India may restrict Chinese mobile players from under Rs 12K market: Report

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Indian government is reportedly planning to put curbs on China-based smartphone players from selling low-end smartphones (less that Rs 12,000) to give a much-needed boost to homegrown brands like Micromax, Lava, Karbonn and others.

New Delhi, Aug 8: The Indian government is reportedly planning to put curbs on China-based smartphone players from selling low-end smartphones (less that Rs 12,000) to give a much-needed boost to homegrown brands like Micromax, Lava, Karbonn and others.

According to a Bloomberg report citing sources that came out on Monday, the country "seeks to restrict Chinese smartphone makers from selling devices cheaper than Rs 12,000 ($150) to kick-start its faltering domestic industry".

The move, said the report citing people close to the matter, may push Chinese smartphone makers "out of the lower segment of the world's second-biggest mobile market".

The government's intentions, if true, will give a body blow to companies like Xiaomi and Realme that have captured about 50 per cent market share in India in the sub-$150 (Rs 12,000 and below) segment, according to Counterpoint Research.

"Overall, sub-$150 smartphones contributed to 31 per cent of the total smartphone volumes in India in the June quarter this year, compared to 49 per cent in the same quarter in 2018," Research Director Tarun Pathak told IANS.

"Chinese brands dominate 75-80 per cent of these volumes as Jio PhoneNext has ramped up in the last few quarters. This segment is currently dominated by realme and Xiaomi with 50 per cent share," Pathak added.

Shenzhen-based Transsion Holdings, which has brands like Tecno, Infinix and Itel in its kitty, is also a formidable player in the low-end and affordable segment in the country.

Transsion Group brands (itel, Infinix and Tecno) captured a 12 per cent share in India's handset market in Q2.

While itel led the sub-Rs 6,000 smartphone segment with a massive 77 per cent share, Tecno captured the second spot in the sub-Rs 8,000 smartphone segment in the country, according to Counterpoint Research.

India has already taken a super tough stand against Chinese manufacturers, and recent raids on Chinese smartphone companies like OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi prove this.

The Indian government is looking into cases of alleged tax evasion by three Chinese mobile companies -- OPPO, Vivo India and Xiaomi.

OPPO India, Xiaomi India and Vivo India were served notices by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for duty evasion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha last week.

A show-cause notice demanding Rs 4,403.88 crore has been served to OPPO Mobiles India Ltd based on an investigation conducted by the DRI, while five cases of Customs duty evasion have been registered against Xiaomi Technology India, Sitharaman said in a written reply.

The DRI detected customs duty evasion of around Rs 2,217 crore by Vivo Mobile India Private Ltd.

A show-cause notice has been issued to Vivo India demanding customs duty amounting to Rs 2,217 crore, under the provisions of the Customs Act.

Since April 2020, out of 382 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals the central government received from Chinese firms, India approved only 80 as on June 29.

(IANS)

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IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant Set To Lead Delhi Capitals In Upcoming Season

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Dec 11: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is all set to return to action and will be leading the Delhi Capitals side in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, says a report.

The Delhi Capitals management officials have stated that Pant, currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is expected to regain fitness by the end of February.

His active participation in IPL games will be contingent upon the clearance from the NCA managers.

"If he is not keeping, he will definitely be on the field and will lead the side," a franchise official stated as quoted by Cricbuzz.

According to team officials, Pant would concentrate on batting and fielding and will only take on wicket-keeping responsibilities if authorised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This refutes earlier reports that the franchise might just use the 26-year-old as an Impact Player.

Earlier, Pant's return was confirmed by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is DC's team director. "He's (Pant) good now. He will play in the IPL next season."

Read: Sports News

The Delhi Capitals, who placed ninth in the IPL points table in IPL 2023, faced the brunt of Pant's absence. To turn around their fortunes in the upcoming season, the Capitals are now depending on their inspirational leader. (IANS)

Miscreants Loot Rs 10.59 Lakhs From SBI ATM In Bhubaneswar

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Dec 11: Unidentified miscreants looted Rs 10.59 lakhs from a SBI ATM in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar late on Sunday night. Based on a complaint lodged by the bank officials, the commissionerate police registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Prateek Singh along with personnel from the Shree Lingaraj Police Station and special squad officers reached the spot after being informed by the locals on Monday morning.

Police sources said that the robbers cut into the machine with a gas cutter and decamped with Rs 10.59 lakhs taken from the ATM. They had first sprayed black colour on the CCTV installed at the kiosk before committing the crime to avoid being identified.

A SBI official said the bank came to know about the incident following the receipt of a mail about the malfunctioning of the machine. Later, the bank sent its maintenance staff to repair the machine and found out about the robbery.

“We received a report in the morning that some miscreants looted cash from an ATM machine in the Old Town area. A Shree Lingaraj police team, special squad officers are present at the spot and are trying to find clues about the robbery. The miscreants committed the crime late at night and they also sprayed black colour on the cameras and lights placed at the kiosk. We suspect the involvement of a gang having expertise in such a type of crime. It has been ascertained prima facie that the ATM kiosk lacked the required security measures and the alarm system was also not working properly,” said DCP Singh.

Read: Odisha News

Singh said the police will also investigate why the security agencies had not taken the necessary precautions regarding the lapses in the security arrangements at the ATM machine. (IANS)

PM Modi Launches ‘Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice Of Youth’; Pradhan Calls It A 'Red Letter Day'

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Dec 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the ‘Viksit Bharat@2047 - Voice of Youth’ and also addressed the Vice Chancellors and Heads of other Higher Education Institutes including students across the nation via video conferencing.

Speaking on the occasion PM Modi urged everyone to go beyond their limits to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He suggested running special campaigns in every college and university in the country to connect more and more youth with this campaign.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan pronounced the day to be a red-letter day towards inspiring action for achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat.

Today, 11th December, will be a red-letter day towards inspiring action towards achieving the goals of #ViksitBharat.

Launch of “Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth” mega campaign by Hon. PM @narendramodi ji is going to transform the #AmritKaalVimarsh into a jan-andolan.… pic.twitter.com/HlBtgb2gg5 — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 11, 2023

Minister Pradhan expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for launching the initiative “Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth”. He stressed in the words of the Prime Minister, that the roadmap of progress will be decided by the country and not by the government.

Pradhan also said that this initiative is going to transform the Amrit Kaal Vimarsh into a jan-andolan and thanked the Prime Minister for continuously guiding and connecting the Yuva Shakti and the education fraternity to the grand vision of a developed India by 2047.

The Union Education Minister further said that universities, colleges and educational institutions will add new momentum to this initiative. Guided by the mantra of Sabka Prayas, an environment must be created that inspires the Amrit Peedhi and citizens towards the accomplishment of the goal of developed India, he added.

Also Read: India In Phase To Take Quantum Jump For Becoming Developed: PM while launching 'Viksit Bharat @2047'

Viksit Bharat @2047 is the vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of independence. The vision encompasses various aspects of development, including economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

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India may restrict Chinese mobile players from under Rs 12K market: Report

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