SUBSIDIES

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS POSED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM[1] REGARDING
THE NEW AND FULL SUBSIDY NOTIFICATION OF INDIA[2]

The following communication, dated and received on 28 April 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of India.

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Question 1

SCHEMES RELATED TO "MAKE IN INDIA" INITIATIVE

Could India kindly clarify whether its notified subsidy programmes (central and state level) are benefiting from the "Make In India" initiative and could India please share any assessments it has made on whether incentives provided under "Make In India" constitute notifiable subsidies under Article 25 of the SCM Agreement?

Response: "Make in India" is not a subsidy programme but an initiative to encourage manufacturing activity in India by focussing on processes, infrastructure, sectors and government Industry partnership.

Question 2

FISH SUBSIDIES

The United Kingdom notes that subsidies related to fish do not appear to be included in this notification. In previous notifications, this information has typically been provided as a separate addendum. Could India please clarify whether it will provide information on notifiable fish subsidies under Article 25 of the SCM Agreement as an addendum?

Response: Yes, India will be providing information on notifiable subsidies for fishing or fishing related activities in due course.

Question 3

SCHEMES AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL

Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semi-Conductor (SPECS).

a)_        Could India please clarify if there is a published or accessible list of electronic goods?

b)_        Could India please clarify the criteria used to identify the goods and determine eligibility for this scheme, including the sectors, activities, and types of firms covered?

Response:

These electronic goods are identified by HSN codes. Eligibility requirements vary from programme to programme.

Question 4

SCHEMES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT

Scheme for Incentive to Industries.

Could India please clarify the eligibility criteria for this scheme, including which sectors, activities and types of firms are eligible?

Response:

This scheme applies horizontally to all new and existing industrial units engaged in manufacturing activities, with the exception of certain categories such as tobacco products, firewood, and charcoal.

Question 5

SCHEMES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA

SGST Reimbursement Scheme.

Could India please clarify which are considered priority sectors?

Response:

Non-mineral-based new industrial units in specified underdeveloped districts in the State.

Question 6

SCHEMES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB

Power Subsidy scheme.

a)_        Could India please clarify the eligibility criteria for this scheme, including activities and types of firms are eligible?

b)_        Could India please clarify whether this is it limited to agriculture sector or does it include other sectors?

c)_        Could India please clarify how these grants are being provided?

Response:

Besides agriculture this scheme also covers industrial sectors and domestic household in the state with concessional electricity tariff rate for respective sectors.

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