Will sign CCTV file on Monday: Kejriwal
New Delhi, July 29 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he will, on Monday, sign the CCTV file in which he will ensure that the cameras are installed at a location approved by the public without any licence required.
Kejriwal had called RWAs and market associations from across the city at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here to interact with them over the installation of CCTV cameras in the national capital.
He not only took suggestions from the public on the CCTV project but also raised certain questions before the audience.
Announcing that he will "sign the CCTV file on Monday as the public wants him to do so", Kejriwal received an enthusiastic response from the gathering when he said he "will sign the file by writing that people of Delhi want no licence for the CCTVs".
The public also welcomed his statement that women will decide, in a general body meeting of all the stakeholders, the points where CCTVs should be installed.
He suggested that the recording of the cameras should be with the police, RWAs and the Delhi government.
During the address, he said: "I am not saying everything will improve, but the situation will improve by 50 per cent if entire Delhi is under CCTV cameras."
Later, speaking to media, Kejriwal said: "In a democracy, the public is the head. There is no logic behind the licence rule for the camera installation. This will only increase the corruption. Once the people refuse, there will be no need for the licence."
"Ensuring women safety and reducing the crime level is Delhi is our priority. The public will decide if they want CCTV or not. Police, LG, or BJP will not decide."
Saying the public wanted him to do it, he also tore a report of a committee, formed by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, which suggested that the Delhi Police will be the custodian of all CCTV cameras in public spaces in the capital, including ones to be installed under AAP government's CCTV project.
The CCTV project proposed by the Delhi government will cover all RWAs and market associations of Delhi. Each RWA/market association shall have cameras to cover their respective areas.
The power supply to the cameras, with day/night vision, will be from any of the resident(s) nearest to the unit. The Delhi government will bear the monthly electricity charges.
There will be approximately 2,000 cameras per assembly constituency in all 70 constituencies
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
