Can Govt achieve its disinvestment target this year?

Key Highlights: 

• Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley introduces Bharat 22
• Disinvestment target for 2017 - 18  set at Rs 72,500 crore
• Government achieved Rs 46,248 crore disinvestment in FY17

After missing disinvestment target for seven-consecutive years, looks like the Government of India is all set to leave no stones unturned in achieving the target for the fiscal year 2017-18 (FY18).

On August 04, 2017, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched a new exchange traded fund (ETF) by the name of Bharat 22 in a move to boost its disinvestment target further.

Bharat 22 consists of 22 stocks which includes central public sector enterprises (CPSE), public sector banks and strategic holding of SUUTI. This results in more diversified portfolio of the PSU universe in comparison with the CPSE ETF which included only 10 larger PSUs.

The Bharat 22 Index will be re-balanced annually. ICICI Prudential AMC will be the ETF Manager and Asia Index Private Limited (JV BSE and S& P Global) will be the Index Provider.

Also Bharat 22 will give an opportunity to government in not only selling stake in state-owned but also few private companies which are involved in SUUTI.

Here are the list of companies under Bharat 22 and their weightage. 

Disinvestment receipts to touch Rs 45,000 crore: Jaitley