Cover Story
- How it became India's fourth most valuable group and what it is doing to stay on top.
A Mixed Bag
The front boasts a 6.3-inch full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display. Samsung has cleverly utilised all the panels. The device is waterproof and comes with an IPX8 rating, which means it can withstand an accidental dip up to 60 minutes in 2m deep water. The untimely demise of what could have been a path-breaking strategy document is regrettable, and it has taken over seven decades to take a relook and analyse its credibility and historical value. Smartwatches have turned smarter and trendier, and now you can take your pick from luxe and sporty ones. Researchers from Nvidia have developed AI systems that can generate startlingly authentic-looking images of people who do not exist in real life.
Growth Food
The expected size of the branded packaged food market 10 years from now will be around $200 billion when compared with $40 billion at present.Clouds Are Dark, Grey And Silver
The focus should be on reform as the biggest stress remains in agriculture, power and banking.Challenges For The New Government
The state of agriculture and a slowly shrinking balance of payments may hinder India's growth story. Farm distress resolution, facilitating jobs and focus on fiscal prudence should be the government's priorities. A slowdown is in the pipeline and a weaker fiscal profile does not augur well as India faces speed bumps at home and abroad."Il&FS Value Will Be Monetised In Eight Months"
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is in the thick of action - dealing with shell companies, crisis at IL&FS, putting the fledgling insolvency law in place, and much more. MCA Secretary Injeti Srinivas, in a discussion with Joe C. Mathew and Dipak Mondal, talks about initiatives the ministry has taken in the past one year. Edited excerpts:We Are Going To Go From Autorickshaws To Airrickshaws
Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, who is spearheading the drone revolution in the country, spoke about issues ranging from creating game-changing regulations to launch of flying taxis in an interaction with Business Today's Manu Kaushik and Rajeev Dubey. Edited excerpts: As company strategies are evolving fast in sync with a fast-paced economy, new-age boards need to evaluate these for effectiveness and governance issues. Four years after the regulatory crackdown, drones are set to rise from the shadows as government releases a roadmap for opening up the skies. What should the next government do to keep India on the growth track? A lowdown from four experts on the state of the economy. Both solar and wind tariffs have fallen steeply in recent years, but excessive emphasis on lowering tariffs is now threatening India's renewable energy success story. After enduring its worst festive season in half a decade, the domestic passenger vehicle industry is bracing for a bleak winter. As the basic law and rates settle down, authorities are bracing for the next round - legal challenges from businesses.
Difficult Targets
The Centre is going slow on revenue expenses, specifically in the Commerce, Corporate Affairs, North East Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs ministries The government feels that contingency reserves are far higher than the RBI might ever require From the very beginning, the FDI in e-commerce law permitted foreign investment only in e-commerce platforms, not in inventory-based e-tail Ogivri is the biosimilar version of Swiss drug maker Roches Herceptin, a breast cancer and gastric cancer drug with sales of $6.9 billion a year worldwide Market analysts expect India's second largest IT exporter Infosys to announce a share buyback to boost investor sentiment Total agriculture loans stand at Rs 1.8 lakh crore as on March 2017 in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, which have recently announced farm loan. Social networking apps from China are targeting India's regional audience and gaining traction. This Mumbai-based company helps people recover lost stuff and rewards finders. The great advantage of a cess was that unlike tax revenues, it did not need to be shared with states. Initial judgment doesn't always prove right; and valuations may slide due to unforeseen business circumstances Besides burdening state budgets and banks, loan waivers don't solve the farmer's root problem The government needs to get down to understanding what IS really causing MSME distress and then look at sops that target sectoral growth and prosperity.
Indian Recipe For Private Labels
Private labels or store brands are gaining momentum, but small players will face fierce competition from national companies. Food start-ups in India are tapping niche markets to create a strong identity. The Indian consumer is becoming aware of which brand of rice or atta to buy and food companies and retailers are leaving no stone unturned to capitalise on the growing trend. The home-grown brands have leveraged their strengths toemerge with a pan-India taste and a global appetite. The Indian packaged food market is expected to be worth $270 billion by 2027, driven by often contradictory trends in different parts of the country.
