Latest news with #JWG
Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India-Argentina eye deepening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors
The second Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture between India and Argentina was held yesterday, with the Indian Co-chair, Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, joining the session virtually. The meeting was co-chaired by Sergio Iraeta, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, from the Argentina side. Both sides underscored the significance of the meeting as a key milestone in deepening bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and allied sectors. Devesh Chaturvedi, highlighted that Argentina is a crucial partner for India. He said that the partnership between both the countries is rooted in a spirit of collaboration-sharing knowledge, technologies, and best practices that benefit both the nations. He emphasized that opportunity exists in areas such as agricultural mechanization, pest control, climate-resilient agriculture, and joint research. Sergio Iraeta, underscored Argentina's commitment to strengthening its valued partnership with India. He highlighted Argentina's strong interest in deepening cooperation in key areas such as agricultural mechanization, genome editing, and plant breeding technologies among others. He further emphasized that both countries, with their rich agricultural experience, have the potential to complement each other in enhancing productivity, promoting mechanization, and improving farmers' welfare.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
16th Agriculture leadership conclave: Argentina reaffirms commitment to agri-cooperation with India
New Delhi: At the two-day Agriculture Leadership Conclave 2025, Argentina underlined the importance of its deepening ties with India and emphasised how agriculture remains a strong pillar of the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Participating in the inaugural session of the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave in the capital, the Argentinian ambassador to India, H.E. Mariano Caucino, reiterated the deep-rooted importance of agriculture to Argentina's economy, identity, and international engagement, particularly its strong and growing partnership with India. Recalling the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Argentina, the Envoy said, 'A few days ago, the Prime Minister of India paid an official visit to Buenos Aires, where he met with President Javier Milei. Their shared commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, free markets, entrepreneurship, and investment was reaffirmed during this historic encounter.' Notably, the two-day 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave 2025 is currently underway in the capital, aiming to bring all functionaries of the Indian and global agriculture system on one platform to deliberate upon key issues and agenda, and prepare a roadmap for redefining agriculture. During the visit, both leaders discussed collaborative initiatives across key sectors, including energy, lithium, trade liberalisation, and agriculture. Ambassador Caucino added that a major outcome was the confirmation of a high-level delegation from India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and ICAR to participate in the Second Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting in Buenos Aires next week. The objective of the JWG is to outline a joint work plan for enhanced agricultural cooperation. Addressing the gathering, the Argentinian envoy also highlighted the complementarity between both countries • Argentina is a global leader in conservation practices such as no-till farming, precision agriculture, and animal health. • India leads in organic farming, bio-input innovation, superfoods, and climate-resilient crop development. 'Together, by combining India's agricultural heritage and Argentina's technological expertise, we can promote innovation and food security while supporting sustainable development,' Ambassador Caucino stated.
Business Recorder
21-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
BD-China-Pakistan trilateral mechanism: Beijing hosts inaugural conference
ISLAMABAD: In a positive development, Beijing hosted an inaugural conference of Bangladesh-China-Pakistan Trilateral Mechanism, during which the three sides agreed to establish a joint working group (JWG) to implement the understandings reached during the meeting to boost cooperation in the field of trade, investment and agriculture. The three sides also agreed that trilateral cooperation would be guided by the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighbourliness, mutual respect and trust, while working towards win-win cooperation. According to statement issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson, Bangladesh-China-Pakistan Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary meeting was held in Kunming, Yunnan province of China. Team comprising over dozen Chinese companies arrives in Pakistan Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link. In her remarks, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Baloch commended the Chinese side for convening the inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism. Noting the common aspirations of the three sides for people-centric development, the foreign secretary expressed Pakistan's desire for a deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries. Expressing satisfaction at the upward trajectory of bilateral ties, the foreign secretary conveyed Pakistan's readiness to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environment protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. Pakistan, Bangladesh resume direct trade after more than 50 years It is noteworthy that relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have drastically improved since the ouster of pro-India Premier Sheikh Hasina Wajid in August last year. Both Islamabad and Dhaka agreed to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties with high level meetings between the leaderships of the two countries and exchanges of delegations. Beijing had also hosted an informal trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China last month, which helped normalised strained relation between Islamabad and Kabul. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to elevate diplomatic status by upgrading of chargé d'affaires to the level of Ambassador. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that Islamabad and Kabul have exchanged the diplomatic documents for the formal appointment of full-fledged ambassadors in each other's country. Pakistan's chargé d'affaires in Kabul Obaidullah Niazamani has been upgraded to the level of Ambassador while Sardar Shakeeb's status has also been elevated to Ambassador. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Mint
13-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mint Primer: What's behind the order to clean up dark patterns?
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has directed over 50 digital platforms to remove dark patterns and complete self-audits within three months. What are dark patterns, and why is the CCPA sounding the alarm? Mint explains. What are dark patterns? Dark patterns are deceptive practices used on websites or apps of digital platforms to influence users into actions they may not have planned. These tricks are designed to benefit the platform at the user's expense, and can lead to a financial loss for the user. Dark patterns could include a range of actions like requiring users to submit unrelated private details to continue, enabling automatic renewal of subscription without user-consent or making it hard for the user to unsubscribe, adding new items or increased quantity of a selected item without consent, showing ads disguised as content, among others. What's the CCPA advisory? The Central Consumer Protection Authority last week issued an advisory to e-commerce platforms, urging them to take concrete steps to eliminate unfair trade practices that fall under the category of dark patterns. The advisory called upon platforms to conduct self-audits within three months of the issue of the advisory to identify such practices and submit a self-declaration stating that they are not involved in dark patterns. This move comes in the wake of growing regulatory scrutiny, with the CCPA having already issued 11 notices related to dark patterns, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. Which are the companies under the lens? Notices went out to e-commerce firms, travel aggregators, food-tech platforms, ride-hailing firms, meditech start-ups, streaming services, and fintech firms. Companies include Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Paytm, Uber, Apple, Meta, Nykaa, Zomato, Swiggy, Tata 1mg, BookMyShow, BigBasket, Namma Yatri, and Snapdeal among others. How would it monitor dark patterns? The consumer affairs ministry has set up a joint working group (JWG) to strengthen oversight of dark patterns. Comprising key ministries, regulators, consumer rights groups and law universities, the JWG has been tasked with identifying violations, monitoring compliance with dark pattern guidelines, and recommending enforcement actions. It will also propose consumer awareness initiatives and policy measures aimed at curbing deceptive practices and promoting a fairer digital marketplace. Have there been any earlier guidelines? The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 mandate that platforms must obtain user-consent through 'clear and affirmative" action. Meanwhile, the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021 hold entities directly accountable for engaging in deceptive or misleading trade practices. In 2023, the CCPA introduced the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, aimed at curbing 13 manipulative design tactics such aw 'false urgency,' which pressures users into immediate purchases.
New Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Panel to track dark patterns, e-commerce platforms told to conduct self-audits
NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority had issued an advisory to e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits within three months to detect 'dark patterns' and take necessary steps to ensure its resolution. In order to identify and eradicate 'dark patterns', the government has constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) and advised e-commerce platforms to comply with Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. 'The e-commerce platforms, based on the self-audit reports, have also encouraged to give self-declarations that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns. The self-declarations by the platforms will enable fair digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms,' a government release said. A 'dark pattern' refers to a deceptive design technique employed in user interfaces that misleads users or coerces them into making unintended choices. This practice undermines consumer autonomy, decision-making, and overall choice. The government has so far specified 13 dark patterns, namely: false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisements and nagging, trick wording, saas billing and rogue malwares. The Department of Consumers Affairs has constituted a JWG comprising representatives from concerned Ministries, regulators, voluntary consumer organisations and NLUs. The group shall update the department also suggest appropriate awareness programmes for awaring the consumers.
