ITV

Tag: Arun Jaitley

  • Action taken in 75 complaints of violations by TV channels in last three years, Govt not considering independent mechanism

    Action taken in 75 complaints of violations by TV channels in last three years, Govt not considering independent mechanism

    NEW DELHI: The Government has reiterated that there is no proposal under consideration of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for an independent broadcasting media authority/separate mechanism in the country for complaints relating to media

    I and B Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliament that the adequate provisions in the form of various Acts / Rules / Regulations/ Guidelines already exist with regard to print and electronic Media.

    He also referred to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for TV channels, self-regulatory bodies Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) headed by retired Judge Mukul Mudgal for general entertainment channels, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority for news television channels, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), and the Press Council of India for print media.

    The BCCC took action in a total of 5036 cases between 2013 and 2015, while the NBSA took action in 1464 complaints between 2012-13 and 2014-15.  

    Thus BCCC had 2298 complaints in 2015, 1791 in 2014 and 947 in 2014. The NBSA -had 110 complaints in 2014-15, 1143 in 2013-14, and 216 in 2012-13  

    Action was taken in 75 complaints relating to violation of Programme or Advertising Codes for Television channels, while the Press council of India heard 521 complaints between 2012-13 and 2015-16.

  • Only two cases of vulgarity and indecency on reality TV shows reported to Government in last two years

    Only two cases of vulgarity and indecency on reality TV shows reported to Government in last two years

    NEW DELHI: Only two instances have come to the government over the past two years of vulgarity and indecency in reality shows on television, and both relate to Colors.

    Answering a question in Parliament today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley however ruled out any guideline to check such trends as he said “the existing provisions contained in the Programme and Advertising codes and the existing mechanism are considered adequate to regulate content including reality shows on TV channels”.

    In the first case relating to Bigg Boss Season-7, Colors had been issued an advisory on 26 March 2014 and a warning was issued on 8 January last year on the second case relating to “Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi-Dan Ka Blockbuster” when the channel was asked to run an apology scroll.

    The Minister said in reply to a question that the content telecast on private satellite TV channels including reality shows of different genres is regulated under the cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and cable Television Network Rules, 1994 framed there under. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of any programmes and advertisements telecast on such TV channels.

    However, it prescribes that all programmes and advertisements on such TV channels should be in conformity with the prescribed programme code and Advertising code enshrined in the Act and the rules framed there under, which contains a whole range of principles to be followed by these  channels including the reality shows carried thereon.

    He said the Government has set up Electronic Media Monitoring centre (EMMC) to review the content of private TV channels in the contest of violation(s) of programme and Advertising Codes.

    An Inter-Ministerial committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry to look into the specific complaints or suo-motu take cognizance against the violation of programme and Advertising codes and appropriate action is taken as per cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act’ 1995, if any violation if established.

    This Ministry also issues advisories to TV channels from time to time on various issues, which are also relevant to reality shows. These are available at Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.

    In addition,the  National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has formulated the ‘Guidelines for Media Reporting on children, which have been circulated by this Ministry among ail TV channels/NBA,/IBF on 23 November 2012. The guidelines lay down provisions to be followed by broadcasters/producers in case child participants are taken in their shows.

    Besides, as part of its self-regulating mechanism, Indian Broadcasting Foundation which is a representative body of non-news & current affairs TV channels, has set up the Broadcasting content Complaints Council (BCCC) headed by retired High Court judge Mukul Mudgal to examine complaints about television programmes. BCCC has also issued some Advisories on various issues related to reality shows to their member channels, which are available at their website i.e. www.ibfindia.com.

    The Programme code, inter-alia, provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which (i) offends against good taste or decency; (ii) contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths; and (iii) denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of a women, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent, or derogatory to women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals.

    Action is taken against defaulting channels whenever any violation of the said codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the Ministry.

  • Only two cases of vulgarity and indecency on reality TV shows reported to Government in last two years

    Only two cases of vulgarity and indecency on reality TV shows reported to Government in last two years

    NEW DELHI: Only two instances have come to the government over the past two years of vulgarity and indecency in reality shows on television, and both relate to Colors.

    Answering a question in Parliament today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley however ruled out any guideline to check such trends as he said “the existing provisions contained in the Programme and Advertising codes and the existing mechanism are considered adequate to regulate content including reality shows on TV channels”.

    In the first case relating to Bigg Boss Season-7, Colors had been issued an advisory on 26 March 2014 and a warning was issued on 8 January last year on the second case relating to “Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi-Dan Ka Blockbuster” when the channel was asked to run an apology scroll.

    The Minister said in reply to a question that the content telecast on private satellite TV channels including reality shows of different genres is regulated under the cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and cable Television Network Rules, 1994 framed there under. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of any programmes and advertisements telecast on such TV channels.

    However, it prescribes that all programmes and advertisements on such TV channels should be in conformity with the prescribed programme code and Advertising code enshrined in the Act and the rules framed there under, which contains a whole range of principles to be followed by these  channels including the reality shows carried thereon.

    He said the Government has set up Electronic Media Monitoring centre (EMMC) to review the content of private TV channels in the contest of violation(s) of programme and Advertising Codes.

    An Inter-Ministerial committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry to look into the specific complaints or suo-motu take cognizance against the violation of programme and Advertising codes and appropriate action is taken as per cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act’ 1995, if any violation if established.

    This Ministry also issues advisories to TV channels from time to time on various issues, which are also relevant to reality shows. These are available at Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.

    In addition,the  National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has formulated the ‘Guidelines for Media Reporting on children, which have been circulated by this Ministry among ail TV channels/NBA,/IBF on 23 November 2012. The guidelines lay down provisions to be followed by broadcasters/producers in case child participants are taken in their shows.

    Besides, as part of its self-regulating mechanism, Indian Broadcasting Foundation which is a representative body of non-news & current affairs TV channels, has set up the Broadcasting content Complaints Council (BCCC) headed by retired High Court judge Mukul Mudgal to examine complaints about television programmes. BCCC has also issued some Advisories on various issues related to reality shows to their member channels, which are available at their website i.e. www.ibfindia.com.

    The Programme code, inter-alia, provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which (i) offends against good taste or decency; (ii) contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths; and (iii) denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of a women, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent, or derogatory to women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals.

    Action is taken against defaulting channels whenever any violation of the said codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the Ministry.

  • Print ads get largest chunk from govt’s ad spends of Rs 842.8 crore till 29 February

    Print ads get largest chunk from govt’s ad spends of Rs 842.8 crore till 29 February

    New Delhi: A total of Rs 842.8 crore was spent by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity during 2015-16 for release of government advertisements on behalf of various central government ministries/departments, attached and subordinate Offices. Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, while informing that these figures were up to 29 February, added that the largest chunk of Rs 402.79 crore went into print media and the lowest chunk of 7.83 crore went into exhibitions.

    In a reply in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said today that a sum of Rs 353.31 crore went into the electronic media which includes private cable and satellite TV channels, FM radio, digital cinema, SMS, and internet. A sum of Rs 66.83 crore went into outdoor publicity, and Rs 12.13 crore was spent on print publicity.

    Breaking up spends on the print media further, Jaitley said, Rs 864,622,488 went into finance, Rs 313,042,627 in health and family welfare,  Rs 650,186,569 into information and broadcasting, Rs 236,255,392 into social justice and empowerment, Rs 153,758,926 into consumer affairs and food and public distribution, and Rs 109,740,171 into home affairs.

    In electronic media, the largest chunk went into publicizing drinking water supply (Rs 888,196,956), followed by Rs 518,201,180 on department of family welfare, tourism (Rs 438,717,736), income tax (Rs 27,504,845) and Rs 238,051,652 on information and broadcasting.

  • Print ads get largest chunk from govt’s ad spends of Rs 842.8 crore till 29 February

    Print ads get largest chunk from govt’s ad spends of Rs 842.8 crore till 29 February

    New Delhi: A total of Rs 842.8 crore was spent by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity during 2015-16 for release of government advertisements on behalf of various central government ministries/departments, attached and subordinate Offices. Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, while informing that these figures were up to 29 February, added that the largest chunk of Rs 402.79 crore went into print media and the lowest chunk of 7.83 crore went into exhibitions.

    In a reply in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said today that a sum of Rs 353.31 crore went into the electronic media which includes private cable and satellite TV channels, FM radio, digital cinema, SMS, and internet. A sum of Rs 66.83 crore went into outdoor publicity, and Rs 12.13 crore was spent on print publicity.

    Breaking up spends on the print media further, Jaitley said, Rs 864,622,488 went into finance, Rs 313,042,627 in health and family welfare,  Rs 650,186,569 into information and broadcasting, Rs 236,255,392 into social justice and empowerment, Rs 153,758,926 into consumer affairs and food and public distribution, and Rs 109,740,171 into home affairs.

    In electronic media, the largest chunk went into publicizing drinking water supply (Rs 888,196,956), followed by Rs 518,201,180 on department of family welfare, tourism (Rs 438,717,736), income tax (Rs 27,504,845) and Rs 238,051,652 on information and broadcasting.

  • Budget allocations for Digital India, northeast go up for Communication and Information Technology Ministry

    Budget allocations for Digital India, northeast go up for Communication and Information Technology Ministry

    New Delhi: The allocation for capital outlay on telecommunication and electronic industries is Rs 125 crore for the Departments of Telecommunications Communications and Information Technology (DeiTY), according to the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 29.

    While the capital outlay on telecommunication and electronic Industries has been sharply increased for the telecommunications department from Rs 16 crore in the revised budget of 2015-16 to Rs 80 crore for 2016-17, it had been cut from Rs 69 crore in the revised estimates of the DeiTY for 2015-16 to Rs 45 crore for 2016-17.

    Interestingly, this works against the interests of the broadcasting industry, since set top boxes, antennae, headends and other equipment would fall under the DeiTY’ help to public or private industry under the head of  ‘capital outlay on telecommunication and electronic Industries.’

    The total budgetary outlay for the Telecommunication Department is Rs 21214.66 crore, while it is Rs 3328.82 crore for DeiTY for 2016-17

    Under Digital India programme, there are separate allocations for the Manpower Development Programme to ensure availability of trained human resources; Electronics Governance to deliver all Government services electronically to the citizens in his/her locality through integrated and inter-operable systems via multiple modes, while ensuring efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services at affordable costs; the National Knowledge Network with multiple gigabit bandwidth to connect Knowledge Institutions across the country; Promotion of Electronics/IT Hardware Manufacturing;  R&D in IT/Electronics/CCBT; and Foreign Trade and Export Promotion to reimburse Central Sales Tax to Electronics Hardware Technology Parks (EHTP) and Software Technology Park (STP) units.

  • Budget allocations for Digital India, northeast go up for Communication and Information Technology Ministry

    Budget allocations for Digital India, northeast go up for Communication and Information Technology Ministry

    New Delhi: The allocation for capital outlay on telecommunication and electronic industries is Rs 125 crore for the Departments of Telecommunications Communications and Information Technology (DeiTY), according to the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 29.

    While the capital outlay on telecommunication and electronic Industries has been sharply increased for the telecommunications department from Rs 16 crore in the revised budget of 2015-16 to Rs 80 crore for 2016-17, it had been cut from Rs 69 crore in the revised estimates of the DeiTY for 2015-16 to Rs 45 crore for 2016-17.

    Interestingly, this works against the interests of the broadcasting industry, since set top boxes, antennae, headends and other equipment would fall under the DeiTY’ help to public or private industry under the head of  ‘capital outlay on telecommunication and electronic Industries.’

    The total budgetary outlay for the Telecommunication Department is Rs 21214.66 crore, while it is Rs 3328.82 crore for DeiTY for 2016-17

    Under Digital India programme, there are separate allocations for the Manpower Development Programme to ensure availability of trained human resources; Electronics Governance to deliver all Government services electronically to the citizens in his/her locality through integrated and inter-operable systems via multiple modes, while ensuring efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services at affordable costs; the National Knowledge Network with multiple gigabit bandwidth to connect Knowledge Institutions across the country; Promotion of Electronics/IT Hardware Manufacturing;  R&D in IT/Electronics/CCBT; and Foreign Trade and Export Promotion to reimburse Central Sales Tax to Electronics Hardware Technology Parks (EHTP) and Software Technology Park (STP) units.

  • Prasar Bharati’s grants-in-aid gets substantial increase, first-time separate allocation for strengthening broadcast services

    Prasar Bharati’s grants-in-aid gets substantial increase, first-time separate allocation for strengthening broadcast services

    NEW DELHI: The grants-in-aid for Prasar Bharati have gone up again for the third time over the last few years from the revised estimates of Rs 2708.29 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 3056.86 for 2016-17.

    In addition, there is a grant-in-aid of Rs 52 crore to Doordarshan’s Kisan Channel, which is double that of aid last year.

    In addition, there is an investment of Rs 200 crore in the pubcaster, which is the same as last year. Though the previous government had stopped investments in the pubcaster, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had re-introduced this in 2015-16 after a gap of two years. 

    An explanatory note says the grants-in-aid is being provided to cover the gap in resources of Prasar Bharati in meeting its revenue expenditure.

    The grant in aid for Prasar Bharati in 2015-16 was Rs 2824.55 crore for 2015-16, apart from the grant-in-aid of Rs 26.26 crore in the revised estimates (as against the budgetary allocation of Rs 45 crore) on Kisan Channel.

    Expenditure on salaries of Prasar Bharati has fallen on the shoulders of the Government since all Prasar Bharati employees who were in employment as on 5 October, 2007 have been given deemed deputation status.

    The total budget of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been raised to Rs 4083.63 crore, which is a small raise in comparison to Rs 3711.11 crore for 2015-16, though the revised estimates for the year show an expenditure of Rs 3588.58 crore. 

    A major effort this year was to reduce the number of heads under which allocations have been made over the years. For example, there are no separate allocation for film certification or Press Information Services as in previous years.

    Interestingly, there is a separate allocation of Rs 30.83 crore for strengthening of broadcasting services, which includes Rs 28.83 on information and publicity and the balance on building and machinery. This provides for Electronic Media Monitoring Centre, contribution to the Asian Institute of Broadcasting Development, Community Radio movement in India, Digitalisation, Building and Machinery and private FM Radio Stations.

    The allocation under ‘Secretariat – Social services’ has been cut down to Rs 70.32 crore as against the budgetary allocation of Rs 235.23 crore in 2015-16 as the revised estimates show an expenditure of just Rs 91.44 crore. The explanatory note says that from 2016-17, this covers the expenditure under Non-Plan activities only which includes provision for Main Secretariat and Principal Accounts office.

    The allocation for the film sector has been raised to Rs 268.53 crore and covers art and culture, information and publicity, which takes the maximum share of Rs 213.64 crore. Subjects under this head include the National Film Heritage Mission, anti-piracy measures, promotion of Indian cinema overseas, production of films and documentaries, and setting up a centre of excellence for animation, gaming and visual effects. The explanatory note adds that Secretariat – Social services also covers expenses on development of community radio, and development support to the north-east as well as Jammu and Kashmir and ‘other identified areas.’

    Thus, there is an allocation of Rs 33.31 crore for Mass Communications, which covers (a) Indian Institute of Mass Communication, an autonomous body, which imparts training in mass media and conducts courses in journalism, and (b) New Media Wing, which collects basic information on subjects of media interest for providing assistance to the Ministry and to its Media Units, Indian Missions abroad and newspapers and media agencies.

    There is another provision of Rs 491.78 crore, which includes expenditure (a) Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity – for planning and executing publicity campaigns through advertising and other printed materials, as well as through Radio and Televisions, exhibitions and other outdoor publicity media; (b) Press Information Bureau – which serves as a link between the Government and the Press and attends to the publicity and public relations requirements of various Ministries/Departments, including grants to Press Council of India, a statutory organisations seeking to preserve press; (c) Field Publicity – covering expenditure of Directorate of Field Publicity and its district level field units engaged in inter-personal developmental communications through films shows, live media programmes, photo displays and seminars; (d) Song and Drama Division – for creating awareness amongst the masses, particularly in rural areas, about various activities of national developments of units spread all over the country; (e) Publications – for publishing priced books, journals and other printed material in English, Hindi and regional languages on a wide variety of subjects and ‘Employment News/Rozgar Samachar;’ (f) Information Wing Plan Schemes – for training, international media programme, Policy related studies etc.; and (g) Photo Division.

    For the seventh year in a row, the government has not announced any investment in the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

    There is a marginal increase in the lump sum provision for projects/schemes for development of North-eastern areas including Sikkim to Rs 80 crore against Rs 75 crore last year.

  • Prasar Bharati’s grants-in-aid gets substantial increase, first-time separate allocation for strengthening broadcast services

    Prasar Bharati’s grants-in-aid gets substantial increase, first-time separate allocation for strengthening broadcast services

    NEW DELHI: The grants-in-aid for Prasar Bharati have gone up again for the third time over the last few years from the revised estimates of Rs 2708.29 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 3056.86 for 2016-17.

    In addition, there is a grant-in-aid of Rs 52 crore to Doordarshan’s Kisan Channel, which is double that of aid last year.

    In addition, there is an investment of Rs 200 crore in the pubcaster, which is the same as last year. Though the previous government had stopped investments in the pubcaster, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had re-introduced this in 2015-16 after a gap of two years. 

    An explanatory note says the grants-in-aid is being provided to cover the gap in resources of Prasar Bharati in meeting its revenue expenditure.

    The grant in aid for Prasar Bharati in 2015-16 was Rs 2824.55 crore for 2015-16, apart from the grant-in-aid of Rs 26.26 crore in the revised estimates (as against the budgetary allocation of Rs 45 crore) on Kisan Channel.

    Expenditure on salaries of Prasar Bharati has fallen on the shoulders of the Government since all Prasar Bharati employees who were in employment as on 5 October, 2007 have been given deemed deputation status.

    The total budget of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been raised to Rs 4083.63 crore, which is a small raise in comparison to Rs 3711.11 crore for 2015-16, though the revised estimates for the year show an expenditure of Rs 3588.58 crore. 

    A major effort this year was to reduce the number of heads under which allocations have been made over the years. For example, there are no separate allocation for film certification or Press Information Services as in previous years.

    Interestingly, there is a separate allocation of Rs 30.83 crore for strengthening of broadcasting services, which includes Rs 28.83 on information and publicity and the balance on building and machinery. This provides for Electronic Media Monitoring Centre, contribution to the Asian Institute of Broadcasting Development, Community Radio movement in India, Digitalisation, Building and Machinery and private FM Radio Stations.

    The allocation under ‘Secretariat – Social services’ has been cut down to Rs 70.32 crore as against the budgetary allocation of Rs 235.23 crore in 2015-16 as the revised estimates show an expenditure of just Rs 91.44 crore. The explanatory note says that from 2016-17, this covers the expenditure under Non-Plan activities only which includes provision for Main Secretariat and Principal Accounts office.

    The allocation for the film sector has been raised to Rs 268.53 crore and covers art and culture, information and publicity, which takes the maximum share of Rs 213.64 crore. Subjects under this head include the National Film Heritage Mission, anti-piracy measures, promotion of Indian cinema overseas, production of films and documentaries, and setting up a centre of excellence for animation, gaming and visual effects. The explanatory note adds that Secretariat – Social services also covers expenses on development of community radio, and development support to the north-east as well as Jammu and Kashmir and ‘other identified areas.’

    Thus, there is an allocation of Rs 33.31 crore for Mass Communications, which covers (a) Indian Institute of Mass Communication, an autonomous body, which imparts training in mass media and conducts courses in journalism, and (b) New Media Wing, which collects basic information on subjects of media interest for providing assistance to the Ministry and to its Media Units, Indian Missions abroad and newspapers and media agencies.

    There is another provision of Rs 491.78 crore, which includes expenditure (a) Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity – for planning and executing publicity campaigns through advertising and other printed materials, as well as through Radio and Televisions, exhibitions and other outdoor publicity media; (b) Press Information Bureau – which serves as a link between the Government and the Press and attends to the publicity and public relations requirements of various Ministries/Departments, including grants to Press Council of India, a statutory organisations seeking to preserve press; (c) Field Publicity – covering expenditure of Directorate of Field Publicity and its district level field units engaged in inter-personal developmental communications through films shows, live media programmes, photo displays and seminars; (d) Song and Drama Division – for creating awareness amongst the masses, particularly in rural areas, about various activities of national developments of units spread all over the country; (e) Publications – for publishing priced books, journals and other printed material in English, Hindi and regional languages on a wide variety of subjects and ‘Employment News/Rozgar Samachar;’ (f) Information Wing Plan Schemes – for training, international media programme, Policy related studies etc.; and (g) Photo Division.

    For the seventh year in a row, the government has not announced any investment in the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

    There is a marginal increase in the lump sum provision for projects/schemes for development of North-eastern areas including Sikkim to Rs 80 crore against Rs 75 crore last year.

  • Mobile & computer prices may be affected with withdrawal of special additional duty

    Mobile & computer prices may be affected with withdrawal of special additional duty

    NEW DELHI: The Union Budget for 2016-17 is expected to result in raising the prices of mobile phones as well as personal computers.

    In his budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the exemption from basic customs duty, CV duty, Special Additional Duty on charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers for manufacture of mobile phone was being withdrawn and vary between four to 12.5 per cent.

    But inputs, parts and components, subparts for manufacture of charger / adapter, battery and wired headsets /speakers, of mobile phone, subject to actual user condition was being exempted.

    The exemption from Special Additional Duty (SAD) on populated PCBs for manufacture of personal computers (laptop or desktop) was being withdrawn and would go up to four per cent.

    The exemption from SAD on populated PCBs of mobile phone/tablet computer being withdrawn and the concessional SAD on populated PCBs for manufacture of mobile phone/tablet computer was being imposed at two per cent.

    The Excise duty structure on domestically manufactured charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers for supply to mobile phone manufacturers as original equipment manufacturer has been changed and will be between two to 12.5 per cent.

    At the same time, the excise duty on inputs, parts and components, subparts for manufacture of charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers of mobile phone, subject to actual user condition have being exempted from 12.5 per cent at present.

    Specified telecommunication equipment [Soft switches and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) equipment namely VoIP phones, media gateways, gateway Product/Switch (POTP/POTS), Optical controllers and session border controllers, Optical Transport equipment; combination of one / more of Packet Optical Transport Network(OTN) products, and IP Radios, Carrier Ethernet Switch, Packet Transport Node (PTN) products, Multiprotocol Label Switching- Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) products, Multiple Input / Multiple Output (MIMO) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) Products on which 10 per cent Basic Customs Duty was imposed in 2014-15 Budget has been excluded from the purview of the other exemptions also and goes up to 10 per cent.

    The Basic Customs Duty exemption on preform of silica for manufacture of telecom grade optical fibre /cables has been withdrawn and will be 10 per cent.

    The Minister said the assignment by the Government of the right to use the radio-frequency spectrum and its subsequent transfers being declared as a service so as to make it clear that assignment of right to use the spectrum is a service leviable to service tax and not sale of intangible goods, with effect from date of enforcement of Finance Bill, 2016. It will therefore be 14 per cent.