(19 December 2022) Government Data Roundup: Smuggling in India Report, TRAI Papers, Year-End Reviews Among the Data/Reports Released Recently.

The eighteenth edition of the fortnightly government data roundup covers reports released by TRAI, Department of Revenue Intelligence, RBI, and the year-end reviews by various ministries. 

As 2022 draws to a close, different ministries have begun releasing their respective year-end reviews. This year-end review is an annual publication that highlights key initiatives and achievements of the department or ministry in the past year. Apart from these, papers and reports published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Reserve Bank of India are covered in this 18^th edition of Factly’s fortnightly government data roundup. Key publications in the last fortnight from 02 December 2022 to 15 December 2022 have been covered in this story.

Results of RBI’s Forward Looking Surveys that are carried out on a regular basis were released in the last fortnight. These include results of the Consumer Confidence Survey, Inflation Expectations Survey of Households, and Survey of Professional Forecasters on Macroeconomic Indicators- Round 79. The details of forward-looking surveys have been discussed in the previous editions of the data roundup. Here are the updates on what the bi-monthly surveys have identified in the latest rounds:

• The Consumer Confidence Survey revealed that consumer confidence among Indian households continued to improve in November 2022 even though it remained in the pessimistic zone. 
• Households’ inflation perceptions for the current period declined by 40 basis points (bps), from the previous survey round to 9.8% in November 2022. The expectations for three months and one year ahead were also reduced by 40 bps and 20 bps to 10.4% and 10.8%, respectively 
• Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.9% in 2022-23 and by 6% in 2023-24 as per the Survey of Professional Forecasters on Macroeconomic Indicators– Results of the 79th Round

Monthly Data on India’s International Trade in Services for the Month of October 2022

Brief about data and findings:

The Reserve Bank of India releases monthly data on India’s international trade in services. The latest such data released is for the month of October 2022. The value of exports and imports of services in terms of million US dollars is provided for October 2022 and the three months prior to it. However, it should be noted that the monthly data is provisional and might be revised when the Balance of Payments (BoP) data is released on a quarterly basis. The provisional data may give insights about trends until the complete and more accurate final data is released. Growth rates over the corresponding month of the previous year which have been revised based on the balance of payments statistics are also presented in the data.

According to RBI, India’s services imports in October 2022 were worth USD 13,493 Million and the exports were worth USD 25,375 Million. Compared to October 2021, the imports have increased by 15.9% and the exports have gone up by 24.6% in October 2022.

Smuggling in India report 2021-22

Brief about the report:

The 2021-22 ‘Smuggling in India Report’ highlights the trends, areas of concern, and the challenges involved in securing the country’s economic frontiers. The report summarizes the cumulative efforts and experiences of DRI in countering the smuggling of contrabands like gold, narcotics, cigarettes, currency, flora and fauna, as well as the detection of commercial frauds. It also captures the international cooperation and engagements helmed by DRI under the aegis of various bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties signed by Indian Customs with foreign Customs administrations.

Key Findings:

According to the report, the quantum of smuggling had gone up during the period in which the economic activities were gradually unlocked post-COVID-19 related lockdowns. Some statistics provided in the report are given below:

• The agency seized 833 kg of smuggled gold during 2021-22, and over 160 cases were registered. 
• 13 cases of smuggling foreign currency worth Rs. 1136.74 lakhs were registered.
• The agency seized 28,334 kg of narcotic substances. Most of this is via cargo route due to the breakdown of passenger air traffic during the pandemic and the political changes in Afghanistan.
• Cigarettes worth Rs. 9,334 lakhs were seized. A high incidence of tax on cigarettes in India results in a tax arbitrage in favor of smuggled cigarettes on which no taxes are paid and there is no statutory requirement of pictorial warning covering at least 85 percent of the packaging space in these smuggled cigarettes. 

Consultation Paper on ‘Data Communication Services between Aircraft and Ground Stations provided by Organizations other than Airports Authority of India’

Brief about the paper:

Very High Frequency (VHF) is the International Telecommunication Union’s designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. VHF data link services consist of the data for tracking the aircraft for the safety of flights. 

Globally, there are two entities that provide data communications services between aircraft and ground stations- Société International de Télécommunications Aéronautique (SITA) & Collins Aerospace also known as Bird Consultancy Services in India.

Considering that VHF Data Link Services providing Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting (ACAR) service can be beneficial to track aircraft on a real-time basis and help investigations/search and rescue operations in the unfortunate event of an aviation disaster, the Department of Telecommunications has requested TRAI to provide recommendations on the following:

1. An appropriate mechanism to regulate the services provided by these organizations;
2. The way the frequency assignment should be made to these organizations, in light of the Supreme Court judgment made in the 2G case in 2012 – is to assign radio frequencies only through auction.

The consultation paper is seeking input from stakeholders in this regard. Written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from stakeholders by 09 January 2023 and counter comments by 23 January 2023.

Recommendations on ‘Improving Telecom Connectivity/ Infrastructure in far-flung areas of Himachal Pradesh’

About the document and recommendations put forth:

The non-uniform terrain of Himachal Pradesh has led to poor telecom connectivity situation in some parts of the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh. The report identified the districts of Lahaul & Spiti, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi of Himachal Pradesh to be the four worst affected revenue districts of the state. Based on the consultation with relevant stakeholders viz Department of Information Technology (DIT) of the Government of Himachal Pradesh, Local State Government Officials, Telecom Service Providers, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and local consumer representatives, the following are some of the recommendations for addressing the digital divide in the state:

• Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditure (OPEX) are required for providing telecom infrastructure and connectivity to the 25 uncovered villages. 
• Further, USOF should include these uncovered villages under its 20% additional scope for providing 4G services.
• Issues such as the provision of electricity at industrial tariff at telecom sites, levy of RoW charges on Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for connecting remote and hilly areas in the State, coordination with TSPs for road-related works, etc. were to be taken up by the Department of Telecommunications with the State Government.
• A scheme for funding the installation of solar panels at important strategic telecom sites in remote hilly areas was recommended.

Year-End Reviews for 2022

The Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology (MeitY), & Ministry of Culture released the Year End Reviews so far. 

Department of Food and Public Distribution

• Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, about 1118 LMT foodgrains were allocated to States/UTs since the inception of the scheme in March 2020 to mitigate the impact of pandemic-induced restrictions.
• Out of 291 districts, 250 Districts across 26 States/UTs lifted Fortified Rice under Targeted Public Distribution System. The remaining districts are expected to be covered by March 2024.
• India supplied 40,063 MT of wheat to Afghanistan during the humanitarian crisis.
• More than 93 Crore portability transactions were recorded under the One Nation One Ration Card plan delivering more than 177 LMT foodgrains through both inter-State and intra-State transactions.
• The government paid about Rs. 1,14,981 crore to farmers out of total cane price dues of about Rs. 1,18,271 crores for the sugar season in 2021-22, thereby clearing more than 97% of the dues.
• Revenue of more than Rs. 18,000 crores was recorded for sugar mills/distilleries for supplying more than 87% of total ethanol blended with petrol in 2021-22.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

• UIDAI has set up 88 Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASKs) in 72 cities across the country to make enrolment easy.
• 5.49 lakh Common Services Centres are functional of which, 4.37 lakh CSCs are functional at the Gram Panchayat level
• In 2021-22, 8840 crore digital transactions were achieved against a target of 6,000 crores with a YoY growth rate of 59%. India’s indigenously developed UPI is driving the growth of digital payments.
• A substantial increase in domestic production of Electronic Goods from Rs. 3,17,331 crores in 2016-17 to Rs. 6,40,810 crores in 2021-22 was recorded, due to the increase in Electronic Manufacturing with schemes like Production Linked Incentives, Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components & Semiconductors

Ministry of Culture

• More than 1,36,000 events have been organised under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav including several mega events such as Har Ghar Tiranga, Vande Bharatam and Kalanjali
• Har Ghar Tiranga campaign reached 23 crore households and 6cCrore ‘Selfie with Tiranga’ were registered digitally.

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