logo
Amid FDI slump, focus turns on chemical, leather and electronics

Amid FDI slump, focus turns on chemical, leather and electronics

Time of India6 days ago
The government has identified chemicals, ESDM (electronics system design & manufacturing), leather and footwear as sectors in which it wants to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI). It's also working with states on a larger plan to encourage investment from overseas.
The efforts come as FDI equity inflows dropped 24.5% to $9.34 billion in the March quarter from the year before. Net FDI inflows were $35 million in May, 98% lower from the year before and 99% lower than the $3.9 billion in April 2025.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Design Thinking
Leadership
Digital Marketing
Data Science
Project Management
Public Policy
MBA
healthcare
Others
PGDM
Product Management
Operations Management
Artificial Intelligence
Healthcare
Management
Data Science
Data Analytics
Finance
MCA
Technology
CXO
others
Degree
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
22 Weeks
IIM Indore
CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
"Invest India has identified some sectors and the department is also focusing on some," said an official. "There is a push to diversify supply chains and talks are happening even at the state level."
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas in Dubai | Search Ads
Get Info
Undo
The key sectors attracting the maximum inflows include services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading, construction development, automobile, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Live Events
Certain toy companies, as per the official, are keen to shift a part of their supply chains to India.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is discussing ways of attracting FDI with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the official said.
"UP, Odisha, MP and Maharashtra are picking up in FDI," the person added.
The exercise is significant as India seeks to achieve an annual FDI of $100 billion from $70-80 billion now.
Jan Vishwas
Continuing with its efforts toward ease of doing business, the official said a cabinet note on the Jan Vishwas 2.0 legislation to decriminalise and deregulate certain laws, is in the final stages. The bill is scheduled to be introduced in the ongoing monsoon session of parliament.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2025 seeks to promote ease of doing business and improve regulatory compliance and more than 100 provisions in various laws could be decriminalised to further reduce legal complexities and the compliance burden.
"We have completed inter-ministerial consultations and the cabinet note is in its final stages," the official said.
Under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment Of Provisions) Act 2023, around 183 provisions in 42 Acts related to 19 departments were decriminalised.
Overall, more than 40,000 compliances across the country have been eliminated or simplified and there is a significant push to reduce the burden of criminalisation of many laws.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Market coupling in DAM segment of power exchanges may have little benefit'
'Market coupling in DAM segment of power exchanges may have little benefit'

The Hindu

time22 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

'Market coupling in DAM segment of power exchanges may have little benefit'

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission's (CERC) proposed implementation of market coupling in Day Ahead Market (DAM) segment of power exchanges from January 2026 may have little benefit for the power sector and is contrary to the findings of the pilot study conducted by Grid Controller of India, according to industry officials and analysts. They said the marginal improvements do not offer a 'compelling rationale' for implementing market coupling on a full scale, particularly in the absence of a detailed 'robustness and sensitivity' analysis. They added that even the January 2026 timeline for implementation would be challenging. 'The results of the shadow pilot conducted by Grid-India released in July 2025 do not indicate any significant benefits from market coupling. This is in line with the earlier CERC order dated 6th February 2024,' said an industry official 'In the DAM segment, overall welfare increased by a negligible 0.3%, and overall volume cleared increased by only 0.2%. Similarly, in the Real-Time Market (RTM) segment, both overall welfare increase and increase in volume cleared saw an insignificant gain of 0.01%,' the official said. Further, the increase of social welfare by ₹38 crore in case of DAM coupling doesn't mean that there will be saving of ₹38 crore, the official said. 'Savings will be miniscule, if at all. The reported increase in social welfare of ₹38 crore in DAM is theoretical, used for algorithmic modelling, and does not imply actual consumer savings,' the official added. 'Introducing central market coupling mechanism risks adding complexity, delaying market operations, and duplicating functions, without resolving core challenges such as market liquidity, deepening of participation, or improving investor confidence,' the official said. According to industry officials while the idea has been presented as 'market coupling', the proposed design more closely resembles 'exchange coupling' with no precedence globally. They pointed out that while Grid-India had submitted a detailed report to CERC, the Commission's order does not adequately reflect the comprehensive findings of that report. For ensuring transparency and stakeholder confidence, the complete Grid-India report should be made publicly available to facilitate informed discussions and independent assessments of the recommendations, they emphasised. According to a report by JM Financial the benefits of market coupling are negligible. 'A shadow pilot study by Grid-India revealed that DAM coupling resulted in an overall welfare gain of just 0.3% in price and 0.2% in volume. The volume of electricity that could not be cleared as % to unconstrained cleared volume was just 0.10% in FY24,' JM Financial analysts said in the report. 'Anticipated benefits (price, volume, transmission) of market coupling are not explicitly evident in the Indian context,' they said. According to them the implementation of power market coupling requires upgrading and integration of software, modification in infrastructure for compatibility, formation of data sharing protocol as well as consensus on financial settlement mechanism. 'We believe the January 2026 target for implementation of coupling is very ambitious, and implementation will not be possible before December 2027,' they said in the report. 'If applied elsewhere, this approach would imply merging competitive platforms like NSE and BSE or even Jio and Airtel — contradicting the principles of open markets. This will effectively kill innovation, service excellence and the incentive to launch new products,' said Ashish Kapur, CEO, Invest Shoppe, a boutique financial firm offering wealth management solutions.

Kuwait introduces new e-Visa for four visa categories; no embassy visit needed
Kuwait introduces new e-Visa for four visa categories; no embassy visit needed

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Kuwait introduces new e-Visa for four visa categories; no embassy visit needed

In a recent update, Kuwait has officially launched and went live with its complete online e‑Visa platform for four visa categories, including tourist, family, business, and official. This is a big leap forward in the country's digital transformation under its Vision 2035 initiative. With this new change, citizens of several Western, Asian, and GCC‑residents will be able to complete the entire visa process remotely. They won't even have to step inside an embassy for a visa. Let's have a closer look at the whole process: Fully Online visa types: Now people can apply visa under: Tourist visas : This visa remains valid up to 90 days. It is perfect for those wanting to explore Kuwait. Family visas : This will allow close relatives of Kuwaiti residents to visit for up to 30 days. Business visas : This visa is also for up to 30 days. Now this one is perfect for professionals attending meetings, trade events or negotiations. Official visas : This is perfect for diplomats and government delegations on formal missions. Eligibility Citizens from over 50 countries across Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and numerous Asian nations are eligible. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 22 Illustrations of a Husband and Wife in Everyday Life Watch More Undo GCC resident expatriates who have held valid residency for at least six months. It includes professions such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, journalists, and business managers. GCC citizens enjoy visa‑free entry using their national ID cards. They do not require any visa. How to apply Interested people can register via the Ministry of Interior's official portal (e.g. or Kuwait Visa platform linked from government websites). They need to: Create an account Log in with government credentials Choose desired visa category Upload required documents (passport bio‑page, photo, travel itinerary, accommodation or invitation, sponsor or official letter where required) Pay the fee online (typically USD 10–30 or about 3 KWD depending on nationality and category) Submit and track the application by reference code or passport number You'll receive the approved e‑Visa via email. You can get it printed or it is usable on a mobile device upon arrival. The processing usually takes between 1 and 3 business days. Delay is possible during peak travel season. Things to Remember Valid passport Provide clear documents—especially photos meeting portal specifications. Apply at least one week before travel. For family and business visas, make sure Kuwait‑based sponsors are aware of their responsibilities. If e‑Visa is refused, you may still be eligible for visa-on-arrival depending on nationality and category. The best part of this is that people don't require embassy visits. The paperwork has also reduced and its speedy approvals. With this new introduction, Kuwait aims to boost inbound tourism, attract international business, and strengthen political relationships with other nations. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !

Amid Trump tariff threat, PM pledges to protect farmers, MSMEs & youth
Amid Trump tariff threat, PM pledges to protect farmers, MSMEs & youth

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Amid Trump tariff threat, PM pledges to protect farmers, MSMEs & youth

1 2 Varanasi: Amid the tariff stalemate with the USA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sent a strong message to the world that protecting India's economic interest was paramount. Speaking in his parliamentary constituency on Saturday, the PM emphasised that the "top priority of the government remains the welfare of farmers, small industries and employment for youth." He reaffirmed the resilience of the Indian economy, saying that the country must remain vigilant about its economic interests and adopt 'swadeshi' products. "There is an atmosphere of global instability. All countries are focusing on their individual interests. India is going to become the third biggest economy in the world and this is why India will have to stay alert as far as its economic interests are concerned," the PM said, two days after UP President Donald Trump called India a 'dead economy'. CM Yogi Adityanath and two deputy CMs, Keshav Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were present on the occasion. Addressing a public gathering at Kalikadham in Sevapuri after transferring Rs 20,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.70 crore farmers as the 20th installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and inaugurating and laying the foundation of 52 projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore, the PM urged people to go 'Vocal for Local'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How to Trade ETH/USD Without Holding Ether IC Markets Learn More Undo "Anyone who wishes good for the country and wants to see India become the third-largest economy must encourage this spirit of going local," he said. The PM urged traders to promote 'swadeshi' products, terming it a true national service, and appealed to citizens to use Indian-made goods during the upcoming festivals and wedding seasons. He also advised people to hold weddings in India instead of abroad, highlighting that many young people were already doing so. "Every choice we make in favour of 'Swadeshi' will shape the future of the country. With everyone's effort, the dream of a developed India will come true. From now on, let's pledge to buy and decorate our homes with only Indian-made products," he added. Modi highlighted his government's farmer-centric policies, stating that unlike previous governments, the BJP administration has fulfilled its promises to farmers, citing the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi as a prime example. "When this scheme was launched, opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress left no stone unturned to mislead farmers by claiming that after the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it would be stopped and even the money transferred into the accounts of farmers would be taken back. However, Rs 3.75 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers' accounts so far," he said. In UP alone, 2.5 crore farmers have received over Rs 90,000 crore, while farmers from Kashi got Rs 900 crore, he added. Referring to the transparency maintained in the schemes of his govt, Modi said, "There are no cuts, commissions, or middlemen. We created a permanent system where there's no leakage and no one can steal the rights of the poor." Prime Minister Modi emphasized developing the most backward regions with his mantra of 'High priority to more backward'. He highlighted the newly approved PM Dhan Dhanya Agriculture Scheme, focusing on underdeveloped districts with low crop production and income. He said the govt will invest Rs 24,000 crore in this scheme to support farmers from 'lab to field' and 'seed to market' for their products. Massive investments are being made in irrigation, and under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, over Rs 1.75 lakh crore in claims were already paid out to farmers. Modi also mentioned a record increase in the MSP for farmers. Emphasising the govt's focus on boosting women's participation in agriculture through initiatives like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi, he stated that the aim is to empower 3 crore rural women financially, with over 1.5 crore already becoming Lakhpati Didis. Taking a subtle dig at the opposition, the PM said: "Hearing these numbers, SP leaders might just hop on their cycles and run away. " Despite agriculture being a state subject, the Centre has taken proactive steps to enhance farmers' income and living standards by implementing beneficial schemes, PM Modi said. He praised banks for launching a mega campaign and holding fairs in villages across the country for KYC renewal of the account holders under the Jan-Dhan scheme on the completion of its 10 years of launching. Modi also marked the distribution of assistive devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana to 2,000 Divyangs by handing over devices, including low vision glasses to Babli Kumari (visually impaired student), sports wheelchairs to Santosh Kumar Pandey and Vikas Kumar Patel, hearing aids to Kishun, and a motorized tricycle to Sita Kumari Pal (teacher). Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joined the event virtually from Patna. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store