Indian Council For Research On International Economic Relations

This study endeavours to assess the role and influence of ATMs in advancing and enabling financial inclusion. It will provide an overview of the current status of ATMs and other financial inclusion instruments in India and across the globe. Additionally, it aims to identify and evaluate potential barriers that might impede the optimal utilization of ATMs for the purpose of financial inclusion. The study intends to propose policies and strategies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ATM usage as a pathway to promote financial inclusion. Ultimately, the objective is to ensure that a wider segment of the population gains access to the necessary financial tools and services, thereby enhancing their economic well-being.

The aim of this paper was to explore strategies for revitalizing gems and jewellery units within Indian Special Economic Zones (SEZs) by considering non-fiscal incentives such as reverse job work. Reverse job work involves SEZ units selling to retailers in the domestic tariff area (DTA) and providing maintenance and repair services for the DTA. The study assessed the impact of reverse job work on SEZ units, its influence on DTA units, and its potential to increase sourcing from Indian SEZs compared to imports. Furthermore, it highlighted challenges faced by gems and jewellery units in SEZs and proposed policy recommendations to the government to bolster gem and jewellery exports from Indian SEZs without negatively impacting DTA exporters. The overarching goal was to provide suggestions on transforming Indian SEZs into a global manufacturing hub for gems and jewellery.

Driven by the belief that international trade significantly influences women's empowerment and promotes gender equality, the Gender and Trade Initiative at ICRIER strives to bolster the involvement of women entrepreneurs in global trade. This initiative adopts a dynamic approach encompassing research, discussions, and skill-building initiatives. Focused on integrating gender perspectives across four fundamental pillars within India's trade ecosystem—namely, capacity building, financial inclusion, early-stage support, and trade facilitation—the initiative aims to achieve the following objectives:
• Generate evidence-based research and knowledge on gender-related issues in trade.
• Advance awareness regarding the necessity of incorporating gender considerations into trade and national development policies.
• Amplify the influence of women stakeholders' viewpoints in shaping national, regional, and global trade policies.

The study aims to identify an ecosystem and implement technology that empowers farmers to obtain optimal prices for their produce, ensuring efficient price discovery across various locations and time frames while minimizing price-related risks.
This project encompasses an examination of agricultural marketing issues, the significance of commodity derivatives markets, specific studies on agricultural market commodities, and the developing ecosystem of agricultural technology start-ups (agri-tech) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

The aim of this project is to conduct evidence-based research to formulate fiscal policies (including taxes and incentives/subsidies) that encourage investment and promote the reformulation of beverages to reduce sugar content, specifically focusing on carbonated beverages in India. The primary goal is to propose fiscal measures that curtail the consumption of sugars, endorse the production of beverages with lower or no sugar content, and facilitate product diversification. Additionally, these policies aim to bolster the competitiveness of the agri-food industry, particularly emphasizing support for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as startups, thereby contributing to the overall growth of the sector.

This report assesses the economic prospects of the evolving music industry in India, particularly concentrating on the unorganized sector. It aims to provide an initial evaluation of the informal segment of India's music industry, encompassing employment levels and related aspects.
The study examines the impact of digital transformation on India's music industry, specifically focusing on how it affects the informal sector, such as brass bands, DJs, independent musicians, and sound engineers. It will analyse their contributions to the industry, income, employment opportunities, and vulnerabilities. Utilizing primary surveys, focus group discussions, and extensive interviews, both quantitative and qualitative analyses will be conducted. The findings will guide policy recommendations aimed at enhancing formalization, refining copyright implementation, fostering skill development, professionalizing the sector, improving performance infrastructure, and more.