News for 'commerce ministry'

Wholesale inflation in negative territory for 7th month

Wholesale inflation in negative territory for 7th month

Rediff.com14 Nov 2023

The wholesale price index-based inflation remained in the negative territory for the seventh straight month in October at (-) 0.52 per cent, on easing prices of food items. The WPI-based inflation rate has been in the negative zone since April and was at (-) 0.26 per cent in September, 2023. In October last year, WPI was at 8.67 per cent.

Scindia wants stimulus for exports to go on

Scindia wants stimulus for exports to go on

Rediff.com9 Feb 2010

The commerce ministry wants the stimulus packages for exporters to continue for some more time till the sector recovers completely.

Indians Are Saying NO To SUGAR!

Indians Are Saying NO To SUGAR!

Rediff.com9 May 2024

With rising incomes, education, and health awareness in India, especially in the big cities, droves of people are saying no to sugar.

Key infra sector growth slows to 6-month low of 7.8 pc in Nov

Key infra sector growth slows to 6-month low of 7.8 pc in Nov

Rediff.com29 Dec 2023

The production growth of eight key infrastructure sectors slowed to a six-month low of 7.8 per cent in November due to a decline in the output of crude oil and cement sectors. The growth rate in the production of coal, fertiliser, steel, and electricity also decreased during November this year. According to the data released by the government on Friday, the growth during the month under review, however, is higher than the 5.7 per cent recorded a year ago.

Bar-coding technology to monitor medicines

Bar-coding technology to monitor medicines

Rediff.com1 Jun 2011

If such bar-coding covers government procurement, pinpointing the culprits will become easier.

Wholesale inflation eases to 0.27% in January

Wholesale inflation eases to 0.27% in January

Rediff.com14 Feb 2024

The wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation eased in January to 0.27 per cent, mainly due to moderation in prices of food items. WPI inflation was at 0.73 per cent in December 2023. The WPI inflation was in the negative zone from April to October and had turned positive in November at 0.39 per cent.

Digital Competition Bill Wants Interoperability

Digital Competition Bill Wants Interoperability

Rediff.com19 Feb 2024

It is being suggested that apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, should share their APIs with each other to ensure there is interoperability, just as it exists across email services.

Exports up 22.36%; trade deficit widens to $21.19 bn in Feb

Exports up 22.36%; trade deficit widens to $21.19 bn in Feb

Rediff.com2 Mar 2022

India's exports rose by 22.36 per cent to $33.81 billion in February on account of healthy growth in sectors like engineering, petroleum and chemicals, even as the trade deficit widened to $21.19 billion, according to preliminary data released by the commerce ministry on Wednesday. Imports during the month too jumped by about 35 per cent to $55 billion, with inbound shipments of petroleum and crude oil surging 66.56 per cent to $15 billion. The trade deficit -- the difference between imports and exports -- stood at $13.12 billion in February 2021.

Trade settlement in rupee: Govt, RBI devise country-specific plan

Trade settlement in rupee: Govt, RBI devise country-specific plan

Rediff.com14 Dec 2022

The central government and the Reserve Bank of India have devised a country-specific plan towards implementation of overseas trade in rupee, people aware of the matter said. To start with, a small number of banks will be allowed to manage cross-border transactions in domestic currency with a particular country. "Small countries that are dollar-deficient have shown interest in doing trade in rupee.

Jairam Ramesh gets commerce, Subbirami in mines

Jairam Ramesh gets commerce, Subbirami in mines

Rediff.com31 Jan 2006

With this the only minister without a portfolio is Oscar Fernandes

HC restrains misuse of actor Jackie Shroff's name, voice without consent

HC restrains misuse of actor Jackie Shroff's name, voice without consent

Rediff.com18 May 2024

The court said Shroff is a celebrity and this status inherently grants him certain rights over his personality and associated attributes.

Exports up 23.52%; trade deficit at record $26.18 bn

Exports up 23.52%; trade deficit at record $26.18 bn

Rediff.com14 Jul 2022

Exports in June rose by 23.52 per cent to $40.13 billion while the trade deficit ballooned to a record level of $26.18 billion mainly due to jump in gold and crude oil imports, the government data said on Thursday. The country's export growth in May was 20.55 per cent. Imports expanded by 57.55 per cent to $66.31 billion in June compared to the year-ago month, the data showed.

Pak's U-turn on MFN: Status NOT granted to India, says Gilani

Pak's U-turn on MFN: Status NOT granted to India, says Gilani

Rediff.com5 Nov 2011

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has made it clear that Pakistan has not granted the Most Favoured Nation status to India, saying the commerce ministry has only been tasked to move forward on the issue in bilateral negotiations.

Board of Trade may meet on Oct 11 to review exports

Board of Trade may meet on Oct 11 to review exports

Rediff.com5 Oct 2011

A meeting of the Board of Trade, an advisory body to the Commerce Ministry, is likely to be held on October 11, a ministry official said.

Govt may impose anti-dumping duty on Chinese calculators

Govt may impose anti-dumping duty on Chinese calculators

Rediff.com3 May 2015

Calculators have been exported to India from China below the normal value

Share of US in India's crude basket rises to record 14% in December

Share of US in India's crude basket rises to record 14% in December

Rediff.com15 Feb 2023

India has substantially increased its crude oil imports from the US, with the country's share in India's crude basket hitting a record 14.3 per cent in December, commerce ministry data showed.

Lessons from China to boost India's telecom sector

Lessons from China to boost India's telecom sector

Rediff.com5 Aug 2014

The bulk of this money will, however, be spent on buying imported equipment, mainly from Europe and China.

Not a ministry reshuffle for 2019

Not a ministry reshuffle for 2019

Rediff.com4 Sep 2017

'The days when less government, more governance were spoken of are well and truly behind us.' 'More government, it is now believed, means more governance,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

Doing business in India gets a bit easier

Doing business in India gets a bit easier

Rediff.com16 Feb 2015

An online system generates import-export code.

Wholesale inflation remains in red for the 6th month

Wholesale inflation remains in red for the 6th month

Rediff.com16 Oct 2023

The wholesale price index-based inflation remained in the negative territory for the sixth straight month in September at (-)0.26 per cent, on easing prices of food articles. The WPI-based inflation rate has been in the negative since April and was (-)0.52 per cent in August. In September last year, it was 10.55 per cent.

Sops to SEZs will continue: Sharma

Sops to SEZs will continue: Sharma

Rediff.com4 Dec 2009

Batting for the worried SEZ developers who fear withdrawal of incentives in the new direct tax code, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Friday said his ministry would ensure that the sops continue.

From FDI to e-com, traders now want a bigger say in policy matters

From FDI to e-com, traders now want a bigger say in policy matters

Rediff.com17 Jun 2019

However, in recent times, the clout that trader bodies such as CAIT and other organisations like Swadeshi Jagran Manch and Laghu Udyog Bharati has is steadily increasing. Earlier this year, trader bodies were able to convince the government not to extend the deadline for implementation of the new norms in FDI policy on e-commerce.

Exports rise; trade deficit widens in Jan

Exports rise; trade deficit widens in Jan

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

The country's exports rose by 23.69 per cent to $34.06 billion in January on healthy performance by engineering, petroleum and gems and jewellery segments even as trade deficit widened to $17.94 billion during the month, according to provisional data of the commerce ministry. Imports in January grew by 23.74 per cent to $52.01 billion, the data, released on Tuesday, showed. Trade deficit widened to $17.94 billion during the month as against $14.49 billion in the same month last year.

L&T approaches govt to surrender SEZ

L&T approaches govt to surrender SEZ

Rediff.com7 Mar 2013

Four developers, including L&T Chennai Projects and Welspun Anjar, have approached the Commerce Ministry to surrender their IT and textile zones respectively.

Exports jump 58.23% to $34 bn in March

Exports jump 58.23% to $34 bn in March

Rediff.com1 Apr 2021

The country's exports jumped by 58.23 per cent to $34 billion in March as key sectors such as engineering, gems and jewellery and pharmaceuticals recorded healthy growth rate during the month, according to the Commerce Ministry's provisional data. Exports during April-March 2020-21, however, dipped by 7.4 per cent to $290.18 billion compared to $313.36 billion in 2019-20, the data showed. Imports during 2020-21 contracted by 18 per cent to $388.92 billion compared to $474.71 billion during 2019-20. In March 2020, the exports stood at $21.49 billion, which was a decline of about 34 per cent over March 2019 due to global slowdown induced by the Covid-19 crisis.

Nirmala Sitharaman says discussing Apple's request for FDI rules waiver

Nirmala Sitharaman says discussing Apple's request for FDI rules waiver

Rediff.com30 May 2016

The minister, however, said she was not in favour of relaxing rules for Apple to sell refurbished second-hand phones in India

Govt to consider fresh SEZ proposals on Sep 30

Govt to consider fresh SEZ proposals on Sep 30

Rediff.com28 Aug 2009

Senior officials from different ministries, including finance, home affairs and defence, would be attending the meeting. The last BOA held on August 11 had allowed Maytas Ventures, promoted by the disgraced former Satyam chairman B Ramalinga Raju's son, to surrender its biotech SEZ and approved three new proposals, including that of Brooke Bond Real Estates IT/ITES tax-free enclave in Karnataka.

How Modi govt plans to protect domestic manufacturers

How Modi govt plans to protect domestic manufacturers

Rediff.com30 Mar 2021

The central government is devising a mechanism to step up screening imports to protect domestic manufacturers. The details of the online monitoring system may find mention in the foreign trade policy 2021-26, which will kick in next month. The online system will make the data available to the government as well as industry about the countries from where the goods are being imported, and their quantity and quality. The data can help domestic producers analyse the market potential for such goods, said a senior government official. In the past 16 months, the government had implemented a steel- and coal-import monitoring system.

SC decision on Novartis historic: Anand Sharma

SC decision on Novartis "historic": Anand Sharma

Rediff.com1 Apr 2013

Says Indian Patent Law conforms fully with global obligations under the WTO IPR pact-TRIPS.

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.

After multiple attacks, China hires private agency to secure assets overseas

After multiple attacks, China hires private agency to secure assets overseas

Rediff.com28 Dec 2023

This may be in line with Russia's private military company, Wagner Group, which was controlled until 2023 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former close ally of Russia's president Vladimir Putin. The group used the infrastructure of the Russian Armed Forces.

'The level of isolation in North Korea was amazing'

'The level of isolation in North Korea was amazing'

Rediff.com2 May 2023

'In 1984, Pyongyang just had one hotel and one could not move out without an official escort.' 'India was the only country with an embassy, apart from the socialist countries.'

ComMin wants RBI to slash rates on export credit

ComMin wants RBI to slash rates on export credit

Rediff.com19 Jan 2010

The Commerce Ministry wants the Reserve Bank to reduce interest rate for dollar credit in its forthcoming monetary policy to help sustain the fledgling recovery in the exports sector.

Drawback rates may be hiked to help exporters

Drawback rates may be hiked to help exporters

Rediff.com8 Jun 2007

The finance ministry is considering a suggestion by the Commerce Ministry to enhance duty neutralisation rates to make up for revenue lost by exporters due to sharp appreciation in the rupee.

Growth Question Looms Large Over Chandigarh

Growth Question Looms Large Over Chandigarh

Rediff.com28 May 2024

As Chandigarh braces for a fierce contest between Congress candidate Manish Tewari and the BJP's Sanjay Tandon, its industry leaders harbour a fervent wish: Replicate the success of the National Capital Region model in this Union Territory.

Exports: Service tax waiver has PM's support

Exports: Service tax waiver has PM's support

Rediff.com24 Apr 2007

The recent Foreign Trade Policy announcement to waive service tax for exporters had the backing of the Prime Minister, Commerce Ministry sources said on Tuesday.

Reliance Retail says e-com cos bypassing FDI norms

Reliance Retail says e-com cos bypassing FDI norms

Rediff.com26 Mar 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail on Thursday told the government that complex legal structures have been used by some firms to bypass the country's e-commerce rules which from the very beginning do not allow foreign capital in the inventory-based model. At a meeting called by the commerce ministry on allegations that foreign online retailers created complex structures to bypass foreign investment rules and damage small traders, Amazon urged the government not to issue any clarification until investigations into its business practices had been concluded, sources said. At the meeting, Reliance Retail's representatives said the Indian e-commerce policy does not allow foreign capital in the inventory-based model and foreign investment is allowed only in pure technical infrastructure/ platform that facilitates the meeting of buyer with sellers.

Govt seeks to allay concern over 'retaliatory' duty cut on US apples

Govt seeks to allay concern over 'retaliatory' duty cut on US apples

Rediff.com20 Sep 2023

India's recent move to remove additional 'retaliatory' duty on eight products from the United States (US), including apples and walnuts, would not have any negative impact on the domestic producers, the government clarified, even as the issue threatened to snowball into a political slugfest between the ruling and Opposition parties. The move would, in fact, result in competition in the premium market segment, ensuring better quality at better prices for consumers, especially for apples, a senior government official said. "There were certain concerns that were being raised on the mutually agreed solution that has come in, more specific to seven-eight agriculture products where we had levied additional import duties in retaliation to the steel and aluminum measures (imposed by the US)," Peeyush Kumar, additional secretary in the commerce department, told reporters in a briefing.

2 central co-ops to sell tomatoes at Rs 50 per kg

2 central co-ops to sell tomatoes at Rs 50 per kg

Rediff.com14 Aug 2023

The Centre on Monday directed cooperatives NCCF and NAFED to sell tomatoes at a reduced rate of Rs 50 per kilogram from Tuesday in view of the decline in prices in the wholesale markets. Since July, both NCCF and NAFED have been selling tomatoes at a discounted rate on behalf of the consumer affairs ministry in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar to boost domestic availability and contain price rise. Initially, the ministry had asked the two cooperatives to sell tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 90 per kg and later reduced the price to Rs 80 per kg. Further, the price was cut to Rs 70 per kg.

Govt hints at sops to achieve $320 bn export target

Govt hints at sops to achieve $320 bn export target

Rediff.com21 Nov 2012

Trade deficit with China has risen to $40 billion, a cause for worry.