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Curd, lassi, cheque books, ink among things to turn costlier

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Come July 18, 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be applicable on bank cheque book/loose leaf cheques and 12 per cent on maps, atlas, and globes.

Similarly, unbranded but pre-packed curd, lassi, butter milk, food items, grains etc will be brought under the GST net from the exemption list.

Writing, printing, or drawing ink will also become costlier.

The rate rationalisation decision was taken at the two-day 47th GST Council Meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, that started in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

On the other hand, the GST rates on medical items like ostomy and orthopaedic appliances – splints and other fracture appliances, artificial parts of the body, other appliances which are worn or carried, or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability, and intraocular lens- has come down to five per cent from 12 per cent.

The GST for transport of good and passengers by ropeway is down to five per cent from 18 per cent and the renting of truck/goods carriage where cost of fuel is included brought down by six per cent to 12 per cent.

The other items for which GST rates has been increased are printing, writing or drawing ink (12 per cent to 18 per cent), knives with cutting blades, paper knives, pencil sharpeners and blades therefor, spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers etc (12 per cent to 18 per cent), power driven pumps primarily designed for handling water such as centrifugal pumps, deep tube-well turbine pumps, submersible pumps; bicycle pumps (12 per cent to 18 per cent).

The rate on machines for cleaning, sorting or grading seed, and grain pulses, machinery used in milling industry or for the working of cereals etc, ‘pawan chakki’, or air-based atta chakki, wet grinder goes up from five per cent to 18 per cent.

Machines for cleaning, sorting or grading eggs, fruit or other agricultural produce and its parts, milking machines and dairy machinery will have rates going up from 12 per cent to 18 per cent.

LED lamps, lights and fixture, their metal printed circuits board, drawing and marking instruments move up from 12 per cent to 18 per cent and solar water heater and systems, prepared/finished leather/chamois leather/composition leathers from five per cent to 12 per cent.

In respect of the services, the rates have been revised upwards in the case of services supplied by a foreman in a chit fund, job work in relation to processing of hides, skins and leather, leather goods and footwear, manufacture of clay bricks, and works contract for roads, bridges, railways, metro, effluent treatment plant, crematorium and others.

The concessional rates for electronic waste, petroleum, and coal bed methane has also been increased.

Exemption on transport of passengers by air to and from North East states and Bagdogra is being restricted to economy class.

Hotel accommodation, priced upto Rs 1,000 per day, shall be taxed at 12 per cent and room rent (excluding ICU) exceeding Rs 5,000 per day per patient charged by a hospital shall be taxed to the extent of amount charged for the room at five per cent without input tax credit.

Tax exemption on training or coaching in recreational activities relating to arts or culture, or sports is being restricted to such services when supplied by an individual.

Exemption on following services is being withdrawn – transportation by rail or a vessel of railway equipment and material, storage or warehousing of commodities which attract tax (nuts, spices, copra, jaggery, cotton etc.), fumigation in a warehouse of agricultural produce, services by the RBI, the IRDA, the SEBI, and the FSSAI, GSTN, renting of residential dwelling to business entities (registered persons), and services provided by the cord blood banks by way of preservation of stem cells.

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India, Africa must double bilateral trade by 2030: Piyush Goyal

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New Delhi, Aug 29: India and Africa must work to double bilateral trade by 2030, focusing on value addition, technology-driven agriculture, renewable energy, and healthcare, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Delivering the keynote address at the valedictory session of the CII India Africa Business Conclave here, the minister pointed out that bilateral trade between India and Africa is already fairly balanced — with India’s exports at $42.7 billion and imports at $40 billion.

However, he underlined the untapped potential across regions: “This demonstrates the opportunity we have missed out on over the years, and the scope for expansion today.”

The Minister stressed that India and Africa need not compete in every sector, but rather explore complementarities.

He highlighted areas such as agriculture, food security, cooperative and self-help group movements, education, skill development, capacity building, research and development, innovation, start-ups, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, which provide vast opportunities for mutual benefit.

Goyal highlighted the immense potential for collaboration in the automobile sector. He noted that while Africa imports nearly $20 billion worth of motor vehicles annually, India currently supplies only about $2 billion of this demand.

He underlined that Indian automobiles are globally competitive, both in terms of cost and quality, with manufacturing standards on par with the best in the world.

He said that Indian manufacturers can play a vital role in meeting Africa’s growing demand for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, two and three-wheelers, and affordable electric mobility solutions.

This opens up a wide delta of opportunity for African nations to access reliable, fuel-efficient, and environmentally sustainable vehicles at competitive prices, while India can, in return, benefit from greater imports of African resources such as critical minerals, petroleum products, and agricultural commodities.

This balanced exchange would help both regions expand trade, generate employment, and build long-term industrial partnerships, he added.

Highlighting complementarities, the Minister observed that Africa could support India in areas such as critical minerals and petroleum products, while India could support Africa in food security, technological upgradation, manufacturing, and services.

He mentioned that India is cost-competitive in services like architecture, engineering, IT, AI and telecom, while also offering potential in medical tourism.

Referring to India’s close bond with Mauritius, Goyal assured the Indian Ocean island nation continued support in addressing inflationary pressures in essentials such as milk products, edible oils, and rice.

“It is this spirit of friendship and cooperation that defines India’s engagement with Africa,” he said.

Goyal also recalled India’s support to Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic, when medicines, vaccines and pharmaceutical products were provided at affordable costs, unlike the highly-priced alternatives from developed nations.

He further said that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) could help bring down transaction costs and strengthen Africa’s financial systems.

Calling the Global South the true voice of the developing world, Goyal urged African nations to work with India at multilateral platforms like the WTO to create common objectives and influence global decision-making.

He emphasised collaboration in agriculture technologies, renewable energy, generic medicines, critical minerals, and youth partnerships, noting that the young populations of India and Africa will define the future.

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India, Japan can diversify trade basket, open new frontiers with renewed efforts: PM Modi

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Tokyo, Aug 29: Hailing the robust India-Japan economic and trade partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said with renewed efforts, both nations can diversify their trade basket, make it more balanced, and open up new frontiers as well.

In an interview with Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun, the Prime Minister said we must aim bigger and remain ambitious.

“The synergies across governments, businesses and people can create scale and speed in our economic partnership. As the world’s leading economies, we have been contributing to each other’s growth, competitiveness and dynamism,” PM Modi told the publication.

Japan has been a trusted partner in India’s infrastructure development across generations. The country has also been a leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for India in key sectors, including automobiles, electronics, telecom, chemicals, finance, and pharmaceuticals.

According to PM Modi, the number of Japanese firms in India has grown steadily to around 1,500, while more than 400 Indian companies operate in Japan.

“Clearly, this is only the beginning — the real potential is much higher,” he noted.

“We maintain important trade relations, but it has not yet reached the levels envisaged under our CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement)… The 20th century saw Japan emerge as a major partner in India’s infrastructure development. I am confident that the 21st century will see Japan as a major partner in India’s innovation, manufacturing, and global value chains,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

On semiconductors, PM Modi told the publication that India’s semiconductor sector is on the cusp of transformation.

“We have put in place a comprehensive regulatory and policy framework, backed by incentives, to build a strong semiconductor and display ecosystem. Already, six semiconductor units are taking root in India, with four more on the way. By the end of this very year, ‘Made in India’ chips will be in the market, a clear demonstration of India’s design and manufacturing capabilities,” the Prime Minister said.

Japanese companies, with their technological strengths and global leadership, can play a pivotal role in this journey, he said, adding that a strong beginning has already been made.

“By combining India’s scale and capabilities with Japan’s advanced technologies, we can build a resilient and trusted semiconductor value chain,” PM Modi stressed, adding that this collaboration will support the technological ambitions of both our countries and enhance global supply chain security.

“I see semiconductor cooperation emerging as a major pillar of the India–Japan partnership. After all, in this digital century, chips are not just about computers, they are about competitiveness, credibility and confidence in the future,” he mentioned.

Some Japanese companies are positioning their production bases in India as hubs for third-country markets such as Africa.

According to PM Modi, India has seen multi-faceted reforms which make manufacturing in India easier than ever before.

“We have removed compliance burdens, rolled out incentives and ensured a large skilled workforce for companies to set base in India. Many global companies, including those from Japan, are setting up their production in India not only to cater to our domestic market, but also for the world,” he highlighted in his response.

Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation this week announced it will invest Rs 70,000 crore in India over the next five to six years. The investment will be used to increase production, introduce new car models, and protect its leadership position in the world’s third-largest automobile market.

“Just a couple of days back, I was at the Suzuki plant in India where we flagged off electric vehicles to be exported to a hundred countries, including Japan,” said PM Modi.

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Indian equity indices decline sharply over US tariff concerns

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Mumbai, Aug 28 : The Indian equity indices fell sharply to end the session nearly one per cent lower on Thursday — a day after the 50 per cent US tariffs on Indian goods came into effect.

Sensex ended the session at 80,080.57, down 705 points or 0.87 per cent. The 30-share index started the session in negative territory at 80,754 against last session’s closing of 80,786.54 amid selling across the sectors. The Index further extended the losing momentum to hit an intra-day low at 80,013.02 following the implementation of US tariffs on Indian goods.

Nifty settled at 24,500.90, down 211.15 points or 0.85 per cent.

“Domestic equities ended lower as pessimism took hold following the implementation of tariffs on Indian goods, dampening investor sentiments. While the cotton import duty exemption briefly lifted hopes of policy support to counter tariff impacts, triggering a short-lived intraday recovery, investor mood remained fragile, with large caps declining and mid and small caps underperforming amid risk-off sentiment,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.

Most sectors, including Auto, IT, FMCG, and Metals, traded in the red as investors turned to profit-booking from recent gains, while consumer durables outperformed, likely supported by GST rationalisation and expectations of festive demand, Nair added.

HCL Tech, TCS, Power Grid, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharati Airtel, Mahindra and Mahindra, Trent, Tata Motors, Sun Pharma, NTPC, BEL, Eternal and SBI were the top losers from the Sensex pack. While Titan, L&T, Maruti Suzuki, and Axis Bank were top gainers.

The majority of sectoral indices settled in negative territory amid selling pressure. Nifty Fin Services dropped 312.30 points or 1.20 per cent, Nifty Bank fell 630.10 points or 1.16 per cent, Nifty Auto declined 136.80 points or 0.54 per cent, Nifty FMCG closed 574.05 points or 1.02 per cent, and Nifty IT slipped 574.45 points or 1.59 per cent.

Broader indices followed suit as well. Nifty Small Cap 100 dipped 254.25 points or 1.45 per cent, Nifty Midcap 100 fell 718.70 per cent or 1.45 per cent, and Nifty 100 closed 235 points or 0.93 per cent lower.

Rupee traded weakly as selling pressure in capital markets deepened, with FII flows continuing to remain negative amid persistent concerns on India’s growth outlook and fiscal deficit.

“The imposition of a 50 per cent US tariff has raised uncertainty over exports, weighing on overall sentiment, until there is clarity on alternatives either through negotiations with the US or by striking trade agreements with other nations — investors are likely to stay cautious,” said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.

The rupee is expected to remain under pressure with a near-term range of 87.25–88.25, he added.

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