Sachin P Mampatta &Amp; Neha Alawadhi

Stories by Sachin P Mampatta &Amp; Neha Alawadhi

Restaurant body up in arms against Zomato, Swiggy

Restaurant body up in arms against Zomato, Swiggy

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2021

Alleging "anti-competitive practices" by Zomato and Swiggy, restaurant industry body National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) on Monday said it has approached fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) for a detailed probe against the food aggregators. Keeping the interests of restaurants in mind, NRAI on July 1 had filed information with the CCI, it said in a statement. The main issues highlighted by the association in the submission are bundling of services, data masking, and exorbitant commission charged, price parity agreements, deep discounting, including forcing restaurant partners to give discounts to maintain appropriate listing, exclusivity of listed restaurants, and violation of platform neutrality, vertical integration, and lack of transparency on the food ordering platforms.

81% consumers back e-commerce rules, want clarity on services-based biz

81% consumers back e-commerce rules, want clarity on services-based biz

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2021

As many as 81 per cent people support having rules for consumer e-commerce, but want more services-based platforms to have more clearly defined roles, a survey by community social media platform LocalCircles has found. The survey asked respondents to answer questions based on the recent draft Rules proposed by the ministry of consumer affairs. The responses found 81 per cent consumers wanting sales of products and services over electronic or digital networks to be governed by a set of electronic commerce rules.

Facebook removes over 30mn posts, most for violent content

Facebook removes over 30mn posts, most for violent content

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2021

Facebook removed 25 million pieces of content identified as 'spam,' 1.8 million pieces of content containing 'adult nudity and sexual activity', reports Neha Alawadhi.

Clubhouse sets the trend for social audio apps in pandemic

Clubhouse sets the trend for social audio apps in pandemic

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2021

From Twitter to Facebook to Spotify, everyone it seems is clambering aboard the social audio bandwagon. Neha Alawadhi reports.

India's digital economy to grow 10x to $800 bn by 2030

India's digital economy to grow 10x to $800 bn by 2030

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2021

India's consumer digital economy which was pegged at $85-90 billion in calendar year 2020, is expected to become a $800 billion market by 2030, according to reports released by consulting firm RedSeer at its flagship event Ground Zero 5.0. The digital economy includes 60 per cent of travel, 40 per cent non-grocery retail, 30 per cent of education, 25 per cent of food and beverages services and 6 per cent of pharma/grocery going through digital channels by calendar year 2030. Online retail is set to become the third-largest market by scale by CY30 with an annual gross merchandise value (GMV) of $350 billion in CY30, said RedSeer.

Facebook, Google agree to publish transparency reports

Facebook, Google agree to publish transparency reports

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2021

While Facebook said on Tuesday it will publish an interim report on July 2 as mandated by the IT rules, Google will publish its transparency report as required under the new IT Rules in India.

At current rate, all Indians will be vaccinated by Sept 2022

At current rate, all Indians will be vaccinated by Sept 2022

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2021

865 million Indian adults require vaccination.

UN's special rapporteurs ask govt to review new IT rules

UN's special rapporteurs ask govt to review new IT rules

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2021

The submission was made by the UN Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan; on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Clement Nyaletsossi Voule; and the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci.

These 50 listed companies raised money from investors and 'vanished'!

These 50 listed companies raised money from investors and 'vanished'!

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2021

A number of listed companies are not to be found on their registered address. The stock exchange has also been unable to contact them through other means. These 50 companies had been suspended for violations for more than six months. The BSE had reached out to them with show cause notices in December 2020.

How to Defeat Pirates who STEAL Films

How to Defeat Pirates who STEAL Films

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

Intelligent tools are being deployed to detect content pirated from OTT platforms.

Explained in 6 charts: India's bull run during Covid times

Explained in 6 charts: India's bull run during Covid times

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

A lot of gains have been driven by foreign portfolio investors. Lower interest rates globally have forced foreign investors to seek avenues for growth. They have been net buyers to the tune of Rs 2.5 trillion over the trailing 12 months, including May, reports Sachin P Mampatta.

Paytm to raise $1.5 bn via primary issue of shares ahead of IPO

Paytm to raise $1.5 bn via primary issue of shares ahead of IPO

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2021

Paytm will look to raise up to $1.5 billion as part of primary share sale, leading up to its initial public offering (IPO), which is planned for November, a person familiar with the developments said. The company is looking to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) by July, according to sources. According to this person, though the details of the listing are being worked out, Paytm may take the qualified institutional buyer (QIB) route to list and issue fresh equity to raise funds.

IPO-bound Paytm narrows losses to Rs 1,701 cr

IPO-bound Paytm narrows losses to Rs 1,701 cr

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2021

As it readies for its initial public offering (IPO) later this year, digital payments firm Paytm is honing its strengths to remodel itself from being a payment wallet to becoming a financial services provider, and is working towards narrowing its losses, evident from its most recent Annual Report. Unlike many of its peers, Paytm has started expanding its merchant payment ecosystem. It has realised that though it can take the maximum share of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions, from a revenue generation point of view it will not have any impact.

InvITs with too few investors under Sebi lens

InvITs with too few investors under Sebi lens

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2021

The regulator is more carefully scrutinising applications by infrastructure investment vehicles that have a limited number of investors. They have been asked to broaden their investor base before application approval, according to two people familiar with the matter. The Securities and Exchange Board of India is concerned about the structure being used for getting around tax requirements, according to one of the sources.

Stock broking giant Zerodha's FY21 profit more than doubles to Rs 1,000 cr

Stock broking giant Zerodha's FY21 profit more than doubles to Rs 1,000 cr

Rediff.com   31 May 2021

Zerodha will not raise external funds now or in the future, because it is profitable and has zero debt.

Paytm plans mother of all IPOs, to raise $3 billion

Paytm plans mother of all IPOs, to raise $3 billion

Rediff.com   28 May 2021

Digital payments provider Paytm is all set to make its market debut as early as this year, with an aim to raise $3 billion (around Rs 22,000 crore). If successful, this could be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) by an Indian company, breaking Coal India's 2010 record of Rs 15,475 crore. According to media reports, the board of One97, parent company of Paytm, is all set to meet this Friday to formally approve the IPO plan.

Rs 155.95 bn: Foreign investors net sellers

Rs 155.95 bn: Foreign investors net sellers

Rediff.com   21 May 2021

Only 10 per cent of stocks account for 93 per cent of investments.

How start-ups, IT cos helping staff tackle Covid blues

How start-ups, IT cos helping staff tackle Covid blues

Rediff.com   20 May 2021

As the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, startups and technology firms are realising the burnout effect it is having on employees. Many have shortened their work weeks to four days, while others have made provisions for more time off for employees to help them rejuvenate or care for loved ones.

Big relief for Indian IT as Biden administration removes H-1B visa curbs

Big relief for Indian IT as Biden administration removes H-1B visa curbs

Rediff.com   20 May 2021

The US government has removed a regulation proposed by former president Donald Trump's administration that sought to narrow the definition of "specialty occupation" under the H-1B visa regime. The change comes as a relief for Indian information technology firms, which are among the largest users of such visas. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally vacated a regulation that would have redefined the H-1B specialty occupation, restricted off site placement of H-1B employees, and otherwise increased employer compliance obligations. "The vacatur follows a federal court ruling that set aside the regulation because the agency did not have good cause to bypass notice and comment rulemaking, in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act," explained immigration law firm Fragomen.

Is Zomato's Deepinder Goyal up for a challenge?

Is Zomato's Deepinder Goyal up for a challenge?

Rediff.com   12 May 2021

With scrutiny that comes with a public listing, Deepinder Goyal's leadership could face its sternest test yet.