World Trade Organization Organisation Mondiale du Commerce Organización Mundial del Comercio

Reply: As estimated in 2006, the number of worker members of central trade unions and state trade unions was around 12 lakh and 77 lakh, respectively.

Conventions No. 87 and 98 are yet to be ratified due to conflicts with existing domestic laws and Constitutional provisions.

WTO Secretariat's report, page 6, para.12

It is mentioned that data from the Planning Commission show that 27.5% of the population lived under the poverty line in 2004/05, down from 36% in 1993/94. However, a 2009 study by an expert group, found a 37.2% poverty ratio for 2004/05. It is stated that although these levels are considerably below those of a decade ago, there is still a large number of poor, especially in the rural areas.

8. 
   What is the presumed reason for the large difference in data for 2004/2005 given by the Planning Commission and the expert group? On which basis is it concluded that poverty levels are considerably below those of a decade ago since the expert group study found that they did not change in years 1993/94   2004/05?
   

Reply: The expert group under the Chairmanship of Shri Suresh Tendulkar was constituted in 2009 to re examine the poverty estimates. The expert group recommended that the rural poverty line should be recomputed to reflect money value in rural areas of the same basket of consumption that is associated with the existing urban poverty ratio. The expert group recalibrated the rural poverty line in all States, which increases the population counted below the new poverty line. This explains the difference in data for 2004/2005 given by the Planning Commission and the expert group. As such, Planning Commission estimates and the expert group estimates cannot be compared with each other due to different ways of computing rural poverty.

(5) BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

WTO Secretariat's report, page 12 13

India continues to use both capital and current account controls, which are not contained in the reports.

9. 
   Could India provide an overview of these conditions, including on free repatriation of profits and divestment of FDI (as referred to in paragraph 38 of Secretariats report) and its plans for future, if any?
   

Reply: India is fully convertible on the current account since 1994. However certain quantitative restrictions have been placed on small list of current account transactions. Repatriation of profits in the form of dividend payments on foreign investments in India are treated as current account transactions and as such there are no restrictions on remittance of the same subject to payment of applicable taxes and tax laws in the matter. As regards capital account convertibility, India has followed a gradualist approach and capital controls are being liberalized in a calibrated manner. Foreign investment under the foreign direct investment (FDI) route is very liberal wherein FDI is allowed in almost all sectors (barring a few sensitive sectors) under the 100% automatic route for FDI (subject to the reporting requirements, pricing guidelines and other terms and conditions stipulated under the relevant FEMA regulations). Further transfer of shares under the FDI scheme from non residents to residents or divestment of shares/FDI investment by non resident investors is also under the automatic route subject to the respective reporting requirements, pricing guidelines and other relevant terms and conditions under the extant FEMA regulations.

II. TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES

(2) TRADE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

WTO Secretariat's report, page 24, para. 14

10. 
    Would India explain what – if anything   it is doing to help its producers:
    

1. 
   Produce goods which are environmental and socially sustainable
   
2. 
   Access niche markets overseas through adherence to voluntary sustainability standards (for example, Fair Trade, UTZ Certified, Global G.A.P.)?
   

Reply: There is no internationally agreed definition of environmental goods (EGs), nor are there any agreed criteria for their classification. Given the challenges in defining and classifying these goods, there has been lack of convergence amongst WTO Members in defining or developing modalities for identification of environmental goods.

To increase consumer awareness, the MoEF, Government of India launched the voluntary eco labeling scheme known as "Ecomark" in 1991 vide Notification No. GSR 85(E) dated 20 February, 2011 for easy identification of environment friendly products. Any product which is made, used or disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the harm it would otherwise cause the environment could be considered as environment friendly product. The specific objectives of the scheme are as follows:

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