The government is expected to outline a policy framework for artificial intelligence (AI) at the annual India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, beginning Tuesday, officials said. Apart from industry participation, the four-day event will feature booths from over 15 ministries showcasing how AI is being integrated into their departments.
'He asserted in his usual jovial style that he was not an MBA like his audience at IIM-Ahmedabad but perhaps had an even better business degree: MBB'. 'He went on to explain to his perplexed, blue chip B-School audience that MBB stood for "Marwadi by birth"!' Shivanand Kanavi salutes Shashi Ruia, co-founder of the Essar group who passed into the ages on November 25, 2024 in Mumbai.
What stood out in his 15-year journey as a member of the political executive at the Centre was his glowing record as India's most successful and effective finance minister. Both as prime minister and finance minister, he understood the importance of gradualism, except when the economy or the polity was in a crisis.
There is considerable speculation as to whether this award would have any bearing on another Vodafone-type case, namely, the ongoing tax-related arbitration proceedings with Cairn Energy.
The IPO market will be bustling next week, with four companies, including Bajaj Housing Finance, set to launch their initial share-sale to raise a total of Rs 8,390 crore. Besides these four main-board IPOs, nine SMEs are preparing to debut with their maiden public issues next week, targeting to collect Rs 254 crore. Together, these 13 firms are looking to raise Rs 8,644 crore through IPO.
A new board has been constituted for the merged entity 'Vodafone Idea Ltd' with 12 directors (including six independent directors) and Kumar Mangalam Birla as its Chairman. The board has appointed Balesh Sharma as the CEO, the companies said in a joint statement. The combination will have an all-India revenue market share of 32.2 per cent and take the numero uno slot in nine telecom circles, it said adding that both Vodafone and Idea brands will continue.
If Modi's truly a reformer and a believer in minimum government, he would bury the Vodafone ghosts now. He would also then go to Bihar, campaigning on his politically controversial reforms. Both will need him to dip deep into his accumulated political capital and risk it, suggests Shekhar Gupta.
The Indian equity markets will soon account for over a fifth of a key emerging market (EM) benchmark tracked by funds with assets exceeding $500 billion. This development is expected to funnel as much as $3 billion into the domestic markets. Following the latest review undertaken by global index provider MSCI, India's weighting in the MSCI EM index will surpass 20 per cent for the first time, narrowing its gap with the current top-weighted China to fewer than 400 basis points.
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of the International Court of Justice is appointed as the 3rd arbitrator in Voda tax row.
The company at present provides monthly mobile services at starting price of Rs 24 without data, and plans with data service starts from Rs 33 onward. It did not disclose the quantum of hike.
Representatives of the British telecom company on Friday met senior finance ministry officials, in search of an amicable solution.
The country's second largest cellular services provider, Vodafone Essar, on Friday announced reduction in international roaming rates for its postpaid customers traveling to South Africa during the IPL Twenty20 cricket tournament beginning on Saturday.
Officials say telco still keen on process.
Finance secretary R S Gujral too is believed to have met top Vodafone officials in Mumbai last month.
A large team led by Kumar Mangalam Birla has taken charge of the integration process.
The government has replied to Vodafone's notice that threatened international arbitration, saying there was no cause of action. It may send a reply and a tax notice to the company after the Finance Act is notified in the official gazette.
The British mobile phone operator was widely expected to go for an international arbitration after its talks with the Indian government failed to find a solution last year.
Delhi High Court quashes reassessment proceedings by Income Tax department.
Vodafone is facing tax liability over its $11 billion acquisition of a 67 per cent stake in the mobile-phone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa in 2007.
The board of GSM service provider Vodafone-Essar is expected to discuss the income tax issue at its meeting to be held on Friday.
Vodafone pleaded in High Court that IT department had no jurisdiction in the transfer pricing case because the said transaction was not international and did not attract tax.
The government's decision to opt for a non-binding attempt at conciliation and under Indian law in its tax dispute with telecom multinational Vodafone is understandable, note experts.
The government on Friday cleared British telecom firm Vodafone's application for buying a majority stake in India's fourth-largest mobile operator Hutch-Essar Ltd.
In a bid to increase efficiency, telecom major Vodafone Essar is set to relocate over 1,500 of its employees to Ahmedabad from all over the country.
Essar will have to pay capital gains tax, as the company will be gaining from the deal.
The Income Tax deparment has sent a notice to Vodafone, seeking around $1.7 billion in capital gains tax related to the sale of Hutchison Telecom International Ltd's 67 per cent stake in Hutch-Essar, now renamed Vodafone-Essar.
The fine is based on the loss estimated by internal committees of DoT to the national exchequer due to violation of licence norms by Vodafone.
Agency reports said Hutchison Whampoa had received bid interest in its Indian mobile business, but that the prices indicated so far were too low.
The government, however, amended the tax laws with retrospective effect to undo the Supreme Court judgement and claim taxes.
The two parties -- the Centre and Vodafone -- have sought a few more weeks to decide on the matter.
The airship will offer Vodafone customers a chance to be seated in the spacious deck and enjoy a leisurely journey of the scenic terrain beneath.
With Airtel and RCom already having launched their special offers for post-paid customers, and RJio around the corner, Vodafone makes its move with Red.
The Finance Ministry is of the opinion that Vodafone might drag its tax dispute to court.
The Indian State's arbitrariness may have come to be accepted with resignation within the country, but when it behaves in the same manner with external players, it gets a push-back, observes T N Ninan.
Government approval for British telecom giant Vodafone's takeover of Hutch-Essar now depends on whether the two minority stakeholders in the company can prove through documents that they are not acting as benami shareholders for Hutchison.
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill; Will introduce a white paper on black money in current session: FM
The dispute between Vodafone and the Ruia-owned Essar Group, its 33 per cent partners in Vodafone-Essar, over ownership of BPL Mobile deepened this week after the UK-based telecom major alleged that Essar had altered the share structure of the Mumbai service provider in violation of a 2006 agreement
Vodafone recently bought the 67 per cent stake held by Hutchison. The remaining equity is held by the Ruias.
The merged entity would lead with a revenue market share of about 37 per cent against Airtel's 31.2 per cent and Jio's 14.5 per cent
The company will spend Rs 10,141 crore to buy 15.5 per cent stake from minority investors.
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