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DoT scraps 3% floor rate on 5G spectrum usage charge

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In a big relief for telecom companies, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has scrapped the 3 per cent floor rate on spectrum usage charge (SUC).

As the government prepares for 5G spectrum allotment next month, the telcos had been demanding to scrap the SUC floor rate, equivalent to 3 per cent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), to cut their 5G spectrum payouts.

The DoT, in its latest SUC computation order that came out late on Tuesday, did not mention the 3 per cent floor rate, which means it has been scrapped, industry watchers said.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) welcomed the much-awaited DoT order regarding the levy of SUC charges for spectrum in 600, 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2500, 3300 MHz and 26GHz bands.

“The order will provide clarity to telecom service providers for the upcoming auctions,” said Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, DG, COAI.

The government is set to launch 5G spectrum bids at the end of next month.

The Union Cabinet has approved the telecom department’s proposal to conduct an auction through which spectrum will be assigned to the successful bidders for providing 5G services to public and enterprises.

Payments for spectrum can be made in 20 equal annual installments in advance at the beginning of each year. It is expected to significantly ease cash flow requirements and lower the cost of doing business in the telecom sector.

Spectrum auction will begin on July 26. The Department of Telecom has released a notice inviting applications (NIA) for the auction of spectrum in 600, 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2500, 3300 MHz and 26GHz bands.

The last date for submission of application is July 8 and it will give an indication of potential participants for the auction and earnest money deposit on July 20 which will indicate maximum spectrum payout for each telco.

Further, spectrum purchased in the upcoming auction will have two payment options.

First one is full or part upfront payment of total bid amount within 10 days of auction completion.

Part payment should be made at least for two years’ instalment or multiple complete years.

Thereafter, the buyer will have the option to avail moratorium for the corresponding number of years of payment. Second is payment in 20 yearly equal instalments with first instalment due in 10 days of completion of auction.

The rate of interest of calculating installment is fixed at 7.2 per cent. Pre-payment of spectrum dues is allowed without any penalty.

The telcos are allowed to surrender spectrum that will be auctioned after a minimum period of 10 years from the date of acquisition.

Business

Installed renewable energy capacity in India reaches 250.64 GW: Govt

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New Delhi, Dec 10: The total installed renewable energy (RE) capacity in India reached 250.64 GW (as on October 31), with solar energy constituting a major chunk, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

The solar energy capacity increased from 2.82 GW in March 2014 to 129.92 GW, wind energy capacity increased from 21.04 GW in March 2014 to 53.60 GW, and biomass power capacity has increased from 8.18 GW in March 2014 to 11.61 GW within the given period, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

India is a key driver of this explosive global surge in renewable energy. In the last 11 years, the country’s solar capacity has grown from 2.8 GW to nearly 130 GW, a rise of more than 4,500 per cent. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, India contributed 46 GW to global solar additions, becoming the third-largest contributor.

The country recorded its highest-ever addition of non-fossil capacity in the current financial year at 31.25 GW, including 24.28 GW of solar.

According to reports, the share of India’s electricity generation from renewable energy (RE) capacity, including large hydro, is expected to cross 35 per cent by FY30 from 22.1 per cent in FY25, with expected incremental capacity addition of around 200 GW between FY25 and FY30.

This, in turn, also hinges on the extent of implementation of the ongoing project pipeline, where the projects are bid out and the PPAs are signed, the development of adequate transmission connectivity infrastructure as well as timely bidding for new RE projects, along with the power purchase agreements (PPAs) signing by Central nodal agencies, states the report by rating agency ICRA.

With global mechanisms now shaping industrial competitiveness, India’s shift towards renewable energy has become even more urgent and strategically important.

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Mumbai: RTO Files Criminal Cases Against Uber, Ola, Rapido After Fatal Highway Crash In Mulund

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Mumbai: Following the death of a woman passenger in a collision involving a speeding mixer truck and an illegally operated Uber-linked Activa scooter on the Eastern Express Highway, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has taken serious note of the incident and initiated criminal action directly against the directors of Uber, Ola and Rapido.

Five FIRs have been registered across four police stations, Navghar, Nehru Nagar, Pant Nagar and Amboli. An official of the state transport department said, “We will ensure strict action against all those operating bike taxis in violation of RTO norms, including suspension of licences. No violations will be tolerated.”

According to the FIR filed on December 1 by the Navghar police, the accident occurred at 11am on November 29 beneath the Airoli Flyover on the Eastern Express Highway, Mulund (East). The accused driver, Jawahir Yadav, 40, was allegedly driving a mixer truck at high speed and in a rash and negligent manner when he rammed into an Activa scooter that had been registered on the Uber platform without any transport permit.

The impact left the scooter rider, Ganesh Madhav, seriously injured, while the pillion rider, Shubhangi Magre, 49, died. The Navghar police initially booked the truck driver for causing death by negligence. Subsequently, based on a complaint filed by Motor Vehicle Inspector Ravindra Gawde of the Mumbai East RTO (Wadala), the Navghar police registered a case against the directors of Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd.

Investigations revealed that rider Madhav had registered an Activa scooter belonging to his maternal uncle with Uber without mandatory permission from the transport department. He then reportedly ferried passengers using another scooter (MH 03 EM 4233), also without authorisation. The police have invoked relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Motor Vehicles Act, and the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, against Uber India directors.

The FIR states that Uber violated the conditions of its temporary permit for app-based transport services by allowing unauthorised private scooters to be registered on its platform. Following the Navghar case, RTO officials began booking bike taxi rides through various apps to initiate further action. On December 3, the Nehru Nagar police registered a case against the directors of Roppen Transportation Pvt Ltd (Rapido), stating that the company was illegally operating petrol-engine bike taxis in Mumbai without any licence from the Maharashtra government or Regional Transport Authority.

The Nehru Nagar police filed a second FIR against directors of both Rapido and Uber on December 4. On the same day, the Pant Nagar police also registered a case against Rapido’s directors for similar violations. On December 5, after booking four rides through the Rapido app and one through the Ola app, RTO officials filed another case at the Amboli police station, alleging that both companies were facilitating illegal passenger transport for profit. The police officials said investigations in all cases are underway.

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Sensex, Nifty open in green zone amid mixed global cues

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Mumbai, Dec 10: Indian benchmark indices opened in green zone on Wednesday after two days of consecutive losses, amid mixed global cues and investor optimism of a US Fed rate cut.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex advanced 231 points, or 0.27 per cent at 84,898 and Nifty added 66 points, or 0.26 per cent to 25,906.

The broadcap indices performed in line with the benchmarks, with the Nifty Midcap 100 up 0.47 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 adding 0.50 per cent.

All the sectoral indices on NSE were trading in the green, with metal, power and realty being the major gainers, up around 0.5 per cent.

Analysts said that liquidity has kept valuations high, justifying selling in the broader markets. A major concern is the excessive delay in the finalisation of the US-India trade deal. US President Donald Trump’s statement on action against India for dumping rice in the US can hurt traders’ sentiments.

Traders expect a third consecutive Fed rate cut on Wednesday (US time) and will focus on the central bank’s latest dot plot, economic projections, and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments, according to reports.

Market fundamentals are turning in favour of India, while higher growth and corporate earnings are achievable in the quarters ahead. The fiscal and monetary stimulus provided this year have started producing results, they added.

The US markets ended mostly in the red zone overnight, as Nasdaq advanced 0.13 per cent, the S&P 500 dropped 0.09 per cent, and the Dow dipped 0.38 per cent.

Most of the Asian markets were trading lower amid investor caution ahead of US Federal Reserve interest rate decision following a weak session on the Wall Street. Further, China’s inflation data also influenced traders’ sentiments as consumer prices edged up 0.7 per cent from a year earlier, its highest level since February last year.

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index dipped 0.72 per cent, and Shenzhen dropped 0.56 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei dipped 0.38 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 0.31 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.17 per cent.

On Tuesday, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 3,760 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 6,225 crore.

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