News for 'Department of Commerce'

Russia offers oil at even cheaper rates to India

Russia offers oil at even cheaper rates to India

Rediff.com12 Sep 2022

"In principle, the ask in return is that India should not support the G7 (Group of Seven) proposal. "A decision on this issue will be taken later following talks with all the partners," an official with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.These "substantial discounts" will be steeper than those offered by Iraq in the past two months, officials said.

Imports from Russia jump 33% to $1.1 bn in March

Imports from Russia jump 33% to $1.1 bn in March

Rediff.com9 May 2022

Shipments from Russia rose nearly 33 per cent to $1.1 billion in March from $831.17 million in the previous month, which was when the country mounted aggression on Ukraine and faced sanctions from Western nations, the data accessed by Business Standard shows. Growth in imports was largely on account of oil, people aware of the matter said. The Department of Commerce is learnt to have written to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), seeking details of imports, including the payment mechanism, which India has not made public.

'Google tax' may be deferred till September

'Google tax' may be deferred till September

Rediff.com14 May 2020

E-commerce giants such as Amazon, Netflix and Flipkart, whose headquarters are not in India, potentially have to pay the additional levy of 2 per cent from April 1.

US blacklists Huawei, places it on entity list

US blacklists Huawei, places it on entity list

Rediff.com16 May 2019

The Department of Commerce alleged that Huawei was engaged in activities that are contrary to US national security or foreign policy interest.

Traders' body seeks to ban Amazon's e-com biz in India

Traders' body seeks to ban Amazon's e-com biz in India

Rediff.com18 Feb 2021

Traders' body CAIT on Thursday urged the government to impose a ban on Amazon's e-commerce portal and its operations in India, accusing the global e-tailing giant of indulging in predatory pricing, deep discounting and inventory control. Addressing a press conference, CAIT secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal demanded an "immediate ban on Amazon's portal and its operations in India" and an investigation against the company in a time-bound manner. He also urged the government to probe the business practices of Amazon and Flipkart. However, responding to the allegations, both Amazon and Flipkart said they remain compliant with Indian laws.

Gita Gopinath to quit as IMF chief economist, return to Harvard

Gita Gopinath to quit as IMF chief economist, return to Harvard

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

IMF's Chief Economist Gita Gopinath will leave her job in January next year and return to the prestigious Harvard University, according to the global financial institution.

Will Partha's arrest in SSC scam impact Mamata?

Will Partha's arrest in SSC scam impact Mamata?

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

After the Trinamool's overwhelming majority in the West Bengal assembly elections last year, the SSC scam has given fresh ammunition to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist. Ishita Ayan Dutt reports.

Worried About Losing Your Job?

Worried About Losing Your Job?

Rediff.com20 Dec 2022

The first step to keeping your job safe, experts tell Rediff.com's Divya Nair, is understanding why layoffs happen.

'Hindutva is the language you speak today'

'Hindutva is the language you speak today'

Rediff.com1 Jun 2023

'Education played the most significant role in entrenchment of Hindutva ideology in coastal Karnataka.' 'Teachers of most of the schools, junior colleges, degree colleges and universities are active agents of Hindutva propaganda.'

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.

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.

'BJP believes it will rule for 25-30 years'

'BJP believes it will rule for 25-30 years'

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

'BJP and Modi are confident they will win the 2024 election.'

Ecommerce cos hit roadblock as lockdown set to continue

Ecommerce cos hit roadblock as lockdown set to continue

Rediff.com11 Apr 2020

What is aggravating the situation is that e-commerce firms are facing huge shortage of delivery personnel. They have not been able to bring back their staff to work, despite offering higher pay and Covid-related insurance packages.

Sitharaman on Adani fallout: Regulators will look into it

Sitharaman on Adani fallout: Regulators will look into it

Rediff.com4 Feb 2023

India's economic image is not affected due to Adani Group's recent decision to pull out Rs 20,000 crore FPO (follow-on public offers) amid allegations of financial wrongdoings, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

Indo-US trade deal caught in ICT web

Indo-US trade deal caught in ICT web

Rediff.com26 Sep 2019

ICT products make up a minuscule $ 407 million, out of the $ 35.54 billion of total inbound shipments from the US, as of now.

43 ministers in Mamata's cabinet take oath

43 ministers in Mamata's cabinet take oath

Rediff.com10 May 2021

Three TMC leaders Amit Mitra, Bratya Basu and Rathin Ghosh were sworn-in virtually. Mitra is unwell and both Basu and Ghosh are recuperating from COVID-19.

NITI Aayog CEO to head panel on ecommerce FDI norms

NITI Aayog CEO to head panel on ecommerce FDI norms

Rediff.com10 Aug 2016

Representatives from four states including Maharashtra and Karnataka will also be members of the panel.

Lawsuit filed against Trump's new H-1B visa rules

Lawsuit filed against Trump's new H-1B visa rules

Rediff.com20 Oct 2020

Several individuals and organisations, including the US Chambers of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's recent rules related to the H-1B visa, terming them "arbitrary" and "haphazard" regulations that will undermine high skilled immigration into America. Early this month, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on H-1B non-immigrant visa programme which it said is aimed at protecting American workers, restoring integrity and to better guarantee that H-1B petitions are approved only for qualified beneficiaries and petitioners, a move which is likely to affect thousands of Indian IT professionals.

60 GST registrations linked to Chinese national in Bengaluru found

60 GST registrations linked to Chinese national in Bengaluru found

Rediff.com26 Jun 2020

A total of 25,446 Chinese made electronic and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) were seized from the warehouse on Old Airport Road during the recent raids.

Huge cash seized from another flat of Bengal minister's aide

Huge cash seized from another flat of Bengal minister's aide

Rediff.com28 Jul 2022

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted raids in three locations in and around Kolkata and again recovered large stacks of cash from a flat linked to Arpita Mukherjee, considered a close associate of arrested West Bengal Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee.

Uncertain future awaits Indian pharma exporters

Uncertain future awaits Indian pharma exporters

Rediff.com25 Aug 2021

As uncertainty looms large in Afghanistan, Indian pharma exporters are apprehensive to send goods to the war-torn country and the target of exporting $126 million worth of pharmaceutical goods to the Taliban-ruling nation now depends on the future outcome. Udaya Bhaskar, director general of Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) body under the Department of Commerce on Tuesday said as the situation is grim over there and India pharma exporters have cordial relations with Afghanistan. "The projected target for 2021-22 is $126.22 million.

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

Rediff.com3 Jun 2019

This is not her first stint in North Block or in leading a major economic ministry. She started Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term as minister of state for finance, was made the commerce minister, and then became the defence minister.

Govt tightens noose around e-tailers, 9 depts to monitor biz

Govt tightens noose around e-tailers, 9 depts to monitor biz

Rediff.com30 Jan 2015

Each dept could handle a designated area.

What does India export the most to China?

What does India export the most to China?

Rediff.com14 Jul 2020

Though the government has been pushing for exports of high-value manufactured goods across major markets in place of raw materials and input goods, India's top exports to China remain in the raw materials category.

Pegasus maker slams criticism, but concedes 'some mistakes'

Pegasus maker slams criticism, but concedes 'some mistakes'

Rediff.com30 Jan 2022

An undeterred Chief Executive Officer of NSO Group, Shalev Hulio, in an interview to Israeli Channel 12 on Saturday, strongly defended the company's operations, though he also conceded that some 'mistakes' may have happened over the years.

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.

I-Day celebrations: Govt wants BCCI to host India vs World XI match

I-Day celebrations: Govt wants BCCI to host India vs World XI match

Rediff.com10 Jul 2022

The government has sent a proposal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to organise a cricket match on August 22 between India and the rest of the world as part of celebrations to mark 75 years of India's independence.

Ex-IAS Rajiv Aggarwal succeeds Ankhi Das as FB India policy head

Ex-IAS Rajiv Aggarwal succeeds Ankhi Das as FB India policy head

Rediff.com20 Sep 2021

Aggarwal, in this role, will define and lead important policy development initiatives for Facebook in India on an agenda that covers user safety, data protection and privacy, inclusion and internet governance, a statement said.

FRL independent directors threaten to 'expose' Amazon

FRL independent directors threaten to 'expose' Amazon

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

Independent directors of Future Retail Ltd are collating information and will expose the details of contradiction and misrepresentation made by Amazon before the Competition Commission of India (CCI), said FRL independent director Ravindra Dhariwal. Speaking to PTI, Dhariwal said the independent directors are "collating" all the pieces of information together, going "deeper into each and every representation" which Amazon had made before the CCI and showing how its "intent was totally contradictory." "We are going out to point exactly to CCI, this is what they have told you and this is what the internal documents are saying. "We are going to expose the details of contradiction and details of misrepresentation, which they have made," Dhariwal said adding "We are going to show the true face of Amazon to the whole world". In November 2019, Amazon had acquired a 49 per cent stake in Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL), a company that holds a stake in FRL.

Google tax contributes merely 1% of direct tax kitty

Google tax contributes merely 1% of direct tax kitty

Rediff.com26 Aug 2020

A total of Rs 396 crore has been mopped up, as on August 20 against Rs 407 crore collected in the same period last year. This was despite the expansion of the levy to online e-commerce players from this financial year.

Coronavirus: India mulls imposing duties on Chinese imports

Coronavirus: India mulls imposing duties on Chinese imports

Rediff.com1 Mar 2020

The issue is set to be discussed early next week as the commerce department meets with industry bodies to discuss the widening supply gap for key imports.

India's rising medical devices imports hurt small and medium units

India's rising medical devices imports hurt small and medium units

Rediff.com19 Jul 2022

India's medical devices imports surged 41 per cent to touch Rs 63,200 crore in 2021-22, led by a 48 per cent year-on-year (YoY) jump in imports from China to Rs 13,538 crore, the commerce ministry data analysed by the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) has showed. Local industry players say this has led to several small and medium units to shut shop. Rakesh Vaid of Usha Fabs, a garments exporter, had started making N95 masks in his Gurgaon factory during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Art 370 gone, Google tax may come to J&K

Art 370 gone, Google tax may come to J&K

Rediff.com7 Aug 2019

Digital commerce operators advertising on global social media, which earlier did not pay Google tax on their operations in Jammu & Kashmir, may now have to cough it up at 6 per cent.

Govt rejects Walmart-Flipkart's bid to enter food retail sector

Govt rejects Walmart-Flipkart's bid to enter food retail sector

Rediff.com1 Jun 2020

The department for promotion of industry and internal trade has rejected Walmart-backed Flipkart's proposal seeking approval for entry to the food retail sector, citing a regulatory issue, an official said on Monday. The government permits 100 per cent foreign direct investment in food retail for food produced and manufactured in India.

Rajasthan orders closure of schools in urban areas, Sunday curfew

Rajasthan orders closure of schools in urban areas, Sunday curfew

Rediff.com9 Jan 2022

The Rajasthan government on Sunday announced the closure of schools in urban areas, Sunday curfews, time limits on markets and a cap on occupancy at restaurants and movie theatres in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Mouni Roy's Sexy Disco Moves!

Mouni Roy's Sexy Disco Moves!

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

Sonakshi gets up close and personal... Anil parties in Germany...

E-com policy, data localisation figure in Indo-US trade talks

E-com policy, data localisation figure in Indo-US trade talks

Rediff.com6 May 2019

However, the countries did not take up the issue of proposed withdrawal of export incentives by the US to Indian exporters under Generalized System of Preference.

Nationwide protest planned against Walmart-Flipkart deal

Nationwide protest planned against Walmart-Flipkart deal

Rediff.com28 Jun 2018

Ever since the deal was announced of Walmart spending over $16 bn for a 77 per cent stake in Flipkart, the road to the takeover of India's biggest online marketplace has been quite bumpy

Indian exporters feel the heat of India-China tension

Indian exporters feel the heat of India-China tension

Rediff.com26 Jun 2020

The FIEO on Thursday reiterated that the Customs authorities at several ports in India had ordered a sudden examination of Chinese consignments without any official word from the government, and this may have led to the Chinese retribution.

India helped Ukraine, understand its ties with Russia: US

India helped Ukraine, understand its ties with Russia: US

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

The 2+2 was attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and their Indian counterparts S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh respectively.