Tax-free Gratuity

The Kerala Story, the film on conversion that has polarised political discourse, was given tax-free status in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Tuesday and came under renewed attack from some opposition leaders for allegedly fuelling hatred. As the multilingual film totted up box office numbers and controversy raged, the Supreme Court said it will hear on May 15 a plea against the Kerala High Court order refusing to stay its release. In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Twitter that the film, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Shah, will be-tax free in his state. His director, information, said the chief minister would watch the much discussed film along with his cabinet members on Friday. Adityanath's counterpart in Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami will do the same in his state, officials said. The state's Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said the movie will be tax-free though a formal announcement is yet to be made. "

The government in Budget 2019-20 also announced hiking of tax free gratuity to Rs 20 lakh for employees having service of more than five years

The amendment to the payment of gratuity law comes in the backdrop of Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 enhancing the maximum maternity leave period to 26 weeks

Hikes DA to 5% for 11 million employees, pensioners

The draft bill, however, is yet to be scrutinised and approved by the Union Cabinet