News for 'Customs department'

Revealed: How US ensured Jaishankar's security during shutdown

Revealed: How US ensured Jaishankar's security during shutdown

Rediff.com9 Jan 2026

The US Department of State highlighted a mission-defining challenge during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit in November amid the US government shutdown, detailing the security measures taken to ensure his protection.

India-US Deal Shields Farmers

India-US Deal Shields Farmers

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

New Delhi will substantially reduce tariffs on industrial and agricultural goods while continuing to protect sensitive sectors. Tariffs on some agricultural products that are not traditionally considered sensitive will be brought down to zero, while in the case of relatively sensitive items, duties will be reduced in a graded manner and quotas will be imposed.

ISRO's PSLV encounters 'anomaly'; deviates from path, misses orbit

ISRO's PSLV encounters 'anomaly'; deviates from path, misses orbit

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

ISRO's PSLV-C62 successfully launched an earth observation satellite along with 14 other commercial payloads from Sriharikota, marking the first launch of the year.

India to resume postal services to US from Oct 15

India to resume postal services to US from Oct 15

Rediff.com14 Oct 2025

"The postal tariffs will remain unchanged, ensuring that exporters continue to benefit from affordable international delivery rates while complying with the revised US import requirements. This measure has been introduced to maintain affordability, support MSMEs, and boost India's exports through the postal channel," India Post said.

State Bank of India readies plan to ease KYC process

State Bank of India readies plan to ease KYC process

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

State Bank of India has embarked on a drive to cut the Know Your Customer (KYC) process to a single one across its branches, a top official said on Tuesday.

How India Is Rewriting Its FTA Playbook

How India Is Rewriting Its FTA Playbook

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

India has been on an FTA-signing spree of late. Since 2021, it has signed eight trade agreements, three of which -- with the UK, Oman and New Zealand -- were finalised in 2025 alone.

SC rejects Custom's plea against Adani firms

SC rejects Custom's plea against Adani firms

Rediff.com28 Mar 2023

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed the customs department against Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML), Adani Power Rajasthan Limited (APRL) and others in a case pertaining to alleged over-valuation of imported goods. "We have heard Balbir Singh, Additional Solicitor General appearing for the appellant(s), and Mukul Rohatgi, senior counsel appearing for the respondents, at length. "We are of the considered opinion that the matters are concluded by the findings of fact recorded by the authorities below and the impugned order(s) does not require any interference at our behest.

Centre restarts MGNREGA in West Bengal, but conditions apply

Centre restarts MGNREGA in West Bengal, but conditions apply

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

After a gap of more than three years, the central government has agreed to resume the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works in West Bengal with immediate effect, but subject to mandatory adherence to stringent conditions. These include a prohibition on any work valued at more than 20 lakh, compulsory 100 per cent electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) verification of all workers, and mandatory pre-estimation field visits for all works before they are undertaken.

China mulls military base in Pakistan: Pentagon

China mulls military base in Pakistan: Pentagon

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

In its annual report to Congress on Tuesday on 'Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025', the US Department of War said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is actively considering and planning for additional military facilities.

2025's Top 10 OTT Films

2025's Top 10 OTT Films

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

While some of them were excellent, most were passable. But many were far superior to the theatrical releases.

The Puzzling Failure of PSLV-C62

The Puzzling Failure of PSLV-C62

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

'A solid motor, once ignited, burns until the propellant is exhausted. It cannot simply stop mid-burn,' said a retired senior ISRO official. 'That is what makes this failure puzzling.' Venkatachari Jagannathan reports on the latest PSLV failure.

IT Firms Brace For DPDP With Minimal Disruption

IT Firms Brace For DPDP With Minimal Disruption

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

'The impact will be minimal and it will only increase compliance cost on consent, data flows, localisation timelines, internal audits, data mapping, and new tooling.'

Body massager can't be used as sex toy: HC raps Customs dept

Body massager can't be used as sex toy: HC raps Customs dept

Rediff.com21 Mar 2024

The Commissioner of Customs had confiscated the goods claiming that the body massagers could be used as adult sex toys and such items are prohibited for import.

How Your Grievances Can Be Fixed!

How Your Grievances Can Be Fixed!

Rediff.com14 Oct 2025

CPGRAMS -- an online platform available to citizens 24x7 to lodge their grievances to public authorities on service delivery -- has existed for close to two decades. But it has never been this active, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

10 Human-Forward Work Skills You Must Master in 2026

10 Human-Forward Work Skills You Must Master in 2026

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

Here are ten human-forward skills that will quietly but decisively shape professional growth in 2026.

TN: HC tells petitioner to light hill lamp with CISF protection

TN: HC tells petitioner to light hill lamp with CISF protection

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

Despite an earlier direction by the Bench, the lamp was not lit on an ancient stone pillar near a Dargah on the Thirupparankudram hill here on Karthigai Deepam this evening, triggering protests by the Hindu Munnani activists and a section of devotees.

Congress fumes as Tharoor alone gets Putin dinner invite

Congress fumes as Tharoor alone gets Putin dinner invite

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

The Congress party has criticized the government for not inviting Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to the banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also questioning Shashi Tharoor's decision to accept the invitation.

ED raids premises of Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj in luxury car smuggling case

ED raids premises of Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj in luxury car smuggling case

Rediff.com8 Oct 2025

The searches by the ED also covered certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).

Budget wishlist: Industry seeks easier tax rules, dispute fixes

Budget wishlist: Industry seeks easier tax rules, dispute fixes

Rediff.com3 Nov 2025

With the Union Budget three months away, major industry chambers have submitted to the government proposals on common taxes, seeking simpler compliance and a quicker resolution of tax disputes.

Selling Land Is Not a Service, Rules Supreme Court

Selling Land Is Not a Service, Rules Supreme Court

Rediff.com12 Nov 2025

The Supreme Court has said that selling land or property is not a service under the Finance Act, 1994, so such sales cannot be charged with service tax.

EC directs crackdown on illicit cash, liquor, drugs in Bihar polls

EC directs crackdown on illicit cash, liquor, drugs in Bihar polls

Rediff.com17 Oct 2025

The Election Commission has directed enforcement agencies and security forces to take proactive measures during the Bihar elections to prevent the use of drugs, liquor, and cash to influence voters.

IndiGo cancels over 100 flights, scores delayed; DGCA launches probe

IndiGo cancels over 100 flights, scores delayed; DGCA launches probe

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

Indigo airlines cancelled 13 flights from Hyderabad airport, causing chaos and frustration among passengers. The cancellations were attributed to technology and operational issues.

GST 2.0 bolstered momentum, economy on stable footing

GST 2.0 bolstered momentum, economy on stable footing

Rediff.com28 Nov 2025

The reduction in the goods and services tax (GST) rates has increased the momentum in India's economic activity both on the supply and demand sides, while robust agricultural activity - reflected in the strong onset of rabi sowing and adequate reservoir levels - has reinforced the outlook for food supply and rural incomes, the finance ministry said on Thursday.

Intoxicated Indian-origin trucker causes fatal crash in US killing 3

Intoxicated Indian-origin trucker causes fatal crash in US killing 3

Rediff.com23 Oct 2025

A 21-year-old Indian-origin truck driver, Jashanpreet Singh, has been accused of causing a semi-truck crash while allegedly driving intoxicated, resulting in three deaths in California. He faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

From SKY to Rinku: How India Built Their T20 WC Team

From SKY to Rinku: How India Built Their T20 WC Team

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

As India gear up for the T20 World Cup at home, the selectors have backed a squad built on impact, and versatility.

Why ecom platforms are under govt lens

Why ecom platforms are under govt lens

Rediff.com4 Oct 2025

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is looking into complaints of additional charges being levied by ecommerce platforms when customers choose cash-on-delivery (COD) option instead of paying while ordering items. "The Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against ecommerce platforms charging extra for cash-on-delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers," Pralhad Joshi, Union minister of consumer affairs, wrote on X on Friday afternoon.

'My Life Has Been Paused Without My Consent'

'My Life Has Been Paused Without My Consent'

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

Thousands of Indian H-1B workers are stranded in India after sudden visa appointment cancellations at US consulates.

Will 1600 Number Stop Scam Calls?

Will 1600 Number Stop Scam Calls?

Rediff.com20 Nov 2025

Trai has ordered BFSI firms to move service and transaction calls to the 1600 series from 2026 to reduce spam, financial fraud, and rising digital arrest scams.

Jaguar Land Rover gets UK govt loan guarantee after cyber-attack

Jaguar Land Rover gets UK govt loan guarantee after cyber-attack

Rediff.com28 Sep 2025

The UK government on Sunday announced that it will support "iconic British brand" Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) with a loan guarantee of up to 1.5 billion pounds to give certainty to the Tata Motors owned carmaker's supply chain following a devastating cyber-attack. The loan will come from a commercial bank, backed by the Department for Business and Trade's (DBT) Export Development Guarantee (EDG), provided by export credit agency UK Export Finance, to be paid back over five years.

In An AI-Obsessed World, India's Craft May Redefine 'Made In India'

In An AI-Obsessed World, India's Craft May Redefine 'Made In India'

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

What is currently perceived as a massive, low-tech liability could become a high-value, export-oriented economic engine, points out Ajit Balakrishnan.

Will Deepa Thoon Controversy Damage Stalin's DMK?

Will Deepa Thoon Controversy Damage Stalin's DMK?

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

The Deepa Thoon controversy, if not allowed to die a natural death, could take the election focus away from the anti-incumbency impacting the DMK and into the secular space. Stalin would love to have it that way, all over again, after the three past elections, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Indian-origin man, living in US for 30 years, detained by ICE

Indian-origin man, living in US for 30 years, detained by ICE

Rediff.com18 Sep 2025

Paramjit Singh, a businessman from Fort Wayne, was arrested at Chicago O'Hare Airport on July 30 upon arrival from India due to an old case, 21 Alive news portal reported.

Trump's Language Of Fascism

Trump's Language Of Fascism

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

'Non-compatible with Western Civilization' is about as vague and jingoistic as it gets and Trump saying this gives full license to his acolytes to go full throttle on making life as difficult and scary as possible for as many non-white people as possible,' notes Sree Sreenivasan.

Victimisation of Chinese woman may affect bilateral ties, says HC

Victimisation of Chinese woman may affect bilateral ties, says HC

Rediff.com11 Jul 2024

Unnecessary victimisation may "reflect in the bilateral relations", the Bombay high court said on Thursday while ordering the authorities to issue exit permit to a Chinese woman who was acquitted in a gold smuggling case yet could not leave India.

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee rule kicks in; US releases FAQs

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee rule kicks in; US releases FAQs

Rediff.com22 Sep 2025

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a 'H-1B FAQ' document, released on Sunday, said that the September 19 proclamation took an "important, initial, and incremental step" to reform the H-1B visa programme to curb abuses and protect American workers.

153 dead as Ditwah leaves trail of destruction in Lanka; rain pounds TN

153 dead as Ditwah leaves trail of destruction in Lanka; rain pounds TN

Rediff.com29 Nov 2025

Cyclone Ditwah exits Sri Lanka after causing widespread destruction and over 120 deaths, heading towards the Indian coast. Heavy rains and high winds are expected to continue.

Indian illegal immigrant causes multi-vehicle crash in California

Indian illegal immigrant causes multi-vehicle crash in California

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

An Indian national, who had arrived in the United States illegally, has been arrested for causing a multi-vehicle crash while driving a truck in California last year that critically injured a five-year old child and left her with life-altering injuries.

DGCA Moves In As IndiGo Turbulence Continues

DGCA Moves In As IndiGo Turbulence Continues

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

The DGCA has formed two specialised teams to internally monitor IndiGo's daily operations.

Sitharaman Orders Banks to Return Unclaimed Citizens' Money

Sitharaman Orders Banks to Return Unclaimed Citizens' Money

Rediff.com23 Sep 2025

Given that a sizeable part of this money is part of the coveted current accounts and savings accounts, it is surprising that banks are not in a hurry to revive these accounts, notes Tamal Bandyopdhyay.

'Government Is The Source Of Our Data Leakages'

'Government Is The Source Of Our Data Leakages'

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

'Instead of the government and telecom operators solving the mess of their own creation, they're telling us we need to give access to our phones perpetually.'