News for 'State for Commerce and Industry'

Settling trade in rupee: FTP tweaks may allow traders export benefits

Settling trade in rupee: FTP tweaks may allow traders export benefits

Rediff.com15 Jul 2022

The Union government will soon make amendments to the foreign trade policy (FTP) to enable exporters to claim export benefits for settling trade in rupees. These benefits are, so far, available for export payments received in foreign currencies. After the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a mechanism to settle international trade transactions in the local currency on Monday, exporters have been demanding that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry come up with a clarification on the matter.

A Serendipitous Civil Service Career

A Serendipitous Civil Service Career

Rediff.com22 Dec 2022

Every twist and turn in KMC's civil service career is attributed to serendipity, an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. He plays down his capabilities, which took him to the top of the civil service as the Cabinet Secretary or his misfortune in losing a daughter in her prime and suggests that his career was indeed serendipitous, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

PM chairs meet on oxygen supply, availability

PM chairs meet on oxygen supply, availability

Rediff.com22 Apr 2021

PM also said that states must act against any hoarding of oxygen and directed officials to ensure that the oxygen supply to various states happens in a smooth, unhindered manner and called for fixing responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction.

PM gives his ministers of state a pep talk

PM gives his ministers of state a pep talk

Rediff.com1 Apr 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a meeting with ministers of state with independent charge

Is Sharad Pawar Buying Insurance?

Is Sharad Pawar Buying Insurance?

Rediff.com5 May 2023

Sharad Pawar reckons that the NCP has value as a united, going concern, not as a gaggle of leaders in search of followers, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Indian legal system a hurdle for aircraft lessors: Air India to govt

Indian legal system a hurdle for aircraft lessors: Air India to govt

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

Tata Group-owned Air India has informed the Centre that aircraft lessors wish to set up their special purpose vehicles (SPVs) outside India since they aren't enthused about the Indian 'legal structure' and are loath to take risks. Indian airlines have a combined fleet of about 700 planes; over 85 per cent are on lease. A majority of lessors are based in Ireland due to its attractive tax policy, light-touch regulations, and swift legal system.

Hold time-bound probe, punish the guilty, says Mamata on minister's arrest

Hold time-bound probe, punish the guilty, says Mamata on minister's arrest

Rediff.com25 Jul 2022

Banerjee slammed the opposition for a "malicious campaign" launched against her, asserting that she does not support corruption.

Has Modi Done A Good Job On Exports?

Has Modi Done A Good Job On Exports?

Rediff.com19 Oct 2022

Seven years after Modi took office, merchandise exports were lower in 2020-2021 than when he had taken over from Manmohan Singh, points out Aakar Patel.

FICCI suggests graded approach to unlock economy

FICCI suggests graded approach to unlock economy

Rediff.com2 Jun 2021

With the number of coronavirus infections declining in the country, industry chamber FICCI has suggested the government to follow a graded approach in unlocking economic activities. The chamber has suggested opening up of economic activities depending upon the positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in that region or district. It has divided regions at four levels - minimal risk, low risk, medium risk and high risk. It has asked for opening e-commerce supplies for both essential and non-essential activities in all districts irrespective of the positivity rate, besides home delivery of alcoholic beverages, logistics, warehousing and all cargo movement.

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.

PM reviews vaccination drive; insists on reducing wastage

PM reviews vaccination drive; insists on reducing wastage

Rediff.com4 Jun 2021

The government is helping vaccine manufacturers get more production units, financing and supply of raw materials, the Prime Minister's Officer said on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the progress of the country's COVID-19 vaccination drive.

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.

Tamil Nadu sans Amma: A state interrupted?

Tamil Nadu sans Amma: A state interrupted?

Rediff.com25 May 2015

Inaugurations and foundation-stone laying ceremonies might have been low-key but that doesn't mean Tamil Nadu stood still while J Jayalalithaa was out of office, Aditi Phadnis opines

Budget 2022: India Inc pitches for more reforms and tax stability

Budget 2022: India Inc pitches for more reforms and tax stability

Rediff.com16 Dec 2021

India Inc on Thursday pitched for continuation of reforms while ensuring tax and policy stability in the forthcoming Budget to prop up the economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the virtual pre-Budget consultation held with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, industry chambers said that government measures will help firmly entrench the nascent signs of recovery being currently seen in private investment. Capital expenditure by the government through enhanced infrastructure spending should in the meantime continue to support growth, CII president TV Narendran said.

From April 20 you can order cellphone, fridge, laptop online

From April 20 you can order cellphone, fridge, laptop online

Rediff.com16 Apr 2020

Mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, laptops and stationary items will be allowed to be sold through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal from April 20 during the lockdown, officials said on Thursday. The clarification from a senior home ministry official came a day after Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla issued revised guidelines for the extended lockdown period till May 3.

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.

Farmers' protest: Over Rs 70,000 cr economic loss in Q3

Farmers' protest: Over Rs 70,000 cr economic loss in Q3

Rediff.com31 Dec 2020

The farmers' agitation against new agri laws will lead to economic loss of over Rs 70,000 crore in the December quarter owing to supply chain disruptions, particularly in Punjab, Haryana and border areas of Delhi, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Thursday. The chamber's president Sanjay Aggarwal said "the 36 days farm agitation so far will have more than Rs 70,000 crore economic loss in the Q3 FY 2020-21 due to...disruption in supply chains and day-to-day economic activities particularly in the progressive states of Punjab and Haryana and border areas of national capital Delhi."

Start-ups, venture capitalists offer funds to tackle Oxygen scarcity

Start-ups, venture capitalists offer funds to tackle Oxygen scarcity

Rediff.com26 Apr 2021

Amid oxygen shortage and a faltering health system in the country, India is seeing over 300,000 cases daily.

Hizb chief's son, Bitta Karate's wife among 4 employees sacked by JK admin

Hizb chief's son, Bitta Karate's wife among 4 employees sacked by JK admin

Rediff.com13 Aug 2022

Syed Abdul Mueed is the third son of the Hizb chief to have been sacked from the government job.

Need to pay remunerative price for farm produce: India Inc

Need to pay remunerative price for farm produce: India Inc

Rediff.com29 Nov 2021

'We need to encourage the next generation of farmers to continue in farming'

Adani plans to be India's most profitable cement manufacturer

Adani plans to be India's most profitable cement manufacturer

Rediff.com19 Sep 2022

Days after completing a $6.5 billion acquisition of Ambuja Cements and ACC, billionaire Gautam Adani said his group has planned to double cement manufacturing capacity and become the most profitable manufacturer in the country. He saw a multifold rise in cement demand in India on the back of record-breaking economic growth and the government's infrastructure creation push, which will give significant margin expansion. In a speech made at an event to mark the completion of the acquisition on September 17, the Adani Group founder and chairman said the ports-to-energy conglomerate has in a single stroke become the second largest cement manufacturer in the country.

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.

General Atlantic to invest Rs 3,675 cr in Reliance Retail

General Atlantic to invest Rs 3,675 cr in Reliance Retail

Rediff.com30 Sep 2020

This is the second investment by General Atlantic in a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, following a Rs 6,598.38 crore investment in Jio Platforms announced earlier this year.

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.

Revealed! Why Kishore Biyani sold his Future to Reliance

Revealed! Why Kishore Biyani sold his Future to Reliance

Rediff.com14 Oct 2020

Future group founder Kishore Biyani on Wednesday said the homegrown retail major lost nearly Rs 7,000 crore revenue in first three-four months of the Covid-19 pandemic due to closing of stores, which led him to sell his business to Reliance Industries.

Famous faces at polling stations

Famous faces at polling stations

Rediff.com14 Feb 2022

As people queued up across these states to cast their vote, there were some famous faces in the lines at different polling stations.

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Rediff.com26 Jun 2019

After assuming power in 2014 with a full majority of its own, the BJP-led NDA government started an ambitious process of reforming labour laws in the form of codes aimed at making the framework less cumbersome with a variety of alterations. It had planned four codes each for industrial relations, wages, social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions. To this end, 35 central labour laws were to be converted into four codes that would have had the virtue of streamlining labour relations. But none of the proposed code Bills could be converted into a law principally because neither trade unions nor industry representatives came on board. They hold the key to India's low-growth-high unemployment paradigm but the government may struggle to push them through this time as well. Somesh Jha explains why

Singapore startup Zilingo sacks CEO Ankiti Bose after forensic audit

Singapore startup Zilingo sacks CEO Ankiti Bose after forensic audit

Rediff.com20 May 2022

Singapore-based fashion technology startup Zilingo on Friday said it has sacked Indian-origin co-founder and CEO Ankiti Bose following an independent forensic audit into complaints of serious financial irregularities. On March 31, Bose was placed under suspension following complaints of alleged discrepancies in the company accounts. "Following an investigation led by an independent forensics firm that was commissioned to look into complaints of serious financial irregularities, the company has decided to terminate Ankiti Bose's employment with cause, and reserves the right to pursue appropriate legal action," Zilingo said in a statement.

FDI inflows in April up 60% to $4.44 bn

FDI inflows in April up 60% to $4.44 bn

Rediff.com23 Jun 2021

Foreign direct investment into India increased by 60 per cent to $4.44 billion in April as against $2.77 billion in the same month last year, government data showed on Wednesday. Total FDI, including equity, re-invested earnings and capital, rose 38 per cent to $6.24 billion in April this year, as against $4.53 billion in April 2020, as per the data. "During April, 2021 FDI equity inflows amounting to $4.44 billion were reported in the country which is an increase of 60 per cent over the FDI equity inflow of April, 2020 ($2.77 billion)," the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement.

'Pent-up demand in real estate to continue in 2023'

'Pent-up demand in real estate to continue in 2023'

Rediff.com24 Jan 2023

'The inflection point that really happened in the sector was during the pandemic when buyers' perception changed towards consumption and that gave a trigger to pent-up demand with the increased affordability.'

PE/VCs invest $6.8 bn in Indian cos in November

PE/VCs invest $6.8 bn in Indian cos in November

Rediff.com16 Dec 2021

Investments by private equity and venture capital funds in November stood at $6.8 billion across 102 deals, which is double by value when compared with the pandemic-impacted year-ago period but half of the bets in the preceding month of October, as per a report. In November 2020, such high-risk investors had infused $3.9 billion, while in October, the total investments had stood at $13.1 billion, the monthly data shared by industry lobby IVCA and the consultancy EY said. The overall investments in the first 11 months of the year have touched $72.6 billion, which is 53 per cent higher than the all-time high for a year achieved in 2020, it said.

Biden reiterates US support for India's permanent seat in UNSC

Biden reiterates US support for India's permanent seat in UNSC

Rediff.com25 Sep 2021

Biden has reiterated America's support for India's permanent membership on a reformed UNSC and its entry into the NSG during his first in-person bilateral meeting with Modi at the White House.

Govt reshuffles bureaucrats, Air India chairman is aviation secretary

Govt reshuffles bureaucrats, Air India chairman is aviation secretary

Rediff.com22 Sep 2021

Air India Chairman Rajiv Bansal has been appointed as the new aviation secretary as part of a major top-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Wednesday. K Rajaraman, additional secretary in the department of economic affairs, has been appointed as secretary, department of telecommunications, a personnel ministry order said.

Govt to focus on domestic production of arms: MoS Home

Govt to focus on domestic production of arms: MoS Home

Rediff.com10 Jun 2020

"Now the gof India has decided to soon initiate procurement from local industries to reduce import dependence," he said. Reddy, the Union Minister of State for Home, said for many years India was dependent on worldwide Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for procuring arms and ammunition.

What US companies want from India: Stable policy

What US companies want from India: Stable policy

Rediff.com27 Jun 2020

Embargo on imports from a neighbouring country would send a chilling signal to foreign investors who look for transparency and companies with manufacturing units in India had requested the government to publish any change in port policy "to provide the business community with the visibility they need to function", says United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

US trade body hails Budget, says it's fiscally prudent

US trade body hails Budget, says it's fiscally prudent

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

In the midst of third wave of COVID-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has come up with an impactful Budget which is balanced, fiscally prudent and growth-oriented, the USA India Chamber of Commerce has said. President of the Boston-based USA India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) Karun Rishi, however, said it is a matter of concern that the budget lacks tangible measures to increase revenue generation. "Opting to keep the fiscal deficit at 6.9 per cent and increase capital expenditure by 35 per cent is a masterstroke. "The annual budget estimates the effective capital expenditure of Rs 10.68 lakh crore in 2022-23, making up about 4.1 per cent of the GDP," he said. "A phenomenal increase in the government's capital expenditure is likely to facilitate the expenditures on infrastructure and create jobs.

How much do you know about Jyotiraditya Scindia?

How much do you know about Jyotiraditya Scindia?

Rediff.com14 Mar 2020

Think you know everything about Jyotiraditya Scindia?

Mandatory rules that e-retailers will have to follow from this week

Mandatory rules that e-retailers will have to follow from this week

Rediff.com20 Jul 2020

Among other things, the e-commerce players will have to display the total 'price' of goods and services offered for sale, mention the 'expiry date' of goods and the 'country of origin' of goods and services.

High crude oil price is a cause for concern: CEA

High crude oil price is a cause for concern: CEA

Rediff.com24 Feb 2022

The banking sector in the country is stable, capital is available and credit offtake is poised to take off, he said at a webinar organised by Bharat Chamber of Commerce. "We are not unique to the phenomenon of uncertain growth and high inflation due to the pandemic.