Collection of statistics related to international trade of services

Dated October 1st, 2015 | Copy of | Notification Sl.36 dt. 30/09/15 |

In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3 and 4 of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 (7 of 2009) read with rules 5 and 7 of the Collection of Statistics Rules, 2011, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India hereby-

(i) directs collection of statistics from an individual or a firm or a co-operative society or a company or a society or any association recognised or registered under any law for the time being in force which is engaged in foreign trade (export and import), whether directly or by affiliates, including related information necessary for assessing the impact of such trade as per the details mentioned in Schedule- I appended to this notification;

(ii) appoints Shri Amitabha Pradhan, Deputy Director General as Statistics Officer, as detailed in Schedule-II of this notification, to exercise all or any of the powers under the said Act;

(iii) delegates to the Statistics Officer under this notification, all the powers of the Central Government conferred on it under sub-section (5) of section 4 of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 for the purpose of collection of statistics under this notification, namely, the particulars required or the interval within which, and the statistics officer to whom, the statistical information by informants shall be furnished; and

(iv) delegates to the Statistics Officer, powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 4 of Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, i.e., the powers of appointing agencies or persons working in such agencies or employing on contract basis any agency or company or organisation or association of person conferred on it by sub-sections (2) and (3) of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 within the geographical unit for which such statistics officers are appointed.

SCHEDULE-I

1. Subject and purpose for collection of Statistics:- Statistics related to international trade (exports and imports) of services in the areas of Information Technology & Information Technology enabled Services, Telecommunication, Medical and Healthcare, Professional, Logistics, Education, Insurance, Audio-visual, Financial etc., in order to examine the overall pattern of trade flows in India’s services; analyse the major export and import of services as per the four modes under General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) framework; analyse the pattern of receipts and payments from trade in services as per the four modes under GATS; analyse the direction of export and import of trade in services at country and regional level; estimate and analyse the employment pattern of personnel engaged in trade in various services; identify the barriers to trade in services at country level and in different categories of services provided etc.

2. Geographical area for collection of statistics:-

The collection of statistics shall be applicable to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

3. Method of data collection:-

The collection of statistics shall be through quarterly or half-yearly or annual returns. The formats and manner (including oral interviews or filing of returns electronically) shall be prescribed by the Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics in consultation with the Department of Commerce and shall be notified to the informants either individually or through mass media.

4. Nature of informants from whom data may be collected:-

The quarterly or half-yearly or annual returns shall be made available by every informant which includes a owner or occupier or person in-charge or his authorised representative in respect of persons or a firm registered under the Partnership Act, 1932 or a co-operative society registered under any Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 or a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or any association recognised or registered under any law for the time being in force.

5. Period during which collection of statistics may be completed:-

The period during which information is to be supplied shall be indicated in the notice served to the informant. Generally, in case of quarterly or half-yearly return, the same shall be completed within one month and for annual returns within two months.

6. Reference Period:-

Information is required to be furnished in the form of returns for quarter, half-year or annual (financial year or calendar year), as the case may be.

7. Nature of Information to be collected:-

The information collected shall mainly relate to category of services exported and imported as well as value of exports and imports of services as per the four modes under General Agreement on Trade in Services and by partner country, employment, foreign investment (both inward and outward), barriers to trade and other related subjects required for the purposes as mentioned in paragraph I of this Schedule.

8. Language in which information is to be furnished by informants:-

An informant shall furnish information in the prescribed format only in English.

9. Obligation of Informant:-

The informant shall furnish information in the manner and by the date as prescribed by the Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics. He shall also furnish relevant records for inspection and answer the questions in relation to the information sought, as may be required by the Statistics Officer or a person authorised by him.

10. Nature of business records and other records which may be inspected:-

Business records of a unit, such as balance sheet, profit and loss account, pay rolls, Director’s report or any other legal document in support of the information furnished by the unit may be inspected by the Statistics Officer or a person authorised by him.

11. The manner of inspection:-

Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics or a person authorised by him may verify the information furnished by the unit on the basis of business and other records of the unit and seek clarifications from the concerned owner or trader or a person authorized by the management of the unit.

Sd/- (Sudhanshu Pandey) Jt. Secy.

S.O.2675(E) F.No.34/12/2003-TPD (Services) Issued by: Ministry of Commerce and Industry New Delhi