FDI in retail and aviation sectors set to become a reality now

September 21, 2012

FDI_Retail

New Delhi, September 21: The government on Thursday evening braved intense political opposition and a nationwide bandh to notify the rules for allowing foreign retailers such as Walmart and Carrefour to set up stores in India.

The government also notified the relaxed conditions for single-brand retail as well as the norms for allowing 49% investment by foreign airlines in Indian carriers and permitting greater foreign investment in some sections of the broadcasting sector, sending out a clear message that it will not be cowed down by protests and effectively severing its relations with Trinamool Congress.

These notifications give effect to the decisions taken by the Cabinet last Friday, which have resulted in a political uproar and possibly threatened the long-term stability of the Manmohan Singh government.

Industry was quick to welcome the government's move. "...the notifications have been issued quite promptly, reflecting the government's strong commitment towards the reforms process. This will put to rest all apprehension on whether there would be any turnaround," said CII Director-General Chandrajit Banerjee.

The policy says foreign retailers can only open stores in states that have agreed to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. "The above policy is an enabling policy only," said the press note issued by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.

Bar on Online Retail Trading

"State governments and Union Territories would be free to take their own decisions in regard to implementation of the policy," said the DIPP press note. The policy prohibits retail trading through e-commerce by companies with FDI engaged in multibrand retailing. This means the ban on FDI in B2C e-commerce continues, preventing Amazon and others from entering India.

The states that have agreed to allow foreign investment in multibrand retail, according to the press note, are Andhra, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, J&K, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and the UTs like Daman & Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The new rules stipulate that foreign retailers will have to invest a minimum of $100 million, and at least 50% of the total FDI brought in will have to be invested in backend infrastructure. They will have to source 30% of products from small industry within five years of operations, and every year subsequently.

Moreover, if a small industry crosses the $1-million investment mark in plant and machinery, purchases from it will not be counted towards the 30% mandatory sourcing requirement. If a state does not have a city with one million population, an exemption can be made.

The DIPP has also notified the relaxed rules for single-brand retail trading, allowing foreign retailers with more than 51% FDI the freedom to locally source 30% of the value of goods sold over a five-year period initially, and every year subsequently.

It also relaxed the condition that the single-brand retailer has to own the brand, allowing any one entity to retail the brand. Even FDI-funded single-brand retailers will not be allowed to sell their goods through e-commerce.

"The guidelines will allow many single-brand retail companies to come to India," said Diljeet Titus, senior partner at Titus & Co, which is working with foreign retailers looking to enter India.


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News Network
May 18,2020

New Delhi, May 18: With the highest-ever spike of 5,242 new cases in last 24 hours, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in India reached 96,169 on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

With 157 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll has risen to 3,029, as per the latest update by the ministry.

Out of the total number of cases, 36,824 have been cured/discharged/migrated.

This comes a day after the nationwide lockdown, imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, was extended till May 31.

Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state due to the virus with 33,053 cases, including 1,198 deaths. It is followed by Gujarat (11,379), Tamil Nadu (11,224) and Delhi (10,054).

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News Network
February 5,2020

New Delhi, Feb 5: Taking on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after Shaheen Bagh shooter Kapil Baisala was identified as an AAP worker by police, BJP chief J P Nadda on Tuesday said it exposed the party and Kejriwal who were playing with the country's security.

The Aam Aadmi Party hit back, questioning the police investigation.

In a series of tweets, Nadda said people of the country and Delhi today have seen the "dirty face" of AAP.

"For political longing, Kejriwal and his people even sold the security of the country. Earlier, Kejriwal used to insult the Army and advocate terrorists, but today relations with those who carry out their terrorist activities came to light," he said.

Nadda said he wanted to make it clear to Kejriwal that this country is bigger than any election, any government, and "this nation will not forgive those who play with its security. Kejriwal and his entire team have been exposed. The people of Delhi will give a befitting reply".

He claimed the entire country has seen "photos of Imam Hussain, the MLA and former minister of the Delhi government, with a radical terrorist organisation, PFI".

Days before Delhi goes to polls, police claimed that Baisala is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party. They said Baisala joined the party in early 2019 along with his father.

Police said it had photos of Baisala purportedly joining AAP along with his father Gaje Singh last year.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that photos which were part of investigation were leaked to the BJP. He also said the party will approach the Election Commission to raise this issue, which has cropped up four days before the polling date.

"On whose instance, the police is giving statement? How did the photos which were part of the investigation reach the BJP? Before the news came out, Manoj Tiwari in the morning stated that the accused was from AAP. How did Manoj Tiwari get this news," Singh questioned in a press conference.

Union minister and BJP's in-charge for the Delhi polls, Prakash Javadekar, in a press conference alleged that "their (AAP's) designs are very clear from the beginning and they are trying every trick".

The whole conspiracy of AAP is to "divide society, cause fear in a community and create a vote bank," he charged.

Javadekar also claimed that photos of Baisala were recovered by police from his mobile phone although they were erased.

He also claimed that Baisala and his father were welcomed by Sanjay Singh at their joining of AAP.

"This proves AAP misleads youth and pushes them on the wrong path. AAP's strategy is to divide two communities, they want to instigate riots in Delhi," Javadekar alleged.

He further alleged that AAP leader Sanjay Singh had said violence would take place in Delhi. Their "conspiracy has been exposed by Delhi Police," he claimed.

"We condemn this politics of AAP," he said.

Javadekar also claimed this was "not an isolated incident" as AAP member Amanatullah Khan made a "very provocative speech" and the party supported Shaheen Bagh and did not give permission for the prosecution of members of the "tukde-tukde gang".

He hinted the BJP could approach the Election Commission against AAP over the issue.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Mumbai, Mar 28: Doctors in Mumbai have not been spared by the novel coronavirus. As Mumbai’s count for Covid-19 cases went up to 58, an octogenarian doctor from Saifee Hospital passed away on Friday. He was a suspected case of coronavirus with co-morbid conditions like diabetes and had a pacemaker implanted, said a press release from the state health department.

As per a statement from Saifee Hospital, he underwent a CT scan at Saifee Hospital and was diagnosed positive for Covid-19. The surgeon was transferred to the special isolation facility at PD Hinduja Hospital where he subsequently died. Behranwala’s close relatives had come down from England and were under quarantine.

In a statement, Saifee Hospital, where Behranwala underwent CT scan, said, "All containment and surveillance measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of our staff patients and visitors. Saifee Hospital reiterates that the Hospital is fully operational," said Dr Vernon Desa, Director (Medical governance and clinical compliance) Saifee Hospital.

In the second case, an Andheri-based doctor, aged 53, has been tested positive along with his 43-year-old wife and 20-year-old daughter. The family doesn’t have a travel history. The doctor reportedly came in contact with the virus through a patient. MCGM has taken samples of 60 patients who came in contact with the doctor. "As of now, no patient from his contact has tested positive," Assistant Commissioner, Vishwas Mote.

Another doctor who practiced at Vakola tested positive after he came in contact with a person having travel history to Italy, later tested positive. The doctor has been admitted at Raheja hospital and samples of his close contact have been taken.

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