Latest news with #Rules
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
State allows banks to hire private security agencies for cash vans
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has allowed public and private sector banks to engage private security agencies for securing cash vans used in the transportation of currency to banks and ATMs across the state. Alongside this, the state has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure smooth operations and prevent any untoward incidents. Until now, banks primarily relied on police personnel and guards from the Maharashtra Security Force through the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC). In some instances, private agencies were also hired. However, this is the first time the state has introduced formal regulations governing private security agencies involved in cash transportation. The new rules, titled 'Maharashtra Private Security Agencies (Private Security to Cash Transportation Activities) Rules, 2025', outline stringent requirements for private security operations. Each cash van must now be staffed with at least two armed guards and equipped with a GPS system monitored via a redundant communication protocol. The use of taxis or other hired vehicles for cash transport has been strictly prohibited. To minimise risk, the cash limit per van has been capped at ₹5 crore. The van must conform to specifications detailed in the First Schedule of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act and may be owned by the bank, the security agency, or the cash-handling firm. According to the notification issued by the state home department on April 29, 'One armed guard shall sit in the front with the driver, and another in the rear portion of the van. During transit, loading or unloading, tea or lunch breaks, or restroom stops, at least one armed guard must remain with the vehicle at all times.' Preference has been given to hiring ex-servicemen as guards. In their absence, eligible civilians may be appointed, subject to rigorous background checks. These include police and residence verification, employer reference checks, Aadhaar verification, credit history assessment, fidelity insurance, and mandatory training and certification. As per government data, Maharashtra has licensed 7,684 private security agencies, of which 5,102 are currently active. 'The criticality of secure cash movement in daily banking operations, coupled with the growing number of ATMs and banking services, necessitated clear SOPs for private agencies handling cash transport,' said a senior home department official. 'The guidelines were framed in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India and the Director General of Police, Maharashtra. They are aligned with the Private Security Agencies Central Model Rules, 2020, issued by the Centre,' the official added. The rules also prescribe specifications for private cash vaults used for storing currency overnight. For instance, premises for cash-handling operations must be located in secure areas—ideally close to bank withdrawal centres or police stations—while secluded or poorly connected areas should be avoided. Facilities must include separate areas for general office functions and secure cash processing. They should also accommodate cash collection, sorting, counting, and dispatch via secure vans.
NDTV
20 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Smart TV, Projector, Wearables: Rajya Sabha MPs To Get Latest Gadgets
New Delhi: Members of the Rajya Sabha will now get the latest gadgets to enable them to discharge their functions/duties. The Rajya Sabha MPs are entitled to get smart TVs, smart projectors, wearables and other gadgets. The decision was made under the 'Scheme of Financial Entitlement of Members of Rajya Sabha for Computer Equipment', where members of the Rajya Sabha, under the The Provision Of Computer Equipment (Members Of Rajya Sabha And Officers) Rules, 2008, get equipment to perform their duties better. A meeting for the same was held on May 23. What Is The Scheme The computer equipment shall be made available to the Members through a scheme of financial entitlement. The financial entitlement of a Member for purchasing computer equipment and software under the Scheme shall be as follows: a) Rs 2,00,000/- if elected/nominated to Rajya Sabha for a term of more than three years. b) Rs 1,50,000/- if elected/nominated to Rajya Sabha in a bye election on a casual vacancy for a term of three years or less. c) Additional Rs 1,00,000/- would be available to a Member after a period of three years of his / her term, subject to the condition that the minimum period of term left is not less than six months Rajya Sabha MPs are already getting facilities like a desktop, a laptop, a pen drive, a printer, a scanner, a UPS, and smart phone. Now, more latest gadgets have been added to this list: Smart TVs and smart displays Smart projectors and portable projector screens Tablet computers and keyboards Smart speakers and wearables (such as smartwatches) Ancillary items/necessary accessories to the IT equipment - Anti-Virus Software Speakers Headphone Microphone WebCam Bluetooth Headset/AirPods
India Gazette
20 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Centre notifies guidelines for prevention and regulation of illegal listing and sale of radio equipment
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, has notified guidelines for the prevention and regulation of illegal listing and sale of radio equipment, including walkie-talkies, on e-commerce platforms. These guidelines have been notified to curb the unauthorised sale of wireless devices that may pose risks to consumer safety, mislead consumers regarding their legal position and interfere with critical communication networks, including those used by law enforcement and emergency services, the official statement said. These guidelines can be accessed on the department website through the following link. The guidelines were finalised following extensive inter-ministerial consultations with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Key regulatory and security considerations provided by both departments have been incorporated into the final framework to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach. It was observed that walkie-talkies are being sold on e-commerce platforms without mandatory and clear disclosures regarding the requirement for a wireless operating license or compliance with applicable laws. The product listings for walkie-talkies do not specify whether the device requires a license from the concerned authority for use. The omission of details such as frequency range, licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Use of Low Power, Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018 and the potential legal consequences of unauthorized use, misleads consumers into believing that the devices are freely operable by the general public. Key highlights of the guidelines are as under: *Mandates that only authorised and compliant walkie-talkie devices operating on permitted frequencies are listed for sale on online platforms. *Product listings to specify frequency ranges and other technical parameters, and include proof of regulatory approval (Equipment Type Approval). *Requires e-commerce entities to undertake due diligence and verify regulatory compliance, including licensing where applicable and listings lacking frequency information or necessary certification should be taken down. *Prohibits misleading advertisements or product descriptions that may misinform consumers about the legal usage of such devices. *Sellers should ensure that equipment listed for sale does not operate on frequencies that are not exempt from the requirement of frequency assignment and authorisation by the DOT, and ensure that the frequency bands in the product description are clearly labelled. *Outlines penalties and enforcement mechanisms for violations in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. With these guidelines, the Department aims to: *Ensure platforms perform due diligence before listing such products. *Mandate verification of seller credentials and certification. *Introduce automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms for unauthorised listings. *Promote consumer awareness through proper disclosures. *Enforce penalties and platform liability in case of non-compliance The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had earlier issued thirteen notices against 16, 970 product listings to leading digital marketplaces against the listing and sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms without proper frequency disclosure, licensing information, or Equipment Type Approval (ETA), thereby, constituting violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. These platforms are under constant monitoring and examination, in addition to notification of the guidelines. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Centre releases guidelines to prevent illegal sales of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms
NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Friday notified the guidelines to prevent the illegal listing and sale of radio equipment, including walkie-talkies, in India via e-commerce platforms. The 'Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025' guidelines have been framed after interministerial consultations between the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). 'These guidelines aim to prevent unauthorized sale, distribution, and use of wireless telegraphy apparatuses including walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms, ensuring compliance with national telecommunications and security regulations,' the CCPA said. The stoppage of illegal sales of such equipment has been a long-standing demand of the telecom carriers and the broader industry. With the guidelines in place, the DoCA said it aims to enforce penalties and platform liability in case of non-compliance, mandate verification of seller credentials and certification, introduce automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms for unauthorised listing, and drive consumer awareness through disclosures. This comes following the sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms without mandatory and clear disclosures, including whether a wireless operating license is needed. The omission of details such as frequency range, licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act , 1885, or the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Use of Low Power, Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018 and the potential legal consequences of unauthorised use, misleads consumers into believing that the devices are freely operable. However, the guidelines stipulate that only authorised and compliant walkie-talkie devices operating on permitted frequencies are listed for sale on online platforms, and the product listing will have to specify frequency ranges and other technical parameters and include proof of regulatory approval (equipment type approval). 'Sellers should ensure that equipment listed for sale does not operate on frequencies which are not exempted from requirement of frequency assignment and authorization by DoT and ensure that the frequency bands on product description are clearly labelled,' the CCPA said in its guidelines. The authority, earlier in May, issued 13 notices against 16,970 product listings to leading digital marketplaces against the listing and sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms without proper frequency disclosure, licensing information, or Equipment Type Approval (ETA), which were in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Food regulator warns against using 100% on labels, packages: Here's why
India's top food safety authority has issued a strong advisory cautioning food businesses against using the term "100%" on packaging, labels, and advertisements, calling it potentially misleading and legally Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), announced on Thursday that the use of "100%" has seen a noticeable rise across food products in the this expression is not defined under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, Rules, or Regulations, and its usage can give consumers a false impression of absolute purity, quality, or The regulator explained that using terms like "100%" or similar absolute claims can mislead consumers into believing that other comparable products are of lesser quality or non-compliant with food safety language, though appealing in marketing, does not align with the statutory requirements of the FSSAI advisory warns that using "100%" may amount to false advertising unless the term is specifically defined and backed by evidence under existing has invoked two specific provisions from the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018: Sub-regulation 4(1), which states that all claims made on food labels or advertisements must be truthful, unambiguous, not misleading, and should help consumers make informed 10(7): Prohibits any claim or advertisement that undermines other products or misleads consumer emphasised that any numerical or absolute terms, especially without giving a definition, violate these provisions by introducing advisory follows FSSAI's earlier stand before the Delhi High Court, where it stated that describing fruit juices as '100% fruit juice' is not legally permissible and constitutes a misleading marketing its affidavit submitted in June 2024 in response to a plea by Dabur, the food safety body maintained that expressions like "100%" fall outside the legal framework and lack any statutory backing, making such claims unlawful under current food Watch
