Click on graphic

In calendar year 2015, digital advertising accounted for only 12 per cent of the total advertising spend in India, which is a small portion of what companies spend on brand building and allied initiatives. Also, India was way down in the list of global spenders on digital advertising but by 2019, a study by IMRB and Internet and Mobile Association of India says, the country will overtake many big spenders

Data Tracker: Slicing the digital pie

Business Standard

Business Standard analyses one family's finances and suggests a way forward

Case study

Encourage big retail chains for a positive impact

Farm marketing

But speed up other railway reforms as well

Scrap separate Rly Budget

The Narendra Modi government fielded newly appointed Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale to speak during the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on alleged atrocities against Dalits and the derogatory comments made by a Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Uttar Pradesh about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. Athawale, president of the Republican Party of India (A) (RPI) and a Dalit himself, soon had the House in splits. When he rose to speak, the display board in the Rajya Sabha showed the name of the minister whose seat he had occupied, instead of Athawale's. Other members pointed that out and Athawale returned to his seat, but not before reminding everyone that while taking oath earlier this month, too, he didn't utter his name. "When I am standing, it is me who is speaking," he said. He then proceeded to rib Mayawati, saying her party, the BSP, had robbed the RPI of its symbol, the elephant. Athawale also joked about the Congress. "Bahut baar diya t

All in good humour

While airing his views during a recent discussion on the alleged atrocities against Dalits in Gujarat, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury bemoaned in the Rajya Sabha that there was much "diarrhoea of words" on the issue but "constipation of action". Yechury said he believed his comments were not unparliamentary and that he was only trying to point out how members of Parliament across party lines had been speaking "voluminously" on the subject for years but governments had consistently fallen short in their efforts to improve the lot of Dalits.

Much talk, little action

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi has accused the Grand Alliance government in Bihar of being selfish for sidelining Prashant Kishor after its Assembly election victory last year. Kishor, who was appointed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's political strategist and advisor, played a key role in helping the Grand Alliance come to power. He is now crafting the Congress' strategy for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls next year. But not everyone in the BJP agrees with Modi's criticism. "He shouldn't criticise PK's absence," a party leader said. "The longer he is away, the better it is for us." PK, as Kishor is popularly known, had also helped the BJP craft its strategy in the 2014 general elections but was then enlisted by Kumar before the Bihar Assembly elections.

PK missing in action

With reference to the editorial, "The next challenge" (July 21), it seems the Congress is getting isolated in its opposition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, as even the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been won over by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre.The JD-U and the TMC have realised that it is in their interest to support the GST Bill as it is expected to bring unprecedented benefits to both Bihar and West Bengal. This is the time for the BJP and other parties to discuss the Bill in detail, as the editorial rightly suggests. This way glitches would be avoided and benefits would be equal for all states when the Bill becomes a law.If implemented in earnest, GST has the potential to transform the economic landscape of the country. The dream of a single market can be realised in the next financial year only if there is a robust technological platform in place. For this, the government will have to start work on a war f

Letters: Time for consensus

With reference to Archis Mohan's report, "Mann affair casts shadow on Bills business" (July 23), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Lok Sabha member Bhagwant Mann's act of posting a video recording of security arrangements in Parliament on social media may have far-reaching effects.Due to Mann's thoughtless act, Rajya Sabha was adjourned and Lok Sabha proceedings were also halted, hampering scheduled business in both the Houses.Perhaps, the biggest loser was the government's effort to build consensus with the Congress on the Goods and Services Tax Constitution Amendment Bill.It is unfortunate that the AAP is accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the Mann issue to deflect the matter of attacks on Dalits in Gujarat. Why does the AAP try to find fault with others and project itself as a victim of circumstances?S Kumar   New DelhiLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmai

Letters: Unbecoming behaviour

While several issues connected with the introduction of the goods and services tax legislation have been widely commented on, the likely effects of bringing the service sector within the jurisdiction of states has not got the desired attention.Since its modest inception in 1994, the ambit of service tax has widened, thus contributing substantial revenue. In mid-2012, there was a departure: All services, except those on the negative list came under the tax net; at the same time those with an annual turnover of up to Rs 10 lakh were exempted. The term "service" was also well defined.Over time, aided by several judicial pronouncements, central excise authorities have acquired the knowledge and experience required to administering this complex tax. Procedures for service providers spread over several states have also been streamlined in the form of centralised registration and filing of returns.Entrusting this sector overnight to states, which have no previous experience in this regard, is

Letters: Service tax woes ahead

Tesla's experiments with cars under watch

A car accident

Will the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announce its chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh in October? The Congress has pitched Sheila Dikshit as its CM choice; the Samajwadi Party is likely to plump for Akhilesh Yadav again. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati will probably give up her seat in the Rajya Sabha to become CM if her party gets a majority in the Assembly polls next year. That leaves only the BJP without a CM probable in the state. The matter was discussed at the Kanpur meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) recently. The decision will be taken in October, presumably timed with the Vijayadashami celebrations of the RSS and the formal start of poll campaigning in the state.

BJP takes its time to announce its UP CM candidate

Major political leaders such as Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party President Arvind Kejriwal have hotfooted it to Gujarat to meet the Dalits, who were beaten up in Una for skinning a dead cow. Curiously, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is yet to visit the state. The state unit of the BSP has sent her a report on the incident but the Dalits of Gujarat are waiting to see her in person.

Mayawati yet to visit Dalit victims in Gujarat

Many concerns over the Republican presidential nominee

US & the Trump card

The next challenge

Kodagu area falls into the catchment of the Cauvery river, the water distribution of which has led to disputes in riparian states

Letters: Coffee woes

I agree with Friedman that if Donald Trump wins the race to the White House it will be a sad day for America

Letters: Erdogan not like Trump

For decades, the global economy has been predicated on oil

Letters: Growth tied to oil prices

They took to the streets in large numbers in Lucknow protesting the remarks made against her by Dayashankar Singh, until recently the vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh

From behenji to 'devi'

Shalabh Kumar, chief executive officer of AVG Advanced Technologies, a conglomerate of electronic technology firms, is said to have donated around $1.1 million to the Trump campaign

Common friend

The book, slated to be released today, is published by Anil Prakashan

Business Standard

Business Standard

Page 322 - Business Standard