The recent news regarding the latest tussle between the insurance regulator IRDA and the finance ministry shows some signs of desperation on the side of the ministry to meet the disinvestment target. The finance ministry expects to raise Rs. 30,000 crore through the sale of government stakes in state owned companies.However this target seems to be far from being achieved.The main reason for this type of disinvestment is the rising fiscal deficit which has to be reduced if India does not want to be in trouble.
The recent 2G auctions have also left the government concerned about meeting the target of reducing the fiscal deficit to 5.3% of India's GDP. The estimated revenues from the auction were Rs.40,000 crore however the auctions were able to raise only Rs.9,400 crore.
With this two problems in front of GoI it is obvious for them to get worried and hence they do not want to take any risks. So they have now decided to allow LIC , India's largest insurer to invest in buying stakes of listed companies up to 25% (up from 10% previously). This decision might be a bane because it might increase LIC's exposure to risk and thus investor's money might be at risk. So IRDA is opposing this.
Whether this decision is useful or like the other two trials this too will prove to be a flop for GoI is a question which is yet to be answered.
Parth Pandya
SIMSREE Finance Forum
