PMLA - Even if predicate offences were not directly linked to appellants, ingredients of money laundering under PMLA could still apply as per settled legal precedent: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') PMLA - Attachments of even bank balances can be sustained if enforcement agency satisfies statutory scheme and evidentiary requirements: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') Joshi releases Indian Standard for Electric Agricultural Tractor (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Generic or commonly descriptive word can never become trade marks on their own as they never acquire distinctiveness or a secondary meaning: HC (See 'Legal Desk') NTH signs MoU with DRDO's DMSRDE for research, testing and training collaboration (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Kohinoor's trademark registrations in Delhi and marketing agreement executed between parties in Delhi were sufficient to vest territorial jurisdiction in Court: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Gypsum Board Testing and Micro-Characterisation Laboratories Inaugurated (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Paramount consideration should be interest of homebuyers who are entitled to allotment and possession of completed units: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Govt notifies Colliery Control (Amendment) Rules, 2025 (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - If marks/trade dress of parties, are similar, and areas of operation/business are same, and target consumers are also similar, there is complete likelihood that deception and confusion will occur with consumers: HC (See 'Legal Desk') NIFTEM-K signs MoU with Ministry of Minority Affairs to implement PM Vikas Scheme (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Developer's failure to establish escrow account and its prolonged delay in project completion demonstrated financial indiscipline: HC (See 'Legal Desk') CSIR Labs driving Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous technologies: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - DMRC is not in violation of obligations under Concession Agreement, if DMRC had co-operated with PDL and sub-licensee and non-completion of project was because of failure of PDL: HC (See 'Legal Desk') India now sets Global Benchmarks in Space, Defence, and Innovation: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - Provisional attachments under Section 5 of PMLA can be initiated without chargesheet under Section 173 of CrPC, based on sufficient material: HC (See 'Legal Desk')

NITI Aayog, Rocky Mountain release 'Banking on EVs in India' report

Published: Jan 21, 2022

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 21, 2022: NITI Aayog, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), and RMI India today released a report, titled 'Banking on Electric Vehicles in India', which outlines the importance of priority-sector recognition for retail lending in the electric mobility ecosystem. The report provides considerations and recommendations to inform the inclusion of EVs in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) priority-sector lending (PSL) guidelines.

Banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in India have the potential to achieve an electric vehicle (EV) financing market size of Rs 40,000 crore (USD 5 billion) by 2025 and Rs 3.7 lakh crore (USD 50 billion) by 2030. However, retail finance for EVs has been slow to pick up.

"Financial institutions have an important role to play in accelerating the adoption of EVs in India and supporting the decarbonisation of road transport," said Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog. "RBI's PSL mandate has a proven track record of improving the supply of formal credit towards areas of national priority. It can provide a strong regulatory incentive for banks and NBFCs to scale their financing to EVs."

Priority-sector lending aims to expand financial access and support employment opportunities in India. In order to meet these goals, the report highlights that the RBI may consider various EV segments and use cases based on five parameters: socio-economic potential, livelihood generation potential, scalability, techno-economic viability, and stakeholder acceptability.

"Buyers are unable to access low-interest rates and long loan tenures for EVs as banks are concerned about resale value and product quality. Priority-sector lending can encourage banks to fast-track India's transition to EVs and help achieve our 2070 climate goals," said Clay Stranger, Managing Director, RMI.

The report indicates that electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and commercial four-wheelers are early segments to prioritise under PSL. Moving forward, the engagement of other ministries and industry stakeholders will be important to ensuring the guidelines designed can effectively enhance EV investment in India.

To maximise the impact of the inclusion of EVs, the report also recommends a clear sub-target and penalty mechanism for priority sector lending to renewable energy and EVs. Furthermore, it suggests recognition of EVs as an infrastructure sub-sector by the Ministry of Finance and the incorporation of EVs as a separate reporting category under the RBI. Multiprong solutions such as these are needed not only for EV penetration and businesses, but also for the financial sector and India's 2070 net-zero target.

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