The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is in the process of setting up of a mechanism to handhold investors and help them set up their facilities in India. DPIIT Secretary said that the proposal is being sent to the Commerce and Industry Minister for approval, following which it will set up an investment promotion and facilitation agency Invest India. It will be funded by the DPIIT.
Government to use technical regulations to curb non-essential imports
The Indian government is considering beefing up the technical regulation regime in an attempt to curb non-essential imports into the country. BIS, the nodal standards regulator has been tasked by the Commerce ministry to notify at least 5000 technical standards as against the 370 or so that is present currently. The idea is to allow imports of only those products that conform to technical regulation norms that are being drawn up by BIS. Many countries used standards as a non-tariff measure to regulate imports.
Following a push towards electric vehicles by the central government, India can become one of the largest EV markets in the world. A new analysis released by the World Economic Forum and Ola Mobility Institute shows there are ten states and union territories building a momentum for electric vehicle usage across manufacturing, infrastructure and services sectors. With many more states in the process of designing their EV policies, policymakers, businesses, etc
DoT targeting for spectrum auction in March 2020
DoT is targeting spectrum auction in mid-March 2020, after its high-powered committee on spectrum pricing decided in favour of TRAI's recommended base price. "We are targeting March for spectrum auction for 5G and others. We will push for cabinet approval next month after taking Digital Communications Commission nod on prices. Our internal committee has cleared the TRAI base prices for all the bands, all processes are concurrently going on official sources said.
LoRa Alliance announces First Authorized Test Houses in India
The LoRa Alliance, the global association of companies backing the open LoRaWAN standard for the Internet of Things (IoT), announced that LoRa Alliance Authorized Test House. TÜV Rheinland has opened a LoRaWAN Certification testing site in India, and that DEKRA will also offer local certification testing by the end of the year. Both company’s sites in India will provide local testing of LoRaWAN devices seeking to become LoRaWAN Certified.
Data localisation in RCEP for security interests
India has proposed locating computing facilities inside the country if it is meant to protect its essential security interests and national interests at the ongoing negotiations of the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement. It is said that the participating countries may prevent cross-border transfer of information by electronic means, including personal information, only where it is “necessary to achieve a legitimate public policy objective” or “necessary for its essential security interests or national interests”.
To promote electric vehicles (EV), Power Minister approved amendments in guidelines and specifications for charging infrastructure. These revised guidelines and specifications shall supersede the earlier guidelines and standards. To address the range of issues of the EV owners, a phase-wise installation of a network of charging infrastructure throughout the country has been envisaged in the new guidelines to ensure that at least one charging station should be available in a grid of 3 km X 3 km in the cities and one charging station at every 25 km on both sides of highways and roads. Read More
For downloading revised guidelines please click here
Attracted by India’s electric vehicle (EV) mobility play, the BP’s group joint venture (JV) with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) may roll out charging networks across the country in the future. This comes in after announcement of RIL and BP JV fuel retailing partnership for India. The joint venture, which is owned 51% by RIL and 49% by BP, plans to set up 5,500 fuel retail outlets across India.
International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), the automotive R&D and testing agency under Government of India has launched a new testing and development facility in Manesar. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises inaugurated the new facility. As the agency claims, this new facility will help in bringing out the technical advantages of hybrid electric vehicles.
The transport ministry has issued draft guidelines for setting up authorised vehicle scrapping facilities, a move that will help legalise the industry in India. Entities setting up these facilities should meet the minimal technical requirements for collection and dismantling centres specified in guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board. Environment, quality management and occupational health and safety certification must be obtained within six months of starting operations.