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New Delhi:  The government on Wednesday raised the subsidy provided to poor women, who got free cooking gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana, to ₹ 300 per cylinder as it looked to blunt opposition criticism of high fuel prices. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs raised the subsidy from ₹ 200 per 14.2-kg cylinders for up to 12 refils per year to ₹ 300 per bottle, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters here. Ahead of assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the government had in late August cut cooking gas price by ₹ 200 per cylinder. After this, LPG cylinder price came down to ₹ 903. For Ujjwala beneficiaries, the price was ₹ 703 after considering the ₹ 200 per cylinder subsidy, which is directly paid into the bank accounts of connection holders. After the increase in subsidy, a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder will now cost ₹ 603 for Ujjwala beneficiaries. The move follows criticism by opposition parties of high LPG price. Parties like Congress are promising LPG cylinder at ₹ 500 if voted to power. The hike in subsidy is being seen as an attempt to blunt that criticism. Mr Thakur did not say how much additional subsidy outgo the move would entail. For 2022-23, ₹ 6,100 crore was provided for the Ujjwala subsidy, which increased to ₹ 7,680 crore in the current 2023-24 fiscal (April 2023 to March 2024). The subsidy is credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. The targeted support to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) consumers encourages them for continuous use of LPG. The average LPG consumption of PMUY consumers increased 20 per cent from 3.01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.68 in 2021-22. All PMUY beneficiaries are eligible for the targeted subsidy. To make Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), a clean cooking fuel, available to rural and deprived poor households, the government launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in May 2016, to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women of poor households. Oct 05,2023 Source: NDTV

HYDERABAD: A district consumer forum here has directed India Post to pay 20,000 as compensation to a retired IPS officer whose parcel was tampered with and articles missing. In the complaint, VK Singh submitted that he had sent articles in four packets via India Post at GPO , Hyderabad through a person named Rawoof. He further claimed that a person overlooking the delivery had deliberately advised to unpack the parcels. The complainant said saris and bed sheets were placed in one packet, while the other packet comprised shirts, pants, medical books and plastic containers, among others. He further alleged that when the articles reached the destination in Haridwar, ten saris worth 20,000 were missing. Singh said that video recordings of the packets taken during the dispatch and after arrival at the destination clearly shows the difference. It was also found that the packets were tampered with intentionally. Singh added that such cases have been reported earlier as well. Left with no other option, Singh approached the commission for redressal. Meanwhile, India Post, in its written version, submitted that after receiving the complaint from Singh, they enquired and it was revealed that articles were received at the post office in good condition and the same were delivered to the addressee on June 13, 2022. They claimed that the complaint had not declared the value of articles and pointed out that if the customer was sending valuable items through registered parcels, he could have insured the parcel to its intrinsic value. The bench said the postal department officials concerned are accountable for the loss. Along with compensation, the consumer forum also awarded 5,000 towards costs of the complaint. Oct 01,2023 Source: The Economic Times

The Delhi High Court has stated that the goal of broadcasting offensive and offensive anti-tobacco imagery in the health commercials during movie showings in theatres, on television, and on OTT platforms is to educate people about the illnesses and negative impacts of using tobacco products. The court made this statement while rejecting a petition asking that the government be ordered to restrict the airing of anti-tobacco health advertisements during movie showings in theatres, on television, and on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, which contain graphic or offensive visuals. New Delhi, The purpose of showing distasteful and gross anti-tobacco imagery in the health spots during film screenings in cinema halls and on television and OTT platforms is to make people aware of the ailments and ill-effects of consuming tobacco products, the Delhi High Court has said. The court’s observation came while dismissing a petition seeking directions to the government to prohibit the display of anti-tobacco health spots during film screenings in cinema halls and on television and OTT platforms, which have graphic or gross images. The court said the petition was backed by the tobacco industry lobby to prevent the government from raising awareness against tobacco use, which is the sole cause for a number of ailments among people, and restrain authorities from ensuring that people do not become tobacco addicts. The court also raised concerns over the abuse of the process of public interest litigation (PIL), which it said was actually a tool for providing a voice to the voiceless but is now being used for private gains. “With a view to deter people from smoking tobacco and tobacco products, the Government of India has brought in advertisements to educate people about the ill-effects of tobacco and tobacco products. “The graphic description given in these government-issued advertisements which, according to the petitioner, are gross and graphic imagery, are in fact meant to be eye-openers for the people not to use tobacco and tobacco products and is, therefore, in public interest,” Justice Subramonium Prasad said in an order that was passed earlier but made available on the court’s website on Tuesday. The high court said the purpose of displaying distasteful, gross and graphic anti-tobacco imagery in the health spots played during the screening of movies and television programmes is only to make people aware of the ailments and ill-effects of consuming tobacco and tobacco products and show them what tobacco can do to their health. The court said it is the duty of the State to take steps to ensure that the health of the citizens is protected and this petition is a gross abuse of the process of law. Oct 04,2023 Source: The Economic Times

A global study involving 30,000 individuals from India has found a strong link between frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and decreased mental wellbeing. The study revealed that those who consumed UPFs several times a day were nearly three times more likely to struggle with their mental health compared to those who rarely or never consumed these foods. Frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods may be strongly linked to sharp decreases in mental wellbeing across genders, age groups and nationalities, a mega global study that included 30,000 individuals from India has found. Those who consumed ultra-processed(UPFs) several times a day were nearly three times more likely to be distressed or struggling with their mental health as compared to those who rarely or never consumed these foods, responses from nearly 3 lakh people worldwide analysed by US-based nonprofit, Sapiens Labs, revealed in the report released Monday. UPFs are loosely defined as foods produced on an industrial scale and generally include aerated drinks, packaged chips and snacks, many confectionary items and pre-packaged heat-and-eat meals. “There is some controversy on how to properly define UPFs. The simple rule of thumb is that if it contains ingredients you don’t have and processing that you can’t do in a home kitchen then it probably qualifies,” said neuro-scientist. Oct 03,2023 Source: The Economic Times

Missing out one biscuit in a packet cost ₹1 lakh to FMCG major ITC. A Chennai-based consumer forum directed ITC Limited to pay ₹1 lakh for packing one biscuit less in a 16-biscuit “Sun Feast Marie Light” pack. A Chennai-based resident bought ‘Sun Feast Marie Light’ biscuits to feed stray dogs. To his surprise, he found one biscuit less in the packets. When he went to ask for an explanation from the local store, his queries were left unanswered. Later, he approached ITC for an explanation. However, the company didn’t respond properly, reported Times of India in its report. The event dates back to two years ago, when P Dillibabu of MMDA Mathur, in Chennai, bought two biscuit packets from a retail store in Manali to feed stray animals in December 2021. He found only fifteen biscuits in one of the packets. The wrapper mentioned 16 biscuits in its packaging, but it had only 15 biscuits, according to TOI. ITC cheated the public of over ₹29 lakh every day In his complaint, he pointed out how the FMCG major cheated the public over ₹29 lakh every day by providing one biscuit less than mentioned in the biscuit packaging. P Dillibabu mentioned that the cost of each biscuit is ₹.75. Manufacturers produce around ₹50 lakh packets a day. On this basis, back-of-the-envelope calculations would suggest that the firm cheated the public of over ₹29 lakh every day, reported TOI citing the complaint filed by Dillibabu. In response, the company said that the biscuits in the wrapper are sold only based on their weight and not on the number of biscuits. The mentioned net weight of the biscuit packet was said to be 76 grams. On weighing biscuit packets it was found that all unwrapped biscuit packets only contained 74 grams. In this way, ITC’s defense of the complaint was also turned down. At last, the consumer court ordered ITC to pay ₹1 lakh to Dillibabu as compensation for adopting unfair trade practices. It also ordered the company to discontinue sales of the particular batch of biscuits. 6 Sep, 2023 Source : Livemint

mumbai: Holding the developers of the World One project in ‘Upper Worli’ (Lower Parel) liable for unfair trade practice in promoting a project without the requisite statutory approvals and of deficiency in service for a four-year delay in offering possession, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ordered a refund of around Rs 33 crore for three flat buyer with 12% interest, with Rs 13 crore being the maximum payout. The project was promoted as “an iconic residential building comprising 117 floors and the tallest residential building in the world with several unique and premier features”. Construction was stalled around the 80th floor as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) did not give an NOC. In 2017, Premlata Garg (got Rs 13-cr payout), who had bought a three-bedroom flat measuring 2,044 sq ft in ‘The World Towers, Upper Worli’, approached the commission against Shreeniwas Cotton Mills Ltd (now merged and incorporated as Macrotech Developers Limited) and The Lodha Group. It was submitted that while the flat was bought in 2014, possession was to be received in 2015 and was delayed. The commission also pronounced orders with respect to other flat purchasers in the same project. While Mukesh Kumar Gupta will receive a refund Rs 10.3 crore with 12% interest, Agwarwal is to be paid Rs 9.8 crore with a similar interest. In a common order, the commission quoted the developers as denying the claims of the flat purchasers and submitting that the complainant was not entitled for refund since as per clause of the ATS (agreement to sell), the flat purchasers were required to terminate the agreement within 90 days of the expiry of the grace period, failing which it was deemed that they had accepted the revised date of possession. The commission, however, said, “Considering that the likelihood of legal offer of possession is remote in view of the absence of the requisite NOC for the proposed height of the building, seeking refund with compensation for delay is not unjustified”. It also said that as “allottees in a premier, iconic project the complainants cannot be compelled to accept possession and are entitled to seek refund of the money deposited”. The commission said that no document has been brought on record to explain why the construction of the building was stalled at the 80th floor or why the occupation certificate was available for up to 43 floors only. “In view of there not being any approval regarding the number of floors to be constructed because of the AAI’s NOC not being available and the offer of possession on the basis of a part occupation certificate which as per the ATS gives no legal right to the complainants, it cannot be disputed that the complainants were not within their rights to seek refund of their money with interest by way of compensation along with other reliefs,” the commission said. The developers had submitted that the flat buyer had not indicated the clause in the agreement relating to “factors beyond control of the opposite party” which included “… any notice, order, rule, notification of the Government or any other public or competent authority or of the court”. They submitted that the non-receipt of the NOC from the civil aviation department for height clearance fell under this clause. However, the commission said that this was not a sudden or unforeseen event, but was in their knowledge since the inception of the project as the NOC was not available to execute a 117-storey building. “Unfair trade practice and deficiency in service are writ large on the opposite party,” the commission said. 10 Sep, 2023 Source : THE TIMES OF INDIA

Union minister of state for consumer affairs Ashwini Choubey and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat jointly inaugurated a programme to mark the golden jubilee year of the All India Grahak Panchayat at Seva Sadhna Vikas Kendra in Samalkha, Panipat, on Saturday The government is taking initiatives to protect consumer interest from false propaganda and misleading advertisements, said Union minister of state for consumer affairs Ashwini Choubey during the inauguration of a programme to mark the golden jubilee year of the All India Grahak Panchayat at Seva Sadhna Vikas Kendra in Samalkha, Panipat, on Saturday. The union minister and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat jointly inaugurated the programme. Speaking on the occasion, the Union minister said the government has introduced an initiative wherein several products are being provided to the consumers at their doorsteps by directly procuring from the farmers. If this initiative gets succeeds this will be expanded to the entire country. He said providing the best quality products without causing any harm to nature is the top priority of the government. Mohan Bhagwat said the All India Grahak Panchayat is the only organisation in the country that works to address the grievances of the consumers. He said that such organisations should keep reviewing their work. Around 800 officials of the organisation and 400 people from different parts of the country participated in the programme. 10 Sep, 2023 Source : Hindustan Times

The lawsuit is among several private and state civil actions that accuse Amazon of business practices violating either consumer protection laws or antitrust provisions. Amazon.com must face a prospective consumer class action in Seattle federal court accusing the online retail giant of a price-fixing scheme that has artificially inflated prices for numerous goods on its platform, a judge ruled on Thursday. US District Judge John Chun in a 24-page order said the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, five residents of California and Maryland who said they regularly shop using Amazon’s website, could advance their claims challenging Amazon’s pricing policies. The consumer plaintiffs, Chun wrote, “allege the type of conduct that antitrust law is intended to prevent.” The ruling means the plaintiffs can pursue the merits of their claims, and Amazon will have a chance later to argue that the facts do not support any wrongdoing. A spokesperson for Amazon and lawyers defending the company in the litigation did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Steve Berman, said they were “thrilled by the order” and look forward to prosecuting the case. The lawsuit is among several private and state civil actions that accuse Amazon of business practices violating either consumer protection laws or antitrust provisions. The ruling comes as the US Federal Trade Commission is weighing a lawsuit against Amazon. The consumers’ lawsuit filed in July 2022 challenged Amazon’s “minimum margin agreements” with its merchandise suppliers. The plaintiffs alleged those deals have prohibited non-Amazon retailers from selling the same product elsewhere for a lower price. In their motion to dismiss the case, Amazon’s attorneys argued consumers lacked any power to sue over the company’s agreements with its wholesale suppliers. They also defended the agreements as “lawful and procompetitive price negotiations.” Chun ruled that the consumers could proceed with the case since they bought Amazon items that had prices allegedly affected by the company’s supplier deals. The plaintiffs’ complaint sufficiently alleged conduct that, if proven true, “results in reduced consumer choices and an increase in prices of products bought by consumers,” Chun wrote. The plaintiffs are seeking nationwide class-action status and triple damage under US antitrust law. 10 Sep, 2023 Source : Retail.com

The government will explore direct overseas listing of Indian firms on the London Stock Exchange (LSE)  only after a plan for overseas listing of domestic firms in the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat is implemented, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. The minister’s comments came during the meet with the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt at the 12th annual India-UK Economic Financial Dialogue here on Monday. “We are looking at listing commencing with the IFSC. So, once that is done, we may look at moving further and that’s why you heard the chancellor saying that soon after that it is for India to consider listing in London. So, at this stage, we have said very clearly, we are looking at listing in IFSC first,” Sitharaman said. Buzzing stocks to watch: Praj, SJVN, Adani Enterprises, Schaeffler Hunt earlier said: “We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the LSE as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies.” Sitharaman said the UK has expressed willingness to further expand its footprint in the Gift City IFSC and foster a robust fintech partnership. The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), the regulator for IFSCs, is looking to operationalise the framework for direct listing of companies on IFSC exchanges by end-2023. In July, Sitharaman had announced direct listing of Indian companies in GIFT IFSC. An Indian firm listing on the bourses in IFSC is comparable to listing on an international exchange like the New York Stock Exchange or the LSE. Currently, Indian companies are not allowed to list directly on overseas exchanges as per regulations. However, listed Indian companies can use American Depository Receipts (ADR) or Global Depository Receipts (GDR) to make their shares accessible to overseas investors or list debt instruments on overseas exchanges. Overseas listing treatment to firms listing in GIFT IFSC would help the Indian firms take advantage of lenient tax rules for the offshore facility. The IFSC is being groomed by the government to make it an international financial hub on the lines of London that could act as a catalyst in attracting foreign investors to Indian corporates which are gaining global prominence and need a large pool of capital from the worldwide. Both Hunt and Sitharaman said their countries are trying to expedite discussions that would lead to signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) as soon as possible. “We can really support each other’s plans to strengthen the relationship and the way the next step of this is a comprehensive FTA and Bilateral Investment Treaty,” Hunt said. The much-awaited trade and investment pact with the UK looked to face further delays, going by the statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British prime minister Rishi Sunak after their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of G20 here. Sunak said he was confident a deal with India could be secured but cautioned “there was still hard work to do.” Investment agreement, rules of origin and intellectual property rights are some of the issues that are proving to be contentious ones in the negotiations. From the Indian side, the demand for easier visas for professionals is seeing some resistance from the UK. “Today, we have also launched the UK India Infrastructure Financing Bridge. It is a collaborative venture co-led by the Niti Aayog and the City of London Corporation for harnessing collective expertise in planning and implementing major infrastructure projects,” she said. Hunt said even though London is the world’s second largest financial services centre, majority of asset managers there don’t invest in India. “So there is a huge opportunity, we are looking at changes to the way our pension and insurance funds regulated because there is a strong desire on their part to invest more in productive assets and we have huge pool of capital that are ready to be harnessed,” Hunt said. 12 Sep, 2023 Source : FINANCIAL EXPRESS

The conjunctivitis endemic situation has been reported in all the 11 districts of the state, with Aizawl district recording the largest number of cases at 1,574, followed by 143 cases in Serchhip district. Aizawl: At least 2,059 people in Mizoram have been infected with conjunctivitis, also known as ‘eye flu’, in August, senior official of the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) said on Thursday. The NPCBVI state programme officer, Dr Biaksiami, told TOI that 20 per cent to 30 per cent of people being examined at the out-patient department in different government healthcare facilities were having complaints with their eyes. The conjunctivitis endemic situation has been reported in all the 11 districts of the state, with Aizawl district recording the largest number of cases at 1,574, followed by 143 cases in Serchhip district, said Biaksiami. She said there were no reports of conjunctivitis infection cases in Mizoram in July when some of the neighbouring states have reported the endemic situation. “A few cases of conjunctivitis were treated at the civil hospital in the first week of August and were thought to be isolated cases. However, the number of people, especially children, being sufering from eye flu increased from the following weeks,” she said. She added that the NPCBVI issued appeals to the public to consult doctors if they have eye probems, which resulted in a large number of people thronging the hospitals to consult doctors. 1 Sep, 2023 Source : Healthworld.com from The Economic Times