Corporate Mitra Scheme Awareness Webinar organized by IICA Shillong, Ministry of Corporate Affairs witnessing overwhelming participation of youth and ...
CCI approves amalgamation of Go Digit Infoworks Services, holding company of Go Digit General Insurance Ltd, with Go Digit General Insurance Ltd, such...
CCI approves acquisition of units of Oaktree capital group Holdings, L.P. (OCGH), and Oaktree Equity Plan, L.P. (OEP) by Brookfield Asset Management L...
Building Deep and Resilient Financial Markets for a Viksit Bharat - Keynote Address delivered by Shri Rohit Jain, Deputy Governor at the Financial Ins...
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Post Highest-Ever Net Profit of Rs. 10,177 Crore in FY 2025–26, show consistent improvement in other key financial param...
Citizenship proof requires more than identity, tax, electoral or banking records when nationality remains unestablished. Voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and bank-account records were treated as non-conclusive proof of Indian citizenship. The petitioner and detainee were required to establish citizenship under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and an appeal against deletion from electoral rolls did not itself satisfy that burden. The inability to identify the burial locations of the detainee's parents prevented proposed DNA-based verification and supported an adverse inference concerning their citizenship.
Corporate Mitra Scheme builds local compliance professionals to strengthen MSME regulatory, financial, taxation, accounting and governance support. The Corporate Mitra Scheme develops qualified and accredited para-professionals to provide MSMEs with accessible, affordable compliance and business-support services. Corporate Mitras are intended to assist enterprises with regulatory compliance, finance, taxation, accounting and governance-related requirements, enabling MSMEs to focus on innovation, expansion and growth. IICA Shillong serves as the nodal agency for Northeast regional coordination, stakeholder liaison, promotion and awareness, with regional participation encouraged through reserved course seats and a fee concession.
Amalgamation of Go Digit Infoworks with Go Digit General Insurance approved, with the general insurer continuing as surviving entity. The Competition Commission of India approved the amalgamation of Go Digit Infoworks Services Private Limited, the holding company of Go Digit General Insurance Limited, with Go Digit General Insurance Limited as the surviving entity. Infoworks has no present market-facing business activities. Go Digit General provides general and health insurance products and services in India, with a specialised focus on general insurance.
Competition approval enables Brookfield's indirect acquisition of Oaktree entities, combining alternative investment management businesses. Competition approval was granted for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. to indirectly acquire units in Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. and Oaktree Equity Plan, L.P., resulting in the acquisition of the Oaktree operating group of entities. Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager, while the Oaktree group provides alternative investment management services.
Processed dairy exports to Bhutan expand through compliance support, market access facilitation, and planned diversification of longer-shelf-life products. Processed dairy exports from Assam to Bhutan commenced with a Purabi Ice Cream consignment exported by North East Dairy and Foods Limited and manufactured through Assam's cooperative dairy network. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority supported export documentation, regulatory compliance, market access and stakeholder coordination. The initiative seeks to expand value-added dairy exports from the North Eastern Region, with plans to introduce longer-shelf-life products and increase exports according to market demand.
Financial-market depth requires reliable liquidity, risk transfer, transparent products and shared institutional responsibility for resilient long-term financing. Financial-market depth requires reliable liquidity and price discovery, efficient risk distribution, and diverse, meaningful participation across market conditions. Government and corporate bond markets, money markets, and foreign exchange and derivative markets should channel long-term savings into investment and enable management of interest-rate, currency and credit risks. Product innovation must serve genuine needs and be supported by suitability assessments, transparent disclosure, fair pricing, independent valuation and user risk-management capacity. Regulators, market institutions, issuers, investors and infrastructure providers share responsibility for resilient, transparent and trusted markets.
Securitisation Note amendments seek stronger issuance efficiency, liquidity and transparency, with stakeholder consultation invited on proposed directions. Draft amendments to securitisation transaction directions seek to improve the efficiency, liquidity and transparency of issuing and subsequently transferring Securitisation Notes. The proposals apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, non-banking financial companies and all India financial institutions. Public and stakeholder comments are invited through the designated regulatory consultation platform or alternatively by post or email.
Rupee appreciation reflected weaker dollar conditions, equity inflows, crude oil movements and positive domestic market sentiment. Foreign exchange market conditions supported an early appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. A weaker US dollar, lower crude oil prices relative to earlier levels, positive domestic equity sentiment, and foreign institutional investors' net purchase of Indian equities were identified as key influences. The dollar index weakened ahead of a monetary policy announcement, while crude prices rose amid renewed geopolitical tensions. Domestic benchmark equity indices also advanced in early trade.
Input Tax Credit unblocking allegedly involved illegal gratification, prompting a trap operation and apprehension of the officer and consultant. Alleged bribery connected with unblocking Input Tax Credit arose after an electronics trader received a show-cause notice and had its ITC blocked. A private tax consultant allegedly conveyed that a State GST officer demanded illegal gratification for unblocking the credit and encouraged the trader to settle the demand. Following a complaint, a trap operation allegedly led to the apprehension of the officer and consultant, with further legal action in progress.
Defence production licensing and Russian energy sanctions shaped discussions on Ukraine's security capacity, missile supply and diplomatic engagement. Ukraine-US discussions addressed licences for domestic Patriot defence-system production, wider defence-production cooperation, technology exchange and missile supply funded through European resources. Ukraine also sought support for a sanctions bill designed to increase economic pressure on Russia by imposing tariffs on goods from major purchasers of Russian oil and gas and by sanctioning Russian leaders, financial institutions and energy projects. The proposed defence-production licence was identified as a longer-term measure, alongside calls for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Cooperative-sector modernisation strengthens rural finance through expanded credit societies, online audits, institutional connectivity and technology-enabled cooperative banking. Cooperative-sector modernisation is presented as a mechanism for strengthening rural institutions, farmer prosperity and the rural economy. The separate Ministry of Cooperation provides an administrative, legal and policy framework for the cooperative movement. Key initiatives include establishing new primary agricultural credit societies and dairy cooperative societies, expanding business activities for primary agricultural credit societies, online auditing, and connecting cooperative institutions. District cooperative banks are described as important institutions for meeting the financial requirements of expanding service and dairy cooperative societies.
Direct containerised rail freight movement enables seamless Kolkata Port-to-Biratnagar cargo transport without border transshipment under revised transit arrangements. Direct containerised rail freight movement between Kolkata Port and Biratnagar Customs Yard has commenced under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol. The service enables end-to-end commercial rail carriage without border transshipment through the Jogbani-Biratnagar broad-gauge connection. Implementation of the revised Letter of Exchange operationalises direct commercial rail access, intended to reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving supply-chain efficiency, reliability and cross-border trade.
State governance reforms expand housing relief, local audits, MSME support, property records, welfare measures and clean-vehicle tax incentives. The reforms provide concessional stamp duty and registration charges for eligible Economically Weaker Section housing beneficiaries, a statutory local-audit framework, and incentives for MSMEs and exports. They also establish rules for ownership records in Lal Dora areas and introduce a formula-based urban property-tax assessment framework with exemptions. Welfare measures cover compensation for specified unnatural custodial deaths, ex-Agniveer reservation, and compassionate appointments. Motor-vehicle tax measures provide a rebate for qualifying vehicles registered in women's names and exemptions for new electric vehicles.
Investigation into alleged fund diversion faced scrutiny as agencies were required to disclose progress and decide on regular cases. Investigation into alleged dubious transactions and fund diversion involving Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited remained under scrutiny because investigating agencies did not provide an updated status or take a final decision on registration of regular cases. The Central Bureau of Investigation and Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing were required to file a comprehensive affidavit and status report. The allegations concern loans allegedly routed through corporate entities to promoter-linked companies, alongside inquiries involving financial, corporate-fraud and market-regulatory agencies.
MSME payment-delay reforms propose faster dispute resolution, enforceable settlement recovery, and invoice discounting to strengthen supplier liquidity. The proposed amendment strengthens delayed-payment dispute resolution for micro and small enterprise suppliers through prescribed adjudication timelines and possible interim payment of at least half the awarded amount where a setting-aside application remains pending beyond six months. Mediated settlements and arbitral awards may be recovered as arrears of land revenue and are proposed to be legally enforceable debts under the insolvency framework. Central public sector enterprises would be required to route MSME invoice settlements through the Trade Receivables Discounting System.
Regional rural bank oversight strengthens financial performance, technology adoption, diversified lending and financial inclusion in remote communities. Regional Rural Banks are regularly reviewed for financial performance, technology upgradation, MSME lending, loan diversification and financial inclusion in rural and remote areas. Their financial health improved over recent years, with growth in deposits, loans, credit-deposit ratio, net worth and capital adequacy, alongside improved asset-quality indicators. Financial-inclusion targets for bank-account access, micro-credit, insurance and pension schemes are set and periodically monitored to extend formal financial services.
Emergency credit guarantee support addresses business liquidity mismatches while public sector banks report stronger asset quality and sectoral lending growth. Public sector banks reported improved balance-sheet health, rising business and lending, higher profits, stronger capital adequacy, and lower gross non-performing assets through FY 2025-26. Credit expanded across retail, agriculture, MSME, and infrastructure segments. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 provides guarantee coverage to member lending institutions for eligible additional credit facilities addressing short-term liquidity mismatches, with full coverage for MSMEs and differentiated coverage for non-MSMEs and scheduled passenger airlines. Airline assistance is linked to peak credit outstanding and may require proportionate promoter or owner equity contribution above the applicable threshold.
Toy quality regulation and export support strengthen domestic manufacturing, safety compliance, market access, and competitiveness in the Indian toy sector. Toy-sector measures combine quality regulation, import-duty changes, domestic manufacturing support, export facilitation, and promotional initiatives. The National Action Plan for Toys covers toy design, learning-oriented toys, quality monitoring, restrictions on unsafe imports, indigenous clusters, and domestic production. A Quality Control Order and BIS licensing framework support compliance with toy-safety standards. Cluster assistance, startup recognition, export-duty remission support, and zero-duty market access under specified trade agreements seek to strengthen competitiveness, while stated measures are associated with improved quality conformity, lower imports, and increased exports.
Preferential market access under free trade agreements supports export diversification, labour-intensive sectors, and exporter use of tariff concessions. India's FTA framework is used to promote preferential tariff utilisation, export diversification and expanded market access. The Government monitors recently operationalised agreements through Certificates of Origin and partner-country trade data. Agreements with the UAE, Australia, Mauritius, Oman and EFTA are associated with increased product-line coverage, tariff preference utilisation and export opportunities. Labour-intensive sectors receive priority through preferential access, while calibrated tariff liberalisation and transition arrangements seek to protect sensitive domestic sectors. Trade e-Connect and the Trade Intelligence and Analytics Portal support exporters with market intelligence, rules of origin guidance, trade data and export-performance monitoring.
Preferential Market Access under free trade agreements supports export diversification, labour-intensive sectors, tariff utilisation and data-driven trade facilitation. Preferential tariff utilisation under recently operationalised trade agreements is monitored through Certificates of Origin and partner-country trade data. Increased certificate issuance and expansion in exported HS-level tariff lines are treated as indicators of export diversification and market penetration. Labour-intensive sectors receive improved market-access opportunities under FTAs, while calibrated tariff liberalisation and transition arrangements preserve policy space for sensitive domestic sectors. Trade e-Connect and the Trade Intelligence and Analytics Portal provide exporters and policymakers with market intelligence, Rules of Origin guidance, FTA advisory services and trade-performance analytics.
TRAI Issues Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2010 Regulations to take effect from 1st January, 2011 - No Commercial Communication between 9.00 PM To 9.00 AM
December 1, 2010
Contents
Summary
Note
Bookmark
Share
✓ Copied successfully !
Print
Print Options
For full text, please login
Login to TaxTMI
Verification Pending
The Email Id has not been verified. Click on the link we have sent on
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued "The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010". This Regulation covers both Commercial calls as well as SMSs. It will be effective from 1st January, 2011.
It may be recalled that in June 2007, TRAI had notified the Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2007. Despite various measures taken by the Authority for curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications, dissatisfaction on this account among telecom consumers continues. Although the number of unsolicited commercial voice calls had decreased to some extent, the number of unsolicited SMS had increased significantly causing inconvenience to telecom customers.
In order to find a solution to this problem, TRAI initiated consultation process in May 2010. After extensive discussions with all stakeholders, TRAI has today issued "The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations 2010".
Unlike the previous Regulations which provided only for a Do Not Call Registry, the Regulations issued today provide a wide choice to the customer. He may choose to be under the 'fully blocked' category which is akin to the Do Not Call Registry under the previous Regulations or he may choose the 'partially blocked' category, in which case he will receive SMSs in the category/categories chosen by him. There are seven categories from which the customer can choose - 1.Banking/Insurance/Financial products/credit cards; 2- Real Estate; 3.Education; 4.Health; 5.Consumer goods and automobiles; 6.Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT; 7-Tourism and Leisure. Wherever the customer is in the 'partially blocked' category, he shall not get any commercial calls. The 'partially blocked' category is like a Do Call Registry. Thus, the customer can either choose his categories (Do Call), or choose to be under the fully blocked category (Do not Call) or not to register at all.
Customer registration will be effective within seven days of registration unlike in the past when it used to be 45 days. The customer can register by ringing up 1909 or sending SMS to 1909. This service will be toll free and the customer will be given a Registration number. Customer currently on the NDNC register will continue to be registered under the 'fully blocked' category and need no re-registration.
The procedure for registration of telemarketers with TRAI has also been simplified. All telemarketers now have the facility of registering online. They can also make payment of the necessary fees either online or offline. The registration will be immediate on payment of registration fee. Telemarketers currently registered with DOT should reregister.
The scrubbing of numbers which used to be done by a centralised agency earlier, causing delays and other difficulties, has now been replaced by a system where telemarketers are required to scrub the data before sending the SMSs/making the calls through their service providers' network. In addition, it has also been made mandatory for the service providers to filter the data. This two-stage screening is designed to stop any unsolicited calls/SMS.
The defaulting telemarketers will be liable to pay heavy penalties. The telemarketers are required to enter into an agreement with the service provider before they get telecom resources. As part of the agreement, the telemarketers are required to commit that the following amounts would be deducted from the security offered by them.
First offence Rs. 25,000/-; Second offence, 75,000/-; Third offence Rs. 80,000/-; Fourth offence Rs.1,20,000/-; Fifth offence Rs. 1,50,000/-; and Sixth offence Rs.2,50,000/-. The Service Providers are required to deduct these amounts and deposit the same with TRAI. In addition to being liable for deduction of security as indicated above, the telemarketer will be blacklisted on commission of the sixth offence. The telecom resources of the blacklisted telemarketer will be disconnected by all the service providers and will not be restored for a period of two years.
The Regulations also provide for an aggrieved customer to lodge complaint with his service provider who is required to take appropriate action and inform the customer of the action taken within seven days.
Concerns have been expressed about the telemarketing calls/SMSs from unregistered telemarketers, who can be any of the 700 million subscribers. With a simpler registration process, it is expected that all telemarketers will register themselves with TRAI. Nevertheless, in order to minimise such instances, the Regulations provide that no service provider shall provide packages containing more than 100 SMS per day. The Regulations also provide that in the event of such an Unsolicited Commercial Communication (from an unregistered ordinary subscriber) he will be warned on the first offence and his telephone disconnected on commission of the second offence.
TRAI also expects that all industry and services associations will impress upon their members not to utilise the services of unregistered telemarketers.
In order to facilitate communication between agencies having commercial transactions with their clients, the Regulation provide for transactional messages to be exempt. Transactional messages are typically from banks/insurance companies or telecom service providers giving information relating to their customers' accounts, or from airlines/railways to their passengers regarding flight/train schedules, or from educational institutions to the parents. Transactional messages will however be only in the form of SMSs and that too restricted to relevant information. Promotional content in transactional messages will not be permitted.
A separate numbering series 70XXXXXXXX will be allocated for telemarketers, so that all telemarketing calls can be easily identified. Any call that comes from any number beginning with 70 will be a commercial call and the customer has the choice of receiving or not receiving the call. Therefore, even a customer who chooses not to register at all, has a choice. Likewise, a unique SMS header has been mandated for easy identification of commercial SMSs.
The Regulations mandate that no commercial communication, even for unregistered customers, shall be sent between 9.00 PM to 9.00 AM, so as not to disturb the customers at night.
Commercial communication restrictions: night-time ban plus customer-controlled opt-in/opt-out, mandatory registration, scrubbing and penalties for telemarketers.
Regulations create a customer-controlled regime allowing either full blocking or restricted category-based receipt of commercial communications, with simplified toll-free registration and immediate activation; telemarketers must register and use a dedicated numbering series and SMS headers. The rules require two-stage scrubbing-telemarketer-side data cleansing and service-provider filtering-provide for transactional-message exemptions, impose graduated penalties and blacklisting for repeat default, limit daily messaging packages, and mandate a night-time prohibition on commercial communications.
Note: It is a system-generated summary and is for quick reference only.
TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
of 3382 
