Retail Policy

Retail price on all pan masala packs as new metrology rules take effect

The Department of Consumer Affairs has mandated that all pan masala packages, irrespective of size or weight, must display the Retail Sale Price (RSP) and other mandatory declarations under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. The amendment, notified through GSR 881(E), will come into force on February 1, 2026, an official statement said. From that date, all manufacturers, packers and importers of pan masala must ensure full compliance. The amendment removes the earlier exemption that allowed small packs of 10 grams or less to avoid certain declarations. Now, even these smaller packs must print the Retail Sale Price on their labels and display all declarations required under the 2011 rules. The previous proviso under Rule 26(a) has been withdrawn and replaced with a new proviso specific to pan masala. The department said the move strengthens consumer protection by ensuring transparent pricing information across all pack sizes. It is expected to prevent misleadin

RBI allows treasury bills investment via SIP in Retail Direct scheme

The Retail Direct portal was launched in November 2021 to facilitate retail investors to open their gilt accounts with the RBI under the Retail Direct scheme

Sebi cuts face value of debt securities to boost retail participation

Markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday drastically cut the face value of debt securities to Rs 10,000 from Rs 1 lakh at present to boost participation of retail investors in the corporate bond market. Market participants are of the view that lower ticket size of debt securities may encourage more non-institutional investors to participate in the corporate bond market which in turn may also enhance liquidity. In a circular, Sebi said, "the issuer may issue debt security or non-convertible redeemable preference shares on private placement basis at a face value of Rs 10,000". This, however, would be subject to certain conditions like the issuer should appoint at least one merchant banker, and non-convertible debentures and non-convertible redeemable preference shares be plain vanilla, interest or dividend-bearing instruments. Sebi said that credit enhancements would be permitted in such instruments. With respect to General Information Document (GID), which is valid as on the 'effective

China's Nov factory output, retail sales miss expectations as Covid bites

China's economy has been depressed by its zero-COVID policy, as tight movement controls hampered consumption and production

Buyers dump veg mandi despite healthy arrivals as farmers sell directly

Covid spread has taught farmers to ditch middleman and start their own group to conduct farm-to-kitchen sales, under which both consumer and cultivator gain

India doesn't need a new retail FDI policy; it needs to scrap existing ones

India's politicians and bureaucrats urgently need modernisation of their own ideological thinking on this subject and liberate the retail sector