There seems to be some sort of confusion on the status of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the e-commerce segment, according to two source based reports from different publications. On Sunday, The Hindu Business Line reported that the Indian prime minister office (PMO) is keen on allowing FDI in the e-commerce segment and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon has apparently asked DIPP to extend the current FDI policy for multi brand offline retail stores to e-commerce segment, citing a DIPP official. The official told the publication that they will check the feasibility and implications of allowing FDI in the e-commerce segment and respond to Menon's proposal. However, on Tuesday, DIPP Secretary Saurabh Chandra told Business Standard that they haven't received any communication from the PMO on this matter and it is up to the cabinet to decide whether to allow FDI in e-commerce or not. However, it also cited a DIPP official who apparently indicated that the cabinet could shortly be taking up this matter. Strangely, it also cites sources to mention that Menon has sent a communication supporting FDI in online retail to all the key ministries including DIPP, finance and home affairs. A government official also told the publication that a high-level coordination meeting will decide on this matter prior to the prime minster's visit to the United States. This has led to an ambiguity of whether the government is considering extending FDI policy to e-commerce, although it does seem to have got PMO's endorsement, which is an improvement (sort of) from March this year, when Minister of…
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