Counterfeiting activities have increased in India during past two decades. It has been revealed in a report ‘Illicit Market: A Threat to Our National Interest’ prepared by FICCI-CASCADE (Committee against Smuggling & Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy).
The report was released by PC Jha, Adviser FICCI CASCADE and former Chairman, Central Board of Excise & Customs, Deep Chand, Adviser FICCI CASCADE and former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi and Sanjay Kundu, Additional Director General of State Police in Shimla.
This is a quantitative study evaluating the impact of illicit markets on various economic aspects in the manufacturing Industry. The total loss estimated to the union government in the year 2014, was Rs 39,239 crores. Therefore several steps are being taken by the FICCI CASCADE to create awareness on this growing menace on smuggling and counterfeiting.
The sectors like Packaged Foods, Personal Goods, Computer Hardware, Automobiles, Mobile Phones, Tobacco and Alcohol are facing problems of smuggling and counterfeiting. In the past couple of years the Himachal has seen a significant growth in illicit trade among two major sectors of Tobacco and Alcohol. The state is one of the fastest growing markets for illegal cigarettes and alcohol in the country. As per a estimate the state government bears revenue loss of crores of rupees in both these sectors.