Economics Special: National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF).

Consequent to India’s ratification of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) in April 2016, the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) has been constituted.

• The establishment of the Committee is part of the mandatory, institutional arrangement of the TFA.

• NCTF is an inter-ministerial body on trade facilitation, which will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

• Its Secretariat will be housed within the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), in the Directorate General of Export Promotion, New Delhi. 

• Objective behind setting up the NCTF is to facilitate domestic co-ordination and implementation of TFA provisions. 

Economics Special: The Office of the Textile Commissioner.

• It was established in 1943 during the Second World War period for arranging the supply of cloth to the defence forces as well as civilian population.

• After the end of World War II, the Textile Commissioner was given the regulatory function of administering the prices, distribution and control of certain varieties of cloth meant for civilian consumption in the post-war conditions of scarcity.

• Now it formulates and implements various schemes of the Government of India in an industry friendly manner.

• It has 8 regional offices and 14 power loom service centers located in major textile clusters.