FDI in e-commerce: Amazon, Flipkart keep options open as time is ticking

Online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart might have to do away with up to 30% of sellers under the new norms

Amazon India and Walmart-owned Flipkart are running pillar to post in a final effort to get an extension on the February 1 (Friday) date for a new set of rules on foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce. 

If their effort fails, both firms believe, they might have to cut the nu­m­bers of sellers on their platforms (a million combined) by as much as 30 per cent. 

Top executives and public policy heads from Amazon India and Walmart are camped in this capital city, in hope of cajoling the government to as much as six months more. However, both are also