Cabinet approves National Intellectual Property Rights Policy
The Union Cabinet yesterday approved the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy that will lay the future roadmap for intellectual property in India. The Policy recognises the abundance of creative and innovative energies that flow in India, and the need to tap into and channelise these energies towards a better and brighter future for all. The National IPR Policy is a vision document that aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned statutes and agencies. It sets in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review. It aims to incorporate and adapt global best practices to the Indian scenario. This policy shall weave in the strengths of the Government, research and development organizations, educational institutions, corporate entities including MSMEs, start-ups and other stakeholders in the creation of an innovation-conducive environment, which stimulates creativity and innovation across sectors, as also facilitates a stable, transparent and service-oriented IPR administration in the country. The Policy recognizes that India has a well-established TRIPS-compliant legislative, administrative and judicial framework to safeguard IPRs, which meets its international obligations while utilizing the flexibilities provided in the international regime to address its developmental concerns. It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS agreement. While IPRs are becoming increasingly important in the global arena, there is a need to increase awareness on IPRs in India, be it regarding the IPRs owned by oneself or respect for others’ IPRs. The importance of IPRs as a marketable financial asset and economic tool also needs to be recognised. For this, domestic IP filings, as also commercialization of patents granted, need to increase. Innovation and sub-optimal spending on R&D too are issues to be addressed. The broad contours of the National IPR Policy are as follows: Vision Statement: An India where creativity and innovation are stimulated by Intellectual Property for the benefit of all; an India where intellectual property promotes advancement in science and technology, arts and culture, traditional knowledge and biodiversity resources; an India where knowledge is the main driver of development, and knowledge owned is transformed into knowledge shared. Mission Statement: Stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced intellectual property rights system in India to: o foster creativity and innovation and thereby, promote entrepreneurship and enhance socio-economic and cultural development, and o focus on enhancing access to healthcare, food security and environmental protection, among other sectors of vital social, economic and technological importance. Objectives: The Policy lays down the following seven objectives: i. IPR Awareness: Outreach and Promotion – To create public awareness about the economic, social and cultural benefits of IPRs among all sections of society. ii. Generation of IPRs – To stimulate the generation of IPRs. iii. Legal and Legislative Framework – To have strong and effective IPR laws, which balance the interests of rights owners with larger public interest. iv. Administration and Management – To modernize and strengthen service-oriented IPR administration. v. Commercialization of IPRs – Get value for IPRs through commercialization. vi. Enforcement and Adjudication – To strengthen the enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for combating IPR infringements. vii. Human Capital Development – To strengthen and expand human resources, institutions and capacities for teaching, training, research and skill building in IPRs. These objectives are sought to be achieved through detailed action points. The action by different Ministries/ Departments shall be monitored by DIPP which shall be the nodal department to coordinate, guide and oversee implementation and future development of IPRs in India. The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy will endeavor for a “Creative India; Innovative India: ???????? ????; ????? ????”. Matt Moulson Womens Jersey
Air India Group to add 100 planes to fleet in 4 years: Chief Ashwani Lohani
Switching into expansion mode, the Air India Group has decided to add 100 planes to its current fleet of 132 in the next four years. All airlines within the group — parent AI, AI Express and Alliance Air — will get more aircraft under the plan. This time the airline will opt for leasing, unlike the 111-aircraft order of UPA-I when planes were bought. “By March 31, 2020, AI group will have 232 planes. While nine aircraft (six Boeing 787s and three B-777) are from the previous order (of 111 planes), the rest will be new orders for leasing planes. We are going to grow aggressively and fight for leadership across segments,” AI chairman Ashwani Lohani told TOI. The parent AI currently has 41 wide-body aircraft of Boeing including 747, 777 and 787. “We will induct 14 more wide-body aircraft. By the end of this year when we get some Dreamliners, we will add Delhi-Madrid and have direct connectivity between India and Spain. This will be a first for India,” Lohani said. AI is looking at launching one-stop flights to US, apart from its trademark non-stop. AI will take on lease 40 more Airbus A-320s for the erstwhile Indian Airlines that serves domestic and nearby international routes. It currently has 66 Airbus family narrow-body planes. AI’s regional arm, Alliance Air, currently has 12 turboprops and five of them will return by the year-end, leaving it with seven planes. “We will order 35 more turboprops,” said Lohani. The airline will get 10 more ATR-72 by the end of this fiscal and is aiming for a fleet size of 43 by the end of 2018. “AI Express, which currently has 17 Boeing 737s, will get 18 more B-737s,” the chairman said. He added the airline will simultaneously start working on crew recruitment and finalising other logistics for the proposed fleet expansion. AI is going to have a small operating profit this year and is focussed on increasing its revenue. However, the annual debt servicing of Rs 4,000 crore remains a sore point with the airline. Air India chief Ashwani Lohani had recently told AI employees in a letter that the Maharaja’s “survival will remain at stake” till it is able to cover the annual debt servicing cost of Rs 4,000 crore. “This (operating profit) is just the first milestone and the airline still has a long way to go to meet its total costs…. The target for full turnaround is FY 2018-19, maybe a year earlier and till then our financial position shall continue to remain tight,” he said in the letter to employees. AI has loans of Rs 48,400 crore. Ryan Fitzpatrick Authentic Jersey
Initiative of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on the New Excise Policy 2016 by Government of Bihar
1. Recently, Government of Bihar has announced New Excise Policy, wherein total ban has been imposed on liquor in Bihar. Government of Bihar had requested Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to explore whether the oil companies would be able to lift the entire ethanol produced by the distilleries in Bihar. 2. The Central Government is keen to undertake developmental works more specifically for the agriculture sector in the State of Bihar. The proposal of Government of Bihar has been considered by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in consultation with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). OMCs under MoP&NG have informed that about 6 crore litres of ethanol may be produced in Bihar through molasses route. OMCs will strive to absorb this ethanol for EBP to help the State of Bihar. This initiative is likely to give approx. 300 crore to the farmers of the State through sugar mills / distilleries. This will also ensure proper utilization of molasses in the State. 3. This Government is committed to promote alternate renewable source of energy such as Bio-ethanol and Bio-diesel which would reduce our dependency on import of crude oil, address growing environment issues and provide better remuneration to the farmers. As a step in this direction, Government of India is running Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in 21 States and 4 UTs with immediate target to achieve 10% ethanol blending in Petrol. In-order to support the Domestic Industry, Government has also decided to source ethanol from domestic sources only. 4. In the past, Ethanol supplies were enough to meet only 30% of the blending requirement. During the sugar year 2013-14 only 38 crore litres of ethanol could be supplied for EBP Programme. In-order to give a stimulus to this programme, Government in December’2014 enhanced the Ethanol procurement price and opened alternate route including Lignocelluloses route for Ethanol production. Oil Marketing Companies also eased the procurement process for the benefit of suppliers. ? 5. All these steps have helped in doubling the ethanol supplies during the Sugar Year 2014-15 wherein 67.42 crore litres have been supplied for blending in Petrol. This year OMCs have floated tender for 266 crore litres of ethanol procurement to meet 10% blending target. There is considerable improvement in the response from the Sugar Industry which has offered more than 135 crore litres for the current sugar year. 6. Other plans specifically for the State of Bihar include, capacity expansion of IOCL Barauni Refinery from 6 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA, up gradation of this refinery to produce BS-VI quality products, integration of this refinery to produce other value added options/specialty products and establishment of Petro-chemical complex at Begusarai, Bihar. Shaq Mason Jersey
Despite low internet use, India’s e-commerce market triples in five years
Although India’s use of the internet is lower than many poorer countries, the country’s e-commerce sector tripled – or grew by 209 percent over the last five years – from $4.4 billion (Rs.20,020 crore) in 2010 to $13.6 billion (Rs.83,096 crore) in 2014. This data was contained in a reply given to the Lok Sabha in March 2016. India’s e-commerce market is likely to reach $38 billion (Rs.252,700 crore) in 2016, according to an Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (Assocham) report released in January 2016. The online retail sector in India is expected to be a $1 trillion (Rs.660,000 crore) market by 2020, according to a recent report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Deloitte, a consultancy. The study indicates that more e-commerce will trigger big innovations in India. The Goods and Services Tax, once implemented, is expected to boost the growth of e-commerce by simplifying taxation and logistics, said the CII-Deloitte report. Internet penetration across the country is rising with as many as 354 million users reported as of September 2015. Online shoppers in India have increased from 20 million in 2013 to 39 million in 2015, an increase of 95 percent over three years. India’s e-commerce market rises despite low net use But India’s internet penetration – the percentage of Indians who use the net – is low, 19 percent in 2014, as IndiaSpend reported earlier. Compare this with Australia (90 percent), the US (87 percent), Japan (86 percent), Brazil (53 percent) and China (46 percent). In 2014, only 18 of 100 Indians used the internet, against 49.3 for China and 48.3 for Vietnam. Even poorer countries, such as Ghana, had greater internet penetration – 18.9 users per 100 people, according to a Mint report. Similarly, mobile subscriptions in India were 74 per 100 people in 2014, lower than Bangladesh (80), China (92), Indonesia (129) and Vietnam (147). Mobile internet spend has increased from 54 percent to 64 percent from 2014 to 2015, attributed to high-speed 3G and 4G internet connectivity at some of the world’s lowest prices, fuelling e-commerce growth. Despite the rise in broadband and mobile internet users, speed remains a major constraint. The average broadband speed in India is 2 mega bits per second (mbps), ranking 115 globally, IndiaSpend has reported. Similarly, the average mobile internet speed is 1.7 mbps, ranking below Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. In March this year, the government allowed 100 percent foreign direct investment in online retail marketplaces-electronic platforms that connect buyers and sellers. India’s e-commerce giants battle a survival of the fittest As competition grows, and international competitors step in, domestic online retailers will struggle, experts predict. US retailer Amazon became the second-largest online marketplace by shipments in India last month, after domestic rival Flipkart, pushing former number two, Snapdeal, to third place. Flipkart’s growth has virtually stalled since the middle of last year and the leadership team hasn’t figured out a way to kick-start sales, according to India Value Fund Advisors partner Haresh Chawla. “Its gross merchandise volume (GMV) – sales or revenue in online retailing – sold over a given period of time has not grown substantially, which had grown by over 200 percent per annum for the past three years,” Chawla added. Similarly in the taxi business, multinational Uber is in race with India’s Ola, the current domestic-market leader. Last month, Uber claimed it would overtake Ola by market share within 30 days. Jabong – an online fashion portal – reported a drop in sales and cut losses in 2015 and is now struggling to find a buyer. “Consumer internet start-ups find it difficult to navigate slowdowns,” said Chawla. “Traditional companies usually recover from these cycles. But technology-led companies simply go bust. They have very little consumer loyalty to start with. Most bribe consumers to grow rapidly and cutback (on profits), causing them to implode.” Michael Matheson Womens Jersey
Startup rush: Number of new private companies up 36% in 2015-16
The burgeoning startup ecosystem seems to have boosted growth of non-government or private companies. During the year 2015-16, as many as 60,414 private companies with an aggregate authorized capital of Rs 10,845 crore were registered (statistics are up to December 31) -a hike of 36% over the previous corresponding period. Experts say that a private company is the best legal entity form for incorporation of a startup, especially one which is growth-oriented. At the same time, traditional businessmen functioning as solo proprietors continued to show their preference for one-person companies (OPCs), with registrations almost doubling to 2,761during the financial year 2015-16 (up to December 31), according to the latest annual report released by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The collective authorized capital of the newly regis tered OPCs was nearly Rs 67 crore. The business services sector dominated, with 58% of OPCs falling in this category .While OPCs enable a single proprietor to corporatize his business, it isn’t an ideal entity for startups claim experts. Lionel Charles, CEO of Indiafilings.com, says, “Venture capitalists (VCs) do not recommend OPCs as the shares can be held by one person only and equity funding by VCs isn’t feasible. An OPC is also required to mandatorily convert into a private company once its turnover exceeds Rs 2 crore or share capital exceeds Rs 50 lakh.” Harish H V , partner at Grant Thornton, says, “Typically, startups have more than one founder. They also aim at equity infusion from angel investors and VCs. Esops are also granted to employees who ultimately hold a stake in the startup. This makes a private company form more suitable. Moreover, a minimum share capital of Rs 1 lakh is no longer required for incorporation, adding to their popularity .” Government officials are of the view that the current year will see a further increase in the number of registrations of private companies in the backdrop of the `Startup India’ programme. Recently , the goverment carved out a separate definition for startups and offered various sops, including a tax holiday . Eligible startups, subject to meeting certain conditions, are entitled to a tax holiday for a block of three out of the initial five years. To claim eligibility, the company must be incorporated between April 1, 2016 up to March 31, 2019, its total turnover must not exceed Rs 25 crore in any financial year and it must have obtained a certificate of eligible business from the Inter-Ministerial Board. An amendment to the Finance Bill added limited liability partnership (LLP) in the definition of the term `startup’. LLPs are a hybrid model which provides personal immunity to the partners and offers a corporate structure. In India, professional services companies have largely adopted the LLP structure. However, for startups, especially those looking at VC funding, an LLP structure in not ideal in the long run. Orlando Brown Jr. Womens Jersey
Himachal Pradesh adjure Centre to include Shimla in Smart City Mission
Himachal Pradesh government has urged the Centre to include Shimla in Smart City mission and Dharamshala under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). HP Minister Sudhir Sharma yesterday met Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in Delhi and urged him to include Shimla in Smart City Mission as it was a famous international tourist destination, besides being the state capital. “Shimla’s pre-eminent position as largest city of the state and heritage status qualifies it for Smart City tag,” the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister said. Shimla had already been included under AMRUT, Sharma said. Sharma also demanded inclusion of Dharamshala, which was already included under Smart City mission, under AMRUT Mission and said a proposal in this regard had been submitted under fast-track mode to the Centre. He also urged the Union Minister to adopt a cluster approach to include more towns by clubbing small towns like Kullu-Manali and Mandi-Sundernagar under AMRUT. Sharma also demanded funds for Dharamshala sewerage scheme and informed the Union Minister that Municipal Corporation, Dharamshala has prepared a detailed report with estimated expenditure of Rs 101.36 crore for providing sewerage facility in the left out areas of the town. Donte Moncrief Authentic Jersey
Third eye: Western influence in Smart City initiative
The urban development ministry’s Smart City initiative came under fire in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as BJP MP Bhola SIngh pointed out that cities from east and south have not found a place in the first list of 20 chosen through a competition. The MP from Bihar said that though all knowledge is concentrated in east and south India, western cities have been favoured. Regulation issues at UGC Differences of opinion over the overhaul of regulations of deemed universities said to have derailed the UGC meeting scheduled for Monday. In fact, the meeting was cancelled after some UGC members had arrived at the UGC Office. It is learnt the HRD ministry had strong views on the amendments to the regulations proposed by UGC. Well-groomed minister Union minister Venkaiah Naidu is on a roll these days addressing meetings in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His speeches, filled with alliteration, frequent shifting to Telugu and his pace of delivery, have struck a chord with the audience. What amused his audience was how he quickly moved the comb over his head minutes before PM Modi came on the stage. New headache for KVs As if it was not facing enough pressure on student admissions references, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) is now faced with staff transfer requests backed with ‘strong references’. So much so that the Commissioner KVS has issued directions that stern disciplinary action under Rules 16 of CCS conduct will be taken against any staffer who now on “tries to bring outside pressure/recommendations or extraneous influence”. Josh Martin Authentic Jersey
Delhi-Meerut Expressway widening gets nod Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for development of 14 laning of Delhi-UP border and Dasna section of Delhi-Meerut Expressway on NH-24. The cost is estimated to be Rs 1983 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road will be approximately 19 kms. The project will be awarded under the newly conceived hybrid annuity model. The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Delhi and Meerut. The project is expected to take three years to complete. The road transport and highways ministry has broken the 90 km Delhi-Meerut expressway into four packages- Nizammudin to UP border, UP border to Dasna, Dasna to Hapur and new alignment between Dasna and Meerut. The cost of the total project is expected to be Rs 7000 crore. Josh Martin Jersey
Smart City programme: Ambassadors of 150 countries invited to Investment Summit
In a major international outreach to garner investments in the flagship Smart City programme, the Narendra Modi government has invited ambassadors of all 150 missions in India to a grand investment summit on May 19. The government would pitch projects worth Rs 50,560 crore across 20 cities, chosen through a competitive process conducted all over India, to be developed as smart cities in the first phase. According to sources, most countries have confirmed their participation in the summit, which is being held at Taj Mansingh hotel. Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu would inaugurate the summit and invite countries for investment opportunities. The day-long summit would see presentations from the urban development ministry and participation of state governments. Representatives of six major countries — United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, France and Spain —have agreed to give presentations at the investment summit regarding interests, opportunities and concerns of business community. Apart from the 20 cities, another 23 cities, which had missed the bus in the first competitive round of selection, have submitted their re-worked plans. Sources indicated that the urban development ministry would include more cities in the first phase from these 23 cities. A senior official confirmed to ET, “This decision would be taken by May 15. At the investment summit we may have projects from more than 20 cities for investment. The final list would be released by the minister before the summit.” The urban development ministry is eager for investments from international players. So far, US and France have agreed to develop three smart cities each in India. United States has vouched its support to develop Vishakhapatnam, Allahabad and Ajmer as smart cities. Chandigarh, Puducherry and Nagpur will be developed as smart cities with the help of France. The initiative was launched on June 25 last year. The ministry is keen that with an international push some projects would be initiated when the programme completes its first anniversary. The Centre is monitoring the progress of states regularly. Ahead of the international investment summit, the state governments are now busy in converting their smart city plans into actionable projects to be pitched for investment. Lanny McDonald Authentic Jersey
CII, FICCI oppose 85% pictorial warning on tobacco products
Industry bodies CII and FICCI has made representations to union health ministry to reduce the pictorial health warning for cigarettes from current 85% of the pack arguing that it will flourish the sales of illegal and smuggled cigarettes in the country. The chambers in their representation argued that tobacco regulation in India has led to proliferation of illegal and contraband products, increased unscrupulous trade activity and has become a threat to livelihood for millions of farmers and legal industry as compared to its objective of tobacco control. CII and FICCI in their letters to the ministry requested the government to take a balanced view on the issue of graphical warning and take steps to curb illegal trade and production, thereafter address the requisite level of regulation based on the assessment of the prevailing situation. “Over regulation in every industry drives trade underground and defeats the purpose. Until we are able to rein in the illegal trade in the sector effectively, it would be desirable to maintain the status-quo on pictorial warning,” CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee wrote in his letter. The Supreme Court has recently asked cigarette makers to produce packs with 85% pictorial warning till the Karnataka High Court passes its judgement on the fate of the various writ petitions filed by the industry challenging this rule. The apex court has asked the High Court to pass its judgement within eight weeks. Till now, cigarette packs are required to carry graphical warning covering 40% of the front of the pack. The Indian legal cigarette industry has been facing a continuous drop in demand because of high taxation and the growth of duty evaded illegal cigarettes that do not carry pictorial warnings. Since 2012-13, the excise duty on cigarettes, at a per unit level, has gone up cumulatively by 118% with increase in taxation in every successive year. As a result, legal cigarettes today represent only 11% of tobacco consumption in India. As per estimates, the industry is down from 110 billion sticks sold per year to 95 billion sticks a year, even though total tobacco consumption has gone up. Jori Lehtera Womens Jersey