Episode Details

Centre rushes 2 RAF companies to violence-hit Arunachal Pradesh

The Centre has dispatched two Rapid Action Force (RAF) companies of the CRPF to Arunachal Pradesh following violence in Pasighat during protests against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, officials said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed on Saturday that the RAF companies, comprising about 250 personnel, be airlifted from Navi Mumbai aboard an Indian Air Force transport aircraft. The units are expected to reach Pasighat and be deployed by Sunday.

Modi highlights exports, local products and deep-tech start-ups in Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the economic potential of local products, agricultural value addition, traditional textiles and deep-tech innovation, citing examples ranging from Bihar’s makhana exports to brain research and start-ups at IIT Madras.

In the 139th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, which marked 12 years of the broadcast, Modi urged listeners to prioritise products made by local artisans during the festive season ahead of Diwali and Chhath. He said the Vocal for Local movement was helping Indian products reach international markets.

“This spirit of Vocal for Local is now taking our products to global markets,” he said.

GSTAT allows GST refund on cancelled air tickets if fare, taxes returned to passengers

GST paid on cancelled airline tickets can be claimed as a refund if the airline has returned both the fare and GST to passengers and has supporting documents to prove it, a GST Appellate Tribunal has ruled.

Ruling in the case of Singapore Airlines Ltd. vs Kochi Commissioner of CGST & CE, the Kochi bench of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) held that there was sufficient evidence to establish that refunds on cancelled tickets had reached the respective passengers directly and that there was no passing on of the incidence of tax.

India’s 2029 rear-crash rule could cost car makers ₹2,700 crore annually, squeeze small-car margins

India’s April 2029 rear-impact safety mandate could add approximately ₹2,700 crore annually to passenger vehicle manufacturing costs, as automakers strengthen rear structures, fuel-system protection and electric-vehicle battery safeguards.

An illustrative calculation by industry experts tracking the development estimated additional costs of ₹5,000 per small car, ₹4,000 for conventional SUVs and sedans, and ₹15,000 for electric and hybrid vehicles, based on annual vehicle sales of around five million units.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ notification S.O. 5723(E), dated October 19 and published on October 21, applies AIS-101 Revision 1, as amended, to covered passenger vehicles from April 1, 2029.

Hatchbacks and compact sedans may require reinforced rear cross-members, stronger fuel-tank brackets, protective fuel-line shielding and revised filler-pipe routing. Rear floor panels could also need strengthening, according to automotive engineers.

At an assumed 35 per cent market share, small cars would incur an estimated ₹875 crore annually in additional costs. The projected ₹5,000 increase per vehicle represents roughly 0.83 to 1 per cent of the price of a ₹5-6 lakh car.

(Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)