Inflation in the Netherlands rose to another record high of 12 per cent in August from 10.3 per cent in July, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS)…reports Asian Lite News
The Dutch government has announced its plans for a cap on energy bills from January 1, 2023 to protect consumers from rising prices.
The announcement came at a time when high energy bills are getting unaffordable for more and more households. For months, the government had not intervened in the energy market despite increasing prices, but a switch was made last week when the finance ministry reached a deal with energy companies.
Details of the deal are yet to be finalised, but the government has estimated that an average household will enjoy a discount of 2,280 euros (about $2,257) per year through this plan. The government expects at least half of the Dutch households to profit from the price cap.
The planned price ceiling for gas and electricity will also apply to small- and medium-sized businesses. In addition, work on a specific package to support high energy-consuming businesses, such as bakers and greenhouse growers, is in progress, according to the government.
Inflation in the Netherlands rose to another record high of 12 per cent in August from 10.3 per cent in July, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
Energy prices remained the primary driving force behind this growth, which were 151 per cent more expensive in August than in the same month a year earlier.
The minister acknowledged that global factors are impacting the economy, and said ‘these are realities’…reports Asian Lite News
The Indian economy, compared to the situation prevailing in many of our peer groups and in many of the developed economies, is definitely much better, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while responding to the short-duration discussion on the rising prices of essentials in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
She said that nobody is in denial about the price rise.
“We are not running away, we are here to discuss and nobody is saying and nobody is in denial about the price rise”, said Sitharaman.
The finance minister said that the government has adopted a targeted approach based on ground-level inputs to tackle retail inflation which is ruling at around 7 per cent.
“Four is the median point considered generally for inflation, sometimes minus two or plus two is what is normally accommodated. And, we are at 7 with some efforts or it can be slightly more than 7 but we have made sure with Reserve Bank and government put together or taken enough steps to make sure that it is kept at 7 or below 6 ideally,” she said.
The minister acknowledged that global factors are impacting the economy, and said ‘these are realities’.
While discussing GST, the FM said that all states agreed to levy 5 per cent GST on labelled food items. “All states at the GST Council agreed to the proposal to levy 5% GST on pre-packed, labelled food items; not one person spoke against” said the minister. She clarified that there is no GST on loose food items.
She reiterated that there is no GST on crematoriums or mortuaries. However, if someone wants to open a new crematorium GST will be imposed. “No GST on crematorium; tax only on construction of new crematorium.”. She added that hospital beds or an ICU room with less than Rs 5,000 per day rent have been exempted from GST.
She compared the taxes on essential items in the pre GST-era and post GST and claimed that her government has lowered the cess on several items. We have contained prices of tomato, onion, potato, said Sitharaman comparing the rates with those in November 2013.
On the Jal Jeevan Mission, the finance minister said that in 2019, there were only 3.2 crore households getting piped water but now 9.6 crore households are getting piped water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill to be tabled in LS
The Government is scheduled to introduce The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
While Power Minister R.K. Singh will move the bill on energy conservation, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will table a Bill to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 .
Amid the growing energy needs and changing global climate landscape, the Centre has identified new areas to achieve higher levels of penetration of Renewable energy by proposing certain amendments to Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The objective will be to enhance demand for renewable energy at the end- use sectors such as industry, buildings, transport etc.
Ministry of Power has prepared amendments, after consultations with stakeholders. The proposal includes defining minimum share of renewable energy in the overall consumption by the industrial units or any establishment.
The proposed amendments would facilitate development of Carbon market in India and prescribe minimum consumption of renewable energy either as direct consumption or indirect use through grid. This will help in reduction of fossil fuel based energy consumption and carbon emission to the atmosphere.
India stands at the forefront of addressing the climate change and has committed to an ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of reducing emission intensity by 33-35 per cent in 2030 against the levels of 2005.
Apart from this government business reports of standing committee of External Affairs on subject of Welfare of Indian Diaspora: Policies, schemes will also be presented.
Reports of Standing committee on Finance and Housing and urban affairs will also be tabled.
300 high-yielding seeds of pulses notified for commercial cultivation
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said that a total of 304 high-yielding varieties of pulses have been notified for commercial cultivation in the country since 2014.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Tomar said, “The high-yielding varieties of pulses included 81 of Gram, 50 of Arhar, 38 of Mung, 35 of Urd, 33 of Lentil, 23 of Field Pea, 19 of Cowpea and 25 of other pulses.”
During this period, a total of 20 high yielding varieties of pulses including six of Gram, five of Arhar, three of Faba Bean, two each of Field Pea and Mung and one each of Lentil and Urd have been notified for commercial cultivation in the state of Bihar.
The Minister said that the Indian Council of Agricultural ResearchI (CAR) is mandated to produce breeder seed of different crop varieties against the indent from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW).
The breeder seed is provided to various public and private seed producing agencies and certified quality seed categories and distribution to farmers.
During the last five years, total 96,731 quintals of breeder seed of high yielding varieties of pulses were produced by the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) against the total indent of about 77,499 quintals and supplied to the seed producing agencies for further multiplication into foundation and certified quality seed categories and distribution to farmers.
About 2,329 quintal breeder seed of pulses was produced during the last five years against the total indent of 1,562 quintals by the state of Bihar.
According to Anand Dubey, CEO, Indkal Technologies Pvt Ltd, since the pandemic started, the industry has been experiencing issues in the supply chain…reports Asian Lite News
Consumer electronics manufacturers on Thursday said that owing to hike in raw material costs and shipment delays amid lockdowns in China, they have no option but to increase prices of consumer goods by 5-7 per cent soon for the Indian consumers.
The electronics industry worldwide continues to face raw material shortage given the ongoing Covid situation in China.
“In the near future, we do see a grim scenario in India if the current, 4-5 weeks delay in shipments continues,” Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of Super Plastronics Pvt. Ltd (SPPL), told.
“The shortage of raw materials has caused major instability in prices and as a company, we will also have to hike our prices by 5-7 per cent,” he added.
Smartphones, laptops, TVs, ACs as well as imported watches are set to get costlier. Industry experts said prices of these consumer goods could even go up to 10 per cent.
According to Anand Dubey, CEO, Indkal Technologies Pvt Ltd, since the pandemic started, the industry has been experiencing issues in the supply chain.
“The Russia-Ukraine war has only aggravated the problem as these countries are two of the largest producers of key minerals used in the manufacturing of chips,” Dubey told IANS.
“In fact, a prolonged period of war could result in further distress and complexities. While we have been taking many tactical measures to keep a check on the price impact of all these issues, it remains a challenge to sustain current prices,” Dubey added.
The electronics sector has already been raising prices by 2-3 per cent every quarter owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With supply chain disruptions, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies have also been forced to increase the prices of daily-use products.
Lockdowns in China have delayed shipments across industries and consumer electronics has taken the maximum hit.
In June and July, India will see major annual sales being held by e-commerce platforms.
Experts are worried that the ongoing crisis can even spill over to the festive sales season.
“This will definitely hit the overall demand for the sector as India is a price-sensitive market. Until stability is brought about, the end consumer will continue to see a rise in price of most products,” said Marwah of SPPL, an exclusive brand licensee of THOMSON in the country.
He mentioned that last year’s increase was just 0.53 per cent and it was 1.88 per cent in 2020…reports Asian Lite News
CPI-M Rajya Sabha Member John Brittas on Friday urged the government to withdraw the hike in price of essential drugs.
Raising the issue in Zero Hour, the MP from Kerala said: “Life of common man is becoming tougher by the day. People are already reeling under price hike with fuel rates going up every day. Unfortunately, prices of more than 800 essential items is being increased by 11 per cent.”
Terming the hike “unprecedented”, Brittas said: “It is unprecedented as there has never been such a steep increase in the prices. When the whole country is passing through a health emergency, this should be avoided by any sensitive government. But a gross insensitivity is being shown to the people.”
He mentioned that last year’s increase was just 0.53 per cent and it was 1.88 per cent in 2020. “There was no steep price hike in previous years. I urged the government to withdraw the hike in price of essential medicines, Brittas said.
Shiv Sena Member Priyanka Chaturvedi also associated with the issue and said cost of living is increasing every single day and the government must consider giving some relief to the people.
