RBI tells exporters to sell dollars to give rupee a leg up

May 11, 2012

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Mumbai, May 11: The Reserve Bank of India ordered exporters to convert half of their foreign exchange earnings kept in bank accounts into Indian rupee to prop up the worst-performing BRICS currency, a day after it closed at a record low, prompting fears of a further slide.

But the relief lasted only a few hours before the rupee resumed its decline since the order could bring in just about $3 billion, enough to cover five days of deficit.

The RBI also cut banks' intra-day positions in currency trade to five times of the net overnight open positions, which is set by the central bank as part of curbs announced on December 15. The overnight positions are not disclosed by the central bank.

More measures, including funding crude imports from foreign exchange reserves, a new US dollar mobilisation scheme, or even a sovereign dollar bond sale to boost the currency, could be on the cards, traders speculated.

The early rally faded soon with the rupee coming off highs of 52.95 to the US dollar to close at 53.44. Its all-time closing low was 53.83, on Wednesday.

Most currencies falling against dollar

Despite a series of measures from the central bank, many believe that weak macroeconomic variables such as fiscal and current account deficits, and worsening global liquidity due to deteriorating European sovereign credit crisis may diminish the effectiveness of its response.

"The RBI announced two measures that will ease, (and) slightly reverse near-term pressure on INR, but neither fixes the underlying problems that are causing INR to depreciate," said Rajiv Mallik, senior economist, CLSA Singapore. "Further, USD squeeze also has adverse implications for onshore INR liquidity."

Half the balances in the so-called Exchange Earners' Foreign Currency (EEFC) accounts should be converted into rupee balances within a fortnight and that holds true for future earnings as well, said the central bank in a notification. Exporters will be allowed to buy foreign exchange only after exhausting US dollar deposits in their accounts.

Most currencies are sliding against the greenback as global investors retreat to the safety of US dollar amid resurgence of doubts over the future of the Euro.

The rupee has been hurt more than others since India needs US dollars from outside to pay for imports as it does not export enough to pay for imports. Most big emerging countries have a surplus since they earn more US dollars from exports than needed to pay for imports.

"The facility of EEFC scheme is intended to enable exchange earners to save on conversion, transaction costs while undertaking forex transactions in future," said the central bank. "This facility is not intended to enable exchange earners to maintain assets in foreign currency, as India is still not fully convertible on capital account."

Some recent measures of the central bank are akin to its actions during the Asian crisis of 1997-98, when it ordered companies to bring in the proceeds of share sales in the form of Global Depository Receipts.

In December last year, the central bank brought in measures to curb speculation, which helped the rupee rally in the March quarter. It has reversed since due to the government's tax policies directed at overseas investors that have increased uncertainty and also because of lack of economic reforms.

With the current account deficit, the excess of imports over exports, at 4.3% of the gross domestic product and portfolio flows tapering off, the currency could be under renewed pressure if either exports do not rise sharply, or imports do not slow.

Both are unlikely now given the state of the economy. Subsidised petroleum products keep demand high, and import of gold continues due to high inflation expectation. Slowing European economies cap export growth.

Trade deficit for April stood at $13.4 billion in April, after hitting a record of $185 billion last fiscal. Exports rose 3.2% while imports grew 3.8% to $37.9 billion.

A breather could come in the form of unconventional measures, as in the past. "There could be some unconventional measures such as the IMD (India Millennium Deposits), or the RIB (Resurgent India Bonds)," said Rohit Bammi, partner at consultants KPMG. "There's a possibility of routing crude imports through foreign exchange reserves to take out the volatility."

At the turn of the century, India raised funds through the Resurgent India Bonds, and India Millennium Deposits to improve the reserves position. These involved paying high interest rates to lure overseas Indians.

Although neither the government nor the central bank has committed to such programmes, speculation is rife due to the sliding rupee. Indeed, some believe it may be the right time to float USD sovereign bonds that could bring in some fiscal discipline and also create a benchmark for Indian corporates keen to borrow overseas.

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News Network
June 19,2020

New Delhi, Jun 19: Petrol price on Friday was hiked by 56 paise per litre and diesel by 63 paise a litre, taking the cumulative increase in rates to Rs 7.11 and Rs 7.67 per litre respectively in less than two weeks.

Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 78.37 per litre from Rs 77.81, while diesel rates were increased to Rs 77.06 a litre from Rs 76.43, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT.

This is the 13th daily increase in rates in a row since oil companies on June 7 restarted revising prices in line with costs, after ending an 82-day hiatus in rate revision.

In 13 hikes, petrol price has gone up by Rs 7.11 per litre and diesel by Rs 7.67 a litre.

The freeze in rates was imposed in mid-March soon after the government hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel to shore up additional finances.

Oil PSUs Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) instead of passing on the excise duty hikes to customers adjusted them against the fall in the retail rates that was warranted because of fall in international oil prices to two decade low.

International oil prices have since rebounded and oil firms are now adjusting retail rates in line with them.

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News Network
February 6,2020

Feb 6: India has been ranked 40th out of 53 countries on a global intellectual property index, even as the country has shown improvement in terms of scores when it comes to the protection of IP and copyright issues, a top American industry body said on Wednesday.

India was placed at 36th position among 50 countries in 2019.

India's score, however, increased from 36.04 per cent (16.22 out of 45) in 2019 to 38.46 per cent (19.23 out of 50) in 2020, a 2.42 per cent jump in an absolute score.

However, India's relative score increased by 6.71 per cent, according to the International IP Index released by Global Innovation Policy Center or GIPC of the US Chambers of Commerce.

This year, it finds itself on the 40th place among 53 countries. Two new Index economies (Greece and the Dominican Republic) scored ahead of India. The Philippines, and Ukraine leapfrogged India.

"Since the release of the 2016 National IPR Policy, the government of India has made a focused effort to support investments in innovation and creativity through increasingly robust IP protection and enforcement," the GIPC said.

Since 2016, India has improved the speed of processing for patent and trademark applications, increased awareness of IP rights among Indian innovators and creators, and facilitated the registration and enforcement of those rights, it added.

According to the eighth edition of the annual report, India's score on the Chamber's International IP Index demonstrates the country's growing investment in IP-driven innovation and creativity. The Index specifically highlights a number of reforms over the last year that strengthen India's overall IP ecosystem, it said.

"In 2019, the Delhi High Court used dynamic injunctions to disable access to copyright-infringing content online, resulting in an increase in India's score on two of the copyright-related indicators," it said.

"The use of these injunctions places India alongside global leaders in copyright enforcement, including Singapore and the UK. As a result, India scores ahead of 24 other economies in the copyright indicators," the report said.

The Delhi High Court also issued a series of judgements that provide clarity on existing statutes related to trademark protection online, resulting in a score increase on one of the trademark-related indicators, it added.

The courts issued two precedential rulings that raised the bar for the damages awarded in IP-infringement cases and may provide a deterrent for future infringement. This resulted in an increase in score on one of the trademark-related indicators, it said.

Global Innovation Policy Center or GIPC said India also continues to score well in the Systemic Efficiency indicator, scoring ahead of 28 other economies in these indicators.

"This is a result of a concerted effort by the Indian government to consult with stakeholders during IP policy formation and create greater awareness about the importance of IP protection,” it said adding that India also remains a leader in the use of targeted incentives and IP assets for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“To continue this upward trajectory, much work remains to be done to introduce transformative changes to India’s overall IP framework and take serious steps to consistently implement strong IP standards," the report said.

GIPC has identified several challenges for India. Prominent among them being patentability requirements, patent enforcement, compulsory licensing, patent opposition, regulatory data protection, transparency in reporting seizures by customs, and Singapore Treaty of Law of TMs and Patent Law Treaty.

"We are encouraged that Indian policymakers seem to recognize this Index as a valuable resource in their efforts to strengthen the country’s promising innovation ecosystem and enhance its competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy,” the report said.

Observing that no other economy stands to gain more from strong Indian IP than India itself, the report said for example, no industry has been hurt more by copyright violations in India than the country’s own Bollywood industry, which loses almost USD3 billion to piracy each year.

"The number one way the Modi administration can demonstrate its commitment to the success of the Atal Innovation Mission, Accelerating Growth for New India’s Innovations, Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India is to strengthen its IP framework in ways that promote the legal and regulatory certainty necessary for greater R&D investment, high-value jobs, and greater innovative and creative outputs,” it said.

"Strong IP standards can further solidify India's position as the world’s fastest-growing economy, bolstering its reputation as a destination for doing business, foreign businesses’ ability to invest and make in India, thereby supporting the growth of India’s own innovative and creative industries," the report said.

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News Network
April 11,2020

New Delhi, Apr 11: Calling upon chief ministers to popularise Aarogya Setu app, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it will an essential tool in India's fight against coronavirus and referred to the possibility of the app being an "e-pass which could subsequently facilitate travel from one place to other".

Interacting with chief ministers through video conference, the Prime Minister mentioned how South Korea and Singapore had got success in contact tracing and said India has made its own effort through the app amid efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

A PMO release said that the Prime Minister spoke about popularizing the Aarogya Setu app to ensure downloads in greater numbers.

"He referred to how South Korea and Singapore got success in contact tracing. Based on those experiences, India has made its own effort through the app which will be an essential tool in India's fight against the pandemic, he said. He also referred to the possibility of the app being an e-pass which could subsequently facilitate travel from one place to another," the release said.

The Prime Minister had earlier this week urged people to download the app saying it is an important step in the fight against COVID-19 and its effectiveness will increase as more people use it.

"Aarogya Setu is an important step in our fight against COVID-19. By leveraging technology, it provides important information. As more and more people use it, it's effectiveness will increase. I urge you all to download it," he had said in a tweet.

The app launched earlier this month in public-private partnership enables people to themselves assess the risk for their catching the coronavirus infection.

The app makes its calculations based on a person's interaction with others, using Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.

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