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Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said that it has witnessed a marginal increase in production last month.

In a regulatory filing, the auto major reported a total production of 1,61,383 units in last month as compared to 1,60,975 units in January 2021.

"The shortage of electronic components had a minor impact on the production of vehicles during the month," it has informed.

MSI said total passenger vehicle production stood at 1,57,668 units last month, against 1,56,439 units in January 2021.

Production of mini cars comprising Alto and S-Presso models stood at 23,321 units last month as compared to 27,665 units a year ago.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zeebiz.com/automobile/news-auto-sales-january-2022-maruti-suzuki-sales-dip-4-to-154379-units-177759">Auto Sales January 2022: Maruti Suzuki sales dip 4% to 1,54,379 units</a>

Manufacturing of compact cars, comprising WagonR, Celerio, Ignis, Swift, Baleno, and Dzire, rose to 87,165 units from 86,282 units earlier, MSI said.

Similarly, production of utility vehicles -- Gypsy, Ertiga, S-Cross, Vitara Brezza, and XL6 -- increased to 33,550 units last month from 29,199 units in the corresponding month of 2021.

The company reported a drop in the production of Eeco van at 10,587 units last month as compared to 11,769 units in January 2021.

MSI said production of its light commercial vehicle Super Carry declined to 3,715 units last month, as against 4,536 units in the year-ago month.

"The above production data also includes production from Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited and vehicles manufactured for sale to other OEM," it has mentioned.&nbsp;

In a regulatory filing, the auto major reported a total production of 1,61,383 units in last month as compared to 1,60,975 units in January 2021.


Maruti Suzuki posts marginal increase in production in January 2022 amid electronic components shortage

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi news: PM Kisan is a Central Sector Scheme with 100 per cent funding from the Government of India. It has become operational from December 1, 2018. Under the scheme, income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined landholding/ownership of up to 2 hectares. Here the definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children.

How beneficiaries will be identified, shortlisted for PAYMENT of intended benefit

State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. There are various exclusion categories for the scheme.

The responsibility of identifying the eligible farmers' families for benefit under the scheme is entirely of the State/UT Governments. The prevailing land-ownership system / record of land in different States/Union Territories will be used to identify the intended beneficiaries for transfer of scheme benefits.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 10th installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.&nbsp;The Government launched the Central Sector Scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginalised farmers across the country.

The financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is to be released to the eligible farmers in three installments of Rs 2,000 each every 4-month / trimester, i.e. April-July, August-November and December-March.

The Scheme is being implemented through an Aadhaar linked electronic database containing details of all members of the families of the farmers whose names appear in the land records

The transfer of the amount to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries can take a few days time and to ensure this farmer can check the PM-KSNY installment, status, list, etc.

What is Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme was launched with the view to supplement the earnings of small and medium categories farmers. This scheme coupled with the Digital India initiative has made it possible to reach the PM KISAN benefits to 12 crore farmers in the country.

With a view to augment the income of Small &amp; Marginal Farmers, the Govt launched a Central Sector Scheme- Pradhan Mantri KIsan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small &amp; marginalised farmers across the country.

PM KISAN Scheme Benefits

The PM KISAN Yojana benefits 12 crore farmers across of the country. The benefits are as follows:

* The PM KISAN Yojana provides financial assistance to farmers irrespective of the size of their landholdings

* The scheme provides minimum income support up to Rs 6,000 to farmers across the country. The amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the farmers.

Check Beneficiary Status

In order to check the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiary status, one has to follow some simple steps. First, visit the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi home page pmkisan.gov.in. Then click on the 'Beneficiary Status' tab present on the home page. After clicking on the beneficiary status, choose either options - Aadhaar number, Account number or Mobile number. After choosing the selected option, click on 'Get Data'. Following which the data will be made available.

The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.&nbsp;&nbsp;


Claim Rs 6,000 under PM Kisan 10th Installment! How beneficiaries will be identified, shortlisted for payment of intended benefit? Details here

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojna (PMKMY) Scheme aims to provide a social security net for the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) by way of pension, as they have minimal or no savings to sustain their livelihood during their old age and to support them in the event of the consequent loss of livelihood.

Under this scheme, a minimum fixed pension of Rs 3,000 per month is being provided to the eligible small and marginal farmers, subject to certain exclusion clauses, on attaining the age of 60 years. The scheme is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, with an entry age of 18 to 40 years.

The beneficiary is required to contribute Rs 100 per month at median entry age of 29 years. The Central Government will also contribute to the Pension Fund an equal amount. The Scheme was implemented on August 9, 2019, and since the maximum age for enrollment limit is 40 years and minimum fixed pension of Rs 3000 per month will be due once the enrolled farmers attain the age of 60.

Hence, the benefits of the Scheme shall be available only after a minimum period of 20 years. This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha.

Benefits

There have been a series of interventions for income and price support by the Government for farmers. However, there is a felt need to create a social security net for the farmers as old age may result in loss of livelihood for many of them. Farming requires hard work in fields which becomes difficult at an advanced age.

The problem is compounded in respect of small and marginal farmers as they have minimal or no savings to provide for old age. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana provides for an assured monthly pension of Rs 3000 to all landholding Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs), whether male or female, on their attaining the age of 60 years.

Farmers falling within the purview of the exclusion criteria are, however, not eligible for the benefit.

Eligibility

All Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) in all States and Union Territories of the country, who are of the age of 18 years and above and up to the age of 40 years, and who do not fall within the purview of the exclusion criteria as mentioned in the guidelines, are eligible to avail the benefits of this Scheme by joining it.

The scheme is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, with an entry age of 18 to 40 years.


PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojna: Assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month under PMKMY! - Check scheme details, eligibility, benefits and more

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will&nbsp;present the Union Budget for FY 2022-2023 on February 1. This time, the budget will be paperless, which will mark the second such instance when the Finance Minister will be reading the budget speech without paper.

Electric vehicles must be considered for priority lending by the government to accelerate their adoption, while sufficient funds must also be allocated for R&amp;D in a public-private partnership mode for the development of batteries, industry body SMEV earlier mentioned.

Mohal Lalbhai, CEO and Founder,&nbsp; Matter said: "The year 2022 is a watershed moment towards the Electric vehicles transition. I am optimistic that the upcoming Union Budget 2022 will pave the way for further acceleration to the EV and Energy Storage segment by laying out a comprehensive and holistic plan."

Firstly, I am hopeful that the Ministry of Power's suggestions regarding charging infrastructure will be considered, as well as the revision of the FAME II subsidy condition of Rs 1.5 lakhs on the ex-factory price of the EV on which a subsidy is applicable to the consumer, which is a five-year-old price point, he added.&nbsp;

Second, modifications to the current PLI to allow MSME EV players, as well as existing and new participants, to participate, Lalbhai said.&nbsp;

Finally, a reduction in customs duty on Lithium-ion cells would help local component manufacturers in scaling up the production thereby further reducing the overall upfront costs of battery production and the cost of acquisition for electric vehicles in India, thus creating the path towards achieving clean energy goals.

Similarly, Shrikant Shinde, Founder &amp; CEO, GoGoA1 is appreciative of the steps taken by the government for the promotion of EV in India. However, he underlines these points for the upcoming budget.

Challenges: In the current system of approvals, we have to take Transport Department permissions in every state of the country, which I feel is delaying the registration process of the EV bike conversion. Centralised permission will help in a faster EV conversion process and we can reach out to more consumers and companies.

Subsidies: The Indian Government has taken excellent steps in promoting new Electric vehicles with subsidies, infrastructures like charging stations, and policies. The Government is also promoting a vehicle scrapping policy of non-registration of petrol vehicles over 15years and diesel vehicles over 10years. Indian treat their vehicles as life partners and do not intend to sell them frequently.&nbsp;

The Delhi government has announced an EV conversion policy, for such vehicles which will enable these existing vehicles to still be on roads with more than 5-7 years added to its life. We expect subsidies, and policies which will benefit the retrofitting industry and the consumers alike in converting their existing vehicles into electric vehicles.&nbsp;

Reviewing GST for Conversion Kits: One of the key elements in the cost of the conversion kit is the 18% GST being paid. The new motorcycles are getting subsidies like implementing 5% GST, so they can sell the new products at a reduced rate. We are hoping for a similar simple reduction in the GST rates on EV conversion kits which will make them more affordable, and more people can convert their regular fuel motorcycles into EV motorcycles.

The Union Budget 2022-23 would also be available on the Mobile App after the process of Budget presentation has been completed on 1st February 2022 in the Parliament.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will&nbsp;present the Union Budget for FY 2022-2023 on February 1.


Budget 2022 Expectations: What electric vehicle industry demands from FM Nirmala Sitharaman; Here is the wishlist

The Government rolled out the Central Sector Scheme- Pradhan Mantri KIsan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginalised farmers across the country.

The financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is to be released to the eligible farmers in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each every 4-month / trimester, i.e. April-July, August-November and December-March.

So, how many members in a family can claim the Pradhan Mantri KIsan Samman Nidhi benefit? Well, the Government has clearly mentioned that under the scheme income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of up to 2 hectares.

The definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children. State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. As per the rule of the scheme, only one member of the family can get its benefit and not both husband and wife.

The Scheme is being implemented through an Aadhaar linked electronic database containing details of all members of the families of the farmers, whose names appear in the land records

People who can't get the benefits?

The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme; All Institutional Land holders; and Farmer families in which one or more of its members belong to following categories:

1) Former and present holders of constitutional posts

2) Former and present Ministers / State Ministers and former / present Members of Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha / State Legislative Assemblies / State Legislative Councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.

3) All serving or retired officers and employees of Central / State Government Ministries / Offices / Departments and their field units, Central or State PSEs and Attached offices / Autonomous Institutions under government as well as regular employees of the local bodies (excluding multi-tasking staff / Class IV / Group D employees)

4) All superannuated / retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs 10,000/- or more (excluding multi-tasking staff / Class IV / Group D employees)

5) All persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year.

6) Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.

In case of new beneficiaries being uploaded on the PM-KISAN Portal, all land holding farmers’ families who are non-resident Indians (NRIs) in terms of the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 shall be excluded from any benefit under the Scheme.

The PM KISAN Yojana benefits 12 crore farmers across of the country. The PM KISAN Yojana provides financial assistance to farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings. The scheme provides minimum income support up to Rs 6,000 to farmers across the country. The amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the farmers.

The government has clearly mentioned that under the scheme income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families


PM Kisan 10th Installment: How many members in a family can claim PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana benefit? Check these details

With the Union Budget, expectations come along. And just like all the other sectors of the country waiting for the budget with great expectations, even the women entrepreneurs are eagerly waiting for it with the hope in their eyes for the growth of the country.

Every woman is expecting growth and hence support from the government and the budget is necessary. According to the World Bank estimate, India has one of the lowest female labor force participation in the world. Female labor participation has fallen from 26% in 2005 to 20.3% in 2019. The past two years have severely affected the world as well as our country. The process of recovery from the aftermath of the pandemic is a time-consuming one. Every sector has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic backlash of the pandemic has been felt by economies globally. The nature of the economy and geopolitics has been changing and the same has been witnessed by the world. The World Bank has even held on to the expectations on the growth and expansion of the Indian economy to 8.3 percent in the fiscal year 2021-22 (ending in March 2022) which is like the forecast from June 2021.

The support extended to the MSMEs under the Atmanirbhar Bharat has helped the nation to safeguard itself from the hard-hit of the pandemic. Women deserve to be supported equally for their start-ups and new ventures which they take on. Women-led businesses require more support and encouragement in order to help India raise the bar in the world of business. Strong educational opportunities and support must be provided to women in sectors other than traditional women-dominated sectors to widen their horizons and enhance opportunities. Increasing focus on investments and finance is a must in the current era. Women should be motivated to hone new skills from an early age. Incubation centers need to be set up for the women of our country in order to provide them with an environment where they learn everything from the idea of the business, then the business inception to maturity stages through networking.

Budget 2021 undoubtedly created a positive buzz in the market, focusing on the revival of the country and an Atmanirbhar Bharat. It focused on FDI in insurance, raising the bar for education, New Education Policy (NEP), ease of doing business, etc. but vulnerable women’s livelihood wasn’t seen to be a priority of the Union Budget 2021. The budget had the provisions, but the expected outcomes were not experienced in the case of supporting women-led businesses and MSMEs. Meeta Nagpal, Founder of Musical Dreams has shared her wishlist for the upcoming budget:

Startup Support From Government: 
An increase in the investment in guidance and finance is much needed for the growth of women and the country. Women-led businesses should be provided more support and encouragement. They lack support from society, family, and lastly from the government as well to some extent. The government can help the women-led MSMEs and startups by providing them with interest-free loans and working capital. Startup support from the government is something that would help the women of India, not let their dreams die an unnatural death. Their innovative startup ideas are looking forward to some support and in case the same is provided, every mastermind has the potential of proving their might. India can witness a hike in the number of women entrepreneurs emerging all over.&nbsp; 
 
Academic Incubation Centers: 
The academic incubation centers, if enabled in the colleges serving education to women, can prove to be helpful by supporting the innovative ideas and prototypes which are created by the students. The budget can have provisions for the funding of such innovative ideas of students. With the funding, the female students would not only gain the confidence of keeping their innovation upfront but also would come out to be great entrepreneurs. The masterminds would work on their start-up ideas, choose the pathway for starting their own businesses and be the one among the leading entrepreneurs of the nation in the coming times. 
 
Recognition Practice Beyond Education: 
Women must learn new skills and adapt to the changing scenarios to tap new opportunities. In accordance with New Education Policy (NEP), 360 degrees progress tracking of the students is done with the help of report cards. Additionally, a strong emphasis has been given to the extra-curricular activities as compared to professional streams in schools. A high degree of importance has been given to literacy and numeracy as well. The new structure came up with the 5+3+3+4 foundation formula.

These steps taken by the government made it a bit more convenient for the students to grow themselves in different aspects and nourish the latent talents that they possess such as dance, music, yoga, etc. These are the sectors in which the children of our nation would get exposure to grow. Even the focus towards developing the structure in a bit more enhanced manner is expected and with the thrust of creating and initiating a more innovative starting at the college levels. The NEP has successfully created great enthusiasm and excitement in the education sector. Strong educational opportunities are expected for the women in sectors other than the traditional women-dominated sectors like heathy, hygiene, etc. with the Union Budget.

Multiple mechanisms of the Budget in 2021 helped in creating better opportunities for start-up businesses across various sectors like hygiene, health, and sustainability around the nation. The innovative Indian start-ups have won the big league by creating 46 unicorns in the year 2021, which is almost double of 2020. India is now one of the three largest unicorn hubs in the world along with China and the UK. It is heartening to acknowledge the fact that 13 women-led unicorns were there in India in the year 2021 from which 8 women-led unicorns had newly emerged in the year 2021 itself.

The budget is expected to make interactive provisions for funding for innovative prototypes and ideas by the students and enable the academic incubation centers in the colleges providing education to female students, which simultaneously help the women establish their own start-ups.

Women of this amazing nation are looking forward with dreaming eyes to the Union Budget 2022 with hopes of establishing themselves and their start-ups. The upfront support in terms of interest-free loans and working capitals would be beneficial for the women-led MSMEs and start-ups which would provide the women with employment opportunities and make the women eligible for creating job opportunities for all, instead of just being the job seekers. The budget can evenly help the corporations, institutions, and firms by providing additional incentives in terms of employability for the employers who hire, upskill and support women as a part of their workforce. It would prove to be one of the best ways of increasing the opportunities for women’s participation and engagement in the workforce

According to the World Bank estimate, India has one of the lowest female labor force participation in the world. Female labor participation has fallen from 26% in 2005 to 20.3% in 2019.&nbsp;


Budget 2022 Expectations: ‘Women-led businesses need support with interest-free loans, working capital’

Pradhan Mantri Kisan 10th Instalment status check news: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme was launched with the view to supplement the earnings of small and medium categories farmers. This scheme coupled with the Digital India initiative has made it possible to reach the PM KISAN benefits to 12 crore farmers in the country.

Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 1 lakh 60 crore has been given to farmers so far. Out which Rs 1 lakh crore were transferred to small farmers during the pandemic period. More than 2 crore Kisan Credit Cards were issued during Corona period, most of them to small farmers. Such farmers will be benefitted by the agriculture infrastructure and connectivity infrastructure that is coming up in the country. Initiatives like Food Parks, Kisan Rails and Infrastructure Fund will help small farmers. In the year gone by, more than 6 thousand projects have been approved under the Infrastructure Fund.

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a government scheme with 100 per cent funding from the Central government. The scheme promises income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments to small and marginal farmer families, having combined land holding/ownership of up to 2 hectares.

The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. There are various exclusion categories for the scheme. Farmers can check their status on pm kisan online portal www-pmkisan-gov-in or via the mobile app. For any query, farmers can use this PM-Kisan Helpline No. 155261 / 011-24300606. Know the process to check the latest installment status details here;

Check 10th Instalment status

Step 1: Visit official site www.pmkisan.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the farmer’s corner given on the homepage of the official website

Step 3: Click on the option beneficiary list

Step 4: Select your state, district/sub district, block and village details correctly

Step 5: Click on the option get report

Step 6: Click on the beneficiary list appears on the screen

Step 7: Check your name and confirm

Step 8: Return to the homepage of pmksny.

Step 9: Click on the beneficiary status button again

Step 10: Enter your Aadhaar card details, or mobile number, or your account number

Step 11: Click on the get date button

Step 12: The status of your installment payment would appear on the screen

Who are not eligible to get benefits under the scheme?

The following category of farmers are not eligible to get the benefits of the PM-Kisan Scheme

(a) All institutional landholders; and

(b) Farmer families in which one or more of its members belong to the following categories: -

1. Former and present holders of constitutional posts

2. Former and present ministers, State Ministers and former and present Members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state Legislative Assemblies, State Legislative councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.

3. All serving or retired officers and employees of Central and State Government Ministries, Offices, Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and attached offices, autonomous institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the local bodies (Excluding Multi-Tasking staff, Class lV, Group D employees

4. All super annulated, retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs 10,000 or more, excluding multi-tasking staff, Class IV, Group D employees.

5. All persons who paid lncome Tax in last assessment year

6. Professionals like Doctors, Engineers' Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a government scheme with 100 per cent funding from the Central government.


Pradhan Mantri Kisan 10th Installment beneficiary, status check on pmkisan.gov.in; Who are not eligible to get Rs 6,000 under PM KISAN scheme?

Life is full of uncertainties! So, it is advisable to plan your future in advance. And one such thing is to plan your retirement. The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and the Public Provident Fund (PPF) are the long-term investment instruments considered mainly for retirement.

Why considered the safest bet? Because of their slow, steady and secure nature. Here you can keep pumping in small amounts that end up in a big corpus by the time you retire. It is crucial for the working class to take advantage of these instruments.

Yet, many still get confused between the two options. Let’s discuss in detail the two investment options.

Public Provident Fund&nbsp;(PPF) Versus Employees' Provident Fund&nbsp;(EPF)

PPF is a savings scheme offered by the central government. It was started with the aim to provide old age income security to self-employed individuals and workers from unorganised sectors. On the other hand, EPF is also a government-backed scheme and is a compulsory deduction for salaries employees. It is a fund to which both the employee and employer contribute 10 per cent of the employee’s basic salary each month. Earlier this percentage was 12 per cent for private organisations.

The employer and employee deposit their contribution with the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) every month. The accumulated or a part of amount in an EPF account can be withdrawn by the employee at the event of retirement, or resignation or in case of COVID-19 crisis. Similarly, this amount can be transferred from one company to another in case the employee changes his jobs.

Return on investment: In case of PPF, the rate of return is 7.10 per cent per annum, while EPF accounts yield a return of 8.5 per cent annually.

Investment tenure: For PPF account, the deposited amount is locked-in for 15 years can be withdrawn on maturity. On the other hand, in EPF, the amount is paid at the time of retirement or resignation, whichever occurs earlier. In case of a job change, the amount can be transferred from the previous company to the new one.

Maximum Investment: In PPF, one can invest Rs 1,50,000 a year, where as there is no cap on the investment, if made through Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF). However, the employer’s contribution will remain the same.

Tax Calculation: A PPF qualifies for tax exemption under Section 80C, which means there is no tax applicable on the maturity amount in this option. However, EPF investment qualifies for deduction under Section 80C. Similarly, withdrawal from an EPF amount is subject to tax if it is carried out within 5 years of employment with the same employer.

If compared than EPF is more beneficial than PPF because EPF includes employer’s contribution, whereas no such contribution occurs in PPF. However, PPF is a perfect option for people who are self-employed or are from unorganised sectors.

The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and the Public Provident Fund (PPF) are the long-term investment instruments considered mainly for retirement.


Explained: Looking for saving options? Which plan suits you the best - Employees' Provident Fund or Public Provident Fund? Check details here

After a stellar peak performance in 2018, the automotive sector particularly the CV industry, hit a bit of a roller coaster with the new axle load mandate, graduation to BS-VI regulations, followed by the Covid-19 jolt and lockdowns, the rising commodity prices, chip shortage impacting the supply chain in the last few quarters.

While the last few quarters have been a period of strong recovery and rebound, it is still not close to the peak of 2018. Kamal Bali - President &amp; Managing Director - Volvo Group, India compliments the Government of India for pushing through important infrastructure initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) supported by Asset Monetization Plan, that will set the pathway for India transitioning to $5 trillion economy. Here is the wishlist, Bali expects from the upcoming Budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;

1. The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme extended to several sectors including electric vehicles, semi-conductor manufacturing and advanced technology components, together with the vehicle scrappage policy are path-breaking measures. These, and many more, initiatives strike at the root of the constraints that have been confronted with, and, therefore, bode well for economic growth and prosperity. The automotive sector, which contributes to almost half of India’s industrial GDP, is at the cusp of major transformation on the back of emerging technologies, climate agenda, and future mobility trends.

2. But the sector also needs some support on a more moderate taxation regime. For instance, the GST rate on some auto components is at the upper end of the spectrum (clubbed with luxury goods) at 28%. The industry would like to see a uniform GST rate of 18% on all auto components in the upcoming budget. Apart from this, the industry is looking forward to a resolute policy to avoid an inverted duty structure for components. Current Customs Duty rates are high and there is a scope for reduction. Since tax buoyancy has been sustained over a period of time, the GST rates can now be finally rationalized. &nbsp;

3. As has been already announced by the government, the industry hopes to see the budget continuing to press forward on infrastructure-focused capital expenditure, clean, green and connected logistics, in order to ensure a robust, competitive, and sustainable industrial ecosystem that promotes the new India story. &nbsp;

4. Support from all stakeholders is needed to pace up urban development towards sustainable living to support the influx into our cities. In this context, it is important that public transport development should be a focus at least in top 100 cities, in order they do not face the same challenges as our top metro cities face today. &nbsp;The sector should be provided infrastructure status (including lower GST) to get the necessary focus, lower interest rates, private investment and the desired impetus.

5. The government policy and initiatives such as National Manufacturing Policy, PLI scheme, Industry 4.0, MSME &amp; Startup focus, all of which aim to enhance the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25%, are both ambitious as well as apt. In addition, the industry needs a careful and selective strategy on phased manufacturing programme in some areas to boost technology adoption to achieve our overall and inclusive development goals. This will also drive local innovation and strategic investment.

6. The need of the hour is to focus on MSMEs as they are the backbone of our industrial ecosystem. It would be good to see measures that will further improve credit lending, support through SAMARTH and funding that will enable investments for emerging technology adoption. &nbsp;

He further added that having observed the direction, the trends and thoughtfulness of the FM in the previous few budgets, he is positively looking forward to Union Budget 2022-23. He also expects a further boost to initiatives that will make compliance easier to improve the ease, cost and speed of doing business and fast implementation of National Single Window Scheme (NSWS).

&nbsp;

Kamal Bali - President &amp; Managing Director - Volvo Group, India compliments the government for pushing initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, National Infrastructure Pipeline&nbsp;that will set the pathway for India transitioning to $5 trillion economy


Budget 2022 Expectations: Volvo India expects uniform GST rate of 18% on all auto components; pins hope on infrastructure-focused capex

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme is a Central scheme that provides farmers with timely access to credit. The scheme was launched in 1998 with the aim to provide short-term formal credit to farmers. It was created by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).&nbsp;

The PM Kisan Credit Cards have now been linked to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM Kisan). Farmers can seek a loan from KCC for up to Rs 3 lakh at a 4 per cent interest rate. It is also easier for PM Kisan beneficiaries to apply for KCC.&nbsp;

“More than 2 crore Kisan Credit Cards were issued during Corona person, most of them to small farmers. Such farmers will be benefitted by the agriculture infrastructure and connectivity infrastructure that is coming up in the country,” according to PIB.&nbsp;

The KCC scheme was introduced to ensure that the credit requirements for farmers in the agriculture, fisheries, and animal husbandry sectors was being met. This was done by helping them avail short-term loans and providing them with a credit limit to purchase equipment and for their other expenses as well.&nbsp;

Moreover, with the help of KCC, farmers are exempt from the high-interest rates of the regular loans offered by banks as the interest rate for KCC starts as low as 2 per cent and averages at 4 per cent. With the help of this scheme, farmers can repay their loans depending on the harvesting period of their crop for which the loan was given.&nbsp;

Farmers can also apply for Kisan Credit Card through the State Bank of India. SBI started this online service to facilitate KCC Review. SBI tweeted: “Empowering farmers by facilitating KCC Review feature on YONO Krishi platform! SBI farmer customers can now apply for KCC review without visiting the branch, need to download SBI YONO app.”&nbsp;

Here are the steps to apply online&nbsp;&nbsp;

Step 1:&nbsp;Downloaded SBI YONO app&nbsp;

Step 2:&nbsp;Log in at https://www.sbiyono.sbi/index.html&nbsp;

Step 3:&nbsp;Then go to YONO Krishi&nbsp;

Step4:&nbsp;Then go to Khata&nbsp;

Step 5:&nbsp;Go to KCC Review section&nbsp;

Step 6:&nbsp;Click on Apply

The PM Kisan Credit Cards have now been linked to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM Kisan)


PM Kisan 10th Installment: What is Kisan Credit Card? How to apply? Know step-by-step process to apply KCC online through SBI 

Audi India has announced the launch date of the 2022 Q7 facelift SUV. The German carmaker is geared up to drive in the facelift version of its flagship three-row SUV next month.

Audi India has also mentioned that the price of the 2022 Q7 SUV will be revealed on February 3.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Audi announced the commencement of bookings for its next-generation Audi Q7 in India. Powered by a new powerful 3.0L V6 TFSI petrol engine, the new Audi Q7 promises a perfect blend of performance, style, comfort and drivability. The Audi Q7 can be booked at an initial booking amount of Rs&nbsp;500,000.

Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, earlier mentioned, “After nine product launches in 2021, we are excited to step into the new year with another incredible offering – the legendary Audi Q7 for which we open bookings today. The Audi Q7 has always been loved by customers for its sheer magnanimous road presence and its versatile performance - on and off the road. With the Audi Q7, we are now taking this up a notch with a new design and features. I am confident that the Audi Q7 will continue to be loved by existing and potential customers who want to join the Audi family.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Unveiling the future. Get set for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AudiQ7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AudiQ7</a>, arriving on 3rd February. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FutureIsAnAttitude?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FutureIsAnAttitude</a> <a href="https://t.co/J28o15nFBD">pic.twitter.com/J28o15nFBD</a>
— Audi India (@AudiIN) <a href="https://twitter.com/AudiIN/status/1485486852702621699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Audi Q7 includes features such as Adaptive Air Suspension, Audi Drive Select, quattro all-wheel drive that aids in its superior driveability and handling. Driver-assist features included are Park Assist Plus with a 360-degree-view camera and Lane departure warning. Exceptional lighting performance is provided for by the Matrix LED Headlamps and Rear LED tail lamps with dynamic turn indicators in the front and rear. Comfort features viz. 4-Zone air conditioning, Air Ionizer &amp; Aromatization, Contour ambient lighting with 30 colors, B&amp;O Premium 3D Sound System amongst others are also offered.

The new Audi Q7 will be available in two variants – Premium Plus and Technology. Customers can book the Audi Q7 online (www.audi.in) from the comfort of their home or can register their interest at the nearest Audi India dealership.

Audi India announced a 101 per cent growth in sales for 2021 – the brand witnessed a healthy sales figure of 3,293 retail units. The uptick was propelled by the five electric cars – the Audi e-tron 50, Audi e-tron 55, Audi e-tron Sportback 55, Audi e-tron GT, Audi RS e-tron GT and the petrol-powered Q-range along with A-sedans. In 2021, nine new models were launched including five models under the e-tron brand.

The Audi Q7 includes features such as Adaptive Air Suspension, Audi Drive Select, quattro all-wheel drive that aids in its superior driveability and handling.


2022 Audi Q7 facelift SUV to launch on this date in India; check bookings and other details 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme with a view to supplementing the earnings of small and medium categories farmers. This scheme coupled with the Digital India initiative has made it possible to reach the PM KISAN benefits to 12 crore farmers in the country.

The Government launched the Central Sector Scheme, PM-KISAN, to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginalised farmers across the country.&nbsp;PM Kisan is a Central Sector Scheme with 100 per cent funding from the Government of India. It has become operational from December 1, 2018. Under the scheme, income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined landholding/ownership of up to 2 hectares. Here the definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children.

State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. There are various exclusion categories for the scheme.

On May 14, 2021, the Central government paid another installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to support the farmers. About Rs 19,000 crore have been transferred directly to the bank accounts of farmers, the government on May 14 announced. It will directly benefit about 10 crore farmers.

This amount is proving to be of great use to these farmer families in these trying circumstances.&nbsp;The transfer of the amount to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries can take few days time and to ensure this farmer can check the PM-KSNY installment, status, list, etc.

What is Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme was launched with the view to supplement the earnings of small and medium categories farmers. This scheme coupled with the Digital India initiative has made it possible to reach the PM KISAN benefits to 12 crore farmers in the country.

With a view to augment income of Small &amp; Marginal Farmers, the Govt launched a Central Sector Scheme- Pradhan Mantri KIsan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small &amp; marginalised farmers across the country.

PM KISAN Scheme Benefits

The PM KISAN Yojana benefits 12 crore farmers across of the country. The benefits are as follows:

* The PM KISAN Yojana provides financial assistance to farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings

* The scheme provides minimum income support up to Rs 6,000 to farmers across the country. The amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the farmers.

Check Beneficiary Status

In order to check the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiary status, one has to follow some simple steps. First, visit the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi home page pmkisan.gov.in. Then click on the 'Beneficiary Status' tab present on the home page. After clicking on the beneficiary status, choose the either options - Aadhaar number, Account number or Mobile number. After choosing the selected option, click on 'Get Data'. Following which the data will be made available.

Under the scheme, income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined landholding/ownership of up to 2 hectares.


Claim Rs 6,000 PM Kisan Installment: Know about PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, benefits and other details

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget for FY 2022-2023 on February 1.

Electric vehicles must be considered for priority lending by the government to accelerate their adoption, while sufficient funds must also be allocated for R&amp;D in a public-private partnership mode&nbsp;for the development of batteries, industry body SMEV earlier mentioned.

Shubhankar Chaudhry, CEO, One Moto India said: "To create a robust ecosystem for electric vehicles and give a boost to the EV market, the Indian government should focus on putting EVs in the priority lending sector, as currently few NBFCs and financial institutions are providing affordable lending to potential end-users as well as fleet operators.&nbsp;

Additionally, the government also needs to push for more R&amp;D in affordable and indigenous battery technology development, which currently is the biggest pain point for EV players. Our current dependence on lithium imports of which 90%&nbsp; is dominated by Chinese players is a strategic disadvantage for Indian EV manufacturers," Chaudhry added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
One Moto is a British mobility company shaping and electrifying the last mile with iconic electric motorcycles, bikes, and scooters.&nbsp; &nbsp;

On the other hand, Mridu Mahendra Das, Co-founder and CEO, Automovill said: "Post-pandemic the startup ecosystem is booming at a neck break speed in terms of funding and adoption. However, an increase in economic activity is yet to be seen which is giving revenue pressure for startups. The government should introduce some flexibility in attracting or remitting foreign funds for companies that are registered under startup (DPIIT programs). This should help startups ease the processes involved, give laxity in penalties for any delay in GST or such statutory filings, ensure quick resolution of any disputes of compliance-related matters. It will save a lot of time for founders to focus on work and also ease up the funding process which gets on hold for such statutory filings."

He further said: "Specifically in the after-sales automotive segment import duties on certain parts (specifically electrical, electronics, etc) should be lowered as the manufacture of such parts in India had a roadblock due to chip/sensor issues. Discontinuation of certain vehicles (10+-year-old vehicle in Delhi) should be in a phased manner or should be allowed to run with additional fitness requirements which will increase more revenue options for after-sales ecosystem players."

Regular industry connects activities between OEMs and after-sales players, relaxing certain norms for government auto claim process also helps after-sales players get a fair playing ground in comparison to OEMs, he added.

Founded in 2016 in Guwahati, Automovill’s tech-enabled 360-degree approach enables impeccable customer experience by bringing trust, transparency, and convenience.&nbsp;

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget for FY 2022-2023 on February 1.


Budget 2022 Expectations: 'Put EVs in priority lending sector; discontinuation of certain vehicles should be in a phased manner' 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme with a view to supplementing the earnings of small and medium categories farmers. This scheme coupled with the Digital India initiative has made it possible to reach the PM KISAN benefits to 12 crore farmers in the country.

The Government launched the Central Sector Scheme, PM-KISAN, to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginalised farmers across the country. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme was launched with the view to supplement the earnings of small and medium categories farmers. This scheme coupled with the Digital India initiative has made it possible to reach the PM KISAN benefits to 12 crore farmers in the country.

The Government launched the Central Sector Scheme- Pradhan Mantri KIsan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginalised farmers across the country.

The financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is to be released to the eligible farmers in three installments of Rs 2,000 each every 4-month / trimester, i.e. April-July, August-November and December-March.

The Scheme is being implemented through an Aadhaar linked electronic database containing details of all members of the families of the farmers whose names appear in the land records

PM KISAN Scheme Benefits

The PM KISAN Yojana benefits 12 crore farmers across of the country. The benefits are as follows:

* The PM KISAN Yojana provides financial assistance to farmers irrespective of the size of their landholdings

* The scheme provides minimum income support up to Rs 6,000 to farmers across the country. The amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the farmers.

Who can’t avail the benefits?

The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme; All Institutional Land holders; and Farmer families in which one or more of its members belong to following categories:

1) Former and present holders of constitutional posts

2) Former and present Ministers / State Ministers and former / present Members of Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha / State Legislative Assemblies / State Legislative Councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.

3) All serving or retired officers and employees of Central / State Government Ministries / Offices / Departments and their field units, Central or State PSEs and Attached offices / Autonomous Institutions under government as well as regular employees of the local bodies (excluding multi-tasking staff / Class IV / Group D employees)

4) All superannuated / retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs 10,000/- or more (excluding multi-tasking staff / Class IV / Group D employees)

5) All persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year.

6) Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.

In case of new beneficiaries being uploaded on the PM-KISAN Portal, all land holding farmers’ families who are non-resident Indians (NRIs) in terms of the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 shall be excluded from any benefit under the Scheme.

Rectify your mistakes by following these steps

1. Visit official site www.pmkisan.gov.in

2. Click on farmer’s corner given on the homepage of the official website

3. Click on the option beneficiary list

4. Select your state, district/sub district, block and village details correctly

5. Click on the option get report

6. Click on the beneficiary list appears on the screen

7. Check your name and confirm

8. Return to the homepage of pmksny.

9. Click on the beneficiary status button again

10. Enter your Aadhaar card details, or mobile number, or your account number

11. Click on get date button

12. The status of your instalment payment would appear on the screen

The government launched the Central Sector Scheme, PM-KISAN, to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginalised farmers across the country.


PM Kisan 10th Installment: Still waiting for Rs 6,000? Rectify your mistakes through these steps   

The Union Budget 2022-23 is expected to be presented by the Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2022. The budget session of Parliament will start from January 31 and will continue till April 8.

Sharing expectations and suggestions for Budget 2022 on the IT and telecommunication sector, Priya Mahajan, Head of ASPAC Public Policy &amp; Regulatory Counsel, Verizon Business Group said: "Over the last few years, the Government of India has made great strides to foster the growth and development of the Indian IT and telecommunication sector, strengthening the economic and digital transformation in the country."

"In particular, we are pleased to note India's huge rise in the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business' report," she added.&nbsp;

As India sits on the cusp of a sustained period of economic recovery and growth, one of the keys to success lies in continuing to make the necessary reforms in the relaxing of tax structures that have played an integral role in developing the country’s economic prowess, Mahajan said.

The recently announced telecom reforms by the Department of Telecommunications is a welcome start. "To this point, we strongly believe that the continued promotion of legal certainty, predictability and global consistency will further foster innovation and investments, particularly in the vital areas of cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and 5G," she added.&nbsp;

The Union Budget 2022-23 is expected to be presented by the Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2022


Preeti Verma