Hi everyone, I’m Mridula, and welcome to the fourth edition of Weekly Tidbits.
We spend a lot of time reading interesting stories that never make it into a full Daily Brief piece. So, once a week, we pick some of the best ones and add a little context.
We sort them into EIC: Economy, Industry and Company.
We also come across a LOT of interesting global stories that don’t fit neatly into EIC. Should we add a global section too? Let us know. And should we add more news items to each section? It would make the edition longer, but if you’re game, so are we 🙂
With that said, let’s get started!
If you prefer watching the video, here’s the link:
E — Economy
[1] India’s carbon market can now lower UK import taxes
The UK has recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme under its carbon border tax. The UK plans to charge a carbon price on imports such as steel and aluminium based on the emissions produced while making them.
Indian companies may already pay a carbon price at home under India’s own system. The UK will now take that payment into account when calculating what an Indian exporter owes at the border.
So an Indian company that has already paid for its emissions in India may face a smaller carbon bill in the UK. That matters as more countries use carbon taxes to shape trade. India’s domestic climate rules are now starting to influence how competitive its exports are overseas.
[2] Government reviews ₹25,000 crore export schemes after weak interest
The government is reviewing two export-promotion schemes worth around ₹25,000 crore after they attracted limited interest.
The schemes were meant to help Indian companies sell more goods overseas. But businesses have not used them as much as the government expected. The ₹25,000 crore Export Promotion Mission includes 11 schemes covering cheaper market access, certification, logistics and much more.
That matters because an export incentive works only if it solves a problem exporters actually face. Companies may care about cheaper credit, easier logistics or lower compliance costs. A scheme that does not address those bottlenecks will struggle to attract users even if the government sets aside a large amount of money.
The review gives the government a chance to see why companies stayed away and whether the schemes need to change.
[3] SEBI gives angel funds more time to meet investor rules
SEBI has given angel funds another seven months to comply with its new accredited-investor rules. Angel funds collect money from investors and use it to back young startups.
Under the new rules, investors in these funds need to qualify as accredited investors. An individual can qualify with annual income of at least ₹2 crore, or with annual income of at least ₹1 crore and a net worth of ₹5 crore.
The rule narrows the pool of people who can invest through angel funds. But shifting every existing fund to the new system immediately could disrupt fundraising and ongoing investments.
SEBI has now given funds more time to make that transition.
I — Industry
[4] TRAI removes the 12-minute TV advertising cap
TRAI has removed the rule that limited television advertising to 12 minutes in every clock hour.
That gives broadcasters more freedom over how many ads they show. TV channels earn a large part of their money by selling airtime to advertisers. The old rule limited how much advertising inventory they could create every hour.
Now they can create more. But the change comes as television competes with YouTube, streaming platforms and social media for advertising money.
So broadcasters have more space to sell. They still need advertisers willing to buy it and viewers willing to sit through it.
[5] Government plans to keep doorstep delivery of medicines
A government panel plans to retain the rule that allows medicines to be delivered to customers at home. Doorstep delivery became much more common during the pandemic. Since then, online pharmacies and other delivery platforms have made it a regular part of how many people buy medicines.
The rule came in during 2020, and the government had been considering whether to withdraw it before the panel recommended keeping it.
It also matters for traditional pharmacies. They are no longer competing only with the shop next door, but with platforms that can take orders online and deliver medicines directly to customers. So a temporary change made during the pandemic is becoming a more permanent part of India’s pharmacy market.
[6] India clears ₹20,804 crore to expand busy railway routes
The Cabinet has approved eight railway multitracking projects worth ₹20,804 crore. These projects will add extra tracks to routes that already carry a lot of passenger and freight traffic.
That matters because rail capacity is not just about running more trains. Congested routes can slow freight, limit how many passenger services can be added and make the network less reliable. We have written about this railway bottleneck before.
Adding more tracks gives Indian Railways more room to move both goods and people without forcing them onto the same crowded lines.
For industries that depend on rail to move coal, steel, cement and other bulk goods, that extra capacity can make a real difference.
C — Company
[7] Swiggy turns Crew into a travel concierge
Swiggy has relaunched Crew as a dedicated travel concierge. Crew started as a broader lifestyle service that helped with errands and other personal requests. Swiggy is now narrowing it to travel. Users can ask Crew to help plan trips and handle travel-related requests through a 24/7 concierge.
That gives Swiggy a different way into the travel market. Instead of competing only on flight or hotel bookings, it is trying to handle more of the planning around the trip itself.
Swiggy is not alone. Startups such as M and Hulp are also building personal assistants that take everyday tasks off the user’s plate.
[8] Adani and NTPC apply for coal gasification incentives
India’s ₹37,500 crore coal-gasification scheme has received seven proposals from five companies. Instead of burning coal directly to make electricity, companies process it into gas. That gas can then be used to make products such as fertilisers, chemicals and synthetic fuels. We have written about coal gasification here.
Adani Enterprises has proposed three urea projects. NTPC has proposed a synthetic natural gas project. Coal gasification uses coal differently from a normal power plant.
India imports large quantities of some of these products and the raw materials used to make them. The government wants companies to use domestic coal to replace part of those imports. The applications from large companies show that the idea is starting to move from policy into actual projects.
[9] Coca-Cola avoids a price war with Campa Cola
Reliance’s Campa Cola has been using low prices to gain ground in India’s soft-drink market. Coca-Cola says it does not want to respond by simply matching those prices. The company instead plans to spend more on marketing and distribution. We have written about Campa Cola’s pricing strategy before.
The two companies are taking different approaches. Campa Cola can use lower prices to persuade more customers to try its drinks. Coca-Cola is betting that its brands and distribution network can protect its position without cutting prices as aggressively.
That matters because price wars can help companies win customers quickly. They can also leave everyone earning less on each bottle sold.
See you next edition :)
Golbal section affecting Indian markets wpuld be fine i believe
Loved this post Mridula! It would be great if you add a global section.