Decision of GST Council : Inter-State e-way Bill to be made compulsory from 1 st of February, 2018; system to be ready by 16th of January, 2018.

The 24th meeting of the GST Council held today through a video conference. It discussed about the implementation of e-way Bill system in the country. Till such time as National e-way Bill is ready, the States were authorized to continue their own separate e-way Bill systems. However, it was represented by the trade and transporters that this is causing undue hardship in the inter-State movement of goods and therefore, bringing in an early all India system of e-way Bill has become a necessity. The GST Council reviewed the progress of readiness of hardware and software required for the introduction of nationwide e-way Bill system. After discussions with all the states, the following decisions are taken :- 

i) The nationwide e-way Bill system will be ready to be rolled out on a trial basis latest by 16th January, 2018. Trade and transporters can start using this system on a voluntary basis from 16th January, 2018. 

ii) The rules for implementation of nationwide e-way Bill system for inter-State movement of goods on a compulsory basis will be notified with effect from 1 st February, 2018. This will bring uniformity across the States for seamless inter-State movement of goods. 

iii) While the system for both inter-State and intra-State e-way Bill generation will be ready by 16th January, 2018, the States may choose their own timings for implementation of e-way Bill for intra-State movement of goods on any date before 1 st June, 2018. There are certain States which are already having system of e-way Bill for intra-State as well as inter-State movement and some of those States can be early adopters of national eway Bill system for intra-State movement also. But in any case uniform system of e-way Bill for inter-State as well as intra-State movement will be implemented across the country by 1 st June, 2018

Samsung Notebook 9 (2018): Powerful design, yet lightweight and thin

With three different versions offering a 13.3” to a 15” screen and enhanced graphics capabilities, the Notebook 9 (2018) weighs up to 2.84 pounds and measures 15.4mm, one of the lightest and thinnest notebook devices in its class. The bezel around the screen measures 6.2mm providing a more immersive experience. This means great portability without sacrificing screen size, as well as a stronger, more durable metal body featuring Metal12™ which provides durability while keeping it super light.

The device also provides always-on power thanks to the 75Wh Hexacell battery, Samsung’s largest and most powerful battery placed inside a notebook. For the times when charging is necessary, it also supports fast charging.

Living a Blended Lifestyle

The new Samsung Notebook 9 Pen and Notebook 9 (2018) feature key improvements designed to support our personal and professional lives. These features include:

• Notebooks designed for mobility – both devices are among the thinnest in their class for easy portability, and working on-the-go. Made from Metal12™ complemented by Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO) technology, both devices are lighter than most metal laptops, yet durable with the advanced MAO treatment of oxide coating on the surface to ensure to-do lists get finished regardless of where life takes you.
• Added security and convenience – both devices come with Windows Hello built-in for secure authentication through the fingerprint sensor without having to type in a password, while the Notebook 9 Pen also features an IR front-facing camera for facial recognition login through Windows Hello. Both PCs feature the Privacy Folder for storing sensitive data.
• High-quality performance – combining the best in portability with a high-quality display and strong performance, the RealView display brings a bright and accurate premium image, with lifelike colors and incredible brightness ideal for using the device both indoors and out. Both devices also feature the latest 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and Samsung Dual Channel Memory for quick speeds to handle jobs like running multiple programs or viewing and rendering high-quality graphics without reduced performance or speed.
• Productivity and collaboration – Samsung offers several tools that appeal to tech-savvy professionals such as Samsung Link Sharing, which allows users to transfer videos, photos and documents stored on your PC to another computer or smart device*. Additional software solutions available on both devices include Samsung Message that enable users to send messages from their PC to contacts saved on their smartphone**, as well as preinstalled Voice Note for voice-activated note taking, and Studio Plus for custom content creation and editing.

Source: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Smartphones Available at Never-Before Prices on Flipkart During ‘New Pinch Days’ Sale

Samsung India, the country’s biggest and most trusted consumer electronics brand, has partnered with e-commerce giant – Flipkart, to offer a series of deals on Samsung Galaxy smartphones under the ‘New Pinch Days’ sale. During the three-day sale, starting December 15, consumers will be able to buy Samsung Galaxy smartphones at never-before prices.

During the ‘New Pinch Days’ sale, Samsung Galaxy On Nxt (64GB), one of the best-selling Samsung Galaxy ‘On’ series smartphones, will be available at an unbelievable price of INR 11,900 with a flat discount of INR 6,000. Samsung Galaxy S7, another best-seller flagship, will be up for grabs at an extremely attractive price of INR 29,990 along with an extra INR 5,000 off on exchange.

In addition, there will be offers on Galaxy J3 Pro and Galaxy On5. Customers will also get an instant cashback of 10% on all the products when purchased through HDFC debit and credit cards.

“We are happy to spread the joy this festival season with exciting offers, exchange schemes and cashback offers that will allow consumers to purchase and enjoy their favourite Samsung Galaxy smartphones,” Mr. Sandeep Singh Arora, Vice President, Online Business, Samsung India, said.

Source: Samsung

Tata Motors delivers first batch of the Tigor Electric Vehicles to EESL Celebrates National Energy Conservation Day

Tata Motors today delivered the first set of Tigor Electric Vehicles (EVs) to state-run Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) as part of their initiative to procure 10,000 electric vehicles. Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors handed over the keys of the Tigor EVs to Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director, EESL, accompanied by the senior management teams from both the companies.

Commenting on the occasion, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors, said, “This initiative of the Government of India to procure 10,000 electric vehicles is a bold step in terms of promoting green & sustainable transport solutions. We, at Tata Motors, are extremely proud to be part of this project and are supportive of the Government’s transformational vision of auto electrification in India. With Tigor EV, we have begun our journey in boosting e-mobility and will offer a full range of electric vehicles to the Indian customers. This tender has an effectively paved way for connecting our aspirations in the e-mobility space with the vision of the Government.”

The Tigor EV is a full electric, zero emission ‘StyleBack’ that comes with a stunning, break-free and revolutionary design, set to build on the existing Passenger Vehicles portfolio of Tata Motors. Specific to the EESL order, the Tigor EV will be delivered in three trim variants – Base, Premium and High and will be available in ‘Pearlescent White’ color with blue decals. Over the basic requirements of the tender, the Tigor EV, across the variants, would have FATC (Fully Automatic AC) to provide maximum comfort to its occupants. Equipped with a single speed, automatic transmission, the Tigor EV will also allow the customers to enjoy the driving experience, maximized efficiency, and seamless acceleration. The electric drive systems for the Tigor EV is developed and supplied by Electra EV – a company established to develop and supply electric drive systems for the automotive sector.

Tata Motors had qualified as an L1 bidder in the midst of stiff competition and won the tender floated by EESL in September 2017. For phase 1, Tata Motors is required to deliver 250 Tigor EVs, for which it has received a LoA.

Tata Motors is committed to the Government’s vision for electric vehicles by 2030 and will work in a collaborative manner to facilitate faster adoption of electric vehicles and to build a sustainable future for India.

Source: Tata Motors

Vodafone Offers 2GB Data Per Day, Unlimited Local And STD Calls And More At Rs 348 To Counter Jio’s Rs 399 Plan

Vodafone Offers 2GB Data Per Day, Unlimited Local And STD Calls And More At Rs 348 To Counter Jio’s Rs 399 Plan. This Vodafone plan which was first launched in August this year comes as a major competition to Airtel's Rs 349 plan and Jio's 399 plan that offer exciting deals for its prepaid customers.

New Delhi, December 14: Telecom major Vodafone India has revised its Rs 348 pack for prepaid customers to counter rival Jio and Airtel’s disruptive offers. Under the new plan, users who got 1GB of data per day will now be able to get 2GB data per day. This means prepaid users are eligible to effectively get a total of 56GB of data along with voice calling facilities for 28 days at Rs 348. The plan, which was first launched in August this year comes as a major competition to Airtel’s Rs 349 plan and Jio’s 399 plan that offer exciting deals for its prepaid customers.

The entry of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio in September 2016 waged a data war in the telecom sector, forcing rival telcos to slash their tariff rates to retain their customers. Since then, all the major telcos including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, and others have been revising their plans and rolling out new ones to benefit customers.  Under the newly upgraded Vodafone plan, the telco is providing unlimited local, STD, and roaming calls with a daily cap of 250 minutes. This means Vodafone users taking up this plan will be able to make voice calls not more than 25 minutes every day, after which a 1 paisa per second will be charged. It had to be noted that the users can use 1000 calling minutes in a week.

As per reports, users are also eligible for a 5 percent cash back on availing the 348 plan from the app and website. If we were to compare this plan with Airtel and Jio, the Rs 349 Airtel plan offers 2GB 4G data per day, 28-day validity, free calls, and 100 SMSes per day while the Jio’s Rs 309 plan offers 49GB data at 1GB per day and 49-day validity, along with free calls, 3,000 SMSes, roaming outgoing calls.

Source: Yahoo News

Tata Motors to increase prices of its Passenger Vehicles up to INR 25,000 per vehicle from January 2018

Tata Motors today announced that the Company would be increasing prices of its entire passenger vehicles range by up to INR. 25,000, starting January 2018. This increase in price is due to rising input costs.

According to Mr. Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors, “The changing market conditions, rising input costs and various external economic factors have compelled us to consider the price increase. We are optimistic about maintaining our growth trajectory in the coming year on the back of our robust product portfolio like TIAGO, HEXA, TIGOR and the recently launched NEXON.”

The introductory prices of the recently launched lifestyle compact SUV, NEXON, which comes with Level NEX Design, Performance and Technology features, will be ending by 31st December and this entire range will also witness a price hike from January 2018 by up to INR. 25,000.

Source: Tata Motors

Best month of all time: ŠKODA AUTO sets new record in November

Mladá Boleslav – This is the best month in the history of ŠKODA AUTO: In November, the Czech car manufacturer delivered 114,600 vehicles – more than ever before in a single month. ŠKODA AUTO surpassed last November’s result by 17.5%. ŠKODA AUTO posted double-digit growth rates in Europe (+12.2%), India (+43.0%) and its largest sales market China (+23.4%). Delivering 37,000 vehicles in November, the brand set a new record in China.

“Delivering 114,600 vehicles, we have achieved the strongest sales month in the history of ŠKODA AUTO,” says Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “The ŠKODA KODIAQ has become an established name in our statistics. We are also delighted with the successful launch of the ŠKODA KAROQ. Both models are an integral part of our global SUV campaign. Between January and November 2017, we delivered around 50% more SUVs than in the same period last year.”

In Western Europe, ŠKODA achieved a year-on-year increase of 7.9% in November with 40,100 deliveries (November 2016: 37,200 vehicles). With 16,100 vehicles sold, Germany continues to be the strongest single European market (November 2016: 14,600 vehicles). ŠKODA recorded double-digit growth in Austria (2,100 vehicles, +29.5%), Italy (2,100 vehicles, +24.4%), Sweden (1,600 vehicles, +17.3%), Finland (800 vehicles, +28.4%) and Greece (200 vehicles, + 36.2%).

In Central Europe, deliveries increased by 18.6% to 19,100 vehicles (November 2016: 16,100 vehicles). Deliveries on the domestic market of the Czech Republic increased by 3.9% to 8,300 vehicles (November 2016: 8,000 vehicles). ŠKODA AUTO achieved double-digit growth rates in Poland (6,400 vehicles, + 35.5%), Hungary (1,700 vehicles, + 84.7%), Slovakia (1,900 vehicles, + 10.8%) and Croatia (200 vehicles, + 11.4%).

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, ŠKODA AUTO achieved an increase of 18.9% in November compared to the same period last year, delivering 3,800 vehicles (November 2016: 3,200 vehicles). The carmaker recorded significant growth rates in Romania (1,200 vehicles, +27.5%), Bulgaria (300 vehicles, +24.5%) and Ukraine (700 vehicles, +73.3%).

In Russia, deliveries increased by 19.4% to 5,700 vehicles (November 2016: 4,800 vehicles). 

In Turkey, ŠKODA AUTO recorded strong growth – up 49.4% year-on-year to 3,300 vehicles (November 2016: 2,200 vehicles). 

In Israel, deliveries increased by 47.8% to 1,700 vehicles (November 2016: 1,200 vehicles). 

In November, the manufacturer achieved 37,000 deliveries in its largest single market – China – with an increase of 23.4% (November 2016: 30,000 vehicles).  Never before in the company’s history has ŠKODA AUTO delivered more cars in China in one month as last month.

Deliveries in India increased by 43.0% to 1,400 vehicles (November 2016: 1000 vehicles). With the introduction of the ŠKODA KODIAQ in October this year, the SUV campaign is also showing its effect here. 

Source: Skoda - Auto