Great PSU sale door stays put as govt denies tweaks

The Centre is unlikely to adjust its list of public sector enterprises earmarked for strategic sale, according to The Times of India. Despite repeated requests from various ministries for changes to the privatisation plan, government officials say there are limited options for adjustments. The Prime Minister's Office is currently overseeing the review of the list, which includes companies like BPCL and Shipping Corporation of India.

While some ministries have managed to have companies removed from the original plan, such as BPCL and Shipping Corp of India, there appears to be little room for further modifications. The government is focusing on increasing disinvestment receipts and fulfilling its commitment to the privatisation programme. The successful bidder for IDBI Bank, a major entity in the sale, is currently Fairfax, owned by Prem Watsa, with Emirates NBD also in the running.

The Centre aims to finalize more strategic sale transactions, including offer-for-sale and initial public offering cases, to meet its Rs 80,000 crore disinvestment target.