News for 'Ministry of Commerce'

Exports decline by 22% to $32.97 bn in Jun, steepest monthly fall in 3 yrs

Exports decline by 22% to $32.97 bn in Jun, steepest monthly fall in 3 yrs

Rediff.com14 Jul 2023

India's exports contracted by 22 per cent, the steepest decline in the last three years, to $32.97 billion in June on account of global demand slowdown, especially in the Western markets like the US and Europe. According to the data of the commerce ministry, the trade deficit in June stood at $20.3 billion against $22.07 billion in the same month last year due to a fall in exports and imports. The inbound shipments during the month under review declined by a steep 17.48 per cent to $53.10 billion.

No big-ticket changes in economic ministries

No big-ticket changes in economic ministries

Rediff.com12 Jul 2011

Without making big-ticket changes in the economic ministries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday shifted Law Minister M Veerappa Moily to the ministry of corporate affairs and inducted young Milind Deora in his council of ministers.

Like Uber, You Can Book A Drone Soon

Like Uber, You Can Book A Drone Soon

Rediff.com25 Apr 2023

E-commerce players may soon rent out drones, so you can use them the way you book a cab on an app, and test viable use-cases for last-mile delivery.

Why India Is Buying 5 Argentine Lithium Mines

Why India Is Buying 5 Argentine Lithium Mines

Rediff.com2 Jan 2024

The Centre will invest around Rs 200 crore over five years for the exploration and development of these mines.

Himanta's wife files Rs 10cr defamation suit against Gaurav Gogoi

Himanta's wife files Rs 10cr defamation suit against Gaurav Gogoi

Rediff.com23 Sep 2023

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for 'false' allegations of irregularities in a food processing project.

Finance ministry wants reasons for IKEA climb down

Finance ministry wants reasons for IKEA climb down

Rediff.com9 Jan 2013

DEA official writes to DIPP suggesting that govt needs to understand what has been left out, and why, in the revised application of the retailer.

E-commerce firms ride Make in India to reach rural markets

E-commerce firms ride Make in India to reach rural markets

Rediff.com18 Apr 2016

Paytm plans to induct 5,000 manufacturers and sellers; has started programmes to identify and train new sellers.

Farmers to take call on govt offer to buy pulses, maize at MSP

Farmers to take call on govt offer to buy pulses, maize at MSP

Rediff.com19 Feb 2024

A panel of Union ministers held a fourth round of talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh on Sunday over their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP, as thousands of protesting farmers camped at the Punjab-Haryana border.

Tatas to be India's first homegrown iPhone maker

Tatas to be India's first homegrown iPhone maker

Rediff.com27 Oct 2023

Tata Group is set to become India's first homegrown iPhone maker after Taiwan's Wistron Group agreed to sell a plant in Bengaluru to India's largest conglomerate. Wistron's board approved the sale of Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Ltd to Tata Electronics for $125 million, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer said in a statement on Friday. The unit operates an iPhone assembly plant near Bengaluru.

Jamiat, 2 firms booked for issuing 'forged' halal certificates to boost sales

Jamiat, 2 firms booked for issuing 'forged' halal certificates to boost sales

Rediff.com18 Nov 2023

The case has been registered against entities such as the Halal India Private Limited Chennai, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust Delhi, Halal Council of India Mumbai, Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra and others for allegedly exploiting religious sentiments to boost sales by providing halal certificates to customers of a specific religion, the UP government said in a statement on Saturday.

Finance ministry toughens stand on indirect FDI

Finance ministry toughens stand on indirect FDI

Rediff.com1 Oct 2007

The finance ministry is of the view that all interests -- direct and indirect -- should be taken into account and that there should not be any threshold for calculating total effective foreign shareholding in a company.

Wholesale price index based inflation eases to 34-month low of (-) 0.92% in April

Wholesale price index based inflation eases to 34-month low of (-) 0.92% in April

Rediff.com15 May 2023

Wholesale inflation rate eased to 34-month low of (-) 0.92 per cent in April on easing prices of food, fuel and manufactured items. The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation has been on a declining trend for 11 months in a row and entered the negative zone in April. In June 2020 WPI was at (-) 1.81 per cent.

'My son's an average student. Pls suggest good colleges abroad'

'My son's an average student. Pls suggest good colleges abroad'

Rediff.com4 Oct 2023

rediffGURU Geeta Ratra offers expert advice on international courses, student visas and immigration processes.

Commerce Min seeks liberalised packing credit scheme from RBI

Commerce Min seeks liberalised packing credit scheme from RBI

Rediff.com9 Jul 2013

India's trade deficit widened to $20.1 billion in May because of high gold imports while exports declined by over a per cent, raising concerns about economic recovery.

Ministries get 60 days to decide on FDI plans

Ministries get 60 days to decide on FDI plans

Rediff.com7 Jun 2017

A panel led by the secretaries of the DEA and the DIPP would conduct a quarterly review on the pending proposals.

$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.

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.

'Inflation will reduce in next three months'

'Inflation will reduce in next three months'

Rediff.com28 Aug 2023

'We are engaging in substantial open market sales of both wheat and rice to control food inflation; special measures of market intervention in vegetables, pulses and oil seeds were also taken to cushion the impact.'

FDI in retail: Food ministry wants new clause

FDI in retail: Food ministry wants new clause

Rediff.com1 Feb 2012

The Union ministry of food and consumer affairs proposes to insert a new clause in the fresh discussion note for the Cabinet on allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

Why implementing stricter e-com rules won't be easy

Why implementing stricter e-com rules won't be easy

Rediff.com22 Sep 2021

There is a significant difference of opinion within the government on the draft e-commerce rules put out by the consumer affairs ministry, a top government official said on Wednesday and flagged concerns that continuous change of the policy causes a great deal of uncertainty. The official said that unnecessary fear is created that the government's current e-commerce policy is hurting small traders. "There is a significant difference of opinion within the government on the draft Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules put out by the consumer affairs ministry... Continuous change of the policy causes a great deal of uncertainty," the official said on the condition of anonymity.

Wholesale price-based inflation cools to 4.95% in Dec

Wholesale price-based inflation cools to 4.95% in Dec

Rediff.com16 Jan 2023

The wholesale price-based inflation declined to 4.95 per cent in December 2022, mainly due to fall in prices of food articles and crude petroleum. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation was 5.85 per cent in November 2022 and 14.27 per cent in December 2021. Inflation in food articles was (-)1.25 per cent, while in fuel and power it was 18.09 per cent during December 2022.

Mufti announces portfolios, holds on to key ministries

Mufti announces portfolios, holds on to key ministries

Rediff.com4 Mar 2015

Major portfolios like home, finance and education were on Tuesday allocated to People's Democratic Party ministers by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who will himself hold the charge of home ministry.

New Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28 to be unveiled on Friday

New Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28 to be unveiled on Friday

Rediff.com30 Mar 2023

India will unveil its much-awaited new Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28 on Friday, with a view to boost exports amid slowing global trade. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will announce the foreign trade policy, according to the ministry. The current foreign trade policy (2015-20) is in force till March 31, 2022.

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.

Ministry seeks easier gold import norms

Ministry seeks easier gold import norms

Rediff.com18 Aug 2013

In order to contain current account deficit, the Reserve Bank last month imposed restrictions on gold imports by banks and other authorised agencies.

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.

India, Canada spat not to impact proposed free trade pact: Experts

India, Canada spat not to impact proposed free trade pact: Experts

Rediff.com22 Sep 2023

The talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Canada may have taken a pause but will resume once the political row between the two countries is resolved as the pact has economic benefits for both the nations, trade experts and exporters said on Friday. However, they said that India may not hurry for the trade agreement as 60 per cent of New Delhi's exports are already entering Canada at zero duty. Earlier this month, India and Canada paused the negotiations for the agreement due to political reasons.

PM Modi's US visit: India's entry into critical mineral alliance on table

PM Modi's US visit: India's entry into critical mineral alliance on table

Rediff.com21 Jun 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US is expected to see discussion on India's possible entry into a US-led global alliance on critical minerals, officials told Business Standard. In June last year, the US, the European Union, and other G7 partners launched the Minerals Security Partnership to ensure that China did not further strengthen its grip on supplies of critical minerals the world over. Various ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, have communicated to the Ministry of External Affairs to explore the possibility of India joining the partnership, officials said.

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.

Govt bans exports of non-basmati white rice

Govt bans exports of non-basmati white rice

Rediff.com20 Jul 2023

The government on Thursday banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply and keep retail prices under check during the upcoming festive season. There would be no change in export policy of par-boiled non-basmati rice and basmati rice, which forms the bulk of exports, the food ministry said in a statement. Non-basmati white rice constitutes about 25 per cent of total rice exported from the country.

UP bans sale of halal-certified products, no restriction on exports

UP bans sale of halal-certified products, no restriction on exports

Rediff.com19 Nov 2023

In a statement, the state government alleged 'malicious attempts' to discourage the use of products lacking a halal certificate not only seek 'unfair financial benefits' but also form part of a 'pre-planned strategy to sow class hatred, create divisions in society, and weaken the country' by "anti-national elements".

Modi may expand ministry

Modi may expand ministry

Rediff.com4 Nov 2019

The reshuffle could take place before the start of the winter session of Parliament.

Wholesale price inflation stays in negative territory

Wholesale price inflation stays in negative territory

Rediff.com14 Aug 2023

Wholesale price inflation remained in the negative territory for the fourth month in a row in July at (-)1.36 per cent, even though prices of food items, especially vegetables, skyrocketed. The inflation, however, has inched up from (-)4.12 per cent recorded in June fuelled by 62.12 per cent rise in vegetable prices. In July last year, wholesale price index (WPI) was 14.07 per cent.

FIPB shifted to finance ministry

FIPB shifted to finance ministry

Rediff.com31 Jan 2003

Commerce minister plans to push the idea of co-working spaces

Commerce minister plans to push the idea of co-working spaces

Rediff.com20 Jun 2017

To tap into the growing demand for offices, several global and Indian co-working entities are creating stock in the top cities.

Deadline for public comments on draft e-com rules extended till July 21

Deadline for public comments on draft e-com rules extended till July 21

Rediff.com5 Jul 2021

The government on Monday extended till July 21 the deadline for public comments on proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules, 2020. Earlier, the last date for public comments on the draft e-commerce rules was July 6. "It has now been decided to extend the timeline for receipt of comments/ suggestions on the draft e-commerce rules. "Views/ comments/ suggestions on the proposed amendments may be sent by July 21, 2021," a government notice said.

Clarifications on FDI in e-com soon: Goyal

Clarifications on FDI in e-com soon: Goyal

Rediff.com2 Jul 2021

Amid domestic traders continuously complaining alleged violations of FDI norms by foreign online players, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the ministry will "very shortly" come out with certain clarifications on the e-commerce sector. Goyal said the ministry is not changing any policy on e-commerce for foreign direct investment as the policy is crystal clear. "We will also come out with the e-commerce policy and whatever clarifications... Certain instances have come to our notice where the policy is not being followed in letter and spirit, we will obviously be clarifying that very shortly," he told reporters in New Delhi.

Here's how the commerce minister plans to boost India's exports

Here's how the commerce minister plans to boost India's exports

Rediff.com2 Apr 2015

The government on Wednesday unveiled the FTP for 2015-20.

'Need to make Auto Exports a national mission'

'Need to make Auto Exports a national mission'

Rediff.com26 Sep 2023

'There is a need for a national task force with a singular objective to increase automotive exports.'