
Mini introduces price protection assurance for 3-door Cooper S
The Mini 3-Door Cooper S is available in India as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU) from MINI's Plant Oxford in the UK. The new scheme is valid for a limited time and can be availed through authorised MINI dealerships across the country.advertisementIt's important to note that the offer applies exclusively to the 3-Door Cooper S and does not extend to other MINI models, including the recently launched all-electric MINI Countryman, which is also a CBU, produced at BMW Group's Plant Leipzig in Germany.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine
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Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Rs 2-lakh-cr boost to jobs, R&D no guarantee of results
The government's decision to boost research & development and employment generation, with a total bill of over Rs 2 lakh crore, is admirable in intent. But how it would realise its goals is a question that experts will ask. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Rs 2.07-lakh-crore outlay for a Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) (RDI) Scheme to fund private sector innovations, along with an employment-linked incentive (ELI) scheme to create over 3.5 crore new jobs over the next two years. This is not the first time the government has announced grand plans to boost manufacturing, innovation, and employment. Similar schemes, such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in recent years, although beneficial in specific sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals, have not yet delivered a transformative impact across the broader manufacturing landscape. The gap between policy announcements and their tangible outcomes continues to be a concern. Manufacturing remains India's Achilles' heel. Despite years of policy pushes under campaigns like Make in India and PLI Schemes, the sector's share in GDP has largely stagnated around 15-17 per cent, far below the government's target of 25 per cent. More worryingly, even where there has been growth, it has often been in sectors that are capital-intensive rather than labor-intensive, thus failing to generate the volume of quality jobs needed to absorb India's vast and growing workforce. This structural challenge is compounded by issues such as poor infrastructure, complex regulatory frameworks, inconsistent policy implementation, and skill mismatches in the labor market. The government's RDI scheme, which seeks to fund private sector innovations, is a step in the right direction because it recognizes that sustainable economic growth must be driven by innovation, particularly in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy. India's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP has historically lagged behind countries like China, the US, and even smaller Asian economies like South Korea. By directly supporting private sector innovation, the government seems to be moving towards creating an ecosystem where businesses can lead technological advancements rather than relying solely on public sector research bodies. Yet, the success of such a scheme will hinge on how effectively it is designed and implemented. Will the funds be disbursed in a timely, transparent manner? Will small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are often the backbone of job creation, have adequate access to these incentives, or will the bulk of the benefits accrue to larger corporations with better lobbying power? How will the government ensure that the incentives lead to actual job creation rather than simply subsidizing existing operations? The ELI Scheme also raises similar concerns. The target of creating over 3.5 crore new jobs is ambitious, but previous efforts to incentivise job creation did not result in major success. The government has also not come up with a report of the earlier schemes. How, if at all, did they promote job creation? What lessons have been learnt from them? Employment generation in India today requires a parallel focus on skill development. Even if manufacturing units expand, a shortage of adequately skilled workers may limit the sector's growth potential. The government's skill development initiatives must therefore be closely aligned with the sectors targeted. We only hope that the government has taken cognisance of the fact that large allocations do not automatically translate into measurable outcomes.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Delhi govt set to waive late payment surcharge in water bill, says minister
The Delhi government has given in-principle approval to waive the entire late payment surcharge in water bills for domestic and government categories, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Thursday. Speaking to mediapersons, Singh said the waiver will be implemented in the next few months. Officials said the proposal will now be put up before the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). 'The DJB is currently working on improving its billing system software, which will take about two to three months. Once done, the scheme will be implemented,' said an official. Meanwhile, in a meeting of the DJB board on Wednesday, several key projects to improve sewerage and water infrastructure were approved in the city. The DJB approved a collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to revive the Wazirabad water supply improvement project. 'Initially, ADB funding was approved in 2013, but work on various packages of the Wazirabad project could not be awarded until July 2020. As a result, ADB withdrew its funding in 2020. After the intervention of the Water Minister, the project has been re-initiated for an ADB funding grant,' said an official, adding the project will cost around Rs 3,715 crore after escalation. This project will benefit over 30.16 lakh people of North and North West Delhi – about 13% of Delhi's total population – covering an area of 123 sq km, including Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Model Town, Burari, Lawrence Road, Punjabi Bagh, Shakur Basti, Jahangirpuri, Shastri Nagar, Avantika, Pitampura and nearby areas. The DJB also approved water connections for the in-situ rehabilitation project for slum dwellers at Katputli Colony near Shadipur depot and housing projects for lower-income groups carried out by the Delhi Development Authority. Besides, in a bid to improve sewer connectivity, the DJB has approved two projects in colonies of East Delhi's Sonia Vihar and Shriram Colony. Officials said that about 2.34 lakh people will benefit from this. It is also set to reduce pollution in the Yamuna river. 'A lot of sewage directly enters from these colonies into the river. We will trap and then treat the sewage flowing by laying new lines. This will help in improving the health of Yamuna,' Singh said.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
IL&FS moves tribunal to scrap BKC HQ office sale
MUMBAI: IL&FS has moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) urging dismissal of a petition filed by Brookfield-backed Chronos Properties, the top bidder for its BKC headquarters, IL&FS Financial Centre. IL&FS has argued that Chronos's Rs 1,080-crore bid has become "infructuous" following a breach of key deal terms, specifically the failure to renew a mandatory performance guarantee. The dispute revolves around an application filed by Chronos and arises out of the larger resolution proceedings initiated by govt against IL&FS and its group companies. The sale process began in 2020, when Brookfield affiliate Project Holdings Seven submitted an expression of interest and later nominated Chronos to complete the transaction. A letter of intent (LOI) was signed in March 2022, backed by demand drafts worth Rs 108 crore as performance security. However, IL&FS contends that Chronos failed to renew these drafts before their expiry on April 16 and 17, 2025, violating a clause which mandates a 15-day buffer before expiration. IL&FS maintains that this lapse automatically disqualifies Chromos and invalidates the letter of intent. The company also claims Chronos was aware of the clause, having previously renewed the guarantee multiple times. The dispute escalated in Aug 2024, when IL&FS issued an amended letter of intent seeking a revised consideration of Rs 1,296 crore, citing updated fair market valuation. Chronos responded by filing an application seeking a stay on IL&FS's move and a freeze on any third-party sale. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now