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Standards/ TBTs / IPR-Market Access

Govt modifies public procurement norms to give more preference to local suppliers

The government has modified public procurement norms to give maximum preference to companies whose goods and services have 50 per cent or more local content, a move aimed at promoting 'Make in India' and making the country self-reliant. The revised Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India), Order 2017, has introduced a concept of Class-I, II and non-local suppliers, based on which they will get preference in government purchases of goods and services.

India’s exports dipped by a record 24.57 % in March. It contracted by 4.78 % to USD 314,31 billion in 2019-20

The commerce ministry has clarified that export incentives under Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) will be available to exporters only up to December 31 this year. The government after approving a new scheme – remission of duties and taxes on export products (RoDTEP) – in March this year has stated that MEIS will be phased out after rolling out of this new scheme. Under MEIS, the government provides duty benefits depending on product and country.

Develop local use cases and IPR in 5G: COAI

At a time when the 5G spectrum auctions appear to have been delayed till next year, industry body COAI has said that the government should facilitate creation of indigenous IPR around the high-speed mobile technology by developing local use cases through engagement with start-ups and businesses.

DG, COAI, said that the government should use the intervening period to carry out the groundwork related to the technology, especially with regards to developing India-specific solutions around the network and usage.

Final decision on customs duty on solar equipment to be announced soon: Government

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is likely to clarify the matter of basic customs duty (BCD) on imported solar equipment within the next two months. A 20 percent basic customs duty had been announced in the last budget but has not been imposed yet. Developers have been keenly awaiting such a clarification since the duty will impact their cost of setting up a project and thereby the tariff they charge for the power generated.