News for 'Commerce and Industry Ministry'

Check rumours on shortage of essentials: MHA to states

Check rumours on shortage of essentials: MHA to states

Rediff.com25 Mar 2020

In a communication to chief secretaries and director generals of police of all states, the ministry asked them to take action to allay apprehensions and maintain peace and tranquillity, and inform people about the availability of food, medicine and other essential commodities.

Maharashtra lockdown: E-com firms to ensure smooth delivery

Maharashtra lockdown: E-com firms to ensure smooth delivery

Rediff.com6 Apr 2021

E-commerce companies have said they are well prepared and working closely with delivery partners to ensure smooth and safe delivery of packages in Maharashtra where the government has announced a slew of restrictions, including night curfews and weekend lockdown to control the spike in COVID-19 cases. However, there are concerns around the mandate for delivery staff to be either vaccinated or carry a negative RT-PCR report. According to the health ministry data, till 8 am on Tuesday Maharashtra's COVID-19 caseload was 452,777 with an addition of 20,881 from the previous day. In an order on Sunday, the Maharashtra government said all personnel belonging to home delivery services will have to be vaccinated and in case they are not vaccinated, they will have to carry a negative RT-PCR report.

Infosys among 100 key outsourcing firms in China

Infosys among 100 key outsourcing firms in China

Rediff.com20 Dec 2012

Is the only Indian company to receive this recognition, is included due strong growth there.

CII asks Delhi, Rajasthan to reconsider decision on retail FDI

CII asks Delhi, Rajasthan to reconsider decision on retail FDI

Rediff.com4 Feb 2014

Industry body CII has asked the governments of Delhi and Rajasthan to reconsider their decisions to scrap the FDI policy for multi-brand retail as such investments would help create millions of jobs and benefit consumers.

Message In A Bottle

Message In A Bottle

Rediff.com12 Feb 2020

Samridhi Bhardwaj analyses the dynamics of duty-free liquor allowance in India.

How Walmart, Amazon plan to counter govt's e-com move

How Walmart, Amazon plan to counter govt's e-com move

Rediff.com5 Feb 2019

As Amazon India, Flipkart are forced to shut down 60 categories and push out 45 mn products, a new lobby group comprising sellers is in the making to take up e-com concerns.

Govt may soon permit FDI in high speed trains, other projects

Govt may soon permit FDI in high speed trains, other projects

Rediff.com1 Jan 2014

The government is likely to allow FDI in high speed trains and other projects.

Centre waives off customs duty on oxygen, vaccines

Centre waives off customs duty on oxygen, vaccines

Rediff.com24 Apr 2021

This will boost availability of these items as well as make them cheaper, it said, adding that Modi also directed the revenue department to ensure seamless and quick custom clearance of such equipment.

Govt depts to add over 1.4 lakh jobs between 2019 and March 1, 2021

Govt depts to add over 1.4 lakh jobs between 2019 and March 1, 2021

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

Over 1.4 lakh jobs are estimated to be created between March 2019 and March 2021 in various central government departments, according to the Union Budget presented on Monday. The strength of government establishments was 32,71,113 as on March 1, 2019, which is estimated to increase to 34,14,226 by the first day of next month - an increase of 1,43,113, it said. The budget documents have given a break-up of the jobs estimated to be created in central government departments between 2019 and March 2021.

Why the neglect of exports must end soon

Why the neglect of exports must end soon

Rediff.com31 Aug 2017

It is mind-boggling to find our prime minister putting exports on the back-burner, says Jayanta Roy.

Mandatory rules that e-retailers will have to follow from this week

Mandatory rules that e-retailers will have to follow from this week

Rediff.com20 Jul 2020

Among other things, the e-commerce players will have to display the total 'price' of goods and services offered for sale, mention the 'expiry date' of goods and the 'country of origin' of goods and services.

Indian legal system a hurdle for aircraft lessors: Air India to govt

Indian legal system a hurdle for aircraft lessors: Air India to govt

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

Tata Group-owned Air India has informed the Centre that aircraft lessors wish to set up their special purpose vehicles (SPVs) outside India since they aren't enthused about the Indian 'legal structure' and are loath to take risks. Indian airlines have a combined fleet of about 700 planes; over 85 per cent are on lease. A majority of lessors are based in Ireland due to its attractive tax policy, light-touch regulations, and swift legal system.

WPI inflation eases to 1.22% in December

WPI inflation eases to 1.22% in December

Rediff.com14 Jan 2021

The annual rate of inflation based on monthly wholesale price index (WPI) was 1.22 per cent in December as compared to 1.55 per cent in the previous month. It was 2.76 per cent in December 2019. The decline last month was mainly due to lower increase in food prices, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Thursday. The food inflation for December dropped to 0.92 per cent as compared to 4.27 per cent in the previous month.

WPI inflation eases to 0.16% in October

WPI inflation eases to 0.16% in October

Rediff.com14 Nov 2019

For manufactured products, the wholesale inflation was at (-)0.84 per cent in October 2019.

Fresh insolvency proceedings may be suspended till March

Fresh insolvency proceedings may be suspended till March

Rediff.com22 Dec 2020

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government is planning to extend the suspension of fresh insolvency proceedings for another three months, a move which will provide major relief to corporate borrowers hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Addressing the Bangalore Chamber Of Industry And Commerce (BCIC), she said the government has taken several measures, including deferment of tax payment date, to help businesses and people.

Scindia wants stimulus for exports to go on

Scindia wants stimulus for exports to go on

Rediff.com9 Feb 2010

The commerce ministry wants the stimulus packages for exporters to continue for some more time till the sector recovers completely.

Taking on Google, FB, Apple: CCI seeks more teeth to tackle Big Tech

Taking on Google, FB, Apple: CCI seeks more teeth to tackle Big Tech

Rediff.com31 May 2022

Ashok Kumar Gupta, chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), has never minced words while talking about the giant technology companies, referring to them on multiple occasions as "centres for entrenched and unchecked dominance". The anti-trust regulator has, in fact, been cracking down on big technology companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook, and others, after they were hauled up by regulators and lawmakers in Europe and Australia. However, in several instances, existing regulations have prevented the CCI from going all out against these companies for anti-competitive activities.

'Swadeshi' goods: Paramilitary canteens put procurement on hold '

'Swadeshi' goods: Paramilitary canteens put procurement on hold '

Rediff.com20 May 2020

The Union home ministry on May 13 had declared that these canteens will only sell indigenous or "swadeshi" products from June 1 in a bid to give fillip to domestic industries.

Retail inflation at 6-mth high; WPI at record 12.94%on costlier fuel

Retail inflation at 6-mth high; WPI at record 12.94%on costlier fuel

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

The wholesale price-based inflation accelerated to a record high of 12.94 per cent in May, on rising prices of crude oil and manufactured goods. Low base effect also contributed to the spike in WPI inflation in May 2021. In May 2020, WPI inflation was at (-) 3.37 per cent. This is the fifth straight month of uptick seen in the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation. In April, 2021, WPI inflation hit double digit at 10.49 per cent. "The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, was 12.94 per cent for the month of May, 2021 (over May, 2020) as compared to (-) 3.37 per cent in May 2020.

Stimulus package for economic revival 'inadequate': Par panel

Stimulus package for economic revival 'inadequate': Par panel

Rediff.com28 Jul 2021

The stimulus package announced by the government for the revival of the pandemic-hit economy has been found to be "inadequate", according to a Parliamentary panel report. The report of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector has noted that in the process of economic recovery post-first wave of the pandemic, the second wave has even more vigorously ripped the economy particularly the MSME sector. "The committee observes that the stimulus package announced by the government for the economic revival from the pandemic hit economy has been found to be inadequate as the measures adopted were more of loan offering and long-term measures instead of improving the cash flow to generate demand as immediate relief," it said.

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Rediff.com26 Jun 2019

After assuming power in 2014 with a full majority of its own, the BJP-led NDA government started an ambitious process of reforming labour laws in the form of codes aimed at making the framework less cumbersome with a variety of alterations. It had planned four codes each for industrial relations, wages, social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions. To this end, 35 central labour laws were to be converted into four codes that would have had the virtue of streamlining labour relations. But none of the proposed code Bills could be converted into a law principally because neither trade unions nor industry representatives came on board. They hold the key to India's low-growth-high unemployment paradigm but the government may struggle to push them through this time as well. Somesh Jha explains why

How Suresh Prabhu's term was derailed

How Suresh Prabhu's term was derailed

Rediff.com3 Sep 2017

Aslam Hunani analyses the train mishaps that will mark Suresh Prabhu's tenure as railway minister.

The intriguing tale of India's trade with North Korea

The intriguing tale of India's trade with North Korea

Rediff.com16 Jun 2018

India remains North Korea's 2nd-largest import source after China, according to several estimates by multilateral bodies, says Subhayan Chakraborty.

National IPR Policy to be delayed further

National IPR Policy to be delayed further

Rediff.com28 May 2015

The draft is now with ministries.

Govt to promote India as investment destination for startups

Govt to promote India as investment destination for startups

Rediff.com15 Mar 2016

The campaign will be launched in global as well as domestic markets across the media.

How Modi govt plans to spur economic growth

How Modi govt plans to spur economic growth

Rediff.com27 May 2019

There is talk of a fresh approach to a new labour code as well as reforming land acquisition laws in such a way as to be politically.

Sharma to make case for DEPB extension

Sharma to make case for DEPB extension

Rediff.com24 May 2011

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma will be meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to make a case for the extension of one of the most popular incentives to exporters, the Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB), which is slated for expiry on June 30. DEPB is a duty reimbursement scheme, launched 14 years earlier.

India-Japan pact hangs in balance over pharma exports

India-Japan pact hangs in balance over pharma exports

Rediff.com3 Sep 2014

Under MRA, Japan is to recognise Indian medical degrees and treat the country's doctors and other medical personnel on par with its own.

Nike to open fully-owned stores in India

Nike to open fully-owned stores in India

Rediff.com2 Sep 2014

Nike has been present in India since 1996.

India hits back at Uncle Sam with tariff hikes

India hits back at Uncle Sam with tariff hikes

Rediff.com15 Jun 2019

The commerce department has said that earnings through the new tax will equal the losses faced by Indian industry after the US tariffs on steel and aluminium.

DGFT denies blanket ban on food imports from Japan

DGFT denies blanket ban on food imports from Japan

Rediff.com8 Apr 2011

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry denied having imposed any blanket ban on the import of food products from Japan even as it has imposed some strict measures.

Minister voices concern on US immigration bill

Minister voices concern on US immigration bill

Rediff.com29 Oct 2013

According to government statistics, Indian IT firms support 280,000 jobs in the US and have contributed about $15 billion to the US Treasury in the past five years.

The curious case of $100 billion from China that never came

The curious case of $100 billion from China that never came

Rediff.com19 Sep 2014

Ahead of the visit, Chinese embassy officials briefed Indian scholars that investment promised would be $100 billion. How this figure came down to $20 billion is a mystery.

GDP is expected to pick up in Q3, says CEA Subramanian

GDP is expected to pick up in Q3, says CEA Subramanian

Rediff.com29 Nov 2019

Department of Economic Affairs secretary Atanu Chakraborty said that equity capital flows have been positive this year.

Modi needs to listen to our economists

Modi needs to listen to our economists

Rediff.com29 Dec 2020

We have a government with an extremely weak economic team advising a PM who hardly pays attention to their thoughts, says Jayanta Roy.

Traders threaten to take e-com players to court, if...

Traders threaten to take e-com players to court, if...

Rediff.com15 Feb 2019

Going ahead with its festive sales as per schedule, companies such as Flipkart, Jabong, and Myntra are having week-long Valentines' Day sales, offering discounts of as much as 80 per cent. Amazon India is also offering discounts of almost 40 per cent.

Indian Army's shopping list worth Rs 300 billion

Indian Army's shopping list worth Rs 300 billion

Rediff.com27 Aug 2020

'The equipment that you make for us must be the best in the world so that it complements the Indian soldier who is without doubt the very best in the world.'

Nirmala Sitharaman gets defence, Piyush Goyal gets railways

Nirmala Sitharaman gets defence, Piyush Goyal gets railways

Rediff.com3 Sep 2017

In the third reshuffle since coming to power, Prime Minister Modi raised the strength of his Council of Ministers from 73 to 76.

A Serendipitous Civil Service Career

A Serendipitous Civil Service Career

Rediff.com22 Dec 2022

Every twist and turn in KMC's civil service career is attributed to serendipity, an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. He plays down his capabilities, which took him to the top of the civil service as the Cabinet Secretary or his misfortune in losing a daughter in her prime and suggests that his career was indeed serendipitous, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

DIPP bats for FDI curbs in pharma

DIPP bats for FDI curbs in pharma

Rediff.com9 Feb 2011

The commerce ministry has sought a review of foreign direct investment policy in the pharmaceutical sector, in the light of recent takeovers of domestic companies by multinationals.