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- Having burned its fingers in China, Amazon is carrying a torch for India. The battle for supremacy in online retail in India, set to be the world's second-largest Internet market by this summer, has barely begun, but it is already bitter.
- According to Ernst & Young (E&Y), COD accounts for 50 to 80 per cent of online transactions in India. For the larger e-retailers, this payment mechanism is available in 600 cities and towns, and has helped them acquire first-time customers rapidly.
- Sachin Bansal, CEO of India's largest e-tailer Flipkart, spoke to Business Today about the Flipkart story so far, his experience and what lies ahead as the market grows. Bansal spoke to BT on two occasions. Edited excerpts:

Ensemble's Tina Tahiliani Parikh on fashion, personal style and more
In an exclusive chat with BT More, Ensemble Executive Director Tina Tahiliani Parikh talks about the multi-brand store, her style mantra and trends every woman must take note of.Wazwan at Chor Bizarre gives a peek into Kashmir's customs of hospitality
A traditional 'wazwan' at Chor Bizarre gives a peek into Kashmir's famed customs of hospitality .Auto Expo 2014: Mercedes-Benz hogs limelight with three new cars
True to tradition, Mercedes-Benz hogs the limelight by unveiling three new cars at the 12th India Expo Mart.Rocky Patel's take on how to create the perfect cigar
Rocky Patel's take on how to create the perfect cigar.Reporter's Diary: Svedka vodka brand launched in India
Vodka lovers, rejoice! Svedka's here and happening.Take a bow: Masumi sake now in India
The mystic of the revered distilled rice liquor - sake - is very like the drink itself and reveals itself demurely, blossoming with every sip.Koovs.com launches its first menswear collection
Boys, get set to shop online as fashion portal Koovs.com launches menswear collection!Comic Con 2014: Of Zombies, Superheroes and Fanboys
A look at some personalities who made an appearance at the fourth edition of the annual convention for happy-go-lucky geeks and comic aficianados.
Tackling bad loans top priority of banks, but it is not easy
Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of domestic banks jumped to 3.6 per cent at the end of March 2013 from 3.1 per cent of total lending a year earlier, according to RBI. Bad loans rose further to 4.2 per cent by the end of September 2013, latest data show.
Behind Little Eye Labs, the Indian start-up that Facebook bought
Little Eye Labs founders call themselves 'ions', short for 'eye-ons'. They are a motley group of entrepreneurs who got together while working at Rational Software/IBM long before they set up Little Eye Labs with seed funding from GSF India and VenturEast.Founders Bansals bulk up Flipkart to take on Amazon challenge
A credible rival can do wonders to an enterprise and Flipkart is no different. A month before Amazon launched its marketplace in India under the Amazon.in name, Flipkart launched its version of the marketplace.
How Next-Gen Bhatts are taking Mukesh and Mahesh's legacy forward
Vishesh, son of Mukesh Bhatt, and Pooja and Alia, daughters of Mahesh Bhatt, are building on the legacy of their fathers, but are striking out in new directions as well.Gond tribe's traditional art gets global recognition, selling at high prices
The traditional art of the Gond tribe of central India has achieved global recognition and is selling at high prices.More entrepreneurs targeting bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers
Mainstream companies have always sought ways to cater to the poor. There have also been start-ups as well focused on the BOP consumers. But today there is a greater diversity of ideas.Why start-ups have begun attracting talent in droves from IITs and IIMs
One reason why start-ups are hiring from IITs and IIMs is that many of these companies have been founded by alumni of these institutes.Commercial vehicles sector is facing worst-ever recession
The slowing economy is the main reason for the industry's predicament. Also, despite huge discounts, unsold stock with dealers and in company stock yards at the end of Dec 2013 was equivalent to five months' sales. Most vehicles are being sold at 2010 prices. This has hurt industry's cash flow significantly.Why investors are shunning mutual funds
The track record of mutual funds in India does not inspire confidence. Most have not delivered the kind of returns that would convince investors to stay put for the long term.How liquor is filling the Bihar government's coffers
The state government changed its excise policy after Nitish Kumar became chief minister in 2005. It started allotting more liquor shops and began increasing licence fees in a bid to boost revenue.Sneak preview of some vehicles that will be unveiled at Auto Expo 2014
In a bid to generate enthusiasm and boost sales, companies will launch 20 new vehicles at the Auto Expo event and showcase more than 50 automobiles for the first time in the country. Here's a sneak preview of some vehicles that will be unveiled at the show.
The feature on Maruti was worth reading
The feature on Maruti (God Is in the Detail, February 2) was worth reading.
Why power supply continues to be a problem in India
India has the biggest synchronised power grid in the world with 236 GW installed capacity. At the root of its power woes is poor transmissionCan Indian advertisers and broadcasters afford a TV ratings blackout?
A new industry-backed TV viewership measurement company, the Broadcasters Audience Research Council (BARC), will be launched on October 1. But, until then, broadcasters and advertisers will have no way of measuring viewership. Can the industry afford to do without ratings, even if temporarily?Narendra Modi's economic vision has much in common with that of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's economic vision includes interlinking rivers, introducing bullet trains, modernising railways and building gas grids, optical fibre networks and a hundred smart cities. It will cost the exchequer some Rs 20 lakh crore.Why disinvestment has now become an imperative for govt
Finance ministry officials are running against time to meet their disinvestment and fiscal deficit targets. The Election Commission is expected to announce the dates of the general election in the third week of February. Once these are set, all kinds of restrictions will kick in.Trends that will dominate the tech world in 2014.
Trends that will dominate the tech world in 2014.What polio is and how India managed to extirpate it
On January 13 this year India was finally declared a polio-free country, with not a single case of the disease having been reported in the past three years. What polio is and how India managed to extirpate it:News that you may have missed last fortnight
Emerging-market economies will feel some impact from the US Federal Reserve's winding down of its stimulus but India is better prepared than last year to deal with it, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
NELP X provides larger operating area to firms
The change this time is that NELP X offers an integrated approach to exploration. The block operator will be allowed to go ahead irrespective of the fuel found - coal bed methane, shale gas, conventional gas or oil.
People who made news this fortnight: Avni Biyani, Ross Clifford and more
Featuring: The Smiley Company's Nicolas Loufrani, Author Daniel Yergin, Punj Lloyd's J.P. Chalasani, Foodhall's Avni Biyani, Polaris' Ross Clifford and InvestHK's Simon Galpin.
Luxurious writing instruments that evoke artistry with every scribble
Pens can be as beautiful as the written word. Some luxurious writing instruments that evoke artistry with every scribble. Presenting a few gifting options that promise to make this year's Valentine's Day the best one ever! Whether it's burglars knocking at your door or a fire in your bedroom, the new app holds the key to nearly every door of self-preservation.
How bayt.com emerged as the top job portal in West Asia
After failure stared at the founders of bayt.com, a West Asian job portal, following the dotcom bust of 2000. Yet today, bayt.com is the leading job portal of the region. Its traffic, revenue, job postings and profitability are higher than all its competitors combined. This case study looks at how the portal managed this transformation.
What Indian CEOs suggest for better policy making for different sectors
An engaging panel discussion organised by Business Today aboard The Oberoi Motor Vessel Vrinda in the serene environs of Kerala's backwaters throws up a host of suggestions for better policy making for six different industries.
Luxury destinations to visit
Soul-soothing and heart-warming, our pick of luxury destinations has something for everyone - nature lovers, adventurers and history buffs. Looking for your next holiday destination? Why go abroad when the world's coming down here, to our very own Portuguese paradise.
Food inflation set to fall on projected record rabi harvest
Food inflation is set to decline further, thanks to a projected record rabi harvest. This is why prices of pulses like gram (chana) are down by more than 30 per cent, year-on-year. Onion prices have crashed, after their rise made headlines four months ago.
There is a lot to savour at K3 restaurant in Delhi
The restaurant caters to taste buds as vibrant as the ethnicity of its food.Restaurant review: Party all night at The Barking Deer, Mumbai
No Tryst, Cafe Zoe or Blue Frog can claim to have a microbrewery like that of The Barking Deer.Four high-spirited entities that promise to make life a joy
Whoever said alcohol is a poison that kills slowly never really popped open a bottle of Dom Perignon or let the notes of a Glenlivet 70-year-old gently soothe his senses. Four high-spirited entities that promise to make life a joy to behold.
Call it quits in style
A Jerry Maguire exit may not be the best way to leave your job in real life. An eight-point checklist to ensure that you do not burn any bridges as you bid an old job adieu.VeryFirstTo takes you to cinema's most iconic destinations
Remember the movies you watched and loved as a child? A new world tour lets you live them, scene by scene
There's always someone out there who's hungry for the next big thing.
Read the story of Amazon's entry into India and how Flipkart is ready for the fight with its elbows stuck out.
B-school debate on Reserve Board Positions For Women
Business Today brings together students to voice their views on a significant business, economy-related issue in this B-School debate.
'Hatching Twitter' tells the history of the microblogging site
'Hatching Twitter' by Nick Bilton tells the history of the microblogging site which has united the world.
NSN Vice President Sandeep Girotra on the 'firsts' in his life
Sandeep Girotra, Vice President and Head of India, Nokia Solutions Network, talks about the 'firsts' in his life -