On 13 November, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) accused rapid commerce platforms of breaking a number of national laws, such as the Competition Act, the Consumer Protection Act, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regulations.
The trade group stated in a white paper that more than INR 54,000 crore in foreign direct investment (FDI) funds have been given to the nation’s top three rapid commerce platforms: Zepto, Swiggy’s Instamart, and Blinkit, which is owned by Zomato. Just INR 1,300 crore, or 2.5%, of this has gone towards the creation of tangible assets. According to the report, operating losses brought on by predatory pricing practices may have accounted for more than half of the foreign direct investment.
It further stated that this is against FDI standards, which were designed to promote long-term growth through the development of infrastructure and assets.
Since retail trade is a state matter, CAIT will distribute copies of this white paper to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the Competition Commission of India, and the chief ministers of every state, according to CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal.
Ignoring FDI Norms
According to the CAIT’s research, these platforms use a “closed nexus of preferred sellers,” which is against the FDI standards and acts. The CAIT claimed that FDI regulations specifically forbid foreign-backed marketplaces from controlling or holding inventory.
Additionally, the trade group has asserted that these quick-commerce platforms restrict market access by predatory pricing, deep discounting, and exclusive agreements with specific suppliers, all of which are violations of the Competition Act. According to the report, they are driving small retailers and kirana shops out of the market by giving chosen vendors free or drastically reduced storage and delivery services.
CAIT claims that Blinkit uses five major vendors, including Superwell Comtrade, TAMS Global, and Kemexel Ecommerce. Among other companies, Swiggy Insatmart depends on PYD Retail, Bhagwati Stores, Getmax Globe, and FOCLO Technologies. As an inventory-based e-commerce company, Zepto, on the other hand, directly supplies products, completely avoiding third-party vendors.
Vertical Agreement With Preferred Players
According to the white paper, these platforms have vertical agreements with their favoured vendors, giving them complete control over price, distribution, storage, production, and supply. This restricts consumer options, affects purchase costs, and hinders independent sellers’ access to the market. Furthermore, it asserts that the platforms are violating the Consumer Protection Act by not giving customers clear information about the merchants. According to the trade group, these activities are putting the livelihoods of 3 crore kirana shopkeepers in jeopardy and forcing over 25% of them to close.
The white paper was released at a time when regulators are looking more closely at platforms for quick commerce. The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requested on 12 November that operators of e-commerce and quick-commerce food businesses guarantee a minimum shelf life of 30% or 45 days prior to product expiration at the time of delivery to customers. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) also sent notices to e-commerce and quick commerce companies last month for violating the Legal Metrology Packaged Commodity Rules (PCR) 2017 by failing to display the MRP and “best-before” dates for perishable goods on their platforms.
The US Dollar is the most commonly held currency in the world today holding over 60% of global foreign reserves. All the countries across the globe, including India, measure their currency values against USD in the global market. The fluctuating value of any currency against USD 1 is called the exchange rate.
Global trade is possible because of the existence of exchange rates and it is an important determinant of any country’s economic prowess.
It has been 75 years since India became a free country. Since then, the country’s currency has been on a roller-coaster ride against the US dollar. There have been various reasons for the largely downward trajectory of the INR’s journey including economic reforms, geopolitical issues, and even international issues. Currently, the Indian Rupee’s value against USD 1 is approximately INR 82.
It all began with the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1944 which required each country to measure its currency against the US Dollar. The dollar itself was convertible to gold at the rate of USD 35 per ounce. Being a part of this agreement, India followed the par value system of relative exchange rates. As the country was under British rule, INR value was derived from the British pound which was GBP 1 equaled INR 13. Similarly, GBP 1 equaled USD 2.73, which roughly translated to USD 1 equalling INR 4.76.
History of Indian Rupee vs US Dollar
INR Journey Post Independence
The journey of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar can be mapped in different phases since India won independence.
Phase I – From Independence to the 1960s
India gained independence from British rule on 15th August 1947. It was a time of great turmoil as the country’s economy was in shambles. In a bid to jump-start the economy, the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru adopted the five-year plans from Russia and began consistent loan borrowing in the 1950s which substantially increased in the 1960s.
However, even with increased borrowing, the country’s economy was facing a budget deficit which was further aggravated by the two wars in the decade. The first was the Indo-China war of 1962 and the second was the Indo-Pak war of 1965. Then struck the natural disaster of drought in 1965-1966. All of these added to increased spending on defense which reached a high of 24.06% of the total government expenditure.
Also, by 1966, the Indian Rupee finally moved away from the rate comparison of GBP 1 equalling INR 13 to a direct comparison with the US Dollar. All the economic upheaval of the previous years led the then Prime Minister to devalue the Indian Rupee to INR 7.50 against USD 1, which till then, had held a constant value of INR 4.76 against USD 1. This devaluation, in return, led to cheaper exports and expensive imports resulting in sharp inflation.
Phase II – Reduced Oil Production by OAPEC – The 1970s Decade
This was a decade of two major changes. First, the Bretton Woods Agreement collapsed in 1971, which meant India adopted the fixed rate system, linking its currency exchange rate to the UK Pound Sterling. A couple of years later, in 1973, the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) decided to reduce oil production. By 1974, the INR value further deteriorated to INR 8.10 against USD 1 in reaction to the oil crisis. In a bid to ensure stability and to its currency and to ensure that the increasing disadvantages of associating with a single currency were curbed, the Indian Rupee was pegged to various other currencies as well.
Phase III – The 1980s and 1990s
The two decades of the 1980s and 1990s were politically unstable for India. The assassination of Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1984 reduced foreign investor confidence in the economy. A few years later, in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, which was, till then, a crucial trade partner of India. This led to a sudden and large export fall. The Persian Gulf nations had doubled crude oil prices just a year prior leading to India facing a serious balance of payment crisis. The fiscal deficit of the country decreased to 7.8% of the GDP and the interest payment rose a whopping 39% of the total government’s revenue. Furthermore, the WPI inflation within the country was around 14%. The country was on the brink of bankruptcy and had no choice but to further borrow money from IMF (International Monetary Fund) against its gold reserves.
This severe economic crisis of 1991 was dealt with by the then government by further devaluing the Indian Rupee and by 1992 the exchange rate of USD 1 was INR 25.92.
Phase IV – The 21st Century
The Indian Rupee’s decline continued into the new century and by 2002 it was valued at INR 48.99 against USD 1. However, this also proved to be a turning point in the country’s economy as Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) increased within India and sustained till 2007 when the Indian Rupee appreciated reaching INR 39.27 against USD 1.
Unfortunately, the global financial market collapsed in 2008 ending the upward trend of the Indian Rupee and by 2009 it fell to a record of INR 51.75 against USD 1. Contributing global and domestic factors saw the INR further fall to 56.57 against USD 1 by early 2013.
Three years later, in an effort to combat corruption and black money within the economy, the Indian government announced demonetization which discontinued Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes with immediate effect. This led to almost 86% of the country’s currency being invalid adversely impacting consumption patterns, investment, and income. It was also a major push to a new digital India, thereby increasing cashless transactions. However, in 2016, the value of the Indian Rupee further decreased to INR 68.77 against USD 1.
Last but not least, was the global economic crises that followed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Currently, the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar is approximately INR 82.7.
The journey of the Indian currency against the US dollar is also a testament to the economic journey of the country since independence. Being one of the fastest-growing economies today and also one of the top 5 in the world, India is in a strong position of recovery. It will be interesting to watch how the Indian currency fares against the US dollar in the coming days.
FAQs
What factors affect the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar?
Several factors can affect the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar, including:
Interest rates
Inflation
Economic performance
Political stability
Trade balance
Capital flows
Monetary policies
How has the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar changed over time?
The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar has varied over time due to economic and political factors. The rupee has appreciated and depreciated against the dollar at different times, influenced by global economic conditions, monetary policies, and geopolitical events.
How do changes in oil prices affect the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar?
Oil price changes impact India’s import bill and can affect the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar. Higher oil prices lead to a higher import bill, putting pressure on the rupee, while lower oil prices can support the value of the rupee.
What is the role of the Reserve Bank of India in managing the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar?
The RBI manages the exchange rate by intervening in the foreign exchange market, using monetary policy tools, and managing India’s foreign exchange reserves.
Rapid FDI stride is something India is boasting of since economic liberation in 1991, And indeed it brought in huge investments and millions of jobs alongside. No doubt market reforms placed the economy on the fast track of development. But on the flip side, soon after FDI in multi-brand retail got introduced in 2012 local businesses and trades took a hit quite as expected. Especially since gigantic foreign players like Amazon entered the market, Plenty of jobs were lost while micro & small retailers suffered significant losses.
First Significant Change in FDI Policy That Hit Amazon/Flipkart
The ease & comfort of e-shopping has been intelligently multiplied in value by these global giants by offering heavy discounts. Therefore, to level out the playing field, Govt of India brought in a major policy shift Via FDI into e-commerce in Dec 2018. This change was persuaded by Indian brick-and-mortar retailers who were long unhappy with the supposed unfair trade practices of these multinational corporations.
They contested that e-commerce retailers like Amazon & Walmart controlled Flipkart were creating complex business structures to smartly bypass foreign investment rules. They do it by finding a way around FDI rules to avoid complying with orders that are detrimental to these corporation’s interests & profits.
US companies deny these charges, But govt of India had to look over the interests of Indian businesses first & so it did. Now, these giants were disallowed to sell products from sellers in whom they had an equity stake.
However, this didn’t seem to deter these foreign participants from working around policies to keep competition from Indian retailers at bay. So the Govt of India again is revisiting the FDI rules off late to tweak it further and Prohibit even those sellers from selling on these platforms, in whom these e-commerce companies have indirect stake through their parent company.
Prohibit sellers who purchase from the e-retailer or its group firm & intern sell on the e-commerce site (presently the seller is allowed to transact 25% of its inventory under this arrangement)
Govt had earlier in 2020 tightened the noose on FDI from neighboring countries as well, who share land borders with us like China, who now will have to seek govt approval before investing. The objective behind was to protect opportunistic take-overs & acquisitions of Indian companies in distress by foreign giants, due to COVID-19 induced global recession.
Henceforth, any new investments in any sector from these (restricted) countries namely China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Afghanistan will have to take the govt route, and not the automatic route which was open to it earlier.
E-commerce/E-retail Growth in India
Let us look at some fascinating facts & figures before we discuss this subject further:
Why E-commerce Regulation is Vital for Indian Economy
According to an American market research firm, Amazon & Flipkart together occupy about 63% of the total e-commerce space in India. Now, if domestic retailers, online & offline i.e. physical brick-and-mortar stores have to have a fair share of the market or a fair competition at least govt has to devise a strategy to promote Indian e-commerce & Industry without discouraging FDI. It’s a tough proposition.
FDI is looked over by Indian departments of commerce & industry. They formulate laws and regulate FDI inflow by framing new policies and/or modifying scrapping old policies & rules. While this is done to further the economy on a macro level, its ripple effect on the micro economy can’t be overlooked either.
So it has to strike a fine balance between retail reforms, an open market which on one hand benefits end consumers and provides millions of jobs. On the other hand predatory pricing, deep discounting by online retailers makes small retailers(mainly owner-managed & run stores) fight for survival tougher.
A large growing economy like India, where low production costs and high-quality labor service lures investors from the world over, developed nations like the US, European and China, is also most prone to manipulations by foreign players if given a free run. As feared in this tweet by CAIT, Amazon India has been disrespecting laws reveals a recent Reuters investigation.
— Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) (@CAITIndia) February 17, 2021
In January 2020, India’s antitrust watchdog, the Competition Commission of India, announced it was investigating Amazon and Walmart Inc’s Flipkart following a complaint by an Indian trader group. The commission cited four alleged anti-competitive practices: exclusive launch of mobile phones by the e-commerce firms, promoting preferred sellers on their websites, deep discounting, and prioritizing some seller listings over others.
What lies Ahead for Amazon & Flipkart
While the colossal change in consumer behavior is unlikely to fade in near future, Amazon & Flipkart also maintain that they have been complying with Indian laws duly & are denying all charges. Govt is in talks with stakeholders for over a month. Therefore, for now, it is difficult to say what impact the policy changes, if any, will bring in, though e-retail unquestionably seems to have a bright future in the Indian market of a billion-plus.
FAQ
How much FDI is allowed in retail?
51% FDI in multi-brand retail through automatic route i.e. without having to seek govt approval.
Do online marketplaces like Amazon have their own products?
Amazon and other multi-brand retail marketplaces are only allowed to connect sellers & buyers on their website in India. They are not allowed to purchase, hold, market and sell stocks as their own.
Who started e-commerce in India?
K Vaitheeswaran was the first person who opened the first online marketplace for Indian consumers called Fabmart.com in India in 1999, now rebranded as ‘More’.
The government of India brought in a lot of changes in the FDI norms. This was done keeping in mind the nation’s condition amidst the global pandemic. The main aim was to prevent foreign companies from opportunistic take overs of Indian firms.
The recent investments made their point on curbing Chinese investments in Indian Firms. As per the new FDI norm any country that shares a land border with India will no longer be able to use the automatic route in the FDI. The companies who would like to invest must seek government’s clearance over any investment proposal.
The changes were brought in late April earlier this year. The main aim was to stop Chinese Investors from their predatory behavior. These rules would be applied on countries such as Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Afghanistan. But there is a very small flow of investments from these countries. So, this is evident that the norms are to keep an eye on China for any signs of exploitative behavior.
All this was not done on any sudden decision. The reason behind all this is form the year 2015. Since 2015 China has increased its investment in India. This looks like a very strategic move. According to a report by the DPIIT, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. The total amount of FDI that has flown from China to India is around $1.8 Billion. All this within a 2015-2019. In the year 2015 itself there was an investment of total $494.75 million.
The industry that has particularly caught the eye of the Chinese investor is the Indian Automobile Industry. Between the same period that is from 2015-2019. The automobile Industry has seen a total investment of $876.30 million. The electrical equipment manufacturing along with the book printing sectors have also seen a hug inflow. All this FDI flow confirms the foothold of Chinese investors in the nation.
Yearly FDI Inflows (in USD Million)
The companies that would be affected the most would be the companies like BigBasket, Paytm and Ola. These companies are just collateral damages of the governments new rules to protect minor companies. The online Grocery vendor Gofers along with the digital payment app and OLA have received millions of dollars as investment from Chinese Investors.
The new norms would effect the fresh funds that were supposed to role in.
“The new FDI guidelines essentially imply Chinese capital would require prior government approval. In effect, given the uncertainty around approval, startups will shy away from Chinese capital. In the immediate future, this could impact PhonePe and potentially Paytm at a later date,” said Ashneer Grover, CEO and co-founder, BharatPe
According to a report by the Think Tank Gateway House a total of $4 Billion has been invested in Indian startups by the Chinese tech investors. Another report said that 18 of India’s 30 Unicorn Startups are funded by Chinese Investors.
BigBasket the online grocery store got a $50 million funding from Alibaba. This investment rolled in when the company was facing its own share of problems in the lockdown. But these new FDI norms would hit the company. BigBasket would face troubles for its capital infusions with Alibaba. BigBasket would now have to search other places to reach its requirements on the basis of investments.
Paytm raised a huge sum of $1 Billion from the Soft Bank in Japan and from Ant Financial from Alibaba. Paytm faces tough competition from Google and PhonePe(owned by Walmart). To fight these competitors Paytm has to be always on the edge of innovation . But the company would face a major fallback after the new norms. Alibaba is the largest share holder in the company. This would indeed affect the digital payments platform.
Alibaba’s Ant Financial has been an investor in Zomato since the year 2018. Ant Financial invested $210 million in the food delivery app. It go a stake of 14.7%. By this Ant Financial became the company’s Largest investor. This stake was raised to 23%. According to news reports this was going to be increased earlier this year. But between that the Indian government revised its FDI norms.
18 of the 30 Unicorn Startups who are funded by Chinese Investors would face a lot of troubles. The move of making changes in the FDI norms is to hurt the Chinese Investors. But this would hurt the unicorn startups. This move has put many jobs on risk.
Nitin Konde
