Notifications & Circulars
Press Information Bureau
17.01.2018
Civil
Hotel Classification Guidelines Streamlined to Make Them Simple, Transparent and Time Bound
MANU/PIBU/0088/2018
The application for classification and payments of fees have been made through digital platform only and the prevalent options of application by post and payment of fees by Demand Draft has been done away with. This has ensured the eradication of possibility of delay/manipulation caused by human interference.
Similarly, the time limit for ensuring compliances on deficiencies of a hotel, the prevalent system had an open ended scope without any prescribed time limit. The recent amendments have included a time limit of three months, thus removing any discretion in the matter. This will ensure a time bound compliance and speedy disposal of cases.
The amendments have made it clear that liquor shops/liquor stores in the premises of the hotel other than bars will not be considered for classification under star hotels "with alcohol" category, to remove any ambiguity.
It has been made mandatory for all the hotels classified under all categories to display their classification status prominently at the reception and on their websites under a separate icon on the opening page, which will display the order of classification issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
The amendments have included a detailed timeline within which the classification has to be completed. In every case where the required documents and procedures are fulfilled, the classification will be completed within 90 days. Event wise time limits (like inspection, uploading inspection report, submission of compliance in case of deficiencies, approval of Competent Authority and uploading of classification letter etc.) have been fixed to ensure that all the cases with no deficiency /compliance issues can be classified within 90 days of the date of application.
Tags : Hotel Classification Guidelines Transparency
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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
16.01.2018
Media and Communication
Extension of time for receiving comments on the Consultation Paper on "Issues relating to Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels" in India
MANU/TRAI/0008/2018
1. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a Consultation Paper on "Issues relating to "Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels" in India on 19th December 2017 inviting written comments from the stakeholders by 18th January 2018 and counter-comments, if any, from the stakeholders by 31st January 2018.
2. On request from the stakeholders, the last date for receipt of written comments and counter-comments, if any, from the stakeholders, has been extended up to 31.01.2018 & 10.02.2018 respectively. No requests for any further extension of time for submission of comments shall be entertained.
3. The comments and counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form, to Mr. S. K. Singhal, Advisor (B&CS) on the e-mail address sksinghal@trai.gov.in or vk.agarwal@trai.gov.in. For any clarification/ information, Mr. S. K. Singhal, Advisor (B&CS) may be contacted at Tel. No.: +91-11-23221509, Fax: +91-11-23220442. Comments and counter-comments will be posted on TRAI's website.
Tags : Time Extension Uplinking Downlinking Television Channels
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Press Information Bureau
16.01.2018
Commercial
Signing of MoU between Department of Commerce and CII for setting-up an institutional mechanism for the development of Logistics sector in the country
MANU/PIBU/0087/2018
The Government has recently entrusted the task of integrated development of Logistics sector in the country to the Department of Commerce. To fulfil this a MoU with Confederation of Indian Industry has been signed today in the presence of the Minister for Commerce & Industry Shri Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi. The Government has decided to reduce the Logistics cost in the country from the present 14% of GDP to less than 10% by 2022. On this occasion the Minister congratulated Logistics division of DoC and CII for this initiative and urged them to work together for taking Logistics sector to global levels both in terms of efficiency and cost.
The Minister has given the roadmap for modernizing the Logistics sector in India and bring it at par with the global best. For this purpose, a concerted effort in collaboration with Central line Ministries as well as State Governments has been initiated for simplifying the regulatory processes in both domestic and EXIM logistics. Logistics division headed by a Special Secretary of the DoC, Government of India, is working on a comprehensive action plan to reduce the cost of EXIM and domestic Logistics in the country by making it more efficient through easing of processes, induction of Information Technology and co-ordinated enhancement of Logistics infrastructure in the country. The Government has recently granted infrastructure status to a number of Logistics activities, which shall enable them to avail cheaper and long term commercial loans.
Work has also been initiated on an integrated Logistics portal that will be a transactional e-marketplace connecting buyers with logistics service providers with all the Government agencies such as Customs, PGAs, Port Community Systems, Sea and Air Port terminals, Shipping lines, Railways etc. In order to establish linkages with the Government agencies, industry and academia, for developing a detailed action plan, Logistics division has planned to enter into formal partnership with all the stakeholders. The following is the road map:
To establish Logistics Working group with representatives from DoC and Industry to examine issues related to logistics and recommend solutions
To foster focused engagement with the industry
To collaborate with the concerned agencies including state Govts and other related agencies
To undertake mutually agreed focused studies on logistics
To promote Govt's policies on logistics
Tags : MOU Signing Logistics sector Development
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Press Information Bureau
16.01.2018
Environment
'Saksham 2018', a vigorous and high intensity one-month long people-centric mega campaign of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been launched
MANU/PIBU/0086/2018
'Saksham 2018', a vigorous and high intensity one-month long people-centric mega campaign of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been launched on 16th January in an inaugural function held in Delhi.
The PCRA Saksham National Essay and Painting competition-2017 has been a big hit amongst the school children with about 40 Lakh students from across schools of all education boards of the country participating in it. The prizes were given away in the function to the winners of PCRA Saksham National Essay and Painting competition-2017, which includes Singapore Study tour, Laptops, Tablets & cash prizes to encourage children in their efforts in the area of fuel conservation. The dignitaries were amazed to see the innovations, skill and thoughts depicted in the paintings of the children reaching finals displayed in the exhibition.
The National Quiz competition finals are going to be held during this Saksham-2018, wherein students from 31 states shall be vying for the National Title. The awards were presented to the oil companies for their exemplary work towards the national cause of fuel conservation. The publicity vans of PCRA, the messengers on wheels were flagged-off covering various cities to spread conservation awareness especially amongst the rural masses.
Under the able guidance of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, various interactive programs and activities are being run by public sector upstream/downstream Oil & Gas companies during the month long 'Saksham-2018' like organizing Cyclothons in various cities, workshops for drivers of commercial vehicles, seminars for housewives/cooks on adopting simple fuel saving measure, nationwide campaign through Radio, TV, Digital Cinemas, Outdoor etc. The focus of 'Saksham' is to reach out to various segments viz., School children, Youths, Housewives, Heavy vehicle drivers, Car owners, Mechanics, Fleet Operators, Industries, Farmers, Pump-attendants, LPG delivery boys, Residential Societies, Anganwadies, Gram Panchayats etc. for their involvement and adoption. An exhaustive campaign through social media has also started utilizing all the available option like various customized campaigns including interactive contests through Facebook, twitter, MyGov platform, campaign through Radio, TV, Digital Cinema, Print etc. across the country. One of the biggest achievements of programs under 'Saksham' has been organizing Cyclothons in 76 cities and further plans to conduct the Cyclothons in another 600 cities across the country and thus making it as a movement towards fuel conservation and healthy life for the people. PCRA plans to observe Cycle Day on 21st January throughout the country & organizing Cyclothon event at Indore, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai etc. to spread the message of fuel conservation, reduction of vehicular emission by reducing congestion and improving traffic flow. The quality of the programmes under 'Saksham' is going to leave a positive and lasting impressions in the minds of masses and set the stage for providing fresh impetus to the efforts made for fuel conservation in the country.
Tags : Saksham Launch Fuel conservation
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Ministry of Commerce and Industry
15.01.2018
Commercial
Oral hearing of Anti-Dumping investigation concerning imports of 'Ceramic Rollers' originating in or exported from China PR
MANU/COMM/0007/2018
1. This is to intimate that the Designated Authority has rescheduled the oral hearing of the above anti-dumping investigations to 02:00 p.m. on 23/01/2018 instead of 03:00 p.m. (as scheduled earlier) in the DGAD Conference Room, Jeevan Tara Building, 4th floor, Parliament Street, New Delhi 110001.
2. All parties those who have registered themselves as interested parties and filed questionnaire responses/submission are hereby advised to intimate their interest in the hearing with the name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) who are likely to attend the hearing on their behalf. No person other than those representing the interested parties shall be allowed to attend the hearing.
3. Interested parties will be required to submit copies of the written submission of the views expressed at the hearing within the time schedule to be indicated on the date of the hearing.
Tags : Anti-Dumping Investigation Oral hearing
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Press Information Bureau
15.01.2018
Civil
Reporting of U.S. Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) for pre-existing accounts by Financial Institutions
MANU/PIBU/0084/2018
India and USA have signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) under FATCA in 2015. To enhance the effectiveness of information exchange and transparency, both the sides committed to establish, by January 1, 2017, rules requiring their Reporting Financial Institutions (RFIs) to obtain the Tax Identity Number (TIN) of each reportable person having a reportable account as of June 30, 2014 (pre-existing account). The Income-tax Rules, accordingly, provide for reporting of U.S. TIN from the year 2017 onwards in respect of any pre-existing account.
The US-IRS has issued guidelines through Notice 2017-46 dated 25.09.2017 providing relaxation to Foreign Financial Institutions (FFIs) with respect to reporting of U.S.TIN for calendar years 2017, 2018 and 2019. Now the Competent Authority of USA will not determine significant non-compliance with the obligations under the IGA solely because of a failure of a reporting FFI to obtain and report each required U.S.TIN, provided that the reporting FFI:
(i) obtains and reports the date of birth of each account holder and controlling person whose U.S. TIN is not reported;
(ii) requests annually from each account holder any missing required U.S. TIN; and
(iii) before reporting information that relates to calendar year 2017 to the partner jurisdiction, searches electronically searchable data maintained by the reporting FFI for any missing required U.S. TINs.
The Indian RFIs reporting pre-existing accounts should, therefore, ensure that the U.S. TIN is reported in respect of pre-existing accounts for the year 2017 onwards. However, in case the U.S.TIN is not available, to avoid determination by the USA Competent Authority of significant non-compliance to the obligations of the IGA, the RFIs are advised to insert nine capital letters e.g. (i.e. AAAAAAAA) in the TIN field (for the Account Holder or Controlling Person, as the case may be), for such accounts in their reports in Form 61B, provided that all the three conditions listed above are met.
Tags : Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) Accounts Financial Institutions
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Press Information Bureau
15.01.2018
Education
CIPAM-DIPP launches IP competition for college and university students
MANU/PIBU/0085/2018
The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), in collaboration with ASSOCHAM and ERICSSON India, has launched a one of its kind Intellectual Property (IP) Competition 'IPrism' for college and university students.
This competition invites students to submit films on piracy & counterfeiting under two categories of 30 and 60 seconds. Another category in the competition is for a mobile gaming app on IP. The last date for receiving entries is 31st March, 2018. Cash prizes worth INR 4 lacs will be given to the winning teams along with mementos, certificates and recognition on the official CIPAM website (www.cipam.gov.in). The competition aims to foster a culture of innovation and creativity in the younger generation. It will provide young creators a unique opportunity to see their creations recognized on a national platform.
Counterfeiting and Piracy cause significant loss to the industry and pose serious safety threats to the consumers. Generating awareness can help in tackling such crimes since limited knowledge about their adverse social and economic impact leads to circulation and consumption of pirated content and fake goods. You may visit www.iprism.co.in or follow CIPAM on Twitter at @CIPAM_India or Facebook at CIPAM India for complete details and regular updates on the competition.
As it may be recalled, the National IPR Policy was adopted on 12th May, 2016 to create a vibrant IP ecosystem in the country. Creating IPR Awareness through outreach and promotional activities is the first and foremost objective of the Policy. CIPAM, a professional body under DIPP, has been actively involved in many activities including a nation-wide IPR awareness campaign.
Tags : IP competition Launch Students
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