Union Government constitutes Amitabh Kant committee to review e-commerce rules

The Union Government has decided to set up a committee to look at easing the policy regime for e-commerce players, including the rules for foreign direct investment. 
•    The committee will be headed by Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog. 
•    The other members in the panel will include officials from Union Commerce Ministry and Industry and Department of electronics and IT among others.
•    Representatives from four states including Maharashtra and Karnataka will also be the members of the committee. 
•    The terms of reference of the Committee is to examine various issues in e-commerce sector and making recommendations for further liberalization of the policy. 
•    The terms of reference of the Committee is to look into all issues including FDI norms pertaining to the fast growing e-commerce industry in the country. 
•    There are issues related to e-commerce players selling pharmaceuticals and some e-commerce firms are facing taxation related problems in few states. 
•    Setting up of this committee assumes significance as the Union Government recently had permitted 100 per cent FDI in food processing sector.