Ministry of Commerce and Industry

03.01.2019

Commercial

Export of Red Sanders wood by Government of Karnataka - Extension of time

MANU/DGFT/0001/2019

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 read with Para 1.02 of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020), the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in Para 3 of Notification No. 40/2015-2020 dated 27.11.2017 :

Para 3 of the Notification No. 40/2015-2020 dated 27.11.2017 relating to export of Red Sanders wood by Government of Karnataka or its authorised entities is substituted as under:

"3. State Government of Karnataka shall finalize the modalities including allocation of quantities to various entities, as applicable, for export of the balance quantity of Red Sanders wood and shall complete the whole process of export latest by 30th April, 2019".

2. Other provisions of Notification No. 40/2015-2020 dated 27.11.2017 shall remain unchanged.

3. Effect of this notification:

Time upto 30.04.2019 has been allowed to State Government of Karnataka, to finalize the modalities and complete the process of export of balance quantity of Red Sanders wood.

Tags : Export Red Sanders wood Extension Time

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Press Information Bureau

03.01.2019

Education

Regulations for a four year B.Ed. integrated course published in official gazette in November, 2018

MANU/PIBU/0024/2019

The recruitment and service conditions of teachers are primarily in the domain of State Governments/UT Administrations. The Central Government through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha provides assistance to State Governments/UTs for additional teachers to maintain appropriate Pupil Teacher Ratio as per the requirements of the States/UTs. The steps taken by the Central Government to improve teachers' performance include, inter alia, regular in-service teachers' training, induction training for newly recruited teachers, academic support for teachers and monitoring teachers' attendance through School Management Committees/School Management Development Committees/Block Resource Centres/Clusters Resource Centres and encouraging States and UTs to use digital technology like installation of Bio-metric attendance system in schools. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed Performance Indicators for Elementary Education (PINDICS) to track teacher performance and attendance in Government schools. PINDICS have been shared with State Governments/UTs to assess teacher's performance.

Further, a four year B.Ed integrated course to bring about qualitative improvement in teacher education programmes in India has been conceptualised and regulations for this course has been published in official gazette on 22nd November, 2018. The model curriculum prepared for this course includes crucial aspects like Gender, Inclusive education, ICT, Yoga, Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Health & Sanitation. The teaching specialization would primarily be for the primary levels and the secondary level.

Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) have developed a dedicated digital infrastructure for teachers, DIKSHA, with the aim to empower school teachers of the country with access to innovative tech-based solutions. DIKSHA is a unique initiative that leverages existing, highly scalable and flexible digital infrastructures, around the needs of teachers for effective teaching and administration.

Section 23(2) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 has been amended to extend the period for training of untrained in-service elementary teachers to 31st March, 2019. As per above amendment, all untrained in-service teachers working in Government, Government aided and Private un-aided schools should acquire minimum qualification as laid down by an academic authority, authorized by the Central Government by 31st March, 2019. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has been entrusted to conduct this training through ODL(Open Distance Learning) mode. The online D.El.Ed. course has already been started from 3rd October, 2017. As on date (12.03.2018), 13,78,979 untrained in-service teachers have confirmed admissions at NIOS portal. The Central Government has been consistently pursuing the matter of improving quality of teachers, their expeditious recruitment and redeployment with the States and UTs at various forums.

Tags : Regulations B.Ed. course Publication

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Press Information Bureau

03.01.2019

Civil

Standardisation of Handicrafts Industry

MANU/PIBU/0026/2019

To organize and standardize the Indian Handicrafts, Government has registered approximately 22.85 lakhs artisans under Pahchan initiative. Moreover, 35 crafts have been identified as endangered crafts and 92 crafts have been registered under Geographical Indication Act.

Handicraft is an unorganized and diversified sector with an estimated 70 lakh artisans practicing 32 broad crafts categories throughout the country.

For standardization of carpet, carpet rating scheme has been formulated, but handicraft items are mainly made by hands. Beauty of handicrafts lies in the artistic hands of the artisans and each handicraft product is different from other even if it is made by same artisan using same raw material. Government has taken initiatives to establish authenticity of handmade products. For this purpose, scheme of handicraft mark has been conceptualized and handicraft mark for wood craft is being formulated on pilot basis.

Further to create awareness and celebrate success of GI registered crafts, commemorative postage-stamp on five crafts namely Kutch Embroidery, Karnataka Bronzeware, Maddalam of Palkkad, Sikki Grass Product of Bihar and Blue Pottery of Jaipur was released on 31.12.2018.

Direct marketing portal for handicraft artisans has been launched to provide direct market access facility to genuine handicraft artisans including tribal artisans working in the far flung areas. Any handicraft artisan registered under Pachchan can utilize this portal for marketing their products. Till date 302 artisans have been registered on the portal. India Handmade Bazaar portal has been established by the Department itself. Digital market place is also in place.

Tags : Standardisation Handicrafts Industry Artisans Registration

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Press Information Bureau

02.01.2019

Civil

Defence Procurement from Private Sector

MANU/PIBU/0007/2019

Capital procurement of defence equipment from domestic and foreign vendors is undertaken as per the extant Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). During current financial year 2018-19 (upto October, 2018), out of 22 contracts signed with Indian vendors, 8 contracts have been signed with Indian private vendors for procurement of defence equipment.

Government is pursuing initiatives to achieve higher levels of indigenization and self-reliance in the defence sector by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector industries in the country.

These measures include according priority and preference to procurement from Indian vendors and liberalization of the licensing regime. Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) accords the highest priority to Buy Indian (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) (IDDM). The 'Make' procedure has been simplified with provisions for earmarking projects not exceeding development cost of Rs.10 crores (government funded) and Rs.3 crores (Industry funded) for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and with provisions for involving private industry as production agencies and technology transfer partners. Government has also promulgated the policy on Strategic Partnership in the Defence Sector to encourage broader participation of the private sector in manufacture of major defence platforms and equipment.

Tags : Defence Procurement Private Sector

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Press Information Bureau

02.01.2019

Commercial

Report of Task Force on e-Commerce Policy

MANU/PIBU/0005/2019

A Think Tank on 'Framework for National Policy on e-Commerce' was established by Department of Commerce and a Task Force under the Think Tank was set up for preparing recommendations for India's National Policy on e-Commerce. The Task Force was further divided into 9 sub-groups. The first meeting of the Think Tank was held on 24th April, 2018, meeting of the subgroups was held during 20th - 22nd June, 2018 and the first meeting of the Task Force was held on 6th July, 2018.

Further, the second meeting of the Think Tank was held on 30th July, 2018. Subsequent to the consultations held, Department of Commerce formulated a Draft policy document titled "Electronic Commerce in India: Stakeholder Recommendations Received for a National Policy Framework". Consequent to the change in Allocation of Business Rules, "Matters related to e-Commerce" has been transferred to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The formulation of e-Commerce policy is under consideration of the Government, for which no timeline has been fixed.

Tags : Task Force Report E-Commerce Policy

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Reserve Bank of India

01.01.2019

Banking

RBI releases guidelines on restructuring of advances to MSMEs

MANU/RPRL/0001/2019

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form an important component of the Indian economy and contribute significantly to the country's GDP, exports, industrial output, employment generation, etc. Considering the importance of MSMEs in the Indian economy, it is considered necessary at this juncture to take certain measures for creating an enabling environment for the sector.

The issue of restructuring of MSME accounts was discussed in the meeting of the Central Board of RBI on November 19, 2018. The matter was also discussed during RBI's recent interactions with the banks and other stakeholders.

The above issue has been examined in RBI and a view has been taken to facilitate meaningful restructuring of MSME accounts that have become stressed. RBI has decided to permit a one-time restructuring of existing loans to MSMEs that are in default but 'standard' as on January 1, 2019, without an asset classification downgrade. To be eligible for the scheme, the aggregate exposure, including non-fund based facilities of banks and NBFCs, to a borrower should not exceed Rs. 250 million as on January 1, 2019. The restructuring has to be implemented by March 31, 2020. A provision of 5% in addition to the provisions already held, shall be made in respect of accounts restructured under this scheme. Each bank/NBFC should formulate a policy for this scheme with Board approval which shall, inter alia, include framework for viability assessment of the stressed accounts and regular monitoring of the restructured accounts.

Tags : Guidelines Release MSMEs

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Press Information Bureau

01.01.2019

Commercial

Impact of Trade Agreements

MANU/PIBU/0002/2019

Some industry associations including those relating to steel have expressed concerns on imports under bilateral free trade agreements with Japan, Korea and ASEAN. However, steel imports from these countries include high grade steel, which are not manufactured domestically.

The volume of trade, including both exports and imports with these countries has increased since the signing of the bilateral trade agreements. Notwithstanding a slight increase in trade deficit, the domestic industry has benefited from the trade agreements due to cheaper import of raw materials and intermediates from these countries for stimulating value added domestic manufacturing. The trade agreements have adequate trade remedial provisions for dealing with certain surges in imports that might threaten domestic industry.

Tags : Trade Agreements Impact Exports Imports

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