News for 'Ministry of Commerce'

Govt allows local shops to open, malls excluded

Govt allows local shops to open, malls excluded

Rediff.com25 Apr 2020

made it clear that shops in market places, multi-brand and single brand malls located in municipality areas shall continue to remain closed till May 3.

Lockdown 4.0 till May 31: What's allowed, what isn't

Lockdown 4.0 till May 31: What's allowed, what isn't

Rediff.com18 May 2020

States and Union Territories have been given the powers for delineation of Red, Green and Orange Zones as per COVID-19 situation, the MHA said. All shops, except those in containment zones and malls, will be allowed to open from Monday with staggered timings during lockdown 4.0, it said.

Shah, Sitharaman stand tall among ministers

Shah, Sitharaman stand tall among ministers

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

Strengthening the portfolios of the home minister and the finance minister is a message that should not be missed, points out A K Bhattacharya.

Even after 11 months, SEZ Rules not aligned with GST laws

Even after 11 months, SEZ Rules not aligned with GST laws

Rediff.com28 May 2018

References to the repealed laws for service tax, purchase tax, etc, continue in the SEZ laws.

Feb WPI inflation spikes to 13.11% on costlier crude

Feb WPI inflation spikes to 13.11% on costlier crude

Rediff.com14 Mar 2022

The wholesale price-based inflation in February rose to 13.11 per cent on hardening of prices of crude oil and non-food items, even though food articles softened. After two months of mild easing, WPI inflation accelerated in February and remained in double digits for the 11th consecutive month, beginning April 2021. WPI inflation last month was 12.96 per cent, while in February last year, it was 4.83 per cent. The rise in crude oil and natural gas prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, beginning February 24, has put pressure on the wholesale price index, even though food articles saw softening across categories of vegetables to pulses to protein-rich items.

Core sectors' growth slows to 2.1% in Feb

Core sectors' growth slows to 2.1% in Feb

Rediff.com1 Apr 2019

According to the commerce and industry ministry data, during April-February 2018-19, the eight sectors recorded a flat growth rate of 4.3 per cent over the same period previous fiscal.

WPI inflation eases to 1.22% in December

WPI inflation eases to 1.22% in December

Rediff.com14 Jan 2021

The annual rate of inflation based on monthly wholesale price index (WPI) was 1.22 per cent in December as compared to 1.55 per cent in the previous month. It was 2.76 per cent in December 2019. The decline last month was mainly due to lower increase in food prices, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Thursday. The food inflation for December dropped to 0.92 per cent as compared to 4.27 per cent in the previous month.

Want UAPA against shooters, not Z security, Owaisi tells LS

Want UAPA against shooters, not Z security, Owaisi tells LS

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

"I don't want Z category security. I want to be an A-category citizen, at par with you all. Why was UAPA not invoked against those who fired at me? ...I want to live, to speak. My life will be safe when the poor are safe. I will not get scared of those who shot at my car," he said in Parliament.

Chinese apps told to ensure strict compliance to ban orders

Chinese apps told to ensure strict compliance to ban orders

Rediff.com21 Jul 2020

The IT ministry has now written to all these companies, warning that continued availability and operation of these banned apps, directly or indirectly, is not only illegal but also an offence under the Information Technology Act and other applicable Acts, which would attract penal provisions.

India, US have 'almost closed' contours of limited trade pact: Goyal

India, US have 'almost closed' contours of limited trade pact: Goyal

Rediff.com25 Feb 2020

Having almost closed the last contours of the limited trade deal and with the announcement of a much larger trade deal in the offing, we have moved to a new level of engagement: Goyal.

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.

Eight core sectors grow by 5.1% in May

Eight core sectors grow by 5.1% in May

Rediff.com1 Jul 2019

According to a commerce and industry ministry statement, the growth rate for these eight key sectors for April 2019 has been revised upward to 6.3 per cent from 2.6 per cent reported earlier mainly due to upward revisions in production of coal, crude oil, steel, cement and electricity.

Customs allows e-clearance for moving laptops

Customs allows e-clearance for moving laptops

Rediff.com27 Mar 2020

The Customs clearance required for moving equipment like laptops, desktops, etc out of SEZ units was delaying things as the clearance had to be taken in person after a first level of approval online.

Walmart-Flipkart deal: All-India trade bandh on Sep 28

Walmart-Flipkart deal: All-India trade bandh on Sep 28

Rediff.com5 Sep 2018

CAIT had last month also filed a petition in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the Competition Commission of India's decision to approve the deal.

Covid wave: Govt speeds up import approval for 17 medical equipment

Covid wave: Govt speeds up import approval for 17 medical equipment

Rediff.com30 Apr 2021

Recently, the finance ministry waived off basic customs duty and health cess on imported oxygen and related equipment for three years.

Govt announces post-retirement jobs for Agniveers as protests erupt

Govt announces post-retirement jobs for Agniveers as protests erupt

Rediff.com15 Jun 2022

The Centre on Wednesday announced a raft of post-retirement employment possibilities for 'Agniveer' like priority in recruitment to the central armed police forces (CAPF) and Assam rifles but that failed to assuage the concerns of the opposition Congress which warned the 'transformative' 'Agnipath' scheme will reduce the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.

There Is More To India Than Delhi Or Gujarat!

There Is More To India Than Delhi Or Gujarat!

Rediff.com2 Jun 2022

The Modi government has to embrace the history of Tamil conquests in South East Asia and stop obsessing about Babar/Humayun, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Key 'dissenter' Anand Sharma excluded from Himachal Cong panels

Key 'dissenter' Anand Sharma excluded from Himachal Cong panels

Rediff.com23 Dec 2020

The action comes two days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a key meeting and broke the ice by starting dialogue with some of the prominent 'letter-writers', who had earlier written to her demanding an overhaul of the party and an effective leadership.

'This may indeed be India's moment'

'This may indeed be India's moment'

Rediff.com20 May 2022

'For the first time, all major countries are discovering India's indispensability to their own foreign policy interests.'

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.

New Covid SOPs: Theatres allowed more seating, pools open for all

New Covid SOPs: Theatres allowed more seating, pools open for all

Rediff.com27 Jan 2021

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday allowed cinema halls and theatres to operate with more people while swimming pools have been permitted for use by all in fresh COVID-19 reopening guidelines.

Govt issues SOP for availability of essential goods

Govt issues SOP for availability of essential goods

Rediff.com27 Mar 2020

The ministry said there should be no interruptions in the services of small retail shops, large organised retail stores and e-commerce companies.

Feb retail inflation at 8-mth high of 6.07%

Feb retail inflation at 8-mth high of 6.07%

Rediff.com14 Mar 2022

Retail inflation hit an eight-month high of 6.07 per cent in February, remaining above the RBI's comfort level for the second month in a row, while wholesale price-based inflation soared to 13.11 per cent on account of hardening of crude oil and non-food item prices, government data showed on Monday. The previous high for retail inflation was 6.26 per cent in June 2021. The consumer price index (CPI) based retail inflation, which is taken into account by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) while deciding its monetary policy, rose mainly because of costlier food items, as per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

'Prices of many APIs, all coming from China, have gone up'

'Prices of many APIs, all coming from China, have gone up'

Rediff.com26 May 2021

'The world over, everybody is asking for the same medicines, same APIs, same KSMs.' 'However, there is just one supplier -- China -- for the entire world.'

Govt to release Rs 56,027 cr to exporters against pending tax refunds

Govt to release Rs 56,027 cr to exporters against pending tax refunds

Rediff.com9 Sep 2021

Giving a relief to exporters community, the government on Thursday said it will release Rs 56,027 crore to exporters against pending tax refunds under different incentive schemes for outbound shipments. The amount will be disbursed to more than 45,000 exporters. Briefing the media about the decision, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the Rs 56,027 crore, which is being released under various export promotion schemes, is over and above duty remission of Rs 12,454 crore for the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) Scheme and Rs 6,946 crore for Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme already announced.

Eight core industries' output contracts 23.4% in May

Eight core industries' output contracts 23.4% in May

Rediff.com30 Jun 2020

Barring fertiliser, all seven sectors - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement, and electricity - had recorded negative growth in May.

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.

Core sectors output contracts 4.6% in Feb

Core sectors output contracts 4.6% in Feb

Rediff.com31 Mar 2021

The output of eight core sectors declined by 4.6 per cent in February, the steepest contraction in the last six months which experts said could drag the overall industrial production in the month into the negative territory. All the key segments, including coal, crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products, witnessed a decline in production, according to the official data released on Wednesday. The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity -- stood at 6.4 per cent in February 2020. Last time in August 2020, the sectors had recorded a negative growth of 6.9 per cent.

Exports up 45.76% to $33.28 bn in Aug; trade deficit widens

Exports up 45.76% to $33.28 bn in Aug; trade deficit widens

Rediff.com14 Sep 2021

India's exports jumped 45.76 per cent to $33.28 billion in August on account of healthy growth in segments like engineering, petroleum products, gems and jewellery and chemicals, even as the trade deficit widened to a four-month high of $13.81 billion.

WPI inflation at all-time high of 10.49% in April

WPI inflation at all-time high of 10.49% in April

Rediff.com17 May 2021

The wholesale price-based inflation shot up to an all-time high of 10.49 per cent in April, on rising prices of crude oil and manufactured items. Also, a low base of April last year contributed to the spike in inflation in April 2021. The WPI inflation was 7.39 per cent in March 2021, and (-) 1.57 per cent in April 2020. This is the fourth straight month of uptick seen in the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation.

Can govt meet fiscal deficit targets? RBI has doubts

Can govt meet fiscal deficit targets? RBI has doubts

Rediff.com29 Dec 2021

The government has budgeted for total expenditure of Rs 34.83 lakh crore or 6.8 per cent of GDP. While the net tax revenue rose from Rs 5,75,697 crore in October 2020 to Rs 10,53,135 crore till October 2021, a growth of 82.93 per cent annualized, total expenditure rose only by 9.95 per cent, led by infra spending to Rs 18,26,725 crore from Rs 16,61,454 crore during the same period, the RBI said in the financial stability report.

'Black day for Kashmir and the nation'

'Black day for Kashmir and the nation'

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

'The people of Jammu and Kashmir are your own people. Do not use them as cannon fodder in your laboratory.'

Internet restored at Ghazipur protest site, fortification continues

Internet restored at Ghazipur protest site, fortification continues

Rediff.com3 Feb 2021

Internet services remained disrupted for the fifth day at the site on Delhi's outskirts where protesters are occupying a stretch of the Delhi-Meerut highway since November, even as a Ghaziabad Police officer told PTI that online connectivity has been restored but there could be glitches.

Govt plans to provide high insurance cover for exporters

Govt plans to provide high insurance cover for exporters

Rediff.com1 Feb 2020

Under the scheme, also called the Export Credit Insurance Scheme, the insurance guaranteed could cover up to 90 per cent of the principal and interest.

Eight core sectors' output up 8.9% in June

Eight core sectors' output up 8.9% in June

Rediff.com30 Jul 2021

The output of eight core sectors grew 8.9 per cent in June, mainly due to a low base effect and uptick in production of natural gas, steel, coal and electricity, official data showed on Friday. The eight infrastructure sectors of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had contracted by 12.4 per cent in June 2020 due to the lockdown restrictions imposed to control the spread of coronavirus infections. In May this year, these key sectors had recorded a growth of 16.3 per cent, while it was 60.9 per cent in April.

Shah gets Home, Rajnath Defence; Finance with Nirmala

Shah gets Home, Rajnath Defence; Finance with Nirmala

Rediff.com1 Jun 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain DoPT, Atomic Energy as well as all important policy issues and portfolios not allocated.

Exports dip for the 5th consecutive month in Dec

Exports dip for the 5th consecutive month in Dec

Rediff.com15 Jan 2020

Imports too declined by 8.83 per cent to $38.61 billion, bringing down the trade deficit to $11.25 billion during the month under review.

The Politics behind Modi's Reshuffle

The Politics behind Modi's Reshuffle

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

The reshuffle had politics at its heart, so the biggest complement of new ministers, both Cabinet rank and below, came from UP, which will see assembly elections in a few months.

Govt likely to ease restrictions on Chinese FDI

Govt likely to ease restrictions on Chinese FDI

Rediff.com3 Mar 2021

However, that could only be for sectors where 100 per cent FDI is allowed under the automatic route and pose no risk to national security.

Retail inflation spurts to 7-month high in Jan

Retail inflation spurts to 7-month high in Jan

Rediff.com14 Feb 2022

The retail inflation rate breached the 6 per cent upper tolerance limit of the RBI for the first time in seven months in January, while the wholesale price index stayed in double-digits for the 10th month in a row, showed two sets of data released by the government on Monday. Retail inflation, the key input for the RBI while reviewing the repo rate every two months, soared during the month mainly because of a spike in certain food items. The previous high for retail inflation was 6.26 per cent in June 2021.