Notifications & Circulars
Press Information Bureau
11.12.2019
Right to Information
New Rules under RTI
MANU/PIBU/1984/2019
The Right to Information (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission, State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners in the State Information Commission) Rules, 2019 were made in pursuance of The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019.
These Rules do not in any way affect the citizens' Right to Information or obligations of Public Authorities and Public Information Officers given in Chapter II of the RTI Act inter-alia. The powers and functions of the Information Commissions stay undiluted as the relevant provisions under Chapter V of the Act remain unaltered. Nor are the independence and autonomy of these institutions affected in any way.
The rules are of administrative nature and pertain to the internal administration of the concerned organization. They do not involve any social or additional financial implications which may have necessitated pre-legislative consultations outside the Government. The Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department have been duly consulted.
Tags : New Rules RTI Internal administration
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Press Information Bureau
11.12.2019
Commercial
Benefit of FTAs to Small Exporters
MANU/PIBU/2002/2019
The Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed by India provide tariff concessions thereby giving opportunities for exports of products including those related to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Some of the SME products on which tariff concessions have been provided by trading partners such as Japan, South Korea and some ASEAN countries fall into the category of readymade garments, leather goods, processed foods and engineering products like auto components. The specific export promotion schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) include those for participation in international exhibitions and fairs, training programme on packaging for exports, Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme for MSME exporters and National Award for quality products. The Government has also taken the following key steps to boost India's trade and competitiveness:
The new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 launched on 1st April 2015 provides a framework for increasing exports of goods and services as well as generation of employment and increasing value addition in the country, in line with the Make in India, Digital India, Skills India, Startup India and Ease of doing business initiatives. The policy rationalized the earlier export promotion schemes for increasing export of goods and services.
A new logistics related division was created in the Department of Commerce to coordinate integrated development of the logistics sector. India's rank in World Bank's Logistics Performance Index moved up from 54 in 2014 to 44 in 2018.
Various measures for improving ease of doing business were taken. India's rank in World Bank Ease of doing business ranking improved from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019 with the rank in 'trading across borders' moving up from 122 to 68.
A comprehensive Agriculture Export Policy was launched on 6th December, 2018 with an aim to provide an impetus to agricultural exports.
Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) was launched with effect from 1st April 2017 to address the export infrastructure gaps in the country.
Interest Equalization Scheme on pre and post shipment rupee export credit was introduced from 1.4.2015 providing interest equalisation at 3% for labour intensive / MSME sectors. The rate was increased to 5% for MSME sectors with effect from 2.11.2018 and merchant exporters were covered under the scheme with effect from 2.1.2019.
Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) has been launched for mitigating disadvantage of higher cost of transportation for export of specified agriculture products.
Tags : Benefit FTAs Small Exporters
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Press Information Bureau
11.12.2019
Commercial
Cabinet approves Pact between India and Japan in Steel Sector
MANU/PIBU/1993/2019
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Government of India and Government of Japan to constitute the 'India-Japan Steel Dialogue' to strengthen cooperation in steel sector.
Benefits
The 'India-Japan Steel Dialogue' envisages enhancement of mutual understanding to secure sustainable growth in the steel sector.
The Dialogue aims to examine all aspects of cooperation in steel sector including promotion of investment in high grade steel making and finding new avenues of steel usage in India.
The MoC will help in capacity building for high grade steel manufacturing in India.
Tags : Pact Approval Steel Sector
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Securities and Exchange Board of India
10.12.2019
Capital Market
Review of investment norms for mutual funds for investment in Debt and Money Market Instruments
MANU/SMFD/0018/2019
Paragraph E of SEBI Circular No. SEBI/HO/IMD/DF2/CIR/P/2019/104 dated October 1, 2019 prescribed limits on investments by debt mutual fund schemes in debt and money market instruments of group companies of both the sponsor and the asset management company.
In partial modification to Paragraph E of the aforementioned circular the following additional provisions have been decided:
a. The investments of mutual fund schemes in debt and money market instruments of group companies of both the sponsor and the asset management company of the mutual fund in excess of the limits specified therein, made on or before October 1, 2019 may be grandfathered till maturity date of such instruments. The maturity date of such instruments shall be as applicable on October 1, 2019.
b. All AMCs shall publish on their respective website a list of their group companies and those of their sponsor(s).
c. AMFI shall publish on its website a list of all group companies along with names and identifier of the respective group that are considered for calculation of group exposure by mutual fund schemes and also the sector to which each company belongs.
d. The disclosures at paragraphs 2b and 2c above shall be made on 1st working day of each calendar quarter starting from January 1, 2020.
This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, read with the provisions of Regulation 77 of SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.
Tags : Review Investment norms Mutual funds
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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
09.12.2019
Media and Communication
Extension of time to receive comments on consultation paper on interoperable set top box
MANU/TRAI/0137/2019
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued a consultation paper on "Interoperability of Set Top Box (STB)" for digital TV broadcasting services on 11th November 2019. The last date for receiving written comments from the stakeholders was fixed as 09/12/2019 and thereafter counter comments by 23/12/2019.
The stakeholders have sought extension of time for sending their comments on the Consultation Paper on "Interoperability of Set Top Box (STB)". In view of this, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of written comments up to 18th December 2019 and counter comments by 30th December 2019. No further request for extension would be entertained.
Tags : Extension Time Comments Interoperable Set Top Box
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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
09.12.2019
Media and Communication
TRAI releases pre-consultation paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing"
MANU/TRAI/0138/2019
1. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Pre-Consultation Paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing".
2. DoT through its letter dated 8th May 2019, inter-alia, informed that the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP), 2018, under its 'Propel India' mission, envisages one of the strategies as 'reforming the licensing and regulatory regime to catalyse Investments and Innovations and promote Ease of Doing Business'. Enabling unbundling of different layers (e.g. infrastructure, network, services and application layer) through differential licensing is one of the action plans for fulfilling the strategy. Through the said letter dated 8th May 2019, DoT has, inter-alia, requested TRAI to furnish recommendations on enabling unbundling of different layers through differential licensing, under the terms of the clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 11 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (as amended) by TRAI Amendment Act, 2000.
3. In this regard, a Pre-Consultation Paper on "Enabling Unbundling of Different Layers Through Differential Licensing" has been released seeking inputs from the stakeholders. Written comments on the issues raised in the Pre-Consultation Paper are invited from the stakeholders by 6th January 2020.
Tags : Pre-Consultation Paper Release
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Press Information Bureau
09.12.2019
Education
Government amended IEPFA Rules, 2016, to simplify refund of claims
MANU/PIBU/1945/2019
The Investor Education & Protection Fund (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules 2016 have been amended vide GSR No.571 (E) dated 14.8.2019 to simplify the process of refund of claims filed with The Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority (the Authority). The amended rules inter-alia provide for digitisation with transparent and faceless processing of claims by the Authority. Compliances by companies have also been made time bound and system driven with rule based enforcement.
The Authority has been set up under Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013 (The Act) with the objective of promoting investor education, protection and also to make refund of claims to the investors as per extant provisions of the Act. During the last 3 years more than 35,000 Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) have been organised in rural and urban areas of the country through the Professional Institutes under Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Common Service Centers (CSCs) e-Governance Services India Limited for creating awareness among the Investors. Awareness creating messages are also disseminated from time to time through print and electronic media. The Authority launched a joint campaign of Investor awareness in association with RBI, SEBI and Department of Consumer Affairs. The Authority has also collaborated with Department of Telecommunications, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan for achieving the objective of Investor Education and Protection.
Tags : IEPFA Rules Amendment Refund claims Simplification
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Press Information Bureau
09.12.2019
Commercial
Contribution of Manufacturing Output of MSME
MANU/PIBU/1958/2019
As reported by Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the Share of MSME manufacturing output in All India manufacturing Gross Value Output (GVO) during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 has been 36.1%, 36.9% and 36.5% respectively. The total number of MSME registrations as per Udyog Aadhaar Portal as on 31.03.2017, 31.03.2018 and 31.03.2019 has been 28.68 lakh, 43.86 lakh and 65.08 lakh respectively.
Under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), the estimated employment generated (number of persons) in micro enterprises during the years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 has been 4.08 lakh, 3.87 lakh and 5.87 lakh, respectively.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has taken several initiatives for growth & development of MSMEs. These include Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Micro and Small Enterprises-Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), Scheme for Promotion of MSMEs in North Eastern Region and Sikkim, Tool Rooms and Technology Centers, Mission Solar Charkha (MSC), Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme, Entrepreneurship & Skill Development Programme (ESDP), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS).
Tags : Contribution Manufacturing Output MSME
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