News for 'Department of Commerce'

19 major commodities see export volume growth, but value declines

19 major commodities see export volume growth, but value declines

Rediff.com9 May 2024

Exports of 19 major commodities, including petroleum products, coal and marine items, saw growth in terms of volume during April 2023-February 2024, even as they witnessed contraction in value terms during the same period. Government officials said the rise in export volume despite a decline in value implies that these commodities show a stronger market demand.

Full list: Modi's New Ministers And Their Portfolios

Full list: Modi's New Ministers And Their Portfolios

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

Here is the complete list of ministers in Modi 3.0 and their portfolios:

Smartphones, India's 4th Largest Exports!

Smartphones, India's 4th Largest Exports!

Rediff.com23 May 2024

Smartphones have been a key success story of the government's production-linked incentive scheme, helping India become the second-largest mobile phone manufacturing country, after China.

Why Are Bengaluru IT Workers Protesting?

Why Are Bengaluru IT Workers Protesting?

Rediff.com5 Aug 2024

'The overwhelming evidence from various studies and reports indicates that the current work culture in the IT sector, characterised by excessive hours, has severe consequences for health, productivity, and overall quality of life.'

Why e-commerce policy may not take shape this year

Why e-commerce policy may not take shape this year

Rediff.com26 Sep 2018

The final policy may be out only after formation of the new government, according to sources

Govt may tweak FDI clause in draft e-commerce policy

Govt may tweak FDI clause in draft e-commerce policy

Rediff.com29 Aug 2018

The draft favoured up to 49 per cent foreign equity in inventory model in the case of 100 per cent made in India products sold through Indian management-controlled platforms with resident Indian founders/promoters.

How Modi plans to tackle spiralling trade deficit with Russia

How Modi plans to tackle spiralling trade deficit with Russia

Rediff.com8 Jul 2024

India's trade deficit with Russia continued to widen for the second consecutive year to $57 billion in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), with Moscow becoming New Delhi's largest source of crude oil imports. All eyes will now be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia during July 8-9, where he is set to meet President Vladimir Putin. This will be Modi's first visit to the Kremlin since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began over two years ago.

Sitharaman to ensure 'Ease of Living' during Modi 3.0

Sitharaman to ensure 'Ease of Living' during Modi 3.0

Rediff.com12 Jun 2024

Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday assumed charge as the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister for the second consecutive term and is slated to soon present the final Budget for FY '25 that is going to set the tone for the Modi 3.0 government's priorities and direction for Viksit Bharat. Upon her reaching the North Block office, Sitharaman was greeted by Finance Secretary T V Somanathan and other top officials. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary was also present. Chaudhary assumed charge on Tuesday evening.

India Inc slams draft e-commerce policy, calls it vague

India Inc slams draft e-commerce policy, calls it vague

Rediff.com3 Apr 2019

Data localisation, an overarching theme across recent government policy proposals, has been a thorny issue with industry

Govt likely to tweak SEZ rules for better land use

Govt likely to tweak SEZ rules for better land use

Rediff.com4 May 2023

With the fate of the Development Enterprise and Services Hub (DESH) Bill in limbo, the commerce department is working towards tweaking some rules under the existing special economic zone (SEZ) law to allow use of unutilised spaces in IT/ITES for non-SEZ purposes. The move, when implemented, will free-up the land area that is not in demand through partial de-notification of certain floors or buildings, thereby allowing easier exit. "The department of commerce is discussing the matter with the revenue department before making changes in the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005," a person aware of the matter

ED arrests ex-IAS officer in Rs 2000-cr Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam' case

ED arrests ex-IAS officer in Rs 2000-cr Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam' case

Rediff.com21 Apr 2024

The IAS officer was later taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is expected to be produced before a magistrate seeking his remand, the sources said.

Digital firms, traders to lobby for e-commerce policy with Piyush Goyal

Digital firms, traders to lobby for e-commerce policy with Piyush Goyal

Rediff.com7 Jun 2019

According to CAIT, e-commerce policy should take within its ambit not only foreign players but also domestic ones.

Siddaramaiah Goes Backfoot On Local Quota Bill

Siddaramaiah Goes Backfoot On Local Quota Bill

Rediff.com18 Jul 2024

Sources within the Congress, including those who have been members of the teams that drafted its 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha poll manifestos, said the Karnataka government decision lacked any empirical basis.

Spice row: Govt plans greater scrutiny, SOPs

Spice row: Govt plans greater scrutiny, SOPs

Rediff.com13 May 2024

The government is formulating guidelines on the use of ethylene oxide (ETO) in samples of spices for the domestic market and exports, people aware of the matter said, as it plans to step up efforts to make quality checks more stringent. ETO, a flammable, colourless gas, is typically used as a disinfectant. It is also used as a sterilising agent and an insecticide to reduce microbial contamination in spices. However, its use is considered carcinogenic, beyond permissible limits.

India Post eyes $9 billion e-commerce business

India Post eyes $9 billion e-commerce business

Rediff.com20 Nov 2014

Eyeing $9 billion business opportunity in booming e-commerce business, India Post, which has the biggest network and serves the last mile, is boosting its infrastructure for real-time tracking of parcels through satellites using a new technology.

Govt turns down FDI in retail e-commerce

Govt turns down FDI in retail e-commerce

Rediff.com10 Jun 2015

Ecommerce firms will have it tough as govt turns down FDI proposal.

Nearly Rs 41,000 crore unspent in govt's Rs 1.97 trillion PLI scheme

Nearly Rs 41,000 crore unspent in govt's Rs 1.97 trillion PLI scheme

Rediff.com12 Feb 2024

Of the Rs 1.97 trillion that the government intends to spend on all 14 production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, around Rs 41,000 crore remains unutilised as of now, according to a senior government official. This means that 80 per cent of the total allocated amount, or Rs 1.56 trillion, will be used to pay incentives to companies eligible to claim benefits over the next few years. The unutilised amount/savings result from undersubscription, lukewarm responses in the case of schemes such as textile, as well as a reduction in the allocation of schemes.

Now e-commerce firms are roped in to create Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Now e-commerce firms are roped in to create Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Rediff.com24 Jun 2020

Govt's e-commerce portal asks sellers to specify country origin of products. Now, the commerce & industry ministry has mandated that the Government e-Marketplace, which has seen Rs 55,048 crore worth of transactions till now, adopt this approach in the interest of creating an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

Govt seeks to allay concern over 'retaliatory' duty cut on US apples

Govt seeks to allay concern over 'retaliatory' duty cut on US apples

Rediff.com20 Sep 2023

India's recent move to remove additional 'retaliatory' duty on eight products from the United States (US), including apples and walnuts, would not have any negative impact on the domestic producers, the government clarified, even as the issue threatened to snowball into a political slugfest between the ruling and Opposition parties. The move would, in fact, result in competition in the premium market segment, ensuring better quality at better prices for consumers, especially for apples, a senior government official said. "There were certain concerns that were being raised on the mutually agreed solution that has come in, more specific to seven-eight agriculture products where we had levied additional import duties in retaliation to the steel and aluminum measures (imposed by the US)," Peeyush Kumar, additional secretary in the commerce department, told reporters in a briefing.

It's raining job promises in Odisha

It's raining job promises in Odisha

Rediff.com13 May 2024

Despite declining by three percentage points in 2022-23 (FY23) compared to FY19, Odisha's unemployment rate remains higher than the average in India.

E-commerce in India: To be or not to be

E-commerce in India: To be or not to be

Rediff.com14 Feb 2020

Ajit Balakrishnan offers a thinking man's guide to e-commerce controversies.

With online monitoring system going live, PC imports turn a trickle in Nov

With online monitoring system going live, PC imports turn a trickle in Nov

Rediff.com27 Jan 2024

After the government's online monitoring system for the import of electronic hardware items went live on November 1, inbound shipments of laptops and tablets slipped in November to a nine-month low at $225 million, contracting 17.15 per cent year-on-year. This decline was primarily driven by reduced imports from Singapore (down 43.7 per cent), Hong Kong (down 27.4 per cent), and China (down 14 per cent), according to the data released by the commerce department. China accounts for approximately 83 per cent of such imports.

HC restrains misuse of actor Jackie Shroff's name, voice without consent

HC restrains misuse of actor Jackie Shroff's name, voice without consent

Rediff.com18 May 2024

The court said Shroff is a celebrity and this status inherently grants him certain rights over his personality and associated attributes.

Biden imposes new sanctions on Russia for annexing Ukrainian regions

Biden imposes new sanctions on Russia for annexing Ukrainian regions

Rediff.com1 Oct 2022

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden condemned Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory on Friday.

Flipkart 'beaten' by govt e-commerce platform

Flipkart 'beaten' by govt e-commerce platform

Rediff.com5 Aug 2019

Three years and Rs 28,710 crore worth of transactions later, it has more than double the number of sellers than Flipkart.

Indian American gets top post in Commerce Dept

Indian American gets top post in Commerce Dept

Rediff.com8 Aug 2009

Ro Khanna, 32, has been appointed by President Barack Obama as the new deputy assistant secretary of commerce for domestic operations of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration at the US Department of Commerce.He is the first Indian American to be named for a senior position in the Department of Commerce in the Obama administration, whose portfolio will have a direct impact on US-India trade and commercial ties.

DEPB plan: FinMin, commerce ministry spat on

DEPB plan: FinMin, commerce ministry spat on

Rediff.com7 May 2007

The finance ministry has turned down a proposal for shifting the exporters' tax refund plan to the commerce ministry, which has been lobbying hard to take charge of the duty entitlement pass book scheme.

NITI Aayog's Dynamic New CEO

NITI Aayog's Dynamic New CEO

Rediff.com7 Mar 2023

Go-getter, ambitious, dynamic, workaholic are some of the adjectives that officials who worked closely with B V R Subrahmanyam use to describe him.

'When innocent children die...': Modi to Putin on Ukraine war

'When innocent children die...': Modi to Putin on Ukraine war

Rediff.com9 Jul 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace efforts do not succeed in the midst of bombs and bullets even as he flagged concerns over a missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv.

E-commerce draft policy plugs gifting loophole for foreign sites

E-commerce draft policy plugs gifting loophole for foreign sites

Rediff.com5 Mar 2019

Among other things, taking note of complaints against several Chinese e-commerce players such as Shein, Ali Express etc for sending shipments as 'gifts' to customers in India and avoiding duties, the government has now mandated that all e-commerce sites and apps must have a registered business entity. This will be the importer on record and subject to customs rules, report Subhayan Chakraborty, Neha Alawadhi and Karan Choudhury.

Why This 2-Time MP Won't Contest Polls

Why This 2-Time MP Won't Contest Polls

Rediff.com2 Feb 2024

'If businessmen should be included in the political process -- which is essential in my opinion -- they need to have the freedom to express themselves and to take stands against the government of the day, without fear of reprisals and attacks on their business.'

E-commerce boom gives a lifeline to India Post

E-commerce boom gives a lifeline to India Post

Rediff.com23 Mar 2015

The delivery channel of India Post is being utilised primarily for small towns and cities.

Why India is not in favour of the global e-commerce draft

Why India is not in favour of the global e-commerce draft

Rediff.com25 Feb 2019

The government believes that WTO's push for initiating negotiations on substantive obligations related to e-commerce will oblige India to permanently accept the current moratorium on imposing customs duties on products traded electronically.

D K Mittal front runner for post of commerce secretary

D K Mittal front runner for post of commerce secretary

Rediff.com16 May 2012

Even as the government today gave Saurabh Chandra, secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), the additional charge of secretary, Department of Commerce, Dinesh Kumar Mittal has emerged as the front runner for the post.

Over Rs 950-crore tax evasion by Swiggy, Flipkart unit,: I-T department

Over Rs 950-crore tax evasion by Swiggy, Flipkart unit,: I-T department

Rediff.com21 Jan 2021

Tax concealment in case of Walmart-owned Flipkart's unit is about Rs 650 crore while the remaining estimation is related to Swiggy.

How Many Letters Does The Post Office Still Deliver?

How Many Letters Does The Post Office Still Deliver?

Rediff.com28 Aug 2023

Nearly two million postcards and eight million letters pass through India's post offices daily.

'Jobs Have To Be Created Everywhere'

'Jobs Have To Be Created Everywhere'

Rediff.com25 Jul 2024

'I found it unbelievable that L&T said 45,000 jobs were waiting to be filled because of unavailability of suitable skillsets.' 'So, when the Opposition sweepingly says there are no jobs, I'm sorry... I'm not saying it's raining jobs, but there are jobs. The (skill) gap has to be bridged.'

Retail FDI: Commerce ministry replies

Retail FDI: Commerce ministry replies

Rediff.com8 Feb 2007

The commerce and industry ministry has informed the Prime Minister's Office that the Bharti Group has conveyed to the government that its joint venture with Wal-Mart was in compliance with the existing FDI policy.