The Reserve Bank of India has constituted a High-Level Committee on Deepening of Digital Payments (CDDP), under the chairmanship of Shri Nandan Nilekani (former Chairman, UIDAI), to accelerate digitisation of the economy and financial inclusion through greater use of digital payments. The Committee's mandate includes reviewing existing status of digitisation of payments and level of digital payments in financial inclusion, undertaking cross country analyses to identify best practices that can be adopted, suggesting measures to strengthen safety and security of digital payments, providing a road map to increase customer confidence in digital financial services, and suggesting a medium-term strategy for deepening of digital payments.
The Reserve Bank of India had invited RAI for a meeting with the CDDP to discuss the key concerns of the retailers with regard to digital payments.
Furthermore, RAI was asked to submit the pertinent issues related to acceptance of digital payments by retailers. Click here to view the RAI submission.
The Central Government introduced 'The Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Act 2016 (hereinafter referred as The Model Bill) on 29th June 2016 which has been one of the key asks of the Retailers Association of India for the overall benefit and the growth of the Indian retail sector. The Model Bill is a progressive move by Shri Narendra Modi Government since it enables states to choose to keep shops and other such establishments open 24×7 all through the year. This would give a substantial boost to employment generation and will also benefit the consumers in terms of more convenience and accessibility.
RAI has been pursuing all the State Governments to adopt the Model Bill. The State Government of Maharashtra has already adopted the Model Bill and introduced the Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act 2017.
We are pleased to inform you that the State Government of Gujarat has also amended the Gujarat Shops and Establishment Act and the amended bill will be presented in the upcoming assembly session.
The key reforms introduced in the new bill are:
We believe that move by the State Government with definitely enable 'Ease of Doing Business' in the State of Gujarat.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had issued a circular which mandated that the name boards of shops/establishments have to be displayed in the Kannada language with 60% of the display board in Kannada language and remaining 40% of the board can be in other languages. Subsequently, RAI had submitted a representation to the State Government of Karnataka and filed a Writ Petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India in the Karnataka High Court challenging the BBMP circular as being illegal, void ab initio and ultra vire the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976.
After a series of hearings, the BBMP has confirmed before the Karnataka High Court that no precipitate action will be taken in regard to the issued circulars. Click here to view the order copy.
Retail Trade now has a separate Ministry and a Nodal Department. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has been renamed as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Click here to view the notification.
Retail is one of the driving forces that is propelling India’s economic surge in recent years. Its total size is US$ 820 bn, and its share in India’s GDP is 28%. Retail plays a vital role in transforming India into a major Economic superpower. This move will definitely help retail realize and reach its true potential.
The Government of West Bengal has renewed the notification exempting retail establishments in the state from weekly closure as mandated by the Shops and Establishments Act provided they comply with the requirements laid down by the government in the notification.
Please click here to view the renewed notification.
RAI had earlier represented the issue to the State Government requesting for the renewal and to include all the municipal corporations under the purview of the notification.
Please click here to view the representation.
RAI, on behalf of the entire retail fraternity, thanks the progressive State Government of West Bengal for considering its submission and encouraging Ease of Doing Business in the state.
The pan-India cyclothon Swasth Bharat Yatra by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that flagged off on the World Food Day, 16th October, 2018 has been receiving a great response from all stakeholders.
In just two weeks, the yatra recorded a participation of over 5000 volunteer cyclists covering 2,800 Kms across 11 States/UTs with 1,500 plus Eat Right Champions and 250 plus activations.
The Swasth Bharat Yatra is a key initiative under the ‘Eat Right India’ movement, FSSAI’s tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of 150 years of his birth. The Swasth Bharat Yatra is the first phase of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement that will end in January, 2019. It involves criss-crossing the country on six tracks, covering 18,000 km with over 7,500 volunteer cyclists in about 100 days. This would not only mobilise the masses but also create a large pool of local community champions to sustain the movement. The Yatra would provide the trigger for cascading the message of ‘Eat Right India’ to every corner of the country.
Retailers Association of India not just supports the Eat Right India Movement and all its aspects but is a key stakeholder in it.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had recently issued a circular which mandated that the name boards of shops/ establishments have to be displayed in the Kannada language with 60% of the display board in Kannada language and remaining 40% of the board can be in other languages. It further provided that if any business/ person/establishment fails to abide by this rule or violates this condition, the licenses of such establishment will be canceled. BBMP issued another circular dated 30.07.2018 which reiterated the aforesaid language requirements and directed implementation thereof.
Subsequently, RAI submitted a representation to the Karnataka Government that implementation of the circulars is beyond the powers and purview of BBMP. Click here to view the representation.
Furthermore, RAI has filed a Writ Petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the BBMP circular as being illegal, void ab initio and ultra vires the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976.
Retailers Association of India (RAI) has succeeded in Minimum Wages case which was filed before the Delhi High Court. The Delhi High Court has pronounced a judgment which states that the Delhi Government cannot unilaterally increase the wages, and has held their effort to be ultra vires the Constitution. Click here to view the Judgement.
The Delhi Government had issued a notification dated 3rd March 2017, wherein minimum wages for workmen in all scheduled employments were increased from Rs. 9,724/- to Rs. 13,350/- (unskilled category), Rs. 10,764 to Rs. 14,698/- (semi-skilled category) and Rs. 11,830 to Rs. 16,182 (skilled category).
RAI had filed a writ petition before the Delhi High Court challenging the legality of the notification. In it, RAI has contended that, while its members are not averse to and/or against a reasonable increase in minimum wages, the increase of the kind done by the Delhi Government is unprecedented, wholly arbitrary and seeks to put the whole retail industry, at least, so far as the State of Delhi is concerned, in serious jeopardy. The Delhi High Court had passed a stay order stating that no coercive steps be taken by the Delhi Government against the members of Retailers Association of India.
The State Government of Maharashtra had issued a ban on various plastic products in the state through the notification dated 23rd March 2018. The government had then communicated revisions to the ban through a revised notification on 11th April 2018.
As the ban had far-reaching implications on retail business, a delegation from RAI had a series of meetings with the State Government, representing the concerns of the retail industry. RAI was also nominated to the Expert Committee formulated for deliberating upon various aspects of the ban.
Subsequently, the State Government has issued a revised notification dated 30th June 2018.
This is with reference to Retailers Association of India's submission requesting for an extension for implementation of the amendments in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Act, 2017, issued vide notification no GSR - 629 (E) dated 23rd June 2017.
On representation from RAI, the Department of Legal Metrology, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India has extended the implementation of the notification further by three months until 31st July 2018 for disposal of old inventory. Click here to view the advisory.
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