the market, sources added. In the letter, the minister has also made a reference to the views of former consumer affairs minister Sharad Pawar and Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) chairman C Rangarajan, who had opposed CTT when it was announced in the 2008 Budget. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs regulates commodities market through the Forward Markets Commission. There are five national and 16 regional commodity exchanges.
Thomas's observation came in reaction to recommendations made by some banks in the pre-budget discussions with the Finance Minister that the government should consider either imposing CTT or abolition of STT on equity markets to bring both markets at par.
The CTT of 0.017 per cent on commodity derivatives was proposed in the 2008-09, but was not operationalised. The proposal was kept in abeyance following apprehensions aired by Pawar and the PMEAC.
Commodity players and industry chambers like Assocham are also opposed to the introduction of CTT. They fear it would divert hedgers and speculators to rampant 'dabba trading' (illegal trading). The tax would also impact the volume and liquidity of commodity exchanges.
They said while stock markets channelise investments for capital formation, commodity markets are price discovery and risk management platforms.