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EPF – Implementation of Employees’s Enrolment campaign, 2026

The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with the Mobile and Electronic Devices Export Promotion Council (MEDEPC), the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), and the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC), organised a Chintan Shivir at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together senior government officials, industry leaders, policy experts and other key stakeholders to deliberate on India’s evolving electronics manufacturing landscape and strategies to strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.

Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, said that the global electronics industry is increasingly driven by global value chains, and India’s policy framework must provide the predictability and stability required for these value chains to expand their presence in the country. He observed that policy approaches for production aimed at the domestic market may differ from those needed to promote export-oriented manufacturing. He added that the Chintan Shivir had been convened to facilitate constructive dialogue and develop tangible, balanced and actionable policy recommendations that are equitable for all stakeholders while strengthening India’s position as a globally competitive electronics manufacturing and export hub.

The Chintan Shivir featured presentations on India’s roadmap to achieving USD 150 billion in electronics exports by 2030 and on strengthening the country’s semiconductor and electronics components ecosystem. The presentations highlighted sector-specific export opportunities across smartphones, servers, specialty electronics and components, while outlining the role of global value chains (GVCs), supply chain resilience and targeted policy interventions in positioning India as a globally competitive electronics manufacturing and export hub. The sessions laid the foundation for detailed deliberations on policy priorities required to accelerate long-term growth and enhance export competitiveness.

A key highlight of the Chintan Shivir was the Open House Discussion, during which industry stakeholders engaged directly with senior officials of the Department of Commerce on policy measures to enhance India’s competitiveness in the global electronics sector. Participants emphasised the importance of integrating MSMEs into global value chains, which account for nearly 90 per cent of global electronics trade, to enable them to scale as suppliers to large manufacturers. Deliberations also focused on harmonisation of HS Codes and closer coordination with Customs authorities to minimise product misclassification and facilitate smoother exports. The discussions identified several priority areas for policy interventions to strengthen India’s export competitiveness.

The Chintan Shivir was presided over by Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Rajesh Agrawal. It was attended by Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Suchindra Misra; Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Shri Lav Agarwal; Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Manish Chadha; and Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Vimal Anand. Senior representatives from the Government of India, State Governments, industry and Export Promotion Councils also participated. The forum provided an important platform for deliberations on opportunities and challenges facing India’s electronics sector as it seeks to deepen its integration with global value chains and accelerate export-led growth.

Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Suchindra Misra, said that sustaining India’s export momentum in electronics would require not only competitive manufacturing but also focused marketing efforts to build the visibility and acceptance of Indian products in strategic overseas markets. He noted that as the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade develops training programmes for exporters, industry feedback would be invaluable in refining the curriculum to strengthen understanding of trade agreements, market access opportunities and evolving demand patterns across global markets.

The Chintan Shivir witnessed active participation from leading industry stakeholders across the electronics value chain, including Apple, Samsung, Amber Enterprises, Dixon Technologies, Micromax, Tata Electronics, Syrma SGS Technology, Bora Exim, Aequs, Foxconn, boAt, and several other manufacturers, exporters and industry associations. Their participation enriched the discussions by bringing diverse perspectives on manufacturing, exports, trade facilitation and investment.

The Chintan Shivir concluded with a shared commitment among all stakeholders to continue structured consultations and translate the recommendations emerging from the discussions into actionable policy initiatives aimed at further strengthening India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem and enhancing its export competitiveness.

Sole Proprietor who personally executes work is covered under Employees Compensation Act- Karnataka HC

Mumbai, July 2, 2026: In a first-of-its-kind initiative celebrating Mumbai’s creative spirit and innovation ecosystem, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), hosted the Namaste Mumbai Conclave 2026 and The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest. The day-long event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, academicians, creative professionals, investors and entrepreneurs to chart a roadmap for transforming Mumbai into a globally recognised creative capital and innovation hub.

Welcoming the gathering, Sudhanshu Vats, President, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Managing Director, Pidilite Industries, reflected on the Chamber’s nearly 190-year association with Mumbai’s evolution and called for the city’s next phase of growth to be driven not only by infrastructure but also by culture, tourism and collaboration.

“Bombay Chamber’s story is closely interlinked with the story of Mumbai. As the city undergoes an unprecedented infrastructure transformation, we must now equally invest in its cultural identity, tourism and quality of life. Through Namaste Mumbai, we hope to bring together ideas, innovation and partnerships that will help build a more liveable, globally competitive and culturally vibrant Mumbai,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Smt. Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, BMC, said that while Mumbai is witnessing one of the country’s largest infrastructure transformations, its next phase of growth must equally focus on strengthening the city’s creative identity, cultural vibrancy and public spaces.

“Cities are built not only through concrete but through culture. Ease of doing business, ease of living and ease of movement are important, but a truly liveable city also requires ease of expression. People need spaces where they can express themselves, experience the creativity of others and participate in the city’s cultural life,” she said.

Highlighting Mumbai’s unique character, she added, “Creation comes out of chaos. Mumbai has always turned its challenges into innovation and creativity. The new infrastructure we are building must now become a foundation for nurturing the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs and innovators.”

Referring to projects such as the Coastal Road and Metro network, she said these investments should not only improve mobility but also create new public spaces that enrich civic life. She called for stronger collaboration between government and industry to build a city that is more beautiful, culturally vibrant and globally attractive, adding that infrastructure alone cannot define Mumbai’s future.

The conclave featured two engaging panel discussions that examined Mumbai’s identity and future opportunities.

The first session, “Branding Mumbai – One City, Many Identities,” moderated by Priyanka Sinha Jha, COO, Screen Academy; Indian Express Screen Foundation for Excellence in Motion Pictures and Arts Technology, featured Smt. Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Jamnadas Majethia, Actor, Director & Producer, Ajit Andhare, Chief Operating Officer, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, and Gajendra Ahire, Producer & Director. The panellists explored how Mumbai can build a unified global brand by strengthening its heritage, theatre, cinema, public spaces and cultural infrastructure.

The second session, “Mumbai 3.0 – The Creative Capital Opportunity,” moderated by Latha Venkatesh, Executive Editor, CNBC-TV18, brought together Shri Vishwas Mote, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Zone III, BMC, Dr. Indu Shahani, Founding President & Chancellor, ATLAS SkillTech University, Shri Rajiv Jalota, Retd. IAS, Former Chairperson, Mumbai Port Authority, and Uday Khanna, Past President, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and former Independent Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Castrol India, Pfizer and Pidilite Industries. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating infrastructure with culture, education, tourism and industry partnerships to position Mumbai among the world’s leading creative cities.

The afternoon session transitioned from dialogue to action with The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest, organised jointly by the Bombay Chamber and the BMC. Designed as a platform to connect promising CivicTech startups with investors and civic leaders, the initiative showcased innovative, technology-driven solutions to address Mumbai’s urban challenges.

Representing the BMC, Shashi Bala, Chief – Business Development and Director, SMILE Council – CivicTech Incubator of BMC, outlined the vision of the Society for Mumbai Incubation Lab to Entrepreneurship (SMILE) Council, which was created to nurture entrepreneurs, transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses and contribute to Mumbai’s growth as an international business and innovation hub. She shared that SMILE focuses on developing solutions that strengthen civic infrastructure and public services and currently supports 24 startups, with another 17–18 startups in the pipeline.

Highlighting what makes the incubator unique, she said, “Our vision is to nurture entrepreneurs, transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses and contribute to Mumbai’s growth as an international business and innovation hub. What makes SMILE different is that startups don’t just receive mentoring—they get the opportunity to test and refine their technologies in real-life civic situations by working closely with BMC departments, enabling solutions that can create a meaningful impact for the city.”

Ashith Kampani, Chair, PE & VC Committee, Bombay Chamber and Chairman, CosmicMandala 15 Securities Pvt. Ltd., welcomed the finalists and jury members, noting that the Fund Quest was conceived to bridge the gap between innovative CivicTech startups, investors and government, enabling promising solutions to move from ideas to implementation.

Ten shortlisted startups presented their innovations before an eminent jury of investors and industry leaders and were evaluated on four parameters—Opportunity, Scalability, Capability and Monetisability. Niramai Health Analytix Pvt. Ltd., led by Dr. Geetha Manjunath, emerged as the CivicTech Champion, while EcoBio Consulting Pvt. Ltd. and Saltech Design Labs Pvt. Ltd. were declared the First and Second Runners-up, respectively. In addition to cash prizes, the top three startups will receive structured mentorship from industry leaders to support their growth and market adoption.

The Namaste Mumbai Conclave 2026 and The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest together showcased a unified vision for Mumbai’s future—one where creativity, culture, innovation and entrepreneurship work hand in hand to shape the city’s next chapter.

Mumbai, June 25, 2026: With Indian households holding nearly 34,600 tonnes of gold valued at approximately US$3.8 trillion, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry convened leading policymakers, regulators, market infrastructure institutions and industry experts to deliberate on how the country’s vast gold reserves can be transformed from idle wealth into an active driver of economic growth.

The conclave, “India’s Gold Revolution: Monetisation, Tokenisation & Financial Transformation,” examined the reforms, technologies and market innovations needed to unlock the economic value of India’s gold holdings while reducing dependence on imports and strengthening the country’s financial ecosystem.

Delivering the welcome address, Ashith Kampani, Chair – PE & VC Committee, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Chairman, CosmicMandala15 Securities, highlighted the paradox at the heart of India’s gold economy.

“India possesses one of the world’s largest repositories of privately held gold wealth, yet continues to remain among the largest importers of the precious metal. The challenge before us is not whether India should own gold, but how we can transform gold from a passive store of wealth into an active financial asset that contributes more effectively to economic growth, capital formation and financial inclusion,” he said.

Kampani observed that while gold monetisation has long been a policy priority, participation has remained limited because gold ownership in India is deeply personal and emotional. Concerns around purity assessment, valuation, liquidity and trust have prevented large-scale adoption.

He noted, however, that India is now at a pivotal moment, with digital public infrastructure, maturing financial markets, blockchain technology and tokenisation creating unprecedented opportunities to modernise the gold ecosystem.

“The future of gold in India may no longer be defined solely by physical possession. It may increasingly be characterised by digital ownership, fractional participation, transparent custody and seamless integration with broader financial markets,” Kampani said.

Delivering the keynote address on “Building India’s Digital Gold Infrastructure,” Praveena Rai, Managing Director & CEO, MCX, stressed the urgent need to financialise India’s gold holdings.

She pointed out that after crude oil, gold remains India’s second-largest import, accounting for nearly US$72 billion annually, making the issue significant not only for investors but also for the country’s macroeconomic stability.

“The question before us is how we create true financialisation of gold. A substantial portion of the nearly 30,000 tonnes of gold held across Indian households is maintained primarily as an investment asset. The opportunity lies in bringing this gold into highly active financial instruments that allow investors to participate confidently while enabling the economy to benefit from this enormous pool of wealth,” Rai said.

She highlighted the growing range of regulated financial products available to investors, including Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Commodity Derivatives (ETCDs).

While Electronic Gold Receipts hold immense promise by enabling physical gold to be converted into tradeable securities, Rai noted that certain policy issues, particularly around GST, have slowed their adoption. She urged industry bodies, including the Bombay Chamber, to contribute towards resolving these challenges.

Rai also highlighted the remarkable growth of Gold ETFs, noting that for the first time, gold accounted for nearly 55 percent of ETF inflows in India, reflecting increasing investor confidence in regulated digital investment avenues.

She emphasised that India’s commodity derivatives market has matured significantly, with MCX recording average daily trading volumes of approximately ₹2.2 lakh crore in gold futures and options, providing robust liquidity and efficient price discovery.

A major milestone, she said, came in March 2026 when SEBI permitted Indian exchange prices to be used for valuation of mutual fund assets under management, enabling domestic benchmarks to gain greater credibility.

“As the world’s second-largest consumer of gold, India must progressively develop its own globally recognised pricing benchmarks rather than depending solely on international reference prices,” Rai observed.

She further underlined the importance of adopting Indian Good Delivery standards to encourage gold recycling, thereby reducing dependence on imports and supporting the development of a circular gold economy. Looking ahead, Rai identified digital distribution, regulated infrastructure and tokenisation as the next frontier for India’s gold ecosystem.

“Technology alone is not enough. Innovation must be built on a strong regulatory foundation. Tokenisation offers exciting possibilities, but it must work alongside regulated financial infrastructure, digital distribution channels and policy reforms. Together, these can become game changers for India’s gold economy,” she said.

The conclave featured two high-level panel discussions.

The first panel discussion, “Building India’s Gold Monetisation Marketplace,” was moderated by Neil Borate, Editor-in-Chief, thefynprint, and featured Richa Agarwal, Chief General Manager, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI); Ramakrishnan Padmanabhan, General Manager, Department of Metals & Commodities, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA); Khushboo Ranawat, Regional Chairman – Western Region and Member, National Exhibition Sub-Committee, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC); Nilesh Lodaya, Chief Business Officer, Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL); and Rajnish Gupta, Partner, Tax and Economic Policy Group, EY India. The panellists deliberated on the regulatory, taxation and market infrastructure reforms required to build a robust and scalable gold monetisation marketplace in India.

The second panel discussion, “Moving Gold Monetisation onto the Blockchain,” was moderated by Rajesh Sinha, Partner, Innoqbate Ventures, and featured Amol Bansal, Founder & CEO, MyGold; Vishal Gajjar, Senior Vice President, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL); Ritika Patni, Head – Singapore Office and NDA Lead, Global Strategic Legal Consulting, Nishith Desai Associates; Manhar Garegrat, Senior Vice President and Country Head – India, Liminal Custody; Hiren Chandaria, Managing Director, Middle East and Asia Operations, Monetary Metals & Co.; and Harshit Gupta, Head – Digital Consumer Business, MMTC-PAMP India. The discussion explored how blockchain, tokenisation, digital custody and emerging technologies can transform gold ownership, improve transparency and create new investment opportunities within a secure and regulated framework.

The conclave concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Sandeep Khosla, Director General, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished speakers, panellists, industry leaders, regulators and participants for their valuable insights and contributions towards shaping the future of India’s gold ecosystem.

Mumbai: Maharashtra is on course to becoming a power-surplus state with plans to build up to 84 GW of power capacity to meet rising demand and support its ambitious economic growth, said Shri Vishwas Pathak, Independent Director, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL), while delivering the Guest of Honour Address at the Bombay Chamber Maharashtra Energy Leadership Conclave 2026 on the theme “Shaping Maharashtra’s Next-Gen Energy Solutions.”

Addressing policymakers, industry leaders and energy experts, Shri Pathak said Maharashtra’s power sector has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade and is now positioned to power the state’s vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy. He credited the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis for driving this transformation, supported by landmark infrastructure projects such as the Samruddhi Mahamarg, Atal Setu, Coastal Road, Missing Link and expanding Metro networks.

“Ten years ago, Maharashtra’s peak power demand was 16 GW and load-shedding was a weekly reality. Today, our energy requirement has doubled to 32 GW and is projected to reach 45 GW in the coming years. Mumbai cannot be a city without power, and even momentary outages are no longer acceptable,” Shri Pathak said, adding that Maharashtra today competes with many countries in power sector performance while maintaining stringent environmental standards.

Highlighting the state’s accelerating clean energy transition, he said thermal power, which contributed nearly 90% of the state’s electricity a decade ago, now accounts for around 50%, with renewable energy rapidly bridging the gap. Over the past two years, Maharashtra has tied up nearly 30 GW of additional capacity, including 26 GW of solar power, 6.6 GW of thermal power, and 6 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Renewable energy investments under various MoUs are also expected to create nearly 12,000 jobs, while the state is exploring nuclear energy as a reliable clean-energy option for future baseload requirements.

Outlining Maharashtra’s long-term roadmap, Shri Pathak said, “To meet future demand and become power-surplus, Maharashtra will need to execute Power Purchase Agreements for up to 84 GW. We are strengthening the sector so that Maharashtra can not only meet its own energy requirements but also export power to other states.”

With nearly 30% of Maharashtra’s electricity consumption coming from agriculture, Shri Pathak said the government is rapidly expanding solar adoption among farmers. More than 50,000 farmers are already benefiting from distributed solar projects. Replacing conventional grid power costing around ₹9 per unit with solar power at approximately ₹3 per unit is expected to generate savings of nearly ₹80,000 crore over the coming years, even after government subsidies. “With sustained efforts by the Ministry and the State Government, electricity tariffs will come down as renewable energy penetration increases,” he added.

Welcoming the delegates, Sandeep Khosla, Director General, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said, “As Maharashtra strengthens its position as India’s leading industrial and economic hub, access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy will be critical to supporting its future growth. Through this Conclave, we aim to identify pathways for building a resilient, future-ready energy ecosystem for Maharashtra by bringing together leaders from government, industry and the energy sector to discuss technology, investment, infrastructure, policy and collaboration.”

The Conclave brought together senior government officials, regulators, utilities, industry leaders, technology providers and energy experts to deliberate on strategies for accelerating Maharashtra’s clean energy transition and strengthening its leadership in India’s evolving energy landscape.

Setting the theme for the Conclave, Venkatesh R, Vertical Head for Power Group, Bombay Chamber and Managing Director & Director – Energy Business, Wärtsilä India said, “Reliable electricity, robust transmission networks and advanced storage technologies will become critical enablers of India’s digital economy.” He added that energy transition cannot be achieved in isolation. “Policymakers, regulators, utilities, technology providers, investors and consumers must work together to build an integrated and resilient energy ecosystem,” he said.

A Leadership Dialogue on How Maharashtra’s Largest Energy Consumers Are Shaping the Future of Power Demand was moderated by Dr. Kiran Kabtta Somvanshi, Journalist, Writer and Visiting Professor, ex-Economic Times and the panelists included Avinash Joshi, Executive Managing Director, India, NTT Data; Dr. Atul Kharate, Chief Operating Officer, IndianOil Adani Ventures and K. R. Venkatadri, Former CCO, Tata Chemicals.

The second Leadership Dialogue: Who Will Power Maharashtra 2035? Technology, Capital and Capacity for the Next Energy Leap was moderated by Shashank Rao, Senior Assistant Editor, Hindustan Times and the panelists were Sanjay Banga, Chief Exe cutive Officer and Managing Director and President, Tata Power Renewable Energy; Vimal Kejriwal, MD & CEO, KEC International and Suresh Kumar Narang, Former CEO, Nabha Power, a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro and EVP & Head – LTECLS, L&T Energy CarbonLite Solutions – Larsen & Toubro.

In a virtual address on the theme Building Future-ready Energy Ecosystems: Maharashtra–Egypt Collaboration for Sustainable Growth, special guest, Dr. Ahmed Mohina, first Undersecretary for Strategic Planning and Electrical, Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Arab Republic of Egypt shared that to encourage private sector participation in power, Egypt has allocated more than 42,000 square kilometres of land for renewable energy and green hydrogen projects. Comprehensive solar and wind resource data are freely available to investors, while long-term 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) backed by government guarantees provide financial certainty. 

The concluding remarks were presented by Amit Kekare, Committee Chairman- Power and Infrastructure, Bombay Chamber and Vice President – Head of eMobility, Siemens Ltd. India.

Central Government notifies Employees Deposit Linked Insurance(EDLI) Scheme, 2026

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Central Government notifies Employees Pension Scheme, 2026

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Central Government notifies Employees Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 2026

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