writingonblog uncensored
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu leans on cultural diplomacy to woo Japa...
Tamil Nadu leans on cultural diplomacy to woo Japanese investors at Osaka Expo
Chennai
Tamil Nadu has opened a dedicated investment facilitation desk in Osaka, stepping up efforts to court Japanese investors with a blend of cultural diplomacy and industrial outreach at the World Expo 2025.
The “Japan Desk,” launched by the state-run investment promotion agency Guidance, is aimed at deepening bilateral trade, investment and institutional ties with Japan—home to over 580 companies already operating in Tamil Nadu. The move follows similar international desks launched in Vietnam and Taiwan as part of the state’s aggressive global investor outreach.
At the inauguration of Tamil Nadu’s pavilion at the Expo, Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa said the Osaka desk would serve as a strategic link for both existing and new investors. “We’ve converted 100% of the MoUs signed during our Japan visit last year, under the leadership of our Chief Minister,” he said, highlighting the state’s record of follow-through on investment promises.
The pavilion, part of India’s broader national presence at the Expo, showcases Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing depth, policy stability, and export infrastructure—while also offering a visual celebration of its cultural heritage through performances of Parai, Silambam and Bharatanatyam. “This pavilion is not just a policy pitch—it’s a celebration of our ancient soul and modern industrial ambition,” Rajaa said.
The visit, which included meetings with Osaka’s Vice Governor, officials from JETRO and Indian diplomats, is expected to further cooperation with Japanese prefectures such as Ehime and Hiroshima, with whom Tamil Nadu already has MoUs.
The outreach comes as Tamil Nadu seeks to consolidate its status as India’s manufacturing and innovation hub in sectors such as electronics, green mobility and renewables. “This trip reflects the Chief Minister’s directive to move with speed and boldness as we script Tamil Nadu’s next industrial chapter,” Rajaa said.
writingonblog uncensored: Cabinet Clears ₹7,000 Cr Boost for NLC’s Green Ene...
Cabinet Clears ₹7,000 Cr Boost for NLC’s Green Energy Arm in Renewables
CHENNAI:
The Union Cabinet has cleared a ₹7,000 crore capital infusion into NLC India Renewables Ltd (NIRL), the wholly owned subsidiary of state-run miner Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), as the Navratna PSU undertakes a major reorganisation of its clean energy portfolio in pursuit of a 10 GW renewable energy target by 2030.
As part of the restructuring, NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) will transfer ₹6,263 crore worth of operational solar and wind assets to NIRL. An additional ₹700 crore will be invested in ongoing greenfield and brownfield projects currently under development.
NLCIL currently operates seven renewable energy projects across the country, with a cumulative capacity of 1,400 MW. The move will consolidate these assets under NIRL, a dedicated platform aimed at sharpening strategic focus, improving access to finance, and unlocking opportunities for future partnerships or equity dilution.
Officials said the transition marks a key step in NLC’s effort to diversify beyond lignite mining and thermal power, aligning with India’s broader ambition to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by the end of the decade.
Monday, July 14, 2025
writingonblog uncensored: Income tax department launches searches across Tam...
Income tax department launches searches across Tamil Nadu over bogus refund claims
CHENNAI:
Income Tax department has launched coordinated search operations across Tamil Nadu as part of a widening probe into a network of intermediaries and tax practitioners allegedly involved in orchestrating fraudulent income tax refund claims worth several crores of rupees.
Surveys are being conducted at 18 locations—including Trichy, Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, Chennai, Vellore, Erode, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Theni, Sivagangai, Pudukkottai, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli—targeting agents and practitioners who are suspected of facilitating fake deduction claims under various provisions of the Income Tax Act. The crackdown comes amid concerns over systemic abuse of tax benefits by thousands of individuals, including government employees and military personnel.
Preliminary findings suggest the existence of a sprawling network of operators who assisted clients in inflating or fabricating deductions under sections such as 80GGC (political donations), 80D (medical insurance), 80C (tuition fees), and HRA exemptions under section 10(13A), among others. Investigators believe this enabled taxpayers to illegitimately claim refunds, defrauding the exchequer.
The operation, which spans urban and semi-urban centres has yielded "incriminating evidence" pointing to the use of dedicated email accounts to file thousands of fraudulent tax returns. Authorities suspect that these agents canvassed clients—some reportedly from as far as Delhi, Assam, Bihar, and Jammu and Kashmir—via private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
The quantum of fake refunds claimed is believed to run into several crores of rupees, although the full scale of the fraud is still being assessed. Several of these agents targeted vulnerable and uniformed taxpayers, promising high refunds for a fee.”
The Department has urged individuals who may have submitted inaccurate returns in the current or previous financial years to come forward voluntarily and file updated or revised returns. Officials hinted that taxpayers who do so may be spared punitive measures, including penalties and prosecution.
In a cautionary note, the tax authority warned citizens against falling prey to fraudulent schemes promoted by unscrupulous intermediaries. It has pledged assistance to those willing to correct past filings and reiterated its commitment to “restoring the integrity of the tax system.”
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Thoothukudi poised for $10bn Latin American investment amid rising Indo-LAC trade ambitions
From left to right: Rajkumar Sharma, National and Founder President ILACC; Alberto Antonio Guani Amarilla, Ambassador of Uruguay and Shakthivel, President of the South India Chapter ILACC
CHENNAI:Thoothukudi, a major port city in Tamil Nadu, is poised to attract a potential $10 billion investment from a Latin American country in the defence and security sector, amid growing trade ties between India and the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.
The investment is under negotiation and may be formalised through a memorandum of understanding by the end of the year, according to Rajkumar Sharma, President of the Indo Latin American Chamber of Commerce (ILACC). He declined to name the investing country or confirm whether the project is linked to the upcoming Kulasekharapatnam spaceport being developed near Thoothukudi.
“This is for national safety and security. I am not authorised to disclose further details,” Sharma said on the sidelines of the launch of ILACC’s South India Chapter in Chennai.
He noted that bilateral trade between India and Latin America has grown from $2 billion in 2000 to $18 billion today. Lithium and rare earth imports through South Indian ports are emerging as a priority, aligned with India’s energy security goals.
The announcement coincides with a broader strategic push to position South India as a hub for LAC investments in sectors such as defence, infrastructure, logistics, ports, and renewable energy. Sharma said southern states have already attracted more than $40 million in investments from the region, with Tamil Nadu receiving the largest share.
The initiative was launched during Horizon 2025, a business conclave hosted by ILACC to mark the inauguration of its South India chapter. The event brought together diplomats, trade envoys, and business leaders from countries including Peru, Cuba, Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, and El Salvador.
Alberto Antonio Guani Amarilla, Ambassador of Uruguay and Coordinator of the LAC Group (GruLAC), described the conclave as a significant step toward deeper economic and cultural ties between India and Latin America. “The South India chapter could serve as a critical node in our bilateral engagement,” he said.
Sharma said ILACC, recognised by India’s Ministries of External Affairs and Commerce, operates on a four-pillar agenda: trade, investment, policy, and advocacy. “Horizon 2025 is more than a platform—it’s a vision of a shared future,” he said.