Top Headlines: Adani seeks to defer airports, AIIMS studies third wave

In the draft request for proposal (RFP) shared with shortlisted bidders, the government has proposed retaining the existing Air India employees for one year after privatisation. The Adani group has deferred the takeover of three airports — Jaipur, Guwahati and Trivandrum — till December. Business Standard brings to you the top headlines on Friday.

Govt proposes one-year retention for Air India staff after privatisation

In the draft request for proposal (RFP) shared with shortlisted bidders, the government has proposed retaining the existing Air India employees for one year after privatisation, setting a precedent for all public sector undertakings (PSU), including banks, on the block for selloff.

The government had shared the draft RFP and share-purchase agreement (SPA) with shortlisted bidders in April, and has received comments from them, said an official. The draft RFP requires retaining existing employees for one year. Read More

Covid-19 impact: Adani group asks AAI for more time on airport takeover

The Adani group has deferred the takeover of three airports — Jaipur, Guwahati and Trivandrum — till December, citing disruptions caused by the second wave of Covid-19.

 
Sources aware of the matter said the Adani group had written to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) seeking to invoke the force majeure clause so that the takeover of airports could be postponed by six months. Read More

 

Third wave of Covid-19 won't pose greater risk to children: Study

It’s highly unlikely that any future wave of Covid-19 by the prevailing variants of coronavirus will disproportionately affect children aged two years or older, a serosurvey conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has found.

This comes against the backdrop of a number of officials and health experts raising an alarm about the possible third wave affecting children more than adults. Read More

Made in India tag: Govt slaps 148 notices on e-commerce firms in 3 months

The Centre has slapped as many as 148 notices on e-commerce players in the past three months for not complying with the mandatory display of the ‘country of origin’ tag on products sold.

 
“Of the 148 notices, 56 have compounded it (the offence) and paid up around Rs 34 lakh,” a senior official told Business Standard. “Every product has to display the country of origin, along with other basic information,” the official added.

In the case of e-commerce companies, these details have to be clearly displayed on their portals. Read More

 

BEML privatisation: Panel to meet today to finalise sale process

The inter-ministerial group (IMG) will meet on Friday to finalise the draft request for proposal (RFP) and share purchase agreement (SPA) for privatisation of BEML. The document will give the shortlisted bidders clarity on the liabilities they will have to take on board.

The IMG chaired by secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (Dipam) will finalise the draft RFP and SPA. Read More