Notifications & Circulars

Press Information Bureau

18.07.2018

Civil

Cabinet approves determination of Fair and Remunerative Price payable by Sugar Mills for 2018-19 sugar season - A Farmer Friendly Step

MANU/PIBU/1049/2018

Keeping in view the interest of sugarcane farmers, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar season 2018-19 at Rs. 275/- per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10%; providing a premium of Rs. 2.75/qtl for each 0.1 % increase in recovery over and above 10%. The cost of production of sugarcane for the sugar season 2018-19 is Rs. 155 per quintal.

This FRP Rs. 275 per quintal at recovery rate of 10% is higher by 77.42% over production cost thereby ensuring the promise of giving the farmers a return of more than 50 % over their cost. Keeping the expected production of sugarcane in the sugar season 2018-19 the total remittance to the sugarcane farmers will be more than Rs. 83,000 crore. The Government through its pro-farmer measures will ensure that sugarcane farmers get their dues in time.

The Government with a view to protect interest of farmers has also decided that there shall not be any deduction in case of mills where recovery is below 9.5%. Such farmers will get Rs. 261.25 per quintal for sugarcane in place of Rs. 255/qtl in the current season.

The FRP so approved shall be applicable for purchase of sugarcane from the farmers in the sugar season 2018-19 (starting w.e.f. 1st October, 2018) by the sugar mills.

The sugar sector is an important agro-based sector that impacts the livelihood of about 5 crore sugarcane farmers and their dependents and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills, apart from those employed in various ancillary activities including farm labour and transportation.

Background:

The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with State Governments and other stake-holders. Recommended FRP has been arrived at by taking into account various factors such as cost of production, overall demand-supply situation, domestic and international prices, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade prices of primary by-products, and likely impact of FRP on general price level and resource use efficiency.

In order to improve the liquidity of the industry so that the cane price arrears of farmers can be cleared, the Government has implemented a series of interventions in the past few months including allocation of mill-wise Minimum Indicative Export Quota (MIEQ) of 20 LMT and financial assistance @Rs.5.50/quintal of cane crushed amounting to about Rs.1500 crore.

Further to ensure clearance of their dues, the Government brought out a comprehensive package of about Rs.7000 crore. This includes creation of buffer stock of 30 LMT at the cost of Rs.1200 crore and a major scheme worth more than Rs.4,400 crore for increasing the ethanol capacity in the country for diversion of sugarcane for production of ethanol in surplus sugar season to facilitate timely payment of sugarcane dues of farmers. The Government will bear the interest subvention cost of about Rs. 1332 crore for this scheme.

The Government also decided a minimum price for sale of sugar at Rs.29/kg. which will help clearance of sugarcane dues of the farmers. Through the measures mentioned above the liquidity position of sugar mills has improved and as a result cane price arrears of farmers which were peaked at Rs. 23,232 cr on 21.05.2018 have come down to Rs. 17,824 cr and are expected to reduce further in coming months.

Tags : Fair price Determination Sugar mills

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Press Information Bureau

18.07.2018

Civil

Eradication of Child Labour

MANU/PIBU/1051/2018

Child Labour is an outcome of various socio-economic problems such as poverty, economic backwardness, illiteracy etc. As per 2011 Census, the number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is 43.53 lakh which shows a decline from 57.79 lakh as per 2001 Census.

Under Legislative action plan Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force w.e.f 01.09.2016. The Amendment Act, inter alia, provides for complete prohibition on employment or work of children below 14 years and also prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes. Ministry of Labour & Employment has circulated an Action Plan to all States/UTs indicating the provisions and related actions by State Governments/UTs for enforcement of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.

After strengthening the legislative framework through amendment in Child Labour Act, Government has framed the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017 which inter alia specifies the duties and responsibilities of State Governments and District Authorities to ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Act. Government has also devised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as a ready reckoner for trainers, practitioners and enforcing and monitoring agencies and the same has been forwarded to all States/UTs.

To ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme a separate online portal PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) has been developed. The Portal connects Central Government to State Government(s), District(s) and all District Project Societies. Further the Ministry has instructed all the concerned States where NCLP Scheme is sanctioned, to form State Resource Centre (SRC) under the chairmanship of State Labour Secretary, which would monitor the enforcement of Child Labour Act, coordinate for the rescue of children and adolescents, child tracking system and supervise all the functions through PENCIL portal. SRC would also prepare and implement awareness generation plan to curb the menace of child labour in the State.

This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Tags : Child Labour Eradication Enforcement Provisions

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Press Information Bureau

18.07.2018

Civil

Promotion of GI Products

MANU/PIBU/1053/2018

The Government has undertaken several steps as a part of the campaign for promotion of Indian products registered as Geographical Indications (GIs). These include, participation in events to promote and create awareness on GIs through social media, involving State Governments, Union Territory Administration and other relevant organizations for facilitation of GI producers. All State Governments have been requested to appoint nodal officers for promotion of Geographical Indications from their respective states, establish facilitation cells for each GI from the state, undertake steps for GI awareness in consumers, undertake training of GI producers, take effective action against manufacture and sale of counterfeit GI products among others. This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, C. R. Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Tags : GI Products Promotion Steps

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Press Information Bureau

18.07.2018

Civil

Cabinet approves MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, Bahrain

MANU/PIBU/1054/2018

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), Bahrain to work together to strengthen the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within Bahrain.

Salient Features:

ICAI will provide technical assistance to BIBF by reviewing the current curriculum of BIBF related to accounting and finance;

ICAI will recommend introduction of its CA Course curriculum that will facilitate BIBF students to write ICAI's Examination with an aim to acquire membership of ICAI;

ICAI will provide technical assistance in holding ICAI's professional examination for qualified BIBF students;

The MoU will provide an opportunity to the ICAI members to expand their professional horizon and simultaneously ICAI will become an entity to aid strengthen building of local national capabilities.

The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interest of members, students and their organizations.

Beneficiaries:

Since Bahrain does not have a local professional accountancy Institute and it is the ICAI which has the collaboration with BIBF, this in turn is likely to build positive impact for Indian Chartered Accountants currently working in Bahraini markets and those intending to move to this country relatively easier. Bahrain having the confidence in the credibility and the ability of ICAI, is desirous of ICAI's assistance in promoting and developing its own nationals in area of accounting and auditing performance thus addressing issue of creating a base of competent accounting professionals to pave the way for gradual skill development in accountancy.

Background:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, 'The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949', to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) was founded in 1981 to provide the training and development of human capital in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Tags : MOU Approval ICAI

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Press Information Bureau

18.07.2018

Civil

Creating credible data on Inter-State Migrants

MANU/PIBU/1050/2018

In Order to safeguard the interest of the Migrant workers, the Central Government has enacted the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1979 which, inter alia, provides for registration of certain establishments employing Inter State Migrant Workers, licensing of contractors etc. by the appropriate Government. Workers employed with such establishment are to be provided payment of minimum wages, journey allowance, displacement allowance, residential accommodation, medical facilities and protective clothing etc. Registers and records are to be maintained giving particular of the Inter-State Migrant Workers, the nature of work performed by such workmen, the rates of the wages paid to the workmen etc. Every principal employer and every contractor is to keep exhibited within the premises of the establishment where the Inter-State Migrant Workmen is employed, notices in the prescribed form containing the particulars about the hours of work, nature of work etc.

Tags : Data Inter-State Migrants Creation

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Ministry of Finance

18.07.2018

Customs

Refund of IGST on export of goods on payment of duty-Clarification in case of SB003 errors and extension of date in SB005 and other cases using officer Interface for rectification of errors-reg

MANU/CUCR/0022/2018

1. It may be recalled that in circular 15/2018-Customs dated 06.6.2018, CBIC has provided for the resolution of SB003 error in certain cases through the utility developed by the Directorate of Systems in a similar manner as SB005 error. It has been brought to the knowledge of the Board that in several cases, the exporters have mentioned PAN instead of GSTIN in the Shipping Bills, even though GSTIN has been correctly mentioned while filing the GST returns. Due to this mismatch, the IGST refund claims are not getting processed.

2. The matter has been examined. As PAN is embedded in the GSTIN, CBIC has decided to accord similar treatment to such cases also as are already covered under Para 2 of Circular 15/2018-Customs. The conditions prescribed in para 2 of the said circular shall apply mutatis mutandis.

3. CBIC has issued circulars 05/2018-Customs dated 23.02.2018, 08/2018-Customs dated 23.03.2018 and 15/2018-Customs dated 06.06.2018 wherein an alternative mechanism with an officer interface to resolve invoice mismatches (SB005 error) was provided for the shipping bills filed till 30.04.2018. Despite wide publicity and outreach programmes to make exporters aware about the need to have identical details in invoices given in shipping Bills and GST returns, it has been observed that a few exporters continue to commit such errors. Therefore, in view of the ongoing Refund Fortnight, giving high priority to the interests of exporters, it has been decided by the Board to extend the rectification facility to Shipping Bills filed up to 30.06.2018.

4. Further, the facility of rectification through Officer Interface is also extended in case of other errors mentioned in circulars (8/2018-Customs and 15/2018-Customs) for shipping bills filed up to 30.06.2018. However, at the same time, exporters are advised to henceforth ensure due diligence and discipline to avoid such mismatch errors as such extensions are not likely to be considered in future.

5. Field formations may, therefore, take necessary steps to bring these changes to the knowledge of exporters.

6. Difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version follows.

Tags : Goods Export Refund

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Press Information Bureau

17.07.2018

Motor Vehicles

Amendments Proposed to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, Fastags and Vehicle Tracking System to be Made Mandatory for All National Permit Commercial Vehicles Driving License

MANU/PIBU/1048/2018

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, making FASTags and Vehicle Tracking System device mandatory for all commercial vehicles obtaining national permit. The front wind screen of the vehicle will have to be affixed with a sticker confirming fitting of the Fastag. The draft amendments also stipulate other additional conditions for obtaining national permit that include display of the words "National Permit or N/P" in the front and rear of the vehicles in bold letters. In case of trailers, the words "N/P" will have to be inscribed on the rear and left side of the vehicle. The body of a tanker carrying dangerous or hazardous goods has to be painted in white colour and display the prescribed class label on both the sides and rear of the tanker. The vehicle will be affixed with reflective tapes at front and rear.

The proposed amendment also provides that no fitness certification shall be required at the time of registration for new transport vehicles sold as fully built vehicles. Such vehicles will be deemed to be having certificate of fitness for a period of two years from the date of registration. It has also been proposed that fitness certificate of transport vehicles will be renewed for a period of two years for vehicles up to eight years old and for one year for vehicles older than eight years.

The proposed amendment also provides that Driving License and Pollution Under Control certificates can be carried in physical or digital form.

All goods carriage vehicles will be required to carry goods in a closed body of the vehicle or container. If it is necessary to carry goods in open bodies, goods will be covered by using appropriate cover like tarpaulin or any other suitable material. However, goods of indivisible nature, not capable of being carried in a closed body or being covered, may be carried without cover.

Detailed notification in this regard is available on Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' website www. morth.nic.in. The Ministry has invited suggestions and objections to the proposed amendments, to be sent to the Joint Secretary (Transport), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001 or email at js-tpt@gov.in by the 11th of August this year.

Tags : Motor Vehicles Rules Amendments Proposal

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