The norms on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sectors of e-commerce, and IT and ITeS are expected to be part of detailed guidelines, which would be rolled out soon by the government, sources said.
Last week, a group of senior officials from departments of DIPP, Corporate Affairs and Economic Affairs, among others, discussed these matters in great detail.
According to sources, the DIPP has suggested that 100 per cent FDI should be allowed in "market place model e-commerce" activities.
At present, global e-tailer giants like Amazon and Ebay are operating online marketplaces in India while homegrown players like Flipkart and Snapdeal have foreign investments even as there are no clear FDI guidelines on various online retail models.
More From This Section
An e-commerce firm carry its business either through market place model or inventory based model.
In the inventory based model, a company owns and keeps the goods in warehouses.
The officials also deliberated upon the definition of "e-commerce". It may broadly cover transactions between buyer and seller through electronic mode like internet, mobile and televisions.
The department has already carried out stakeholders consultations with states, e-commerce companies and other departments.
"To enable the success of these small businesses, we must
do. TCS goes completely against that spirit. E-commerce is at an interesting confluence of Digital India, Make in India and Start Up India... The government should seriously look at TCS as this will be serious impediment for our industry," he said.
E-commerce still accounts for 2 per cent of consumption and is poised grow from USD 20 billion to USD 350 billion in 10 years.