In Kolkata, the Tea Board of India today launched pan-India e-auctions of tea whereby a buyer registered with any one of the seven auction centres can participate in tea auctions across these centres. Hitherto, the rule stated that a buyer registered with a particular auction centre had to buy tea from that same centre only.<br/><br/>Inaugurating the all-India facility, Secretary in the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Rita Teaotia said that the new procedure will facilitate simplified and straight-forward auction process and is a step forward. She added that this system and the auction platform will be improved further later on.<br/><br/>The pan-India process will help the sellers in tapping more markets than they previously have been able to do. Chairman of the Board, Santosh Sarangi said, the first such auction will be held in three-four weeks.<br/><br/>Official of the Board have said that around 540 million kg of tea is expected to be auctioned under the new process. However, local- and region-based auctions of tea will also continue.