India Observers

  India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed satisfaction with the 13th  World Trade Organization (WTO)  Ministerial Conference, stating that the country has complete rights to protect the interests of poor farmers and small fishermen. The country can continue buying food grains from farmers at assured prices and distributing them to poor people under the public distribution system without any restrictions from WTO rules. Despite concerns that this could be challenged at WTO, Goyal said India protected all its interests fully during the tough negotiations. Key issues like bringing disciplines on agriculture subsidies and fisheries subsidies were not resolved due to long discussions between WTO member countries. The final talks, originally scheduled to end on February 29, had to be extended by one extra day. However, some good outcomes were achieved, such as extending the current ban on imposing customs duties on electronic commerce transactions by 2 more years. Indi...

 The sale of hallmarked gold jewelry without a HUID number won’t be permitted after 31st Mar 2023. HUID is a 6-digit code given to every hallmarked jewelry piece. From next month, it will be illegal to sell hallmarked gold jewelry and other objects without a six-digit identifier.  The decision has been made to ensure a quality culture in micro-scale units, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. According to the declaration, only gold jewelry and antiques that have been hallmarked with a six-digit alphanumeric HUID—a unique identifying number—will be allowed for sale beginning on April 1, 2023.  The decision was taken following a meeting held by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on March 3, 2023, which was presided over by Minister Piyush Goyal of the Union Cabinet. The sale of solely gold jewelry with a HUID will be allowed as of April 1, 2023.  BIS is offering an 80% discount on the certification/...