India Boosts Wildlife Research and Pashmina Certification with New Advanced Facilities
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with the Minister of State for the same ministry, inaugurated two significant facilities at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun: an Advanced Facility for Pashmina Certification and a Next Generation DNA Sequencing Facility. These developments build upon the foundation laid last year with the inauguration of the Pashmina Certification Centre (PCC).
Public Liability Insurance (Amendment) Rules, 2024
The Central Government has announced significant amendments to the Public Liability Insurance Rules, 1991, through the Public Liability Insurance (Amendment) Rules, 2024. These changes aim to strengthen the framework for handling claims related to environmental damage caused by industrial accidents. This notification was published on December 17, 2024.
Uttar Pradesh Government Announces State List of Holidays for 2025
Government of Uttar Pradesh officially notified the Uttar Pradesh State List of Holidays for 2025
West Bengal Government Fixes Employee Contribution Rates for 2024
Government of West Bengal announced the revised rates for employee contributions to be implemented from January 1, 2024.
India Boosts Consumer Protection with Stringent Enforcement
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), established in July 2020, plays a crucial role in enforcing consumer rights. The CCPA is empowered to prevent consumer detriment from unfair trade practices, initiate class action lawsuits, and enforce recalls, refunds, and product returns. It also focuses on preventing and regulating false or misleading advertisements. To date, the CCPA has issued 325 notices for violations and imposed penalties totaling Rs. 1.19 crore.
Government Targets Misleading Coaching Advertisements
The National Consumer Helpline (NCH), administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs, has emerged as a vital platform for pre-litigation grievance redressal. Accessible nationwide in 17 languages through a toll-free number (1915), the NCH also allows grievance registration via WhatsApp, SMS, email, the NCH app, the Umang app, and the web portal.
Central Government Amends Wheat Stockholding Limits for Traders and Processors
The amended order applies to all States and Union Territories. The stockholding limit for wheat has been extended until March 31, 2025. Traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, and processors are required to declare their current wheat stockholdings on the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoFPD) portal. Entities exceeding the prescribed limits must bring their stocks within the limit by December 26, 2024.
Government to Allocate Land for MSMEs in New Townships
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry has announced the government’s intention to allocate land to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the 20 new townships being developed across India. This move is aimed at fostering the growth of MSMEs and strengthening their role in India’s industrial ecosystem.
Government Introduces New Coastal Shipping Bill to Boost Maritime Trade
The bill seeks to address various challenges faced by the sector and create a more conducive environment for maritime trade. The bill introduces a licensing regime for vessels engaged in coasting trade, including foreign-flagged non-propelled vessels like mobile offshore drilling units and accommodation barges. A central database will be created to track information on coasting trade, including vessel movements, cargo details, and licensing information.
India’s Plan for Cooperative Grain Storage
The “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” aims to construct godowns at the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) level. The pilot project has successfully constructed 11 godowns in 11 states: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Tripura, and Rajasthan.
