Latest news with #MeitY
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India blocked 1,524 gambling websites, apps since 2022: Centre in Lok Sabha
India issued blocking orders against 1,524 illegal gambling websites and mobile apps between 2022 and June 2025, the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Online gaming attracts a GST of 28%. (Getty Images) 'From 2022 till June 2025, the government issued 1,524 blocking directions related to online betting/gambling/gaming websites and mobile applications,' MoS MeitY Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to a question raised by TDP MP Krishna Prasad Tenneti on July 23. The government had till February this year issued 1,410 blocking orders, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said during the budget session in February. This comes amid growing concern over offshore online gambling platforms that operate without following Indian tax rules or local regulations. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has been authorised under the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Integrated Good and Services Tax (IGST) Act to direct intermediaries to block unregistered online gaming platforms, including foreign gaming platforms violating the IGST Act. Online gaming companies must register under the IGST Act to operate in India, even if they are based outside the country, and platforms that fail to comply risk being blocked. Online gaming attracts a GST of 28%, the government said. While the Centre didn't share the list of blocked platforms or of a state-wise breakdown, it said it supports states and Union Territories through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEAs. 'The policies of the central government are aimed at ensuring an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet for its users,' Prasada said. These platforms, which the government has blocked, often use digital advertising on platforms like Google and Meta to reach Indian users, sometimes via surrogate advertising that masks their true nature. In a separate matter, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Google and Meta executives as part of its money laundering investigation into illegal online betting platforms. These platforms are believed to have used ads on multiple websites to promote their services. ED is expected to record the executives' statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on July 28.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
MeitY supportive of gTLD initiative: ICANN
NEW DELHI: India's central government is supportive of the generic top-level domain (gTLD) initiative, and is helping with outreach programs to grow the awareness of digital branding and security, according to a top executive of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ( ICANN ). 'The Ministry of Electronics and IT ( MeitY ) has been very supportive. They supported the very first outreach program in November last year,' Samiran Gupta , vice president (stakeholder engagement) & managing director (MD), ICANN Asia Pacific, told ETTelecom in an interview. 'This year, we will have more events co-hosted with the National Internet Exchange of India ( NIXI ), which in its own right, has been very supportive and is keen to see Indian companies be online and protect their online presence,' Gupta added. Delhi-based NIXI acts as an autonomous body for the maintenance of .in domain, and facilitates the exchange of domestic Internet traffic under MeitY. Unlike country-code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs), such as .in , .us , .uk , gTLDs are not tied to a specific country. gTLDs, including .com , .net, and .org , among others, are part of the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into IP addresses that are used to locate websites. From the second quarter of the calendar year 2026, the non-profit organisation will open an application submission round under its ' New gTLD Program ', which will allow businesses, digital-first startups, and others to apply for a top-level domain (TLD), enabling them to develop unique branding, such as .brand . 'In 2012, India had 250-300 million internet users, so the concept of a digital presence was still very new. Today, with over 900 million users and a lot of digital-first organisations, one of the main challenges is the presence of counterfeits and people masquerading as a dark brand,' Gupta said, adding that brand protection has assumed significance. Earlier this year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed banks to move their net banking websites to the Internet domain, ' ', by October 31, 2025, as part of efforts to clamp down on online fraud incidents and boost public trust in digital banking. Notably, the State Bank of India (SBI) already has a '. sbi ' presence on the Internet. According to ICANN, these new gTLDs will also pave the way for an inclusive Internet for people who communicate in different languages and scripts that are yet to come online. 'This time around, we are better prepared than in 2012 to have an applicant apply not only in ASCII, but also in Indic, such as the Neobrahmi script, as well as the nine scripts that address the 22 official Indian languages, and ensuring that all of them are available for the next round,' Gupta said. The latest gTLD program is underway again after nearly 13 years and will feature a technically intensive application process. The application fee for the 2012 round of the program was $185,000 (~₹1.6 crore), but this time, the top executive said ICANN will provide some concessions to applicants. 'The ASP (Applicant Support Program) is open till November 19 this year. Eventually, those who qualify through the ASP program will get a reduction of between 75-85% of the application fees,' Gupta said. ASP applicants have to go through a separate application process prior to the main New gTLD Program application submission period, allowing successful ASP applicants to utilise financial and non-financial support offered by ICANN while preparing their gTLD application. These applications are evaluated based on financial need, financial viability, and eligible entity status. Delhi-based brand protection agency, LDotR , in turn, said that brands that have suffered fraud or reputational damage due to lookalike domains are showing a strong willingness to opt for a gTLD. 'If a domain ends in .brand, there's no ambiguity; it's official, and it's safe. At the same time, impersonation remains a big challenge,' Vivek Goyal, co-founder & COO, LDotR, told ETTelecom. 'What we are seeing now is a shift in mindset. Companies are moving from being reactive (filing takedowns, chasing infringers) to being proactive by securing their namespace at the root level with a dot brand,' Goyal said. LDotR's clients include brands in sectors such as job portals, FMCG, fintech, e-commerce, edtech, retail, logistics, and the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Govt may consider market study before ex-ante regulations for Big Tech
The government may undertake a market study to establish a solid foundation for ex-ante regulations under draft Digital Competition Bill, said Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Ruchika Chitravanshi New Delhi The government feels the need to conduct a market study to build a strong foundation for bringing in ex-ante regulations under the draft Digital Competition Bill, Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, told Parliament on Monday. 'Based on the suggestions, comments, and inputs received, it is felt that an evidence-based foundation through market studies is required to consider all relevant aspects for ex-ante regulation, considering it is in the nascent implementation stages globally,' the minister said in response to a question on the current status of the Draft Digital Competition Bill. The Committee submitted its report in February 2024 along with a draft Digital Competition Bill. The ministry has received responses from more than 100 stakeholders, ranging from legal professionals, industry associations, civil society organisations, and domestic and foreign digital enterprises providing digital services in India. Malhotra told the Lok Sabha that the comments from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on the Bill were awaited. He also mentioned that MeitY had organised stakeholder discussions between 18 June 2024 and 20 June 2024 on this matter. A Parliamentary Panel looking into the role of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in an evolving economy, particularly the digital landscape, has sought the views of the MCA on suggestions made by some Indian online players regarding the draft Bill. Speaking at a CCI event in March this year, Malhotra had said the government was not in a hurry to bring the Digital Competition Bill (DCB) and wanted to follow due process with more deliberations on the proposed legislation before introducing it. He stated that strict interventions would be required to enforce the law, and self-regulation and compliance also needed to be promoted. The draft DCB provisions set quantitative and qualitative criteria for Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), such as turnover in India of not less than Rs 4,000 crore or a global turnover of not less than USD 30 billion. Other criteria include a gross merchandise value in India of not less than Rs 16,000 crore or global market capitalisation of not less than USD 75 billion. It also states that if the core digital service provided by the enterprise has at least one crore end users or 10,000 business users, it would be considered an SSDE. These SSDEs, according to the draft Bill, would be covered by the ex-ante regulations.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India may relax rules for Chinese investment in electronics; but only with a tech transfer, partnership
Government is likely to support Chinese investments in the electronics sector if they involve joint ventures with Indian companies and include technology transfer, rather than just setting up assembly units, according to officials. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This approach aims to strengthen domestic capabilities while ensuring greater value addition and knowledge sharing within the country. Officials told ET that the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) sees some Chinese investments as crucial for boosting local manufacturing and making the upcoming component incentive scheme successful. As a result, the ministry is supporting a relaxation of rules for investments from China. These perspectives align with industry stakeholders seeking governmental approval for partnerships with Chinese entities, and with Niti Aayog's suggestion to permit Chinese organisations to acquire up to 24% stake in Indian companies without additional scrutiny. This support for Chinese participation in electronics manufacturing follows the recent meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. Officials stressed that Chinese investments should only be allowed through joint ventures with Indian partners, with clear stipulations regarding technology and expertise transfer. "If some player just wants to add assembly lines in partnership with a Chinese firm, it won't be supported," ET reported, quoting an official. Another official said that domestic organisations need to acquire technological expertise, and Chinese support is essential for scaling up, given that many components and manufacturers are based there. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chinese investments are also crucial for enhancing local value addition in electronics products, a key governmental objective. The electronics sector has achieved over 20% local value addition within six to seven years, primarily driven by production linked incentives. The government aims to exceed 30% in two to three years and reach 38% within five years. China leads globally with 38% local value addition. "What is fundamentally important for the government is that an electronics ecosystem needs to develop in India and if some joint venture proposals enable this, then support will be provided," a senior electronics executive told ET. Indian companies are pressing for a review of trade relations with China, especially over the restrictions introduced through Press Note 3, a 2020 policy change that tightened foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for countries sharing a land border with India. The move came in response to the border clashes with China that year. Since then, India has ramped up local smartphone manufacturing and exports, reducing its reliance on Chinese imports. However, in what appears to be a retaliatory response, China has begun imposing informal trade barriers, especially targeting the electronics sector. Over the past eight months, these curbs have intensified, affecting manufacturing inputs and creating disruptions in supply chains. Adding to the concern, China has reportedly asked some of its firms to scale down or shut their operations in India and withdraw Indian staff, aiming to limit technology transfer to Indian companies. The latest blow came with China's restrictions on the export of key rare earth materials, critical components for smartphone manufacturing, sparking fears of input shortages. To counter this, India is rolling out a Rs 22,919-crore electronics component manufacturing scheme to boost domestic production. However, Indian manufacturers still rely on Chinese expertise for components, as Chinese firms currently dominate global supply chains. Industry representatives recently raised concerns with the Indian government, warning that China's informal restrictions could significantly impact competitiveness and threaten India's ambitious $32-billion smartphone export target for FY26. India's mobile phone manufacturing has surged from $26 billion in FY19 to $64 billion in FY25, with exports exceeding $24 billion. Once ranked 167th in India's export basket in FY15, smartphones have now become the country's top export item, with industry players urging the government to resolve the trade hurdles with China.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
China electronics entry may hinge on tech transfer JVs with Indian firms
The Indian government is considering backing Chinese investments in the electronics sector. This support hinges on joint ventures with Indian firms. Technology transfer is a key requirement, not just assembly units. The move aims to boost local manufacturing and value addition. It also addresses concerns about trade restrictions and supply chain issues. Several joint venture proposals are awaiting government approval. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The government is likely to support Chinese investments in the electronics sector if they come through joint ventures with Indian firms and entail technology transfer , instead of only setting up assembly units, said ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) is clear that approval to some Chinese investments is critical for manufacturing to shift to India, as well as for the success of the upcoming component incentive scheme, they told ministry is, hence, backing easing of norms for investments from the neighbouring country, they views are aligned with those of the industry, which has been seeking government agreement for tie-ups with Chinese players, as well as those of government think tank Niti Aayog, which proposed allowing Chinese entities to buy up to 24% stake in Indian firms without additional backing for Chinese investments in electronics manufacturing comes close on the heels of external affairs minister S Jaishankar's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. Government officials, however, emphasised that Chinese investments should be permitted only in joint ventures with Indian partners and only if there is clarity on the way technology and know-how would be transferred.'If some player just wants to add assembly lines in partnership with a Chinese firm, it won't be supported,' an official privy to the details said, on condition of anonymity. Another official said domestic players need to learn technology processes, and that if they have to scale up, Chinese support is needed. This is because many of the components and other manufacturers come from from China are also key to increasing local value addition in electronics products, a stated aim of the government. Local value addition in electronics has crossed 20% within six to seven years, with a major thrust coming from the production linked incentives scheme. The government has set a target of crossing 30% in the next two to three years and reaching 38% within five years. China has a local value addition of 38%, the highest in any country.A third official said MeitY will abide by the broader stance of the government, but has fundamentally been supportive of joint ventures where there's been technology transfer. An industry executive pointed out that most of the cases that were cleared earlier through Press Note 3 – under which prior government approval is mandatory for investments from countries sharing aland border with India – were from MeitY because of the requirements of the domestic electronics sector.'What is fundamentally important for the government is that an electronics ecosystem needs to develop in India and if some joint venture proposals enable this, then support will be provided,' said a senior electronics executive, who did not wish to be companies have been pushing for a review of trade ties with China, particularly concerning Press Note 3. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, in 2020, tightened the foreign direct investment policy through Press Note 3 in the backdrop of the India-China border clashes earlier that local manufacturing of smartphones and their exports increasing sharply since 2020 at the cost of China, the latter has hit back with informal trade barriers since last year. Over the past eight months, it has extended the curbs to electronics adding to the woes of the domestic industry, China's latest restrictions on exports of rare earth materials spell potential input shortages for smartphone makers in India. China recently asked some of its companies to shutter their Indian operations and withdraw trained Indian personnel, in an effort to restrict technology is seeking to deepen and expand the supply chain by launching a Rs 22,919-crore electronics component manufacturing scheme to incentivise local production. To push this, Indian companies need expertise from Chinese entities that currently make the bulk of the components supplied globally. Quite a few Indian contract manufacturers, such as Dixon Technologies and Bhagwati (Micromax), have signed joint venture agreements with Chinese partners that are awaiting approval from the electronics industry recently raised alarm over informal trade restrictions by China, saying they could dent its competitiveness and threaten the $32-billion smartphone exports target for this financial year.'These disruptions are leading to operational inefficiencies, impacting scale and above all raising costs of production, since producing this equipment locally or in collaboration with Japan or Korea costs three to four times more than Chinese imports,' the industry said in a recent letter to the government, seeking help to resolve the matter at the 2020, smartphone manufacturing in India has surged, with production of devices worth $64 billion in FY25, of which exports accounted for over $24 billion. In contrast, domestic mobile phone production was worth $26 billion in FY19. From the 167th rank in India's exports basket in FY15, smartphones have climbed to become the country's principal export.
