Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Karan Choudhury

Stories by Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Karan Choudhury

E-commerce draft policy plugs gifting loophole for foreign sites

E-commerce draft policy plugs gifting loophole for foreign sites

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2019

Among other things, taking note of complaints against several Chinese e-commerce players such as Shein, Ali Express etc for sending shipments as 'gifts' to customers in India and avoiding duties, the government has now mandated that all e-commerce sites and apps must have a registered business entity. This will be the importer on record and subject to customs rules, report Subhayan Chakraborty, Neha Alawadhi and Karan Choudhury.

E-commerce policy draft may bring cheer to the realty sector

E-commerce policy draft may bring cheer to the realty sector

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2019

With the insistence on data centres to be onshore, entities in real estate believe there is going to be a rise in demand for specialised Grade-A commercial spaces to set these up.

Industries, airports near border on alert for war-like emergency

Industries, airports near border on alert for war-like emergency

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2019

State governments in Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir are on high alert and have come up with contingency plans to ensure the security of residents in case of a war.

The chink in the e-commerce draft

The chink in the e-commerce draft

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2019

While the new norms are part of the draft policy's guidelines to fight counterfeit and fake products on platforms, they might end up helping brands and e-commerce firms sign exclusive sale deals.

India may tweak IT Act to allow tracing of social media posts

India may tweak IT Act to allow tracing of social media posts

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2019

Ministry of home affairs and the IT ministry are planning to have a series of discussions with representatives from Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Google on issues around national security and the problem of fake news. Asking for decryption keys from WhatsApp to track conversations on the chat app is also part of the agenda.

'We are betting big on OYO Living'

'We are betting big on OYO Living'

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2019

'Co-living is a phenomenon that is bound to strike the right chord with young people everywhere and India will lead the charge as the testing ground for all such ideas.'

Traders threaten to take e-com players to court, if...

Traders threaten to take e-com players to court, if...

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2019

Going ahead with its festive sales as per schedule, companies such as Flipkart, Jabong, and Myntra are having week-long Valentines' Day sales, offering discounts of as much as 80 per cent. Amazon India is also offering discounts of almost 40 per cent.

Foodpanda, Uber Eats eye 3rd slot in online food delivery

Foodpanda, Uber Eats eye 3rd slot in online food delivery

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2019

The duo spent almost $400 million in 2018 on rapid expansion as well as discounting to gain new customers, and Uber Eats has managed to edge out Foodpanda by 2 million orders.

Indian dream suddenly turns sour for these American companies

Indian dream suddenly turns sour for these American companies

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2019

While the government's recent moves may have been necessary in some cases, these would have an adverse impact on the investment cycles of some of these companies. The marquee global names are suddenly finding themselves out of favour as local flavour is gaining currency in the run up to 2019 elections.

Govt mulling GST cut on under-construction homes

Govt mulling GST cut on under-construction homes

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2019

GST rates on under-construction houses maybe reduced from 12 pc with input tax credit to 5 pc without ITC. Similarly, the rate for under-construction affordable houses could come down to 3 per cent without input tax credit, from the current 8 per cent.

Less-cash drive launched in DeMo gets boost in Budget

Less-cash drive launched in DeMo gets boost in Budget

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2019

In an otherwise agriculture- and public health-focused Union Budget 2018-19, artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain technology, internet of things -- jargons that found little or no mention in the previous Budgets -- managed to make their presence felt.

How Walmart, Amazon plan to counter govt's e-com move

How Walmart, Amazon plan to counter govt's e-com move

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2019

As Amazon India, Flipkart are forced to shut down 60 categories and push out 45 mn products, a new lobby group comprising sellers is in the making to take up e-com concerns.

How Vijayan came to be known as 'firm leader'

How Vijayan came to be known as 'firm leader'

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2019

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has graduated from being a stalwart of the CPM to a 'strong' mass leader and arguably the 'most able administrator' that the state has seen in over three decades, reports Shine Jacob.

Hike messenger dumps one-app-fits-all approach

Hike messenger dumps one-app-fits-all approach

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2019

Multi apps will be designed by taking core parts of the Hike product and remoulding them into creating new apps, each delivering one service -- Social and Messaging in one and Content in another, report Patanjali Pahwa and Karan Choudhury.

PhonePe eyes $50 billion in transactions in 2019

PhonePe eyes $50 billion in transactions in 2019

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2019

PhonePe via Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) plans to get into a number of new verticals, including fee payments in schools and colleges, payments at hospitals and other services

Why Amazon may delay $1-bn investment plans in India

Why Amazon may delay $1-bn investment plans in India

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2019

Amazon India is waiting for clarifications from the government on several aspects of the latest FDI guidelines to be able to carry on with business in the country. Sources said, no new investment is likely till at least the second half of 2019.

Oil PSUs may be allowed by Modi govt to bring in private players

Oil PSUs may be allowed by Modi govt to bring in private players

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2019

The government was planning to come up with a new fiscal model giving 'special incentives' for fields that were given out on nomination to ONGC and Oil India, reports Shine Jacob.

In a major climbdown, govt now says e-commerce firms can sell pvt labels

In a major climbdown, govt now says e-commerce firms can sell pvt labels

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2019

Private labels remain big business for e-commerce marketplaces. They comprise almost 15 per cent of the total business of such firms.

Despite likely budgetary cut, railways eyes biggest ever capex of Rs 1.7 tn

Despite likely budgetary cut, railways eyes biggest ever capex of Rs 1.7 tn

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2019

The Centre is likely to cut budgetary support to the railways by around Rs 5,000-10,000 crore for 2018-19, out of the total budgeted GBS of Rs 53,060 crore. Due to this cut in GBS, the railways is likely to depend more on borrowings, asset monetisation, and internal generation to meet the capex target of Rs 1.465 trillion for the current year.

It's hashtag rural as Twitter prepares for 2019 polls

It's hashtag rural as Twitter prepares for 2019 polls

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2019

Success in the Lok Sabha polls would help Twitter chart out its growth story in India.