News for 'Department of Commerce'

Government plans to allow FDI in e-commerce before April

Government plans to allow FDI in e-commerce before April

Rediff.com31 Dec 2013

Floats discussion paper for stakeholders' feedback with a deadline of January 28.

Commerce Ministry seeks approval for railway FDI proposal

Commerce Ministry seeks approval for railway FDI proposal

Rediff.com13 Mar 2014

The Cabinet can take a decision on the matter only after the Election Commission's approval.

PLI scheme incentive outgo could be less than Rs 40,000 crore by FY25

PLI scheme incentive outgo could be less than Rs 40,000 crore by FY25

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

The total incentive outgo under the ambitious production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme is estimated to be less than Rs. 40,000 crore by the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), when it completes the fourth year of implementation, according to the government's internal estimates. This means only a fourth of the allocated Rs 1.97 trillion is expected to be utilised by the end of FY24, indicating that not all the 14 PLI schemes would have taken off fully. While three of the 14 schemes - large-scale electronics manufacturing, bulk drugs, and medical devices - were introduced in 2020, the remaining were launched the following year.

Bengaluru's water crisis: India Inc adopt innovative methods

Bengaluru's water crisis: India Inc adopt innovative methods

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

From installing water-saving aerators on taps to using cans for washing hands and dishes, Bengaluru is adopting diverse strategies to tide over the water crisis. While several citizens have taken to social media to urge Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to make work from home mandatory for IT companies, it appears that hybrid mode will continue to be the norm for most - although with new water conservation measures in place. Co-working space provider Urban Vault has, for instance, installed smart water meters to detect leakage.

Amazon sets the pace for e-commerce in India

Amazon sets the pace for e-commerce in India

Rediff.com27 May 2016

Flipkart and Snapdeal take a cue from Amazon even as they differ on who is ahead in the race

India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023 eyes $2 trillion exports by 2030

India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023 eyes $2 trillion exports by 2030

Rediff.com31 Mar 2023

The government on Friday came out with Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 which seeks to boost the country's exports to $2 trillion by 2030 by shifting from incentives to remission and entitlement based regime. Unlike the practice of announcing 5-year FTP, the latest policy has no end date and will be updated as and when needed, said Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Sarangi while briefing media about FTP 2023. Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled FTP 2023 which will come into effect from April 1, 2023.

India may buy more oil from UAE in the coming months after COP talks

India may buy more oil from UAE in the coming months after COP talks

Rediff.com11 Dec 2023

India is expected to ramp up its purchase of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the coming months following discussions between the two countries on the sidelines of the ongoing COP28 summit in Dubai, multiple sources in the know said. The UAE has historically been India's third-largest source of crude. It has suffered the largest drop in shipments since Indian refiners began to binge on Russian crude in 2022.

Commerce ministry weeds out 24,338 files during June-July

Commerce ministry weeds out 24,338 files during June-July

Rediff.com24 Aug 2014

The ministry, according to sources, held three special drives during June-July for weeding out and indexing of old files and records

Corporate spying: CBI arrests commerce ministry employee

Corporate spying: CBI arrests commerce ministry employee

Rediff.com16 Mar 2015

CBI has also summoned a senior official of Reliance Industries Limited and a noted chartered accountant.

Laptop, tablet imports surge 42% amid licensing fears

Laptop, tablet imports surge 42% amid licensing fears

Rediff.com27 Nov 2023

India's import of personal computers, including laptops and tablets, shot up in September by 42 per cent to $715 million, reversing a year-long downward trend after the government announced it would impose import restrictions on such electronic hardware items in August. The rise in such imports were led by the largest source China (33 per cent) and Singapore (188 per cent), according to data released by the commerce department. On August 3, the Centre had announced it was planning to bring seven products in the information technology hardware segment, such as personal computers, micro computers, mainframe computers, super computers, computer systems and data processing units under the 'restricted' label.

'First Congress Candidate To Get Vote From A Thackeray'

'First Congress Candidate To Get Vote From A Thackeray'

Rediff.com9 May 2024

While the responses of the candidates were predictable, depending on which side they belonged to, an interesting point slipped through when Rahul Shewale cited the Dharavi Redevelopment Project as a scheme that would add to Mumbai's importance. No big infrastructural project in Mumbai, he said, could be successful without the Centre's nod.

Telangana: A hotspot for e-commerce, retail and aviation companies

Telangana: A hotspot for e-commerce, retail and aviation companies

Rediff.com9 Oct 2015

Riding on e-commerce wave is the youngest state, which faces competition from neighbours.

India's Startup Scorecard

India's Startup Scorecard

Rediff.com2 Apr 2024

For the startup ecosystem in India, the scorecard so far has been a mixed bag, observes Akhil Gupta.

Jaitley meets US commerce secretary, bats for H-1B

Jaitley meets US commerce secretary, bats for H-1B

Rediff.com21 Apr 2017

Taking up the case of Indian IT companies and professionals, Jaitley told Ross about the contribution of highly-skilled Indians in the economic development of the United States and India and stressed that they should continue to do so, which is in the best interest of the two countries, officials said.

Bharat Rice to be sold at Rs 29/kg in retail market from next week

Bharat Rice to be sold at Rs 29/kg in retail market from next week

Rediff.com2 Feb 2024

The Centre on Friday said it will sell 'Bharat Rice' in the retail market at Rs 29 per kg from next week to give relief to the common man and has also directed traders to disclose rice/paddy stock, as part of its efforts to control prices that have risen by around 15 per cent in the last one year. In a press conference, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra exuded confidence that these two measures along with the various restrictions of exports will help in cooling down the prices. Seeking to dispel market rumours, he categorically said the government has no plans to lift restrictions on rice exports any time soon.

'We are not worried what Modiji says about Muslims'

'We are not worried what Modiji says about Muslims'

Rediff.com18 May 2024

While political experts claim that the Modi Magic is missing in the 2024 general election, the common people in the street -- at least those in the crowd on Thursday -- vow that they will vote for Modi and the candidate who contests the election doesn't matter much.

Will BJP benefit from Trinamool leader's arrest for Sandeshkhali?

Will BJP benefit from Trinamool leader's arrest for Sandeshkhali?

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

Whether the age-old cry of kendrer banchana will be able to drown out pangs of Sandeshkhali, the EVM will tell.

Google unveils a slate of AI tools for Indian developers

Google unveils a slate of AI tools for Indian developers

Rediff.com29 Jun 2023

Google unveiled on Wednesday a slate of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies for Indian developers at its first I/O Connect event for India, being held in Bengaluru. The company made accessible for Indian developers its faster, more accurate large language AI model accessible through PaLM API, Makersuite, as well as features on Google Cloud's Vertex AI. Google Cloud officially launched a new initiative in collaboration with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, to help sellers build and scale commerce platforms across the country.

3 Bangladeshi tourists dead as houseboat catches fire in Dal Lake

3 Bangladeshi tourists dead as houseboat catches fire in Dal Lake

Rediff.com11 Nov 2023

Three tourists from Bangladesh were charred to death in a major blaze in a houseboat on the famous Dal Lake on Saturday, officials in Srinagar said.

Kissinger used racist, misogynist language for then PM Indira Gandhi

Kissinger used racist, misogynist language for then PM Indira Gandhi

Rediff.com30 Nov 2023

Speaking about the issue in India in March 2012 at a media conclave, Kissinger defended his use of unparliamentary language while referring to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Commerce minister: 'There is no panic'

Commerce minister: 'There is no panic'

Rediff.com20 Nov 2016

'People are willing to face temporary inconvenience as they are determined to support PM Modi's crackdown on black money,' Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tells Archis Mohan.

40-year-old fintech gurus need 60-year-olds to handhold them

40-year-old fintech gurus need 60-year-olds to handhold them

Rediff.com19 Mar 2024

The message is clear: The 60-year-old wise uncles need to handhold the 40-year-old entrepreneurs when, obsessed with ambition and greed for growth, they become a victim of hubris, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Swiggy, Zomato and others get 15 days to submit complaint redressal plan

Swiggy, Zomato and others get 15 days to submit complaint redressal plan

Rediff.com13 Jun 2022

The government on Monday asked online food business operators like Swiggy and Zomato to submit a proposal within 15 days on improving their consumer grievance redressal mechanism amid rising complaints from customers. The department of consumer affairs directed e-commerce FBOs "to transparently show consumers the breakup of all charges included in the order amount such as delivery charges, packaging charges, taxes, surge pricing etc." According to an official statement, "The Department of Consumer Affairs has directed major e-commerce Food Business Operators (FBOs) to furnish the current framework as well as a proposal on improving the consumer grievance redressal mechanism within 15 days."

Pharma export body suspends Marion Biotech for no reply on syrup deaths

Pharma export body suspends Marion Biotech for no reply on syrup deaths

Rediff.com30 Dec 2022

The drug maker will lose some incentives if its membership is suspended, sources in Pharmexcil said.

'Is it usual for a store to be empty at 6 pm?'

'Is it usual for a store to be empty at 6 pm?'

Rediff.com2 Jan 2024

'Due to rural stress, volumes continue to remain an issue for the industry, and we are yet to see any revival in demand.'

Ravneet Kaur: An IAS officer with varied experience

Ravneet Kaur: An IAS officer with varied experience

Rediff.com17 May 2023

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has named Ravneet Kaur, a Punjab cadre IAS officer of 1988 batch, as chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Kaur will hold the post for five years or until attaining the age of 65. She is the second woman to serve in an 'economic regulator' role after Madhabi Puri Buch, who was appointed chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India last year and the first woman to head the country's chief national competition regulator.

Centre seeks info from embassy on Iran's bar on rice, tea imports

Centre seeks info from embassy on Iran's bar on rice, tea imports

Rediff.com8 Dec 2022

The department of commerce has urged the agriculture ministry as well as the diplomatic mission in Tehran to apprise it of details as to why Iranian buyers have stopped import of rice and tea from India, a senior government official said. Exporters said that exports of items such as high quality tea and rice have stopped since last week. As of now, there has been no confirmation from the authorities and the response from the embassy in Tehran is also taking time, they said.

Foxconn unit in talks for $200 million components plant in Tamil Nadu

Foxconn unit in talks for $200 million components plant in Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com28 Jul 2023

Taiwan-based Hon Hai Technology Group, the subsidiary of Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii), is in talks with the Tamil Nadu government to invest around $200 million to set up an electronic components unit in the state. According to a Reuters report, FII, which makes communication, mobile network and cloud computing equipment, has shared the plan with the Tamil Nadu state officials. Business Standard had reported last week that Fii's chief executive officer (CEO) Brand Cheng met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce TRB Rajaa.

Ram Vilas Paswan's Final Throw Of Dice

Ram Vilas Paswan's Final Throw Of Dice

Rediff.com29 Mar 2024

Ram Vilas Paswan was no fool. He knew very well about the ownership tussle going on beneath this veneer of congeniality. At all costs, he wanted to keep the lid on the family drama. He did not want it to come in the way of his son's coronation.

Average tomato prices in Delhi drop to Rs 150 per kg

Average tomato prices in Delhi drop to Rs 150 per kg

Rediff.com17 Jul 2023

Tomato prices in the retail markets of the national capital declined to an average Rs 150 per kg on Monday from Rs 178 per kg on Sunday, according to the government data. However, e-commerce players such as Amazon, Big Basket and Otipy are selling tomatoes at Rs 170-190 per kg in Delhi-NCR. Blinkit is selling at Rs 138 per kg. The Centre is selling tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 80 per kg in Delhi-NCR and some other cities through the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

Can India Create Multi Language AI Like Chat GPT?

Can India Create Multi Language AI Like Chat GPT?

Rediff.com8 Jan 2024

Creating an LLM trained on Indian languages is not easy. Experts say each language in India has a nuance of its own, so creating a ChatGPT-like product is an ambitious challenge.

ASK MAYANK: Can my son do his MBA without giving CAT?

ASK MAYANK: Can my son do his MBA without giving CAT?

Rediff.com5 May 2023

You can apply for online MBAs that won't require CAT scores, suggests rediffGURU Mayank Kumar.

Senior-level bureaucratic rejig at Centre, Rajendra Kumar made ESIC chief

Senior-level bureaucratic rejig at Centre, Rajendra Kumar made ESIC chief

Rediff.com25 Sep 2022

Kumar, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is currently an additional secretary in the ministry of electronics and Information Technology.

Mamata removes Partha Chatterjee from cabinet, all TMC posts

Mamata removes Partha Chatterjee from cabinet, all TMC posts

Rediff.com28 Jul 2022

The ED had arrested Chatterjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress secretary-general, on July 23 in connection with its investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment drives by the School Service Commission.

What Pranab Mukherjee thought about Rahul Gandhi

What Pranab Mukherjee thought about Rahul Gandhi

Rediff.com7 Dec 2023

'If Rahul couldn't persuade his colleagues without resorting to theatrics, then maybe politics wasn't his calling

$800/tonne minimum export price imposed on onion

$800/tonne minimum export price imposed on onion

Rediff.com28 Oct 2023

The government on Saturday imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne on onion exports till December 31 this year with a view to increase availability of the vegetable in the domestic market and contain prices. The decision will come into effect from October 29. Besides, the government has also announced the procurement of additional 2 lakh tonnes of onion for the buffer, over and above the 5 lakh tonnes already procured.

ED alleges Rs 2,000-cr liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, names IAS officer as kingpin

ED alleges Rs 2,000-cr liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, names IAS officer as kingpin

Rediff.com7 May 2023

The ED said its investigation also revealed that from 2019 to 2022, the sale of 'unaccounted illicit' liquor was almost 30-40 per cent of the total liquor sale in the state.

Microsoft gives ONDC its first Big Tech push

Microsoft gives ONDC its first Big Tech push

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

Microsoft has become the first global Big Tech company to join the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an Indian government initiative for developing a first-of-its-kind open network for digital commerce. The world's second-largest technology firm intends to introduce social e-commerce via its app in the Indian market later this year. ONDC is expected to open to the public in Bengaluru over the next fortnight as it enters into the next phase of the pilot for further fine-tuning before rollouts in other cities, according to a source in the know.

LIC IPO: Govt to review & simplify FDI policy

LIC IPO: Govt to review & simplify FDI policy

Rediff.com7 Jan 2022

The government is working towards further review and simplification of the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy to facilitate the proposed initial public offering (IPO) of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) secretary Anurag Jain said on Thursday. The final decision will be taken by the Cabinet. The industry department is working together with the finance ministry's department of financial services (DFS) and department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) towards a successful listing of the life insurer on the domestic bourses, which is expected to be the largest in India.