Page 7 - Dpiit

National e-commerce policy in final stages, may be announced soon: Goyal

The proposed national e-commerce policy being formulated by the commerce and industry ministry is in the final stages and expected to be announced very soon, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. In August, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) held a detailed discussion with representatives of e-commerce firms and a domestic traders' body on the proposed policy. "It is at the final stages of discussion at the highest level in the government. We hope to come out very soon," the commerce and industry minister told reporters here when asked about the policy. Earlier, the ministry issued two draft national e-commerce policies. The 2019 draft proposed to address six broad areas of the e-commerce ecosystem - data, infrastructure development, e-commerce marketplaces, regulatory issues, stimulating domestic digital economy and export promotion through e-commerce. Domestic traders body CAIT has time and again demanded roll out of the policy as they ..

DPIIT working with 24 sub-sectors to promote manufacturing, cut imports

The department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) is working with 24 sub-sectors, including furniture, aluminium, agrochemicals and textiles, to promote domestic manufacturing, boost exports and reduce imports, according to an official statement. The commerce and industry ministry on Tuesday said that since its launch, 'Make in India' has made "significant" achievements and is now focusing on 27 sectors under 'Make in India 2.0'. While the DPIIT is coordinating action plans for 15 manufacturing sectors, the Department of Commerce is coordinating for 12 service sectors. "Now, DPIIT is working closely with 24 sub-sectors which have been chosen keeping in mind the Indian industries strengths and competitive edge, need for import substitution, potential for export and increased employability," the ministry said. It added that these sub-sectors are -- furniture, air-conditioners, leather and footwear, ready to eat, fisheries, agri produce, auto components, aluminium, .

13 states, UTs among achievers in logistics performance index: DPIIT report

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Gujarat are among the 13 states and Union Territories that have again been categorised as "achievers" in the logistics index chart 2023, according to a report released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Saturday. The index is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports and economic growth. As against 15 states and UTs, this year, the number has reduced to 13 as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have slipped into "aspirers" and "fast movers" categories, respectively, this year. Steps taken by Sikkim and Tripura have helped them move up the ladder to the "achievers" category from "fast movers" in 2022. The other states and UTs in the "achievers" category are Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry have been categorised as "fa

Govt working on 1st ever 'cost of regulation' study for states: DPIIT secy

DPIIT has created a dataset to let the States know how some of the areas may be affecting them in terms of their 'business-friendly reputation'

DPIIT to engage consultancy agency to draw reservation list for FTA talks

The department for promotion of industry and internal tarde (DPIIT) has proposed to engage a consultancy agency to draw a reservation list to be used during negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA). The list deals with items which do not qualify for commitments under a trade agreement. The DPIIT, being the nodal department for formulation of FDI policy and investment screening, leads the negotiations on investment chapters within FTAs on non-services sectors. The chapter on investment liberalization is accompanied by a 'reservation list' which allows host countries to restrict the commitments to specific sectors/activities. The agency would have to identify about 10-15 non-services sectors in which investment liberalization commitments under International Investment Agreements can be taken and to identify the existing non-conformities in these shortlisted sectors. "It is for the purpose of preparation of the list, DPIIT intends to engage a consultancy agency on a project basis

PLI disbursement for white goods expected to start from Q4: DPIIT Secretary

The government is expected to start disbursement of fiscal incentives under PLI for white goods in the last quarter of this financial year as certain selected beneficiary firms have started production, DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Tuesday. The production linked incentive (PLI) scheme on white goods seeks to encourage domestic manufacturing of air conditioners and LED light components. In the last quarter (January-March), we are expecting some disbursements, Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the India Korea Business Partnership Forum meeting here. Of the 64 selected beneficiaries of the PLI scheme, 15 have started production. These 15 beneficiaries had opted for a gestation period of up to March 31, 2022. Rest of the beneficiaries who opted for gestation period of up to March 31, 2023 are at different stages of implementation. The scheme is to be implemented over a seven-year period, from 2021-22 to 2028-29 and has an outlay of Rs 6,238 crore. Singh also said t

STPI starts inviting applications for LEAP programme to fund 75 startups

State-owned STPI has started inviting applications from startups under its Leap programme to fund entrepreneurs in collaboration with venture capitalists and other private investors, a senior official of the organisation said on Monday. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) will select 75 startups under the programme this year and facilitate funding of up to Rs 1 crore in each startup in collaboration with venture capital firms and angel investors. "We have already invested Rs 25 lakh through NGIS. We have already made investment in about 100 startups from the total fund that we have. Through Leap we are looking to nurture the next 100 startups," STPI Director General Arvind Kumar said. He said that the Leap (Launchpad for Tech Entrepreneurs towards Accelerated growth and Pioneering Ahead) will be organised at places closer to startups in cities like Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Vijayawada with an idea that they should not be required to leave their city for growing their ...

Govt looks to onboard consultants amid work on investment treaties

These treaties are either in the form of a standalone investment treaty-Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)-or an investment chapter (IC) within a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

New angel tax regime: No scrutiny of recognised startups, says CBDT

The angel tax is on the amount received by a company above the fair market value as income

Indian patent office to hire 900 people to enhance manpower: DPIIT secy

Indian patent office (IPO) will be hiring 900 more people with a view to enhance manpower for processing the increasing number of intellectual property applications, a top government official said on Friday. Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Rajesh Kumar Singh said that patent filing has increased by ten times and trademark application filing by six times since 2016. "We are trying to strengthen the capacity of our IPO to process these proliferation of applications. We are going to add 900 new positions for which recruitment is already underway in our patent office," Singh said at the national intellectual property conference. He also said that steps taken by the government has helped India improve its global innovation index rankings. India retained its 40th rank out of 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023 rankings, according to a report by the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization. Though the ranki

Govt tweaks PLI white goods scheme norms for simplifying operation

The changes have been made on the basis of various suggestions received from the beneficiaries as well as industry association.

White good PLI beneficiary should obtain cost certificate for sales: DPIIT

Companies selected under the production-linked incentive scheme (PLI) for white goods will have to submit a certificate from a registered cost accountant with regard to related party sales and computation of the arm's length price for availing benefits of the scheme. Making certain changes in the guidelines of the PLI scheme for promoting domestic manufacturing of white goods (air conditioners and LED lights), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said that the administrative ministry may also visit the manufacturing facilities to review the scheme's progress, and directly solicit feedback from the industry. Based on the requests and suggestions received from various applicants and industry associations and with a view to simplifying the operation of the scheme, the department has made certain revisions to the scheme guidelines issued by the DPIIT on June 4, 2021. According to the department, regarding captive consumption and sales to related party, ...

Govt may liberalise FDI norms for space sector: DPIIT secy Rajesh Kumar

The government may liberalise foreign direct investment norms for the country's Space sector, as it eyes further improvement in ease of doing business, a top official said on Friday. Presently, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Space sector is allowed up to 100 per cent in the area of Satellites-Establishment and Operations through government route only. While addressing a road-show event for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held on January 10-12, 2024, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said, the government may liberalise FDI norms for the country's Space sector. Speaking on the government's policies, he said, FDI liberalisation has substantially been achieved in India except for a few strategic sectors. "We've tried to maintain an almost Open Sky policy for almost all sectors of the economy. Though that liberalisation will continue and we may expand it further to even some of our sectors like Space as well. The .

Centre to hold PLI scheme payouts' crucial mid-year review next week

DPIIT gearing up for mid-year performance review of 14 flagship schemes

DPIIT, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya ink pact to advance national master plan

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya on Wednesday signed a pact for advancing the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Under the MoU, the university will be the nodal agency across the country to design, develop and deliver courses and curriculum related to PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy at various centres in different states, an official statement said. It was signed by Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya Vice-Chancellor Manoj Choudhary and Joint Secretary, Logistics Division, DPIIT, E Srinivas, in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. More than 16 central ministries and NITI Aayog came together for the signing of the MoU. Vaishnaw emphasised on the importance of the industry-focussed and innovation-driven university courses on railway, metro and high-speed railways. Vaishnaw said 15,000 students will be offered aviation-focussed

Govt bans manufacturing, imports of electric detonator from April 2025

The government has decided to ban manufacturing, possession and imports of electric detonator from April 2025 in view of security concerns and public safety. In a notification, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has said that the central government is of the opinion that electric detonator is of a "dangerous" character. It is expedient for the security concerns and public safety to prohibit the manufacturing, possession and import of electric detonator, it said. It added that the government, after consultation with stakeholders of explosives industry, in the public interest has decided that its production shall be completely phased out by the end of 2024-2025. "The central government hereby prohibits the manufacture, possession and import of the electric detonator...throughout the country with effect from the 1st day of April, 2025," the notification, dated September 29, has said.

The curious case of govt-owned Bank Note Paper Mill's private status

Indovative Products, a Delhi-based start-up that manufactures currency packaging products, submitted its bids but was rejected on the technical ground that it lacked "past experience"

Road secy Anurag, ex-DPIIT official Anil join ONDC's advisory council

Road, Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain and former additional secretary in the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) Anil Agarwal have become new members in the advisory council of ONDC, an official said. With this, the total members of the council will be 13. The council was set up in 2021 by the government to accelerate the adoption of the open network for digital commerce (ONDC), the official said. Other members of the council include Nandan Nilekani from Infosys; National Health Authority Chief Executive Officer R S Sharma; Chairperson, capacity building commission, Adil Zainulbhai; Avaana Capital Founder Anjali Bansal; Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Sanjiv; and Digital India Foundation Co-Founder Arvind Gupta. ONDC aims to promote an open platform for all aspects of e-commerce retail. It would help small retailers expand their business through e-commerce medium and reduce dominance of giants in the sector. ONDC, a non-profit company, formulates a

Patient Groups raise concerns over proposed draft of patent rules

Public health experts concerned changes could make it more difficult to access affordable medicines

Looking at further easing FDI norms in space sector: DPIIT secretary

The government is looking at further easing foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in the space sector to attract overseas players, a top official said on Monday. Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Rajesh Kumar Singh said that huge scope is there for Saudi Arabian companies to invest in India in different sectors such as aviation, pharma, bulk drugs, renewable energy, food processing and agrti-tech. "There is tremendous scope for collaboration... such as in artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber security, automation and space, where we are looking to further liberalise our foreign direct investment norms to bring in private sector and foreign investment in our space sector," Singh said at the India-Saudi Arabia investment forum meet here. Presently FDI in space sector is allowed up to 100 per cent in the area of satellites establishment and operations through government route only. He added that several Saudi Arabian companies have ...