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GVK Reddy shares his thoughts on the India-UAE trade agreement

India and the United Arab Emirates have committed to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, resulting in the creation of millions of new jobs. The two countries’ complete free trade agreement is expected to benefit around USD 26 billion in domestic products such as diamonds and jewellery, which are currently subject to a 5 per cent import fee by the Gulf country. GVK Reddy agrees with the broad contours of the agreement and fervently elaborates how it will fulfil the aim of increasing bilateral merchandise trade in the coming years.
On February 18th, 2022, India and the United Arab Emirates signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Pact, or CEPA, marking the Indian government’s first free trade pact since 2014. GVK Reddy informs,
“The deal was completed in a record-breaking 88 days, and it will go into effect in May, 2022. Between the two countries, non-oil trade will more than double in five years from $45 billion in 2021 to $100 billion.”
The CEPA between India and the United Arab Emirates is the nation’s first major trade deal in more than a decade. Before that, India signed a landmark free trade agreement with Japan. “It is the first in a series of free trade agreements that India is negotiating in order to increase its goods and services exports to $1 trillion by 2030. Free trade agreements with the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel, Australia, and Canada are also being pursued by India,” notes GVK Reddy.
Elaborating on the agreement, GVK Reddy informs that the UAE will lower rates on 80 per cent of its tariff lines, which account for 90 per cent of India’s value-added exports to the UAE, under the conditions of the agreement. This is particularly important for exports in highly competitive categories such as textiles and clothing, where India’s exporters have hitherto been at a competitive disadvantage due to import obstacles. Also, GVK Reddy points out that Indian textile and leather exports to the UAE now face a 5 per cent levy, whilst competitors’ products from Vietnam and Bangladesh are duty-free. Over the next 5-10 years, India’s zero-tariff access to the UAE will expand to 97 per cent of UAE tariff lines, corresponding to 99 per cent of India’s exports by value.
Additionally, footwear, sports goods, engineering goods, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals, are all predicted to gain ground. The pact, which is due to go into force in the first week of May 2022, is expected to generate an additional one million jobs in India.
Notably, India has left several commodities out of the agreement, citing a sensitive list of products that account for 10 per cent of tariff lines that are completely exempt.
“Dairy, fruits, vegetables, cereals, tea, coffee, sugar, culinary preparations, cigarettes, toys, plastics, scrap aluminium, and copper are among the items that are excluded from the agreement. Other areas which were left out of the agreement are those where domestic production has increased fast or where the government is rewarding manufacturing through production-linked incentive schemes,”
-cites GVK Reddy.
For the first time, India included a chapter on digital trade in the India-UAE CEPA, signalling the nation’s willingness to pursue this area in bilateral agreements. India has consistently refused to engage in WTO e-commerce discussions, citing concerns that WTO-proposed e-commerce standards would stifle domestic trade. In order to harmonise regulatory requirements for managing digital trade between India and the UAE, constant communication between regulatory organisations on both sides will be maintained.
Overall, the India–UAE CEPA appears to support the present government’s efforts to promote exports. If properly implemented, it will be a valuable tool in the hands of Indian industry, which is familiar with the UAE and, by extension, the Gulf. It also demonstrates a level of consistency in India’s attitude on trade issues such as intellectual property rights and digital trade, which might create roadblocks in India’s ongoing negotiations with the EU and the UK. Meanwhile, the India–UAE CEPA aims to reduce political risk and uncertainty between two significant trading partners.
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From 2 stitching machines to supplying to 500 stores worldwide: The success story of Dressline
Dressline is a family business that was started by three brothers whose father was from the same industry.

There’s no doubt that a woman looks most beautiful in a saree. But, when it comes to looking good, you should be comfortable with what you are wearing. This is where Indian ethnic wear like the salwar kameez wins over a saree. It’s here that Mumbai, Maharashtra-based, Dressline enters the picture with its vast range of Indian ethnic wear, including the salwar kameez. Through its unique variety of beautiful garments, the company primarily aims to make its customers feel good and comfortable while looking their best whenever they want to.
The journey
Dressline is a family business that was started by three brothers whose father was from the same industry. The business has come a long way from its beginnings as a manufacturer & wholesaler. The venture that started with just 2 stitching machines has now grown to over 500 stores worldwide during its 34 years journey. The 3rd generation of the family is also actively involved in growing the company that was founded in 1989.
Even in this modern age, the saree is seen as the ultimate garment that brings out the beauty of an Indian woman. But, it can restrict your freedom of movement, stopping you from fully enjoying a festival or party. This is where the salwar kameez can help you carry yourself with dignity while looking pretty simultaneously. Unlike the saree, you can dress up in a salwar kameez whenever you want to. You can wear it for a vast range of events like a party, birthday function, wedding, festival, or even to your office. Dressline understood the need for comfortable clothing when it started designing and making the salwar kameez at a time when saris were the only staple choice for women in the country. The company also understood its customer’s demand when it started making kurti, midi, and pant tops a decade ago.
The Dressline range of ethnic wear now includes Kurta sets, coordinated sets, and tunic sets. They also design and make beautiful bridal wear like the lehenga choli.
Partners in the business include Bipin Ramniklal Vira and his brothers Rajesh Ramniklal Vira and Jayesh Ramniklal Vira.
The eldest brother of all three, Bipin Ramniklal Vira, is a creative person who remains humble in spite of what Dressline has achieved since it started. He is the Chief Designer behind Dressline products who handle design & fabrics.
The second brother, Rajesh Ramniklal Vira, manages the marketing & sales of Dressline. He is a smart businessman who is persuasive.
Jayesh Ramniklal Vira is the youngest of all three brothers. He manages the key functions of finance & manufacturing operations in the company.
When the three brothers first launched Dressline, their passion for creating elegant and plush Indian ethnic wear at affordable prices drove them to step into the world of retailing. With expertise in regular wear, the business spread to .franchise stores in Pune, Solapur, and Pondicherry. Dressline currently supplies more than 500 retail stores across the world and is a proud owner of 4 flagship stores in Mumbai. The business growth motivated the founders to turn their hard work and inspiration into an online store that is now booming.
Achievements
Apart from the love it has received from its loyal customers worldwide, Dressline has received recognition from The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India (CMAI), which has been the pioneer and most representative Association of the Indian apparel industry for over five decades. The year Dressline hits its 25th year, the brand added another feather to its cap by winning an award for ‘The Most Admired Women’s Wear Brand’ at CMAI’s Apex Awards, 2015.’
The company also won the prestigious Mid-Day Int. Iconic Designer Wear for Women’s Clothing Award in 2022.
Among the biggest achievements that Dressline treasures are the love and trust that it has received from its customers in the 3 decades since it started. This is what encouraged the company to expand online after operating successfully offline. Apart from the Dressline shops, where you will get excellent service, you can also order your choice of ethnic wear from DRESSLINE’s online store: at https://dresslinefashion.com/
Future Plans
In spite of what it has achieved, the founders of Dressline do not want to rest on its laurels. The business now aims to grow as a brand each day and keep adapting to evolving trends with passion & consistency through its products. Dressline now aims to expand and strengthen its customer base through its Flagship Stores, Franchise Stores, and Shop-In-Shop Retail after supplying over 500 stores countrywide since it started.
Dressline has faced its own share of challenges since it started. But after the success it has achieved, the business considers its biggest strength to be the loyalty of its customers and the support of its team, who have always believed in the company.
The company says, “The support our customers and team have shown over the years has led to the success of Dressline. It is absolutely thrilling to present our native Indian aesthetics to people all over the world. Not only do we specialize in cotton wear (cultivated in India), our embroideries reflect superior quality workmanship. In the coming years, we look forward to reaching out to more people through both online and offline platforms, ensuring unmatched quality and consumer satisfaction. All we hope is that you enjoy our products as much as we enjoy offering them to you. So keep the love coming!” www.dresslinefashion.com
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Gaming Operators in Mature Economies Face High Expectations to be Responsible
Two Thirds of Players Demand Social Responsibility from Games

In 2021, Accenture, a Fortune Global 500 Irish-American company for IT services and consultancy, conducted a survey across four major gaming markets – China, Japan, US, and UK, and established that two thirds of players would rather play socially responsible games than games that have no connection to a socially significant cause.
Out of 4,000 survey respondents, 39 percent agreed and 27 percent completely agreed with the statement that they were more likely to play a game if it was socially responsible, making it a total of 66 percent positive answers.
A quarter or 26 percent of participants answered neutrally, while 5 percent disagreed and 3 percent completely disagreed that the social responsibility factor would play any role in their choice of games.
As a whole, the social aspect of online gaming has gained prominence during the pandemic, the Accenture survey observes, with 74 percent of people admitting that Covid-19 has caused more of their social interactions to be conducted through gaming.
Video games help players connect with others with similar interests according to 84 percent of respondents, 80 percent said games help them meet new people, and 77 percent answered that games help them stay in touch with friends.
Social Responsibility and Responsible Gaming
The findings by Accenture and other research teams were recently examined in the broader context of responsible gaming policies by a study published at https://www.sevenjackpots.com/ and titled “What is a Responsible Gaming Policy? Methods, Tools, and Achievements”.
“In the past decade, Responsible gaming (RG) has become a cornerstone principle of the real-money gaming industry. Mature tech markets and well-regulated gambling jurisdictions have consumers who expect RG practices from operators. The gaming industry itself seeks to demonstrate its reliability and social responsibility even when there are no specific requirements by gambling regulators,” the researchers at SevenJackpots write.
Mature and regulated gambling markets typically report that between 0.5 and 3.3 percent of adults who play show signs of problem gaming behaviour. A common misconception is that responsible gaming policies are intended only for these vulnerable players.
In fact, besides treating already existing problems and disorders, RG policies focus on prevention and mitigation measures, including awareness and education campaigns. “Thus, effective RG policies create risk awareness, safely deliver games and provide support services to those in need – in that order,” the authors point out.
Financial Limits and Reality Checks are the Most Used RG Tools in the UK
A survey conducted in 2000 with 8,000 participants in Great Britain has concluded that financial limits and reality checks are the most used responsible gambling tools in the UK, with the former having been employed by 8 percent of respondents, and the latter – by 5 percent.
At the same time, financial limits (51 percent), time outs (41 percent), and payment card blocking with the player’s bank (38 percent) are the tools that enjoy the highest awareness among British gamblers.
Responsible gambling tools including self-exclusion measures are most likely to be used by younger gamers (in the 18 to 34 age group), online gamblers and engaged gamblers.
Other data quoted by the SevenJackpots study shows that 80,000 people in Sweden have used self-exclusion tools, which is a full 1 percent of the country’s whole adult population of 8 million.
Shifting the focus to India and its emerging online gambling market, the authors conclude that “a framework regulation can ensure the integrity of the industry as well as the legitimacy of domestic operations. With RG as a guiding principle, lawmakers could justify online gaming as a healthy sector to provide jobs and increase tax revenues while protecting consumers.”
“Even more relevantly, a transparent and ethical gaming industry generates the necessary public funding for authorities to monitor and control the market,” the research team highlights.
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YES WORLD inspires everyone to SAVE EARTH with major event in New Delhi
YES WORLD Co-founder Amit Tiwari, informed the community members that it’s a great moment to be associated with the YES WORLD community and together we stand determined to make everyone aware of the impacts of global warming and how it poses an existential threat the mankind.

New Delhi, March 11: Save Earth company YES WORLD Climate Tech conducted a major event to generate the much-required awareness about climate change emergency through its SAVE EARTH MISSION on the ground. The event was held at the Constitutional Club of India, New Delhi was attended by SAVE EARTH Activist Sandeep Choudhary and top mission members from across India. The first major outreach program under SAVE EARTH MISSION was entirely focused on the kickoff of global awareness events towards the impacts of global warming.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda presided the event over as chief guest while Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was present at the event. The event was attended by several government officials, environmental and social activists, and a large number of volunteers willing to learn about the right actions to save Earth from the global warming crisis.
Union Minister Munda said the event and the content is an absolute eye-opener and encouraged everyone to take charge of their carbon footprint, both on an individual level and community level. It is paramount for everyone to understand how their individual lifestyle and daily activities impact the environment and once that’s discovered, empowered community members with the right information and framework, will be able to take meaningful actions toward the reduction of carbon emissions from Earth’s atmosphere, he said.
One major theme of the event revolved around children taking more active participation in climate actions. With increased awareness about global warming at the school level and through extracurricular activities, the younger generation feels frustrated that the elders are not doing much to have a livable environment for them in the coming decades. And they will have to act themselves without having to wait for others to start.
While speaking during the event, YES WORLD promoter Sandeep Choudhary said that a community-driven bottom-up approach is the only path forward to make climate actions meaningful. He said India is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the environment, and hence India will have to participate in the world’s biggest problem at the same magnitude. He added that we are the first and last generation to feel the heat of global warming and if we don’t act now, there will not be any opportunity window left for us to act in the future. So, it’s paramount that we announce global warming as a global emergency and start acting now with a common goal to leave this planet better than that what we got, Choudhary said.
YES WORLD’s SAVE EARTH MISSION got a more mainstream acknowledgement after this event. YES WORLD Co-founder Amit Tiwari, informed the community members that it’s a great moment to be associated with the YES WORLD community and together we stand determined to make everyone aware of the impacts of global warming and how it poses an existential threat the mankind. Tiwari added that YES WORLD community empowers people with the right information and inspires them to take the right climate actions towards sustainability. He also said such events will continue to take place in various parts of India in the coming months to democratize carbon reduction activities on the community level under SAVE EARTH MISSION
As a climate tech company, YES WORLD is on the world’s biggest mission to SAVE EARTH and works towards the solution. YES WORLD is among very few organizations with tangible offerings towards solving the global warming crisis. Last month, YES WORLD launched the world’s first Energy Efficient Windows Solution for home and commercial buildings which is a product line of specialized glass perfect for larger windows and glass façade. The specialized glass solution includes double pane glass and sandwich glass which has a layer of a patented material that reflects 85% solar radiant heat as well as blocks 92% of UV rays from entering the building. The energy-efficient glass is a see-through windows solution that blocks most of the solar heat from entering the building and significantly reduces the energy consumption in terms of HVAC load.
YES WORLD and SAVE EARTH MISSION is promoted by SAVE EARTH activist Sandeep Choudhary, whose path-breaking achievements as an entrepreneur and thoughtful initiatives as a Save Earth activist have been recognized by the government and several national and international agencies. Choudhary left behind his co-founded VC-backed multi-million-dollar business to work on the noble mission of saving Earth from global warming.
Under Choudhary’s vision and leadership, YES WORLD has championed a noble cause of reducing carbon footprint and bringing forth the issue of global warming and climate change. For years, Sandeep Choudhary has been a part of several initiatives that have worked towards making the world a greener and healthier place for its inhabitants.
Through his climate tech startup and strong community behind the world’s largest movement, he is taking his efforts towards protecting Mother Earth. Sandeep Choudhary’s official verified
Twitter handle is https://twitter.com/sandeep4earth
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