Latest news with #RMGs
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Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Madras High Court upholds Tamil Nadu's real-money gaming regulations
The Madras High Court on Tuesday upheld Tamil Nadu's regulations that impose time limits on real-money games (RMGs) such as rummy and poker. The state's regulations prohibit real-money gaming platforms from operating between midnight and 5 am. A Bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice K Rajasekar dismissed the writ petitions filed by Esport Players Welfare Association and gaming companies such as WinZO, Head Digital Works, Junglee Games, and Games24x7. The High Court noted regulations framed by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority were not paternalistic but were intended to ensure the physical, mental, and financial well-being of the state's people. It said the petitioners' contention that no blanket hours were imposed on consuming content on OTT (over the top) platforms, unlike real-money games, was not sustainable because there were no monetary stakes involved. 'It is only in online RMGs where there are stakes involved (that) the players get attracted by the prospect of rewards, which could lead to addictive behaviour and, more often than ever, (the players) tend to get lost in the pleasure of the game,' the court observed. The court said there was no strong reason to dilute the need for Aadhaar-based authentication. This is required to verify the age of the participants, given that the law prohibits minors from playing real-money games. 'The scope for manipulation or deceit is less in Aadhaar verification (than in) other ID proofs,' it noted. It added the state was authorised to pass legislation to govern matters affecting the public health of its citizens, citing that games such as rummy and poker had created public-health risks in Tamil Nadu. An industry participant said: 'From the industry's perspective, the state's powers are restricted to betting and gambling. RMGs in India are a game of skill and not chance. By consequence, the powers to regulate online games of skill rest only with the Centre.' The person added that the ban hours prohibited professionals from playing in international tournaments. 'Players cannot play international tournaments held during the hours when the blanket ban is imposed (midnight to 5 am). They are missing out. The right to livelihood is in question,' the person added.
New Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Right to trade cannot impede on right to life: Madras HC upholds Tamil Nadu's real money gaming regulations
The bench held that the right to conduct trade enshrined in Article 19(1)(g), being a vital fundamental right, cannot be used to deter the people's right to life under Article 21. The petitions were filed by online gaming platforms including Play Games 24x7 Private Limited, Head Digital Works Private Limited, Junglee Games India Private Limited. These companies had challenged the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Activity (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025. The main contentions were against the bar on under 18 minors from playing the games, mandatory know your client (KYC) registration with Aadhaar number, playing RMGs during blank hours- from 12 am to 5 am and the compulsory pop-up caution alerts for every thirty minutes after the initial one hour and setting of time bound monetary limits. They also stated the state's act and regulations were repugnant with the Information Technology Act of the Centre. Pointing to the reports on the negative effects of the online RMGs on the physical, mental and financial aspects of a player who in essence is not playing with another human but a pre-programmed computer, the bench held that it would be only fair to ensure the right to life under Article 21 of the player is protected which also encompasses his right to health. It negated the contention of the online gaming firms that the restrictions of blank hours and age limit are paternalistic in nature.
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Nikkei Asia
5 days ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Bangladesh clothes sector hit by trade barriers, internal turmoil
DHAKA -- Double-digit growth in Bangladesh's vital garments sector has put an unexpected gloss on an industry battling U.S. tariffs, Indian trade restrictions and continued domestic political upheaval -- a perfect storm of internal and external challenges that threatens to substantially crimp that expansion. The latest trade blow to the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, which accounts for about 80% of the country's exports and provides employment to millions, came on May 17 when India imposed restrictions on the import of certain goods, including RMGs, at land ports. That move, made in response to a Bangladeshi ban on yarn imports through the same ports, affects approximately 42% of Bangladeshi exports to India and requires the slower and more expensive use of seaports.
Mint
21-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mint Primer: Can Bangladesh afford to mix politics and trade?
Following the souring of ties, the interim government in Bangladesh has been imposing restrictions on Indian exports. Last week, India hit back with its own measures. Mint looks at the impact on bilateral trade and which of the two stands to suffer more from this dispute. What's the latest in this trade war? On Saturday, India announced major import route restrictions on goods from Bangladesh. These curbs target over $770 million or 42% of all exports from Bangladesh. The eastern neighbour can now export readymade garments (RMG) only through Kolkata and Nhava Sheva ports. Almost 93% of its RMG exports came through 11 land border posts in the North-East which have been shut. Land posts have also been closed for other goods such as carbonated drinks, processed food, wooden furniture, PVC goods and cotton waste. The move is in response to import restriction Bangladesh has been imposing on Indian exports. What are those restrictions? Bangladesh has been imposing restrictions on Indian exports since late 2024. In April this year, it banned imports of Indian cotton yarn through five major land ports. It tightened curbs on rice shipments and banned dozens of Indian goods including paper, tobacco, fish and powdered milk. It also introduced a transit fee of 1.8 taka per tonne per kilometre on Indian goods moving through its territory. These signal a clear departure from past cooperation. That apart, Indian exports were subject to tighter port inspections causing operational delays. The moves will hurt the trade between the two nations. Also read | Bangladesh dollar trade to be hit by India's port restrictions, may lose $770 million What is the state of bilateral trade? It touched a high of $18.2 billion in 2021-22 but has since declined (see chart). In April-February 2024-25, it stood at $12.2 billion. Indian goods exports were worth $10.4 billion and imports were $1.8 billion. India exports cotton, cotton yarn, oilmeals, spices, engineering goods and chemical products. Bangladesh exports RMGs, home textiles, jute and jute products, etc. What is the state of bilateral trade? It touched a high of $18.2 billion in 2021-22 but has since declined (see chart). In April-February 2024-25, it stood at $12.2 billion. Indian goods exports were worth $10.4 billion and imports were $1.8 billion. India exports cotton, cotton yarn, oilmeals, spices, engineering goods and chemical products. Bangladesh exports RMGs, home textiles, jute and jute products, etc. What happened to the friendly ties? Things went pear-shaped with the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister of Bangladesh in August 2024. Her government had good ties with India. Bangladesh benefitted from generous trade terms, which allowed it to export everything barring alcohol and tobacco at zero duty into India. A strong anti-India sentiment dislodged her government and she took refuge in India. The interim government that replaced her has been seeking her extradition, and has moved closer to China in a bid to snub India. Also read | India halts transit facility for Bangladesh exports as it reassesses trade and security Who stands to lose in this dispute? Experts say that by mixing politics and trade Bangladesh has shot itself in the foot. Having a large market like India next door is a big advantage. In April-February 2024-25, it exported garments worth $618 million to India and this demand will only grow. Bangladesh had an advantage as it could import fabrics from China at zero duty, which Indian companies cannot, and convert it to apparel and send to India at a competitive price. Recent measures will restrict its exports and open the market for domestic players.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India Ends Land Port Entry for Bangladeshi Garment Imports
India has imposed restrictions on Bangladesh's readymade garments (RMGs) from entering the country via its land ports, forcing the latter's exporters to rely on longer, more expensive shipping routes. Bangladeshi cotton and cotton yarns, as well as items such as processed foods, plastic goods and wooden furniture, will no longer be allowed through six land ports in northeast India, under certain restrictions imposed by Directorate General of Foreign Trade Saturday. More from Sourcing Journal Ocean Carriers Levy Surcharges, Cut Pakistan Port Calls Amid India Trade Embargo Maersk Expects No Cost Impact From Port Fees, Assures 'Unchanged' Service Tariffs Tank China's US Exports, but Southeast Asia and India Cash In Garments will be allowed to enter India only through the Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports, according to the notification. According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, RMG exports to India have already reached $563 million. A whopping 93 percent of cargo shipped goes through land ports. 'Land ports provide easy access for various goods. Shipping through seaports will take significantly more time,' BGMEA administrator Anwar Hossain told Bangladesh publication The Business Standard. 'We are currently consulting with exporters to understand the full impact. Once that's assessed, we'll approach the relevant authorities to seek solutions and explore alternative channels.' Exporters rerouting goods through Kolkata would require the cargo to travel roughly 1,200 kilometers via road or rail to reach other northeastern cities closer to the Bangladesh-India border. While sending goods through land routes to India typically can take one-to-three days, the sea routes would take two weeks. According to a report from another Bangladesh publication, The Daily Star, hundreds of trucks carrying India-bound goods were stuck at land ports or forced to leave without dropping off goods in the wake of the directive. At Benapole, the largest land port in Bangladesh, at least 36 trucks carrying ready-made garments were stranded on Sunday. Bangladeshi Garment exporter Energypac Fashions Ltd reported three containers of formal suits and pants worth over $300,000 were stuck at Benapole. India's government likely made the decision to help open more opportunities for the country's expanding domestic textile sector, and curb the indirect entry of Chinese fabrics routed through Bangladesh. According to India's National Textile Committee, the policy could generate between 1,000 and 2,000 crore Indian rupees, or between $117 million and $234 million. Indian textile stocks surged early Monday on the news, with Siyaram Silk Mills jumping more than 8 percent and Kitex Garments and Raymond Limited increasing 5 percent. Under India's commerce ministry, the directorate implemented the trade policy shift in another escalation of tensions between the two countries since Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted last summer. Hasina is currently residing in India under self-imposed exile, with the Bangladesh government seeking her extradition. India has yet to comply with the request. The restrictions will not apply to Bangladeshi exports to Nepal and Bhutan transiting to India. Additionally, imports of fish, liquefied petroleum gas, edible oil and crushed stone from Bangladesh can still pass freely through Indian land ports. The move to impose entry to RMGs and the other exports will hit 42 percent of India's total inbound trade from Bangladesh, affecting $770 million in product, according to a report from New Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) released Sunday. Readymade garments are valued at $618 million, the report calculated. India and Bangladesh have both imposed supply chain restrictions on each other in recent weeks amid the growing tensions. In April, India revoked Bangladesh's access to transshipment services, which allowed the latter to export goods via India's land borders and customs stations. Bangladeshi exporters used the service to ship goods out of India's airports and seaports, with Indian exporters urging the government to end the service to the congestion that had built up. Bangladesh had implemented some barriers of its own, halting foreign yarns from being imported into its own land ports in a move that pleased textile mills but frustrated apparel exporters in the country. Bangladesh orders roughly 45 percent of India's total cotton yarn exports. The country also restricted rice imports from India through the same land routes last month, and placed bans on paper, tobacco, fish and powdered milk imports. GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said in the report that the cumulative actions, along with operational delays and tightened port inspections, have hampered Indian exporters and triggered calls for a 'calibrated response.' 'Top global brands like H&M, Zara, Primark, Uniqlo and Walmart source apparel from Bangladesh, some of which enters India's domestic market,' said Srivastava. 'Indian manufacturers have long expressed concern over the uneven playing field: they pay a 5 percent GST on locally sourced fabric, while Bangladeshi firms import fabric duty-free from China and receive export incentives for sales to India—giving them an estimated 10–15 percent price advantage.' India implemented a 20 percent import tariff on nine varieties of knitted fabric in February to control flooding of cheap textiles apparel into country—namely from China.
