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One aspect that always garners much traction on the <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget" source="keywords">Budget</keyword> day is what got <keyword id="20257498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cheaper" source="keywords">cheaper</keyword> and what got <keyword id="20286063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="costlier" source="keywords">costlier</keyword>. Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> as part of her Budget presentation proposed a host of tweaks in basic <keyword id="20454068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="customs-duty" source="keywords">customs duty</keyword> (BCD) for various products or items that are critical for manufacturing. In her Budget speech, Sitharaman proposed an exemption on customs duty on certain <keyword id="22516435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer-medicines" source="keywords">cancer medicines</keyword> and a reduction in duties on <keyword id="19920958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-phone" source="keywords">mobile phone</keyword> parts and chargers, aimed at bringing down their prices in the retail market. "With a three-fold increase in domestic production and almost 100-fold jump in exports of mobile phones over the last six years, the Indian mobile phone industry has matured. In the interest of consumers, I now propose to reduce the BCD on mobile phone, mobile PCBA and mobile charger to 15 per cent," said Sitharaman in her Budget speech that lasted around 90 minutes. To provide relief to cancer patients, she proposed to fully exempt three more medicines from customs duties. Imported <keyword id="19895579" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold" source="keywords">gold</keyword>, silver, leather goods and seafood will also get cheaper, as duties were invariably lowered on them. Duty cut on gold would boost retail demand and help in curtailing smuggling in the world's second-biggest bullion market. "To enhance domestic value addition in gold and precious metal jewellery in the country, I propose to reduce customs duties on gold and silver to 6 per cent and that on platinum to 6.4 per cent." She also proposed changes in the customs duty on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors for use in medical X-ray machines under the <keyword id="20330318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phased-manufacturing-programme" source="keywords">Phased Manufacturing Programme</keyword>, so as to synchronise them with domestic capacity addition. Also, she proposed to fully exempt customs duties on 25 critical minerals and reduce basic customs duty on two of them. Minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are critical for sectors like nuclear energy, renewable energy, space, defence, telecommunications, and high-tech electronics, said the finance minister. "This will provide a major fillip to the processing and refining of such minerals and help secure their availability for these strategic and important sectors," Sitharaman said. Putting energy transition on focus, as it is critical in the fight against climate change, the finance minister proposed to expand the list of exempted capital goods for use in the manufacture of solar cells and panels in the country. However, in view of sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity of solar glass and tinned copper interconnect, it was proposed not to extend the exemption of customs duties provided to them. To enhance competitiveness in marine products, the reduced duty on certain broodstock, polychaete worms, shrimp and fish feed to 5 per cent, besides exempting customs duty on various inputs for manufacture of shrimp and fish feed. Moving on to leather and textile, reduction in duty was announced for various items. "...to enhance the competitiveness of exports in the leather and textile sectors, I propose to reduce BCD on real down filling material from duck or goose," Sitharaman said. To reduce cost of production of steel and copper, two important raw materials, it was proposed to remove the customs duty on ferro nickel and blister copper. "I am also continuing with nil BCD (customs duty) on ferrous scrap and nickel cathode and concessional BCD of 2.5 per cent on copper scrap." On the flip side, to support chemicals and petrochemicals, an increase in duty was proposed. To support existing and new capacities in the pipeline, an increase in duty on ammonium nitrate from 7.5 to 10 per cent would be applicable. PVC flex banners are non-biodegradable and hazardous for environment and health. To curb their imports, a propose was made to raise the duty on them from 10 to 25 per cent. To incentivise domestic telecommunication equipment manufacturing, a propose to increase the duty from 10 to 15 per cent on PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) of specified telecom equipment was made. Explaining her rational behind the indirect taxes tweak, Sitharaman said her proposals for customs duties intend to support domestic manufacturing, deepen local value addition, promote export competitiveness, and simplify taxation, while keeping the interest of the general public and consumers surmount. In Budget 2022-23 too, the government reduced the number of customs duty rates.

Here's what will get cheaper and costlier after this Budget

For generations, adhesive bandages have been a staple in every household's first aid kit, offering a quick and convenient solution to minor cuts and scrapes. However, a recent consumer report has unveiled a concerning truth about these seemingly innocuous products — they may harbour harmful chemicals that pose a risk to our health. Testing 40 bandages, including popular brands sold in India such as <keyword id="20298068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Johnson-Johnson" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Johnson &amp; Johnson" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Johnson &amp; Johnson">Johnson &amp; Johnson</keyword>, the study found that an alarming 65% of the bandages contained detectable levels of <keyword id="20570153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phthalates" source="keywords">phthalates</keyword>, also known as <keyword id="20307473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pfas" source="keywords">PFAS</keyword>, or "forever chemicals." These chemicals, typically added to plastics to make them flexible, can persist for decades inside our bodies, and have been linked to a range of health issues including <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword>, reproductive problems, and <keyword id="49683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thyroid" source="Orion">thyroid</keyword> disease. New studies are discovering that PFAS — detected in the sticky portion and the adhesive pads of the bandages tested — are present in an increasing number of <keyword id="20447338" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-items" source="keywords">household items</keyword>, including nonstick cookware, shampoos, makeup items, and even yoga pants. Evidence from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has indicated that virtually all Americans have some of it in their bodies. What's particularly concerning is that since bandages are designed to be applied directly to open wounds, they inadvertently provide an easy route for these chemicals to enter the body. Even if these bandaids contain only a trace amount of the stuff, experts warn that these small exposures can add up, leading to significant <keyword id="19977451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risks" source="keywords">health risks</keyword> over time. “Because bandages are placed upon open wounds, it’s troubling to learn that they may be also exposing children and adults to PFAS,” explains Linda Birnbaum, a health expert. “It’s obvious from the data that PFAS are not needed for wound care, so it’s important that the industry remove their presence to protect the public from PFAS and opt instead for PFAS-free materials.” Moreover, the lack of transparency in the industry exacerbates the problem. While some companies may claim ignorance about the presence of PFAS in their products, the responsibility ultimately falls on manufacturers to ensure the safety of their offerings. Without federal regulations mandating transparency, consumers are left in the dark about the potential dangers lurking in everyday items like bandages. “It is discouraging to find yet another important product space, bandaids or bandages, containing PFAS compounds where transfers into users are conceivable,” laments Terrence Collins, another health expert. “PFAS compounds deserve the ‘forever chemicals’ name, such that when PFAS-containing bandaids and bandages are discarded post-use, the final resting places will be contaminated into the indefinite future.” After this issue garnered significant attention, other health experts have weighed in, and reassured that there might not be complete cause for concern yet. A panel of reviewers from heathfeedback.org pointed out that only two PFAS types out of a thousand have been connected to a heightened cancer risk. Since the study did not sufficiently identify the types of PFAS found in the bandages, further research is necessary to conclude if they are actually cancer-causing. The findings of this study can be accessed <a href="https://www.mamavation.com/health/band-aids-bandages-pfas-forever-chemicals-report.html" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>. The article has been edited since the original publishing to reflect new context.

Cancer-causing ‘forever chemicals’ may have been detected in many popular band-aids available in India

New Delhi, India's <keyword id="413762" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manufacturing-sector-growth" source="Orion">manufacturing sector growth</keyword> fell to an 18-month low in December amid softer increase in factory orders and output, despite minimal inflation, a monthly survey said on Wednesday. The <keyword id="20046281" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hsbc-india-manufacturing-pmi-survey" source="Orion">HSBC India Manufacturing PMI survey</keyword>, conducted by S&amp;P Global, showed that there were softer, albeit sharp, increase in factory orders and output, while business confidence towards the year-ahead outlook strengthened. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing <keyword id="726966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Purchasing-Managers-Index" source="Orion">Purchasing Managers' Index</keyword> (PMI) fell from 56 in November to an 18-month low of 54.9 in December. In Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) parlance, a print above 50 means expansion while a score below 50 denotes contraction. The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI is compiled by S&amp;P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in a panel of around 400 manufacturers. "India's manufacturing sector continued to expand in December, although at a softer pace, following an uptick in the previous month. Growth of both output and new orders softened, but on the other hand, the future output index rose since November," said Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC. Despite a loss of growth momentum, the sector still expanded strongly in December. New business gains, favourable market conditions, fairs and expositions collectively induced another sharp increase in manufacturing production during December, according to panellists. The December data showed a 21st consecutive increase in international order receipts at goods producers in India. "Companies noted gains from clients in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. New export sales expanded at a moderate pace that was the joint-slowest in eight months," the survey noted. On the prices front, input costs rose at the second-slowest rate in nearly three-and-a-half years and charge inflation softened to a nine-month low. Among the items reported to have been up in price were chemicals, paper and textiles. Little-changed from November, however, the rate of inflation was negligible by historical standards and was the second-weakest in just under three-and-a-half years, as per the survey. "Rates of increase in input and output prices were broadly unchanged," Bhandari added. HSBC India PMI data showed a general lack of pressure on the capacity of manufacturers at the end of the third fiscal quarter. Subsequently, employment was largely stable in December. When assessing the year-ahead outlook for production, Indian manufacturers were at their most upbeat for three months. Anecdotal evidence highlighted advertising, better customer relations and new enquiries as the main factors boosting business confidence in December, the survey said.

India's manufacturing sector growth falls to 18-month low in December on softer rise in orders, output

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The women's sports merch industry is worth an estimated $4 billion annually, per a new report.</li><li>But fans have complained about a lack of retailers, minimal options, and low inventory.</li></ul>As a two-time All-American, two-time World Cup winner, and National Women's Soccer League champion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ali-krieger-timeline-each-year-uswnt-nwsl-soccer-career-2023-10">Ali Krieger</a> has had many unforgettable experiences throughout her career.One was the first time she saw a fan wearing her jersey.It was 2007, and Krieger, then 23, was playing for FFC Frankfurt, now known as Eintracht Frankfurt, in the German women's league, Frauen-Bundesliga, when she saw her name emblazoned across a fan's black-and-white jersey."It was a moment I'll never forget," Krieger told Business Insider. "Where you just see at a game and someone says, 'Hey, can you sign my jersey?' And they turn around and it's your name on the back."For her, the experience was a reminder of the passion fans have for the sport and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paris-olympics-athletes-to-follow-tiktok-2024-6">its athletes</a>."When you invest in a jersey, that means you really appreciate that person, their character, and what they bring to the game," Krieger said. "And I think if you're worth spending money on that, then, you know, you must be doing something right."But not all professional female athletes get to experience a moment like Krieger's.<h2 id="0b95d8e9-a64a-4d06-afa0-cdb82491ef45">Female athletes are fighting to get their names on jerseys</h2><div type="image" title="Mary Earps holds her Golden Glove award after the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final." height="3436" width="4581" msid="111467133" hostid="261"></div>At the beginning of the 2023 Women's World Cup, England Lionesses goalkeeper and eventual Golden Glove winner Mary Earps questioned <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nikes-sales-to-fall-this-year-as-turnaround-plan-continues-2024-6">Nike's</a> decision not to sell goalkeeper kits, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/24/style/nike-mary-earps-jersey.html">The New York Times</a> reported. (Other companies, including Adidas and Puma, also did not sell goalkeepers' jerseys during the competition.)What followed was social media backlash from fans and Earps, a statement from Nike, thousands of signatures on a Change.org petition, and a motion from a then-member of Parliament before the company publicly reversed its decision in August.When Earps' kit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/nike-after-criticism-releases-mary-earps-goalkeeper-jersey-2023-10-10/">was finally released</a> in October, she said it sold out the same day.The frustration endured at the club level in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) until this April. In a <a target="_blank" href="https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2024/04/17/washington-spirit-celebrates-first-ever-fan-goalkeeper-jerseys/">Washington Spirit</a> press release celebrating the league's decision to sell goalkeeper kits, the team's goalkeeper, Aubrey Kingsbury, said, "To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women's game as they have been for so long in the men's game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it's just good business."After the league's announcement, Chicago Red Stars and USWNT starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's jersey <a target="_blank" href="https://justwomenssports.com/reads/alyssa-naeher-nwsl-goalkeeper-jerseys-nike-sale/">sold out</a> in less than three hours.While these examples are a good indicator of demand, they also reveal one of the many problems — low inventory — plaguing women's sports merchandising.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klarna.com/us/shopping/c/rep-her/">Klarna</a>, an AI-powered shopping and payments company, and Sports Innovation Lab, a sports data company, are spotlighting these issues in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportsilab.com/free-reports/thefanproject-rep-her">a new report</a>, "Rep Her: Unveiling the Unmet Demand for Women's Sports Merchandise."The report used data, including Klarna payment trends, survey responses, Google Trends, transactional data, and an inventory audit, to examine the women's sports merchandise industry, including inequities in fans' shopping experiences and the potential size of the market. It also considered a variety of merchandise across professional women's sports leagues, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/caitlin-clark-popularity-broad-appeal-impact-on-womens-sports-data-2024-6">WNBA</a>, NWSL, WTA, LPGA, and the PWHL.Sports Innovation Lab estimates the women's sports merchandise industry is worth $4 billion — conservatively.<h2 id="a085134a-019e-4d18-9b03-a510924b7725">Sales are hindered by 'a broken buying experience'</h2>The report identifies what it calls "a broken buying experience," which needs to be addressed before the market can be fully realized.People simply don't know where to find merchandise — 32% of fans reported having an issue finding a seller for women's sports merchandise compared to just 18% of fans looking for men's, according to Sports Innovation Lab's 2024 Women's Sports Merchandise Survey.When they do find a seller, some fans are disappointed with the available options. Over a quarter of respondents reported having difficulty finding women's sports merchandise styles they liked, and nearly four-fifths said they think men's merchandise is better quality and has a wider variety.Even when there is an item fans are interested in, there's a chance it will be out of stock — more than half of those who intended to buy an item but didn't blamed a lack of inventory.Ultimately, 79% of fans surveyed said they would purchase more women's sports merchandise if more options were available.<h2 id="61354dd6-e02d-425b-b07a-aae6d6559edb">Major brands have made strides</h2>Nike partners with both the NBA and WNBA, and has provided signature shoe deals to star WNBA players like A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark.In February, for the first time, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/collections/national-womens-soccer-league-nwsl-2024-kits-official-images">Nike</a> also provided all 14 NWSL teams with "new, reimagined primary and secondary kits," which fans can purchase, and has made NWSL goalkeeper jerseys from all teams available on its website.But while big brands are making strides in partnering with women's professional teams to create merchandise, the women's sports merch buying experience is still lacking. Sports Innovation Lab's inventory audit found that when comparing products available for men's and women's teams in five of the same cities, 311 pieces of women's apparel were available on the NBA team shops compared to just 38 pieces of women's apparel available on the WNBA team shops.Other brands like Adidas and Puma are more prominent in the international women's sports market, thanks to their investments in major international soccer teams, like Manchester United and Germany and AC Milan and Morocco, respectively. Adidas and Puma sell team jerseys on their company websites.In response to low inventory complaints, major brands have previously said it's hard to predict demand. In 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-17/nike-adidas-bet-big-on-women-s-world-cup-football-shirts-and-merch">Bloomberg</a> reported that retailers like Nike, Adidas, and Puma decided "how many replica and authentic jerseys to manufacture for each of the women's teams" months before the Women's World Cup began in July.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bjorn-gulden-is-trying-to-save-adidas-after-yeezy-controversy-2024-3">Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden</a> told Bloomberg "there is no formula" for forecasting demand, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/puma-palermo-adidas-samba-gazelle-terrace-footwear-first-quarter-earnings-2024-5">Puma CEO Arne Freundt</a> told the outlet "demand was significantly higher" than they had anticipated.Still, the numbers suggest it's worth the investment.<h2 id="3e9804fb-9bf1-412e-bcab-b6a1c6176e2b">Merchandise boosts community and exposure</h2><div type="image" title="Fans shop for merchandise in the Indiana Fever's team store before a game." height="2666" width="3555" msid="111467125" hostid="261"></div>From the 2022 season to the 2023 season, the NWSL saw a 101% increase in ticket sales, while the WNBA saw a 92% increase, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://support.stubhub.com/articles/61000310107-2023-year-in-live-experiences">StubHub's 2023 Year in Live Experiences</a> report.Meanwhile, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wnba.com/news/2023-season-record-breaking-success-recap">WNBA</a> reported that the 2023 season was "its most-watched regular season in 21 years." In 2024, there's also the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/caitlin-clark-popularity-broad-appeal-impact-on-womens-sports-data-2024-6">Caitlin Clark effect</a>.Merchandise is a key factor in how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/caitlin-clark-is-a-rorschach-test-for-sports-media-2024-6">fans of women's sports</a> build community. Some 67% of respondents in Sports Innovation Lab's survey reported purchasing women's sports merchandise without ever going to live games.What brands are missing out on, then, isn't just a revenue opportunity, it's exposure."You're a walking billboard when you have a team's logo on your chest or a league's logo on your chest," Angela Ruggiero, cofounder of Sports Innovation Lab and a four-time Olympic hockey player, told Business Insider.Ruggiero cited the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lebron-james-wnba-hoodie-campaign-nba-bubble-struggle-the-shop-2022-10">WNBA's signature orange hoodie</a>, which created buzz when NBA stars wore it during the 2020 season. It generated feelings of "That represents me, that's more than sport. I want to wear it, I want to go to a game now because I see all these people in orange hoodies and famous people in orange hoodies and like, wow, this is cool," she said.<div type="image" title="The 2024 WNBA Draft Class poses at The Empire State building while wearing the league's signature orange hoodies." height="3333" width="4444" msid="111467127" hostid="261"></div>As more leagues emerge, like the Professional Women's Hockey League, Athletes Unlimited, and League One Volleyball, the fact that the conversation has shifted to merchandise is a reminder of how far the women's game has come in the last 20 years."At the very beginning," Krieger said, "it wasn't really a concern for all of us because we were just so focused on getting our own gear for training and trying to have the accessibility and the resources, and all the things that we needed in order to perform our best just from a player's perspective and then just getting paid what we deserve."Now that some women's sports, like soccer and basketball, are reaching mainstream conversation, merchandise is another step toward building profitable, sustainable leagues and fanbases."It is just such an untapped opportunity," said Megan Gokey, head of business-to-consumer marketing and brand partnerships at Klarna. "The opportunity is there, but brands, retailers, etc. are actually just not keeping up with the demand, which is insane."<h2 id="91674e49-2154-4220-b189-23d4b2c11ee3">Smaller businesses are stepping up</h2>To respond to the increasing excitement around women's sports, smaller brands are paving the way with merchandise.Media and commerce company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.togethxr.com/">Togethxr</a>, which was founded by athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird, is partnering with Klarna and Krieger to release a limited-edition merchandise collection with a percentage of proceeds going to Billie Jean King's Women's Sports Foundation.Esther Kim's Playa Society is also making waves with its self-proclaimed "best women's sports merch in the game," with items geared toward fans of NCAA women's basketball, the WNBA, and the USWNT. And Athletes Unlimited sells softball, volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse merchandise.<div type="image" title="Four people lined against a wall wearing T-shirts and carrying tote bags from the TOGETHXR merchandise collection." height="3585" width="4780" msid="111467129" hostid="261"></div>Business Insider reached out to Nike, Adidas, and Puma about what each company further plans to do in women's sports merchandise. Adidas said it was "unable to identify a spokesperson" for this subject, while a Puma spokesperson was also unavailable. Nike did not respond.Beyond retailers, team sponsors and partners have a responsibility, too. CarMax, for example, is the marquee partner of the New Jersey and New York NWSL team Gotham FC, as well as a partner of WNBA team New York Liberty. In 2023, the company helped support a "first-of-its-kind" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gothamfc.com/news_article/show/1282307">joint merchandise collaboration</a> between the teams featuring the tagline "Pass Her The Torch."Building the women's game takes an ecosystem of collaboration involving fans, athletes, leagues, team sponsors, and retailers. Whoever steps up to the plate could reap major rewards."We've been in this movement as female athletes, but everyone thinks it's now just the moment," Krieger said. "This has been the moment for a long time and we've been moving it along for decades. And so now people are just finally getting interested in it and knowing and seeing that we are valuable and that the investment is real and that it's worthwhile."

Women's sports merchandise is an estimated $4 billion industry but fans still can't find the items they're looking for

<ul><li>New orders and output increased at the quickest rates in nearly three years during August, said S&amp;P.</li><li>Export orders increased for the 17th month running halfway through Q2, and was also the greatest extent since November 2022.</li><li>Price signals were mixed with a quicker increase in input costs contrasting with a softer uptick in factory gate charges. </li></ul>The S&amp;P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 58.6 in August after hitting a three-month high in July at 57.7. This is the second-best improvement in the health of the sector for nearly three years, said a release by S&amp;P. New orders and output increased at the quickest rates in nearly three years during August. Output rose for the twenty-sixth successive month, and to the greatest extent in just under three years. “Firms geared up to handle rising demand by scaling up buying levels and rebuilding their input stocks at the second-strongest pace in 18-and-a-half years of data collection. On the price front, cost inflationary pressures accelerated but there was a slower uptick in selling charges,” S&amp;P said in a release. While demand strength was key to August's performance, competitive pricing and advertising were also cited as factors behind sales growth. “Not only did new export orders increase for the seventeenth month running halfway through the second fiscal quarter, but also to the greatest extent since November 2022,” S&amp;P said. The panel members said that they secured new work from Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and the US. "The PMI results for India painted a vibrant picture of the nation's manufacturing landscape in August. Robust and accelerated increases in new orders and production suggest that the sector looks set to provide a strong contribution to second quarter (fiscal) economic growth,” said De Lima, economics associate director at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. ‘Softer uptick in factory gate charges’ Manufacturers purchased additional raw materials and semi-finished items in August, and buying levels rose sharply, and at one of the fastest rates seen in over 12 years. Price signals were mixed in August, with a quicker increase in input costs contrasting with a softer uptick in factory gate charges — which rose at the slowest pace in four months, whereas cost inflation picked up to its strongest in a year. <keyword id="6359181" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cotton" source="Orion">Cotton</keyword>, foodstuff, rubber, steel and machinery spare parts all got costlier. "The presence of stronger cost inflationary pressures serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in managing growth. Firms addressed rising input prices by lifting selling charges. However, the need to maintain competitiveness helped restrict charge inflation," said De Lima. While Indian manufacturers did hire permanent and temporary staff on both part and full-time basis, as new orders flowed in, overall employment rose at the slowest pace in four months. “Although historically elevated, the overall level of positive sentiment slipped to a three-month low due to inflation concerns,” S&amp;P said.

India’s manufacturing PMI rises to a 3-month high in August

As PC and laptop makers urge the government to rethink its decision on import licensing requirements accompanied by a quota, the industry stakeholders have met <keyword id="296566" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="it-ministry" source="Orion">IT Ministry</keyword> officials to seek solutions on the matter. The meeting discussed proposed changes, like linking the import of IT hardware to the local manufacturing of a company value and its export value of electronic items, according to sources. The meeting on Friday was called to give suggestions on how the proposed import management system should work and get the stakeholders' feedback. Another meeting is likely to happen again next week to continue discussions on the issue. Last month, the <keyword id="7825659" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india-cellular-and-electronics-association" source="Orion">India Cellular and Electronics Association</keyword> (<keyword id="6816005" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="icea" source="Orion">ICEA</keyword>) wrote to the IT Ministry, requesting the government to rethink its decision on import licensing requirement accompanied by a quota, which was extended by 3 months until October 31, fearing that this may lead to price rise in consumer electronics products as companies are not yet prepared for manufacturing PCs, laptops and servers domestically at scale. The letter said that an overarching factor that should be taken into consideration in "avoiding supply chain disruption till domestic production ramps up" is that any "reduction in supplies or even an indication will lead to hoarding and market distortion". This, in turn, can push up consumer prices, "which will adversely impact not just key stakeholders such as students, but also those who are the core of growing the digital economy, i.e. start-ups, IT and ITES firms, BPOs". The industry seeks at least nine-month breather after the PLI for IT Hardware was launched. "The government may undertake a re-assessment of the investment pipeline and the supply situation before inviting the industry to discuss whether any further policy intervention is needed at that stage. It may be too early to assess the full implication of the new scheme before then," according to the letter. Where servers are concerned, the ICEA has received inputs that companies in that sector seek a relook at their inclusion in the proposed intervention. The Central government earlier deferred its decision to restrict the import of certain categories of laptops and computers until November 1, allowing companies three-months time to import these devices. Post November 1, no entity will be allowed to import laptops, computers, and related items without a license. The PLI 2.0 for IT hardware has garnered applications from 40 companies including global and domestic. The expected incremental production under the scheme is around Rs 3.35 lakh crore. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/g20-leaders-summit-adopts-new-delhi-declaration/articleshow/103535369.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/g20-leaders-summit-adopts-new-delhi-declaration/articleshow/103535369.cms" target="_blank">G20 Leaders Summit adopts New Delhi Declaration</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/g20-summit-pm-modi-announces-launch-of-global-biofuel-alliance/articleshow/103535675.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/g20-summit-pm-modi-announces-launch-of-global-biofuel-alliance/articleshow/103535675.cms" target="_blank">G20 Summit: PM Modi announces launch of Global Biofuel Alliance</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/webstories/from-dream-girl-2-to-tootsie-epic-roles-which-saw-male-actors-crossdress/slidelist/103525812.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/webstories/from-dream-girl-2-to-tootsie-epic-roles-which-saw-male-actors-crossdress/slidelist/103525812.cms" target="_blank">From Dream Girl 2 to Tootsie – Epic roles which saw male actors crossdress</a>

PC manufacturers meet MeitY officials on import curbs, seek solutions

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Top consumer electronics companies like HP, <keyword id="6354427" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="apple" source="Orion">Apple</keyword> and <keyword id="28251" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="dell" source="Orion">Dell</keyword> have urged the government to extend the November 1 deadline for the licences required for PCs, laptops and tablets by at least and year, as it will take time to configure and set up manufacturing/assembling units as per new guidelines. In a meeting with the <keyword id="3428254" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-electronics-and-information-technology" source="Orion">Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</keyword> (MeitY) officials on Tuesday, also attended by leading industry bodies the <keyword id="18336155" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="manufacturing-association-of-it-hardware" source="Orion">Manufacturing Association of IT Hardware</keyword> (MAIT) and the <keyword id="7825659" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india-cellular-and-electronics-association" source="Orion">India Cellular and Electronics Association</keyword> (ICEA), the tech companies conveyed to the government they need more time to set up manufacturing units in the country, according to sources. According to reports, some 44 companies, including some leading global players, have submitted applications for incentives under the production-linked incentive (PLI) 2.0 scheme for hardware. According to the notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), for clearance of import consignments with effect from November 1, 2023, a valid licence for restricted imports is required. The government has told tech companies that the restrictions are not to ban imports but to promote exports via domestic manufacturing, according to industry representatives who attended the meeting. The <keyword id="6474066" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="economic-times" source="Orion">Economic Times</keyword> was first to report on the development. The Central government earlier deferred its decision to restrict the import of certain categories of laptops and computers until November 1, allowing companies three-months time to import these devices. Post November 1, no entity will be allowed to import laptops, computers, and related items without a license. "Import consignments can be cleared till October 31, 2023, without a licence for restricted imports," the notification said, adding that liberal transitional arrangements will be notified for the import of laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, and servers till October 31. This is a partial reversal from its August 3 order, which had imposed import restrictions on these devices with immediate effect. The Centre has said the restrictions were imposed for security reasons and also for promoting the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. <ul class="list-img-col"><li><a href="https://photo.iansnews.in/detail/asus-gaming-laptop-321389-id=2670928" target="_blank"></a></li></ul>

Apple, HP Dell  and others seek Nov 1 laptop import restriction deadline extended by a year

List of weapons that India can make at home — and the ones it cannot

Following uproar in the Parliament over <keyword id="6354679" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gst" source="Orion">GST</keyword> on <keyword id="72247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Food-items" source="Orion">food items</keyword>, <keyword id="309842" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-finance" source="Orion">Union Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Tuesday defended the imposition of 5 per cent GST on food articles such as cereals, rice, flour and curd, which are pre-packaged and labelled, saying that it was a unanimous decision of the <keyword id="6355040" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gst-council" source="Orion">GST Council</keyword> last month in which even non-BJP ruled states were present. The <keyword id="25455" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="finance" source="Orion">Finance</keyword> Minister released a list of items that will not attract any GST, when sold loose, and not pre-packed or pre-labeled. In a series of tweets, she said: "Recently, the GST Council in its 47th meeting recommended to reconsider the approach for imposition of GST on specified food items like pulses, cereals, flour, etc. There have been a lot of misconceptions about this that have been spread. Here is a thread to lay the facts." "Is this the first time such food articles are being taxed? No. States were collecting significant revenue from foodgrain in the pre-GST regime. Punjab alone collected more Rs 2,000 cr on food grain by way of purchase tax. UP collected Rs 700 cr," she said. "Taking this into account, when GST was rolled out, a GST rate of 5% was made applicable on BRANDED cereals, pulses, flour. Later this was amended to tax only such items which were sold under REGISTERED brand or brand on which enforceable right was not foregone by supplier," the FM said. "However, soon rampant misuse of this provision was observed by reputed manufacturers &amp; brand owners and gradually GST revenue from these items fell significantly. This was RESENTED by suppliers and industry associations who were paying taxes on branded goods. They wrote to the Govt to impose GST uniformly on all packaged commodities to stop such misuse. This rampant evasion in tax was also observed by States." "The Fitment Committee - consisting of officers from Rajasthan, West Bengal, <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Gujarat - had also examined this issue over SEVERAL meetings and made its recommendations for changing the modalities to curb misuse. "It is in this context that the GST Council in its 47th meeting took the decision. With effect from July 18, 2022, only the modalities of imposition of GST on these goods was changed with no change in coverage of GST except 2-3 items," said the minister. "It has been prescribed that GST on these goods shall apply when supplied in 'pre-packaged and labelled' commodities attracting the provisions of Legal Metrology Act." "For example, items like pulses, cereals like rice, wheat, and flour, etc, earlier attracted GST @ 5% when branded and packed in unit container. From 18.7.2022, these items would attract GST when 'pre-packaged and labeled'," <keyword id="679937" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sitharaman" source="Orion">Sitharaman</keyword> tweeted. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-450x-gen-3-new-electric-scooter-debuted-today/articleshow/92985192.cms">Ather’s Ravneet Phokela on the company’s new scooter, affordability, EV safety and more</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/two-months-four-airlines-and-14-air-safety-incidents-dgca-says-safety-paramount/articleshow/92983985.cms">Two months, four airlines and 14 air safety incidents — DGCA says 'safety paramount'</a>

Food items when sold loose won't attract any GST, says Nirmala Sitharaman

<ul class="summary-list"><li>American manufacturers are thriving as global supply chains remain in turmoil. </li><li>They're not immune to other economic issues, like the labor crunch and rising shipping costs.</li></ul>Unlike many retailers this holiday season, Bayard Winthrop isn't concerned about global <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supply-chain-crisis-when-it-will-be-over-end-2021-11">supply chain snags</a>.That's because Winthrop, the CEO of <keyword id="11899424" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="apparel" source="Orion">apparel</keyword> retailer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.american-giant.com%2F">American Giant</a>, is close to nearly every aspect of his company's <keyword id="11894138" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="supply-chain" source="Orion">supply chain</keyword>: The cotton is grown in the US; it's spun into fabric and made into hoodies and sweatpants in factories throughout the Southeast and Midwest; then it's delivered, mostly by UPS, to customers across the country.That means nothing is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/home-depot-chartering-cargo-ships-started-as-a-joke-2021-10">stuck on a container ship</a> or needs to be air-freighted to the US to arrive in time for the holidays. "We expect to be fully in stock in the holidays," Winthrop told Insider. "We don't spend any time talking about supply chain stuff internally." Winthrop is one of four <keyword id="6362048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manufacturing" source="Orion">manufacturing</keyword> CEOs who spoke with Insider about what it's like to make products in the US during a time when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-store-shelves-are-empty-supply-chain-crisis-shortages-2021-10">global supply chains are in a state of upheaval</a>.None of them is immune to challenges facing the US economy in 2021. Some are having trouble hiring while others are raising prices as raw material costs soar. But they also described the benefits of manufacturing close to home — mainly, more control over their supply chains and greater flexibility when problems arise.When the coronavirus began spreading worldwide last year, it shut down ports and took factories offline while simultaneously sparking a rush on consumer goods. In the US, where the labor market is tight, there are also fewer people to process all the goods coming into the country from overseas, leading to a backlog at the nation's ports.And so, in the intervening months, there's been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pandemic-shortages-risk-us-american-companies-using-global-supply-chain-2020-5">a greater push to manufacture more goods in the US</a>."There's not a guarantee that if you produce in the United States or North America, that you will be immune to any of this," Scott Paul, president of the <a href="https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/">Alliance for American Manufacturing</a>, an industry group that partners with both manufacturers and unions, told Insider. "But there is a better chance that you will be less impacted."<h2>The labor crunch was very real — even with the promise of higher pay</h2><h2><div type="image" title="Man works machine making spoons at Sherrill Manufacturing" height="1875" width="2500" msid="88094586" hostid="261"></div></h2>This mindset is on display at <keyword id="12670697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sherrill-manufacturing" source="Orion">Sherrill Manufacturing</keyword> in Central New York, which produces <a href="https://www.libertytabletop.com/">Liberty Tabletop</a>, a line of flatware and cookware. Sherrill Manufacturing's supply chain is "about as vertically integrated as you could possibly imagine," Greg Owens, the company's CEO, told Insider. The company's products start as a coil or bar of steel that's made in one of three places: Western New York, Pittsburgh, or Tennessee. That steel is then turned into forks or knives at the company's manufacturing facility in Sherrill, New York, and boxed up using locally sourced packaging.Owens said that sales of Sherrill's flatware doubled in 2020 as more people ate at home and rose another 50% year-over-year in 2021. The biggest problem the company faces now is keeping products in stock. But there are other challenges, too: Owens estimates that steel prices have doubled since before the pandemic, and he said finding workers to fill open positions is harder than usual. The company has raised wages to attract and retain workers, but filling the 25 positions it added to boost production took a long time, he said. "We went a year advertising with our payroll company on their program, which puts job postings on 10, 15 different sites," he said. "Didn't get one application."<h2>'Biting the bullet' as costs rise</h2><h2><div type="image" title="Person holds flannel fabric under sewing machine at Vermont Flannel Company facility" height="1583" width="2110" msid="88094588" hostid="261"></div></h2>Finding workers has been a challenge for <a href="https://www.vermontflannel.com/">Vermont Flannel Company</a> President Mark Baker too. The 30-year-old company manufactures its flannel shirts, pajamas, and blankets in the Green Mountain State and Baker said the biggest challenge the company has faced, besides the initial shut-downs in early 2020, is filling vacant positions. "We lost some people that either moved or decided they had other options," Baker told Insider. "It's really hard to find people to get into manufacturing nowadays." <keyword id="12670695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vermont-flannel-company" source="Orion">Vermont Flannel Company</keyword> differs from <keyword id="12670698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="american-giant" source="Orion">American Giant</keyword> or Sherrill Manufacturing in that it imports its raw materials. The company contracts with a mill in Europe that produces the fabric and ships it to the US, but Baker said Vermont Flannel hasn't hit many snags, despite the supply-chain crisis. The company purchases its fabrics almost a year in advance, and they're shipped to the Port of Boston, which isn't as large — <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/10/22/business/late-arriving-ships-plague-port-boston/">or quite as constricted</a> — as ports like Los Angeles.Baker said he's even more concerned about rising costs. The fabric is more expensive now, and the cost of shipping it to the US has skyrocketed. He's also worried about getting flannels shipped out to US customers ahead of the holidays because carriers like the United States Postal Service are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/holiday-shipping-usps-raising-prices-2021-8">raising prices</a> and may face issues that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/usps-slammed-before-christmas-workers-sick-gifts-delayed-2020-12">delay shipments like last year.</a> "I think it's going to be a little bit of a biting the bullet in the next six months," he said, adding that the company may have to raise costs if the issues persist.<h2>Soaring shipping prices amid soaring sales</h2><h2><div type="image" title="Woman wearing green Arrow + Phoenix swimsuit laughs outdoors with hand on hip" height="1620" width="1241" msid="88094590" hostid="261"></div></h2>Kayla Bell is also familiar with the challenges of importing raw materials during a time of global upheaval.As the CEO of swimwear and activewear brand <a href="https://www.arrowandphoenix.com/">Arrow + Phoenix</a>, which is manufactured in Henderson, Nevada, Bell had to scramble when shipments of her Italian-made fabric were disrupted in 2020 as the country grappled with devastating waves of the coronavirus.Arrow + Phoenix was simultaneously seeing demand for its suits soar, which Bell attributes, in part, to a societal focus on spending with Black-owned brands amid protests following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Customers were placing $1,000 worth of orders per day, so Bell found a US textile company that produced the same type of fabric as a substitute. Now Bell says she's facing a new logistical nightmare: shipping the finished products. The brand's domestic shipping costs have increased by about $2.50 more per package with USPS, she said, and its international shipping costs have also soared. As a result, Arrow + Phoenix raised its prices by a few dollars per item, scaled back on the number of styles and colors it sells, and offered preorders for certain items. "Before COVID, it was like 40 bucks for us to ship a swimsuit, or any package, over to Italy. Now it's $200," Bell told Insider. Bell's challenges, and those of the other companies, prove the complex nature of <keyword id="11893588" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retail" source="Orion">retail</keyword> in 2021: No company, no matter how it makes its products or where, is isolated from the pressures of the global economy, or the undulations of supply and demand. Paul, the AFAM president, said these challenges are leading more companies to reconsider their supply chains, diversify their suppliers, make their manufacturing processes more flexible, and source products within the US. "I don't know anybody who's suggesting that we have autarky, that we just shut our country down and we're going to be self-sufficient," Paul said. "Just, the closer you are to your customer, the closer you are to your main assembly, the fewer things that can go wrong."

You Searched For "manufactured items" and got 10 results

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