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Festive season is here and on the occasion of <keyword id="23288581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhanteras" source="keywords">Dhanteras</keyword> today, buying jewellery is customary for many. If you are also planning to buy jewellery this festive season, this is for you. The <keyword id="20050220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Indian-Standards" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bureau of Indian Standards" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bureau of Indian Standards">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS) is placing special emphasis on consumer awareness around gold and silver purchases, specifically advising shoppers to choose items backed by the <keyword id="21548543" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BIS-hallmark" source="keywords">BIS hallmark</keyword> for guaranteed purity and quality. The hallmark, as the BIS notes, is a crucial indicator of authenticity, especially given the high value traditionally associated with gold purchases during this festival. The BIS hallmark consists of three critical components: the BIS Standard Mark, confirming adherence to quality standards; the Purity Mark, which denotes gold’s fineness and carat purity; and a unique Hallmark Unique ID (HUID), a six-digit alphanumeric code specific to each jewellery piece. Consumers can verify the HUID on their jewellery using the ‘<keyword id="23727070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="verify-HUID" source="keywords">Verify HUID</keyword>’ feature on the BIS Care App, which is free to download. This added verification step ensures customers can make informed purchases that meet the advertised purity levels, making the hallmark a trusted seal during peak shopping seasons. As part of its hallmarking efforts, BIS has made hallmarking mandatory in several regions of India since June 2021. Originally launched in 256 districts, hallmarking has been expanded to cover 343 districts following three phases of implementation, according to BIS. The scheme has had a substantial impact, with the number of BIS-registered jewellers increasing from 43,153 in 2021 to over 193,567 today. Furthermore, the number of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) now stands at 1,611, reflecting an extensive infrastructure to meet rising demand. Hallmarking fees have been set at Rs 45 per piece (exclusive of taxes), with testing available at AHCs for Rs 200 per item, a move BIS believes supports consumer confidence by offering a third-party verification system. Director General of BIS, <keyword id="22532001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pramod-Kumar-Tiwari" source="keywords">Pramod Kumar Tiwari</keyword>, reiterated BIS’s commitment to upholding <keyword id="21945794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quality-standards" source="keywords">quality standards</keyword> in gold purchases, especially during festive seasons like Dhanteras, when jewellery is traditionally seen as a symbol of prosperity and future security. Tiwari encouraged consumers to prioritise BIS-certified jewellery, highlighting that with the hallmark and BIS CARE app, buyers can validate purchases independently. With Dhanteras marking a peak in gold buying as families seek financial security, BIS is focusing on educating consumers about hallmarking as a means to safeguard investments. This growing system of certification, backed by government oversight, is intended to make buying gold a transparent, secure experience—one that helps consumers focus more on the joy of the purchase and less on the risks associated with authenticity. (with ANI inputs)

Buying gold jewellery this Dhanteras? Here is how you can verify authenticity as per BIS

Delhi continued to battle with air pollution for the 10th consecutive day post-Diwali as a dense layer of smog blanketed parts of the national capital on Sunday. Several parts of the national capital recorded very poor air quality levels on Sunday morning as per the data issued by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India). Today morning, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 351, Bawana 383, CRRI Mathura Road 323, Dwarka Sector 8 at 341, IGI Airport at 326, ITO 328, Lodhi Road 319, Mundka at 358, Najafgarh at 341, New Moti Bagh at 394, Okhla phase-2 at 339, RK Puram at 368, and Wazirpur at 366, as per SAFAR-India data. As of 5 pm on November 10, Delhi's AQI stood at 334, with Anand Vihar at 353, Dilshad Garden at 262, and Jahangirpuri at 377. For tomorrow, AQI in adjoining cities of Noida and Gurugram is forecasted to be at 208.92 and 77.51, respectively. Multiple visuals from Delhi's Kartavya Path showed the area surrounding India Gate engulfed by a layer of smog. The AQI in the area was recorded at 357 as of 7 am. High-rise buildings were also covered in smog in the Kalindi Kunj and surrounding locality, as the AQI was recorded as 323 in the area. An AQI is considered "poor" between '200 and 300', "very poor" at '301 and 400', "severe" at '401-450," and 450 and above is "severe plus." As the air pollution levels in the national capital reach "very poor," doctors say that even people with no history of respiratory diseases are suffering from breathing issues. Dr. Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant for Respiratory Critical Care at Apollo Hospital, told ANI that apart from the regular patients, those who haven't had any respiratory issues in the past are showing up with symptoms such as runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and having increasing difficulties breathing. As it is, respiratory illnesses in the national capital are estimated to have shot up by around 15-20%. The Apollo doctor further suggested that the government close the schools for children as they remain vulnerable. Whenever the pollution levels have gone beyond a certain limit, the government has opted to close the schools, Dr. Modi said. "For the last few years, we have been seeing that the government has taken action. Whenever this pollution level has gone beyond a certain limit, they have opted to close the schools. This is important because children are from a vulnerable group. As adults, we are masked and can protect ourselves better, but children usually are not that effectively taking these measures. Secondly, their lungs are still in developing stages, so they are bound to have more harm due to this pollution," the doctor told ANI. Siddharth Singhal, Head of Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com, notes that while most standard health plans in India cover pollution-related ailments, it is always advised to also go for an OPD plan along with a health insurance plan to cover consultations, medications, and diagnostic tests that may be required frequently due to pollution. "Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and some other parts of India have shot up post Diwali. Effects of this are very evident in the form of sore throats and breathing problems, among others. This can also result in respiratory ailments and chronic conditions like asthma, bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, and severe cases of respiratory or bronchial obstruction. Health insurance becomes critical to cover such expenses. Most policies typically cover emergency hospitalization for respiratory issues like asthma or COPD exacerbations requiring ICU or critical care," he adds.

Layer of smog covers Delhi as air quality remains 'very poor'. Here's why you need an insurance cover for this

A disturbing report by The Economic Times has revealed that over 100 <keyword id="21300086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cough-syrup" source="keywords">cough syrup</keyword> samples manufactured in India failed quality control tests. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (<keyword id="20109095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CDSCO" source="keywords">CDSCO</keyword>) analysed over 7,000 batches of cough syrup, finding that 353 did not meet quality standards. The reasons for these failures are particularly concerning. Nine batches contained di<keyword id="21957039" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethylene-glycol" source="keywords">ethylene glycol</keyword> (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG), toxins previously linked to the deaths of children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon. These toxins can cause serious health problems, including vomiting, convulsions, circulatory issues, and acute kidney failure. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="94675384" title="Indian drug regulator kicks off probe on cough syrup linked to deaths of Gambian children" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>What are <keyword id="15176477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diethylene-glycol" source="Orion">diethylene glycol</keyword> and ethylene glycol?</h2>For the unversed, DEG is a colourless, odourless and sweetish chemical. It is also a common industrial liquid used in many products, like antifreeze, car brakes, wallpaper removal solutions and in making fabrics and dyes. Similarly, EG is also a colourless and odourless alcoholic compound with a sweet-tasting and syrupy composition. It has known applications as an automotive antifreeze and as a raw material for manufacturing polyester fibres. It is also usually present in products like hydraulic brake fluids, stamp pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, cosmetics and plastics. However, cough syrup manufacturers sometimes use EG and DEG as a replacement to non-toxic solvents like glycerine or propylene glycol simply because they are cheaper. Unfortunately, swallowing DEG and EG can be very dangerous. If someone drinks it, it can cause serious problems throughout their body and nervous system, leading to coma, seizures, nerve damage, and even liver and kidney failure, as per the CDC. <h2>Who is responsible?</h2>According to The Economic Times, the CDSCO blames unsecured supply chains and inadequate testing for the presence of these toxins. This news comes after a series of global alerts issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 regarding cough syrups manufactured in India that were linked to the deaths of over 140 children worldwide. The first alert came in October 2022, when the WHO flagged four cough syrups produced by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Authorities in Gambia linked these medications to 66 deaths, primarily from acute kidney failure. In December 2022, the WHO recommended avoiding two cough syrups made by Marion Biotech after Uzbekistan reported 18 child deaths linked to their Dok 1 Max syrup. Most recently, in August 2023, the WHO issued another alert for a batch of Indian common cold syrup found to contain unacceptable levels of DEG and EG as contaminants. This marked the fifth such alert issued by the WHO since 2022 regarding Indian-made cough syrups. <h2>CDSCO considers waiving testing requirement before exploring cough syrups</h2>The discovery of toxic components in something that’s as commonly sold as cough syrup should have prompted authorities to tighten texting processes. However, the apex drugs regulatory authority, is reportedly examining stakeholders’ proposal to waive the requirement for testing cough syrups being exported to the US, the UK, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Korea and Switzerland at the prescribed laboratory. These repeated failures and global health warnings raise serious concerns about the safety of cough syrups manufactured in India. The Indian government is urged to take immediate action to address these issues by strengthening quality control measures, securing supply chains and ensuring thorough testing to prevent further tragedies. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="96935179" title="WHO alert against use of Indian cough syrups in Uzbekistan" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Why are over 300 batches of Indian cough syrup being deemed "toxic"?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I realized many of my friends and acquaintances left me feeling drained; I cut them out of my life.</li><li>I stopped asking them to hang out and told them I was busy in an attempt to ghost them.</li></ul>I have that one friend who I see once a year to "catch up." I also have that one acquaintance who loves to talk for 30 minutes straight without asking a single question or letting me say a word. She loves to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/trauma-dumping">trauma-dump</a> everything that's going wrong in her life.I tried asking myself what the purpose of these <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/making-friends-older-age-how-make-new-connections-2024-6">friendships</a> was. I struggled to find an answer. I also realized I didn't have the mental capacity to be a therapist to someone who didn't have conversational skills. They left me feeling drained.On the other hand, one of my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghosted-best-friend-no-regrets-2024-10">best friends</a> lives in another country and makes it a point to send voice notes every other day, telling me about her adventures and listening to mine. Another close friend of mine makes it a point that we see each other every week for dinner or a picnic. Sometimes, we go to the movies or do something creative, like a painting class.It's not that hard to put effort into friendships, and it annoyed me that some people in my life just didn't try.From there, I noticed a new trend <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ari_frankenfield/video/7396393249159630122?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7315569687604135456">taking off on TikTok</a>: quiet quitting friendships to protect your emotional energy and well-being. I decided to give it a go.I ended up ghosting most of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-friends-at-work-2024-10">my acquaintances</a>.<h2 id="5ff17f91-92b4-40a0-99a7-64d378abfd01">I didn't like spending time with many people in my life</h2>There were many people I was friends with out of convenience or survival.Did I really like spending time with that friend who is materialistic and shallow, or did I just want someone to come with me to check out that new Italian restaurant that everyone's talking about? Do I really share similar values with my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/childhood-best-friend-lost-touch-reconnect-college-2024-2">friend from high school</a>, or did I just tolerate her all these years because everyone else in my math class was mean and unapproachable, so I befriended her to keep me company?Additionally, when it came to catching up with certain friends and acquaintances, the only reason I was seeing them was because I took the initiative to reach out and suggest something.Did they invite me to that SoHo House rooftop party they went to? No. Did they ask me if I was free for that concert or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/all-things-go-music-festival-review-recap-2023-10">music festival</a> they went to over the weekend? No.They weren't reaching out to spend quality time with me.<h2 id="ec9c8800-7ee8-491a-a989-006513b787cb">I felt like I had no other choice but to ghost these people</h2>Whenever I tried bringing up these issues, my friends would get extremely defensive, and it would turn into a big argument.Eventually, I realized I had no interest in creating unnecessary drama and giving people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bride-tiktok-unsolicited-wedding-advice-responses-2021-8">unsolicited advice</a> on how to be a good friend.So, when I stopped reaching out to certain friends, these people simply faded away. In other cases, when someone did reach out to me, I pretended I was busy or traveling. They eventually got the hint.But in the rare cases when someone noticed what I was doing, I addressed the issues I had with that relationship head-on.<h2 id="bc5cbbe0-b52c-4415-b74e-dc97684c9736">I now have the energy to invest in relationships that matter</h2>Now, I have more room for hobbies, goals, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomer-felt-lonely-after-moving-how-to-make-friends-2024-6">new friends</a> who understand friendship is a two-way street. They also know how to make an effort.The people I now invest my time and energy in know how to hold space for me when I am stressed. They know how to validate me and my experiences without bringing up their own trauma. They know how to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/self-care">self-soothe</a> and don't expect me to be their unpaid therapist — feeling entitled to my time and energy.I wish more people understood how friendships work."It's sad, but sometimes, when you grow, you outgrow relationships," Taylor Swift <a target="_blank" href="https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26628467/taylor-swift-30th-birthday-lessons/">told Elle</a> in 2019. "You may leave behind friendships along the way, but you'll always keep the memories."That sentiment helped me to let go and feel less guilty about quiet quitting or ghosting — whatever you want to call it. I have outgrown these friendships because my standards have gotten higher. I make no apologies for it.

I ghosted all the friends that left me feeling drained, and I'm not sorry. I now focus on quality time with real friends. 

<ul><li>According to a written reply by the <keyword id="393956" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-consumer-affairs" source="Orion">Ministry of Consumer Affairs</keyword> safety of toys is under compulsory BIS certification from January 1, 2021 as per the Toys (Quality Control) Order. </li><li>Under the BIS Product Certification scheme, a licence is granted to manufacturing units to use the <keyword id="13001307" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="standard-mark" source="Orion">Standard Mark</keyword> on the product. </li></ul> In order to curb the sale of non-ISI certified toys and to ensure implementation of the <keyword id="16466714" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="toys-quality-control-order" source="Orion">Toys Quality Control Order</keyword>, 100 search and seizure operations were carried out in the years 2021-22 and 2022-23. During the search and seizure operations conducted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a quantity of 9,565 and 30,229 was seized during the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 (up to January 25, 2023), respectively. According to a written reply by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Rajya Sabha on Friday, safety of toys is under compulsory BIS certification from January 1, 2021 as per the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016. Accordingly, it has been compulsory for toys to conform to the corresponding <keyword id="16463872" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-standards-for-safety-of-toys" source="Orion">Indian Standards for Safety of Toys</keyword> and to bear <keyword id="148437" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bureau-of-indian-standard" source="Orion">Bureau of Indian Standard</keyword> (BIS) Standard Mark under a licence from BIS as per Scheme-I of Schedule -II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. As per this Quality Control Order, read with Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, no person shall manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit for sale any toys without the ISI mark, said the reply. Under the BIS Product Certification scheme, a licence is granted to manufacturing units to use the Standard Mark on the product as per the relevant Indian Standards. Accordingly, toy manufacturing units including foreign manufacturing units exporting toys to India are required to obtain a BIS licence for the safety of toys, said the Ministry's reply. The Ministry said that BIS has granted 1,037 licences to domestic units and 30 licences to foreign toy manufacturing units. As part of its product certification, BIS also conducts factory and market surveillance under which samples of ISI marked toys are drawn from the factories and market and tested in labs according to the Indian Standard, to ensure that ISI marked toys available to consumers are safe and conforming to prescribed standards.

Hunt for uncertified toys continues; BIS conducts 100 search operations

After Singapore and Hong Kong, Nepal has also banned the sale and import of certain spice-mix products manufactured by Indian brands over alleged quality concerns. Four spice-mix products by <keyword id="21333385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MDH" source="keywords">MDH</keyword> and <keyword id="19997009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Everest" source="keywords">Everest</keyword> were banned in the Himalayan nation from Friday due to suspected ethylene oxide or EtO contamination, according to the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control here. Under this, Madras Curry Powder, Sambhar Mixed Masala Powder; Mixed Masala Curry Powder of MDH and Fish Curry Masala of Everest have been banned in Nepal. "As residue contents of ethylene oxide are found to be exceeding the prescribed limit in these four products, the import and sale of these products are banned within the country as per Article 19 of the Food Regulation 2027 B.S.," the department said in a notice issued on Friday. "Our serious attention has been drawn towards media reports about the sale of these sub-standard products in the market, and they are harmful for consumption," it said. The food quality control watchdog has also urged importers and traders to recall these products from the market. Last month, Singapore and Hong Kong halted sales of some spices produced by MDH and Everest over suspected elevated levels of ETO linked with some cancers. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has since initiated steps to examine the quality of powdered spices from various brands in the country. On Friday, the Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholders (FISS) said India's spice export may decline nearly 40 per cent in FY25 if the issue of <keyword id="21673555" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ethylene-oxide-contamination" source="keywords">ethylene oxide contamination</keyword> in spices meant for exports is not addressed at the earliest. India is among the world's leading spice producers, exporting over 200 spices and value-added products to some 180 countries worth USD 4 billion in 2021-22, according to the Spices Board of India. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/motorola-edge-50-fusion-vs-oneplus-nord-ce-4-price-specs-and-features-compared/slidelist/110197390.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/motorola-edge-50-fusion-vs-oneplus-nord-ce-4-price-specs-and-features-compared/slidelist/110197390.cms" target="_blank">Motorola Edge 50 Fusion vs OnePlus Nord CE 4 – price, specs and features compared</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-z9x-5g-with-120hz-display-6000mah-launched-starting-at-12999/slidelist/110176453.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-z9x-5g-with-120hz-display-6000mah-launched-starting-at-12999/slidelist/110176453.cms" target="_blank">iQOO Z9x 5G with 120Hz display, 6000mAh launched starting at ₹12,999</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/woman-loses-54-lakh-in-work-from-home-scam-heres-what-it-is-and-how-to-protect-yourself/articleshow/110166963.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/woman-loses-54-lakh-in-work-from-home-scam-heres-what-it-is-and-how-to-protect-yourself/articleshow/110166963.cms" target="_blank">Woman loses ₹54 lakh in work-from-home scam! Here's what it is and how to protect yourself</a>

Nepal bans sale of Indian spice-mix products over quality concerns

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-earnings-bob-iger-wipies-out-streaming-losses-theme-parks-2024-5">Disney</a> CEO Bob Iger plans to limit the number of Marvel films and TV shows released each year.</li><li>The decision follows underperformance and criticism of the quality of Marvel content.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bob-iger-disney-strong-earnings-taylor-swift-espn-streaming-fortnite-2024-2">Disney CEO Bob Iger's turn-around</a> tour continues, and he let us in on the plan for what is arguably the House of Mouse's most successful IP: Marvel.In Disney's first earnings call since <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-bob-iger-wins-proxy-vote-against-nelson-peltz-trian-2024-4">successfully fending off a proxy battle from Nelson Peltz</a> — and former Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter — Iger delineated the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The studio will now put out two or three films and two television series a year rather than four of each."I've been working hard with the studio to reduce output and focus more on quality," Iger said on the call.As it undergoes a sort of reset, the only MCU movie to come out this year will be "Deadpool &amp; Wolverine" in July. "Echo," "X-Men '97," and "Agatha" will be this year's television releases. The next Avengers film — "Avengers 5" — is scheduled for 2026.The CEO has not been shy about his thoughts on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bob-iger-admits-disney-movies-have-been-bad-2023-11">diminishing quality of Marvel films and television shows</a> — something he seems to blame mostly on his short-lived successor and predecessor, Bob Chapek, even though Iger was in charge when several of them were developed."Some of what is coming up is a vestige of basically a desire in the past to increase volume," he said on the call.Between 2021 and 2023, Marvel released 10 feature films and 13 TV series, including two specials, which appears to have left <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/madame-web-sony-spider-man-universe-superhero-fatigue-2024-2">superhero fans fatigued</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marvel-movies-ranked-how-much-money-at-global-box-office-2021-11">MCU movies</a>, which were once fail-safe, have struggled. Last year's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" grossed less than $500 million globally on a combined production and marketing budget of about $300 million — meaning it failed to break even at the box office. "The Marvels" fared even worse, grossing only $206 million worldwide on a reported $270 million budget. Both films received <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcu-movies-and-tv-series-ranked-by-critics-2022-6">poor reviews</a>."I'm mindful of the fact that our performance, from a quality perspective, wasn't up to the standards we set for ourselves," Iger said on an earnings call last year.But investors seem less confident than Iger: Disney's stock is down about 10% today.

Bob Iger reveals Disney's new plan for Marvel: quality over quantity

New Delhi [India], January 5 (ANI): A recent case study conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, commissioned by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), unveils a success story for the Indian <keyword id="138116" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="toy-industry" source="Orion">toy industry</keyword> in the fiscal year 2022-23. The study indicates a notable decline of 52 per cent in toy imports and an impressive surge of 239 per cent in toy exports compared to the fiscal year 2014-15. The report credits the government's dedicated efforts in the past six years for creating a more favourable manufacturing ecosystem for the Indian toy industry. During this period, the number of manufacturing units doubled, reducing dependence on imported inputs from 33 per cent to 12 per cent. Furthermore, gross sales value witnessed a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10 per cent, accompanied by an overall increase in labour productivity. The findings highlight India's emergence as a prominent player in the global toy value chain, evident in the country's integration into the global toy value chain and zero-duty market access for domestically manufactured <keyword id="25284" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="toys" source="Orion">toys</keyword> in nations like the UAE and Australia. The report positions India as a viable alternative to established toy hubs like China and Vietnam. To solidify its position in the global market, the report emphasizes the need for consistent collaborative efforts between the toy industry and the government. Key areas identified include technological advancements, e-commerce integration, partnerships and exports, brand-building investments, engagement with educators and parents for effective communication with children, valuing cultural diversity, and collaboration with regional artisans. The Indian government has implemented various interventions and initiatives to foster growth in the toy industry. These include the formulation of a comprehensive National Action Plan for Toys (NAPT) with 21 specific action points, increases in Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on toys, sample testing of each import consignment by the <keyword id="19992660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="directorate-general-of-foreign-trade" source="keywords">Directorate General of Foreign Trade</keyword> (DGFT) to curb sub-standard imports, issuance of a Quality Control Order (QCO) for toys in 2020, and support through cluster-based approaches. The report indicates significant interest from global retail giant Walmart to import toys from India and sell them worldwide. Walmart has set a target of USD 10 billion for overall imports from India, including Indian toys. With the concerted efforts of the government and domestic manufacturers, the Indian toy industry is projected to witness substantial growth in the next five years. DPIIT Secretary mentions that the global toys industry stands at around USD 300 billion, whereas India holds around USD 1.5 billion. He envisions a doubling of the Indian toy industry in the next five years. <keyword id="20072072" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanjeev-singh" source="keywords">Sanjeev Singh</keyword>, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, reveals Walmart's interest in Indian toys, with a target of USD 10 billion in overall imports from India. Professor Sanjay Kumar Singh of IIM Lucknow notes a substantial reduction in India's dependency on Chinese imports, from 94 per cent to 62 per cent. Over 1,200 safety licenses issued by the <keyword id="20050220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bureau-of-indian-standards" source="keywords">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS) to domestic toy manufacturers further emphasize the safety and quality standards upheld by the industry. The successful trajectory of the Indian toy industry, reflected in declining imports, soaring exports, and quality improvement, showcases the positive impact of collaborative efforts and strategic government interventions. As the industry sets its sights on global markets, the case study underscores the importance of continued collaboration for sustained growth and innovation in the Indian toy sector. (ANI)

Indian toy industry witnesses 239% increase in exports: IIM Lucknow report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vice President Kamala Harris quickly rejected Gov. Ron DeSantis' invite to discuss Florida's education standards.</li><li>Harris has slammed Florida for adopting standards that would teach middle schoolers that enslaved people derived some benefits from slavery.</li></ul>Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday quickly dismissed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' invitation for her to discuss the state's controversial education standards, furthering a fight between the White House and the state."I will tell you there is no roundtable, no lecture, no invitation we will accept to debate an undeniable fact: there were no redeeming qualities of slavery," <a href="https://twitter.com/seungminkim/status/1686443349970984960?s=20">Harris said during an event in Orlando.</a>Harris and the White House clearly see the fight as necessary as Tuesday marked her second time in the state since the education standards were released. Harris' Orlando appearance was previously scheduled before she and the governor got into it over a "benchmark clarification" for middle school students that calls for instruction to include "how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit."DeSantis, who has struggled to pierce former President Donald Trump's national primary lead, is also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-biden-slavery-florida-education-standards-hunter-biden-2024-gop-2023-7">clearly trying to use the fight</a> with Harris to reenergize his beleaguered presidential campaign. It's not just Harris and Democrats that have taken issue with the guidelines.Leading Black Republicans, including Sen. Tim Scott and Florida <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rep-byron-donalds-attacked-for-speaking-out-against-slavery-teachings-2023-7">Rep. Byron Donalds</a>, have also called out the notion that enslaved people could benefit from the horrific institution and business of slavery. Scott is also running for the GOP presidential nomination. While Donalds, who was once a close DeSantis ally, previously endorsed Trump.Harris was responding to DeSantis' invitation for Harris to discuss the standards with Dr. William Allen, who served on an advisory committee <a href="https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/20653/urlt/6-4.pdf">that came up with 215-page standards</a>. The governor's invitation also took multiple shots at Harris, suggesting his letter to the vice president was little more than a political ploy."I am prepared to meet as early as Wednesday of this week, but of course want to be deferential to your busy schedule should you already have a trip to the southern border planned for that day," <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyRedfernFL/status/1686172619547017216?s=20">DeSantis wrote</a>, he concluded the note by adding "I hope you're feeling up to it!"

Kamala Harris quickly dismissed Ron DeSantis' invite to discuss Florida's controversial education standards: 'There were no redeeming qualities of slavery'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2023 World Air Quality Report showed that only a few countries have acceptable air quality.</li><li>Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India were listed as the most polluted.</li></ul>Hardly any countries have clean enough air to hit a global safety benchmark, according to new research.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.iqair.com/world-most-polluted-countries">Data from the Swiss company IQAir</a> found that 124 of 134 regions failed to meet standards set by the World Health Organization for small-particle pollution known as PM2.5.The only seven countries deemed acceptable were Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, Australia, and New Zealand.Two territories also made the list: Puerto Rico and French Polynesia.IQAir, which sells air-purification products, compiles an annual ranking from data in 7,812 locations in the 134 territories.The data came from ground-level air monitoring stations distributed by governments, educational institutions, and nonprofits.<div type="image" title="A road in Skógar, Southern Iceland." height="1414" width="1885" msid="108624368" hostid="261" sizebytes="309690"></div>PM2.5 pollution is made up of tiny, invisible particles.Each particle measures less than 2.5 micrometers, which is around one ten-thousandth of an inch.Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/21/air-pollution-quality-harmful">has been linked to heart and lung problems</a>.And, per the ranking, 92.5% of nations on earth have too much of it.The countries with the highest exposure levels were Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, which all had more than 10 times the WHO recommended levels of PM2.5."Unfortunately things have gone backwards," Glory Dolphin Hammes, chief executive of IQAir in North America, told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/19/air-pollution-health-report">The Guardian</a> on Tuesday."The science is pretty clear about the impacts of air pollution and yet we are so accustomed to having a background level of pollution that's too high to be healthy. We are not making adjustments fast enough."For the first time in the report's history, Canada was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-did-wildfires-start-in-canada-2023-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">most polluted country</a> in Northern America last year due to the wildfires which lasted from May until October.The US experienced a slight increase in PM2.5 levels for the same reason, the report said.However, the report also noted that wildfires on the West Coast decreased significantly due to new technology for early warning systems.<div type="image" title="Smoky haze from wildfires in Canada diminishes the visibility of the Chrysler Building" height="683" width="1024" msid="108624370" hostid="261" sizebytes="19874"></div>Cities were also included in a ranking. According to the report, only 9% of cities surveyed achieved WHO's guidelines in 2023.Helinski (Finland), Tallinn (Estonia), Hamilton (Bermuda), Reykjavik (Iceland), Canberra (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), and San Juan (Puerto Rico) had the lowest PM2.5 concentrations.Columbus, Ohio was the most polluted US city in 2023, while Las Vegas was the cleanest major city.

Only Iceland, Finland, and 5 other countries had clean enough air to meet a global safety standard: data

The <keyword id="2619929" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-consumer-protection-authority" source="Orion">Central Consumer Protection Authority</keyword> (CCPA) has passed an order on violation of consumer rights by e-commerce platform <keyword id="6354742" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="flipkart" source="Orion">Flipkart</keyword> for allowing sale of domestic pressure cookers in violation to mandatory standards. According to CCPA Chief Commissioner <keyword id="1868624" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nidhi-khare" source="Orion">Nidhi Khare</keyword>, the CCPA has directed Flipkart to notify consumers of all 598 pressure cookers sold on its platform, recall the pressure cookers and reimburse their prices to the consumers and submit a compliance report of the same within 45 days. The company has also been directed to pay a penalty of Rs 1,00,000 for allowing sale of such pressure cookers on its e-commerce platform and violating rights of consumers. The <keyword id="6378065" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central" source="Orion">Central</keyword> government, from time to time, notifies the <keyword id="10524664" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="quality-control-orders" source="Orion">Quality Control Orders</keyword> specifying compulsory conformity to a standard and use of standard mark for a product to protect consumers from risk of suffering injury and harm and in the interest of people at large. The <keyword id="13478363" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="domestic-pressure-cooker" source="Orion">Domestic Pressure Cooker</keyword> (Quality Control) order, which came into effect from February 1, 2021, mandates conformity to IS 2347:2017 for all domestic pressure cookers. Therefore, since February 1, 2021, all pressure cookers are required to conform to IS 2347:2017 and due diligence is required to be done whether the pressure cookers are offered for sale online or offline. The CCPA observed that provisions in the 'Flipkart terms of use' such as mandatory use of the words 'Powered by Flipkart' on every invoice of the product and distinguishing sellers as gold, silver and bronze for distribution of various benefits indicates the role played by Flipkart in sale of the pressure cookers on its e-commerce platform. Flipkart admittedly earned a total fee of Rs 1,84,263 through sale of such pressure cookers on its e-commerce platform. It was observed by CCPA that when Flipkart has gained commercially from the sale of such pressure cookers, it cannot alienate itself from the role and responsibility arising out of their sale to consumers. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/venture-debt-firm-stride-ventures-closes-a-200-million-fund/articleshow/93618515.cms">Venture debt firm Stride Ventures closes a $200 million fund</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/vivo-v25-pro-review/articleshow/93615314.cms">Vivo V25 Pro Review - A camera champ with minor stumbling blocks</a>

Flipkart to pay Rs 1L fine for selling sub-standard pressure cookers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-beyonce-ye-spotify-streams-super-bowl-explained-2024-2">Taylor Swift fans</a> aren't happy about her official merchandise.</li><li>Complaints about the quality of the merch and long wait times have emerged online.</li></ul>Taylor Swift fans are a dedicated group, but complaints about the pop star's merch have some calling for a boycott in recent months.Swifties aren't shy about spending thousands on their idol. In 2023, her <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-eras-first-concert-tour-gross-over-1-billion-2023-12">Eras tour</a> became the first concert tour to gross over $1 billion. However, some fans on social media are calling out what they described as the poor quality of her merch and delayed shipping times.Still, the Swifties have supported the star during her Eras tour, which raked in an estimated $200 million in merch sales for 60 dates, Pollstar <a target="_blank" href="https://news.pollstar.com/2023/12/16/taylor-swift-sets-all-time-touring-record-with-billion-dollar-gross/">reported</a>. Instead of blaming Swift for the merch, many fans are looking at her record label Universal Music Group for the delays and poor quality.UMG's Bravado division is responsible for operating the official store, and one <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TaylorSwiftMerch/comments/1awimdh/dont_stop_bugging_them_about_your_missing_order/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3">Redditor </a>told others in the r/TaylorSwiftMerch subreddit to keep "bugging" the label's customer service about "missing" merch that hadn't arrived yet.A spokesperson for UMG and Bravado apologized to customers for shipping delays around the holidays in a statement to Business Insider, and assured that "outstanding orders from that time should now have been fulfilled.""To those who experienced extended shipping delays in the run-up to the holiday and into the new year, we have extended full refunds, we have sent outstanding items where available free of charge and issued store credits for any items that were no longer available," the spokesperson said.In r/SwiftieMerch, another subreddit dedicated to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-ceo-taylor-swift-effect-2024-2">Swift's merch</a>, a user said in December that she waited three months for a shirt only for it to have a stain on the collar when it arrived."This absolutely sucks. Time to send an email that may or may not be answered…gigantic sigh," the caption read.Calls for boycotting the official merch ensued in the comments. "Deal. I'm done with them," one user <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SwiftieMerch/comments/18xr1za/comment/kg7qe5q/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3">commented</a>. But, there were defenders in the thread saying the shirt was designed to appear "distressed" and the stain was likely intentional.Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SwiftieMerch/comments/18m7tlt/expectations_vs_reality/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3">Redditor</a> posted expectation vs. reality photos of a $40 "1989" tote bag ordered online. Although the designs on the bag in product photos and the one received in real life were the same, the textures of the bag were different."I order a lot of merch from her store and this isn't the first time quality has been poor nor the final product not matched the rendered photo," the customer told BI.They said that they don't use or display the tote, but avoided the "stress" of trying to return the bag.<div type="image" title="Taylor Swift 1989 tote bag" height="1081" width="1440" msid="107921382" hostid="261" sizebytes="210420"></div>"I know the pictures on the website are just renders and the product may be slightly different but that's not the same bag at all, the shape and texture look completely different," one person <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SwiftieMerch/comments/18m7tlt/expectations_vs_reality/">wrote</a> in response to the photos.Others online called out the "poor quality" of the tote bag and said that it's nothing new for Swift's merch site. Some speculated that it looked as if it cost less than $1 to make."Due to the broad range of products available, we work with multiple manufacturers and suppliers across our artists' stores — serving fans globally," the UMG spokesperson said of the merch quality."We work closely with our suppliers and production partners around the world to ensure that all products meet our high-quality standards and have a commitment to replace or refund any official store-bought product that does not meet these standards," they added. Another Redditor compared the merch to a knock-off item."This is what I would expect if I ordered a $15 dupe off of Temu," they wrote.As she gears up to release her next project, "The Tortured Poets Department," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-wears-diamond-friendship-bracelet-from-jewelry-startup-2024-1">Swifties</a> are nervous they could be let down again with basic merch.The merch for the upcoming album "has the potential to be so cute but knowing taylors merch team this is what we'll get," an X user captioned an image of "The Tortured Poets Department Collection" with the album's cover art.

You Searched For "quality standards" and got 12 results

Buying gold jewellery this Dhanteras? Here is how you can verify authenticity as per BIS

BI India Bureau

Layer of smog covers Delhi as air quality remains 'very poor'. Here's why you need an insurance cover for this

BI India Bureau

Why are over 300 batches of Indian cough syrup being deemed "toxic"?

Ashmita Gupta

I ghosted all the friends that left me feeling drained, and I'm not sorry. I now focus on quality time with real friends.

Meehika Barua

Hunt for uncertified toys continues; BIS conducts 100 search operations

IANS

Nepal bans sale of Indian spice-mix products over quality concerns

PTI

Bob Iger reveals Disney's new plan for Marvel: quality over quantity

Madeline Berg

Indian toy industry witnesses 239% increase in exports: IIM Lucknow report

ANI

Kamala Harris quickly dismissed Ron DeSantis' invite to discuss Florida's controversial education standards: 'There were no redeeming qualities of slavery'

Brent D. Griffiths

Only Iceland, Finland, and 5 other countries had clean enough air to meet a global safety standard: data

Mikhaila Friel

Flipkart to pay Rs 1L fine for selling sub-standard pressure cookers

Taylor Swift's 'poor quality' merch and shipping delays has some fans calling for a boycott

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