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News18
7 days ago
- Business
- News18
Foreign Lobbyists Want India To Give Up Digital Competition Bill
India has the opportunity to shape the next decade of global digital regulation as a leader making rules that protect innovators, empower consumers and secure economic sovereignty There is a concerted effort by foreign lobbying organisations to pressure India to abandon its Digital Competition Bill. Lobbying is everywhere in the corridors of power, by think tanks both in India and abroad, industry association that house under the guise of startups but are actually working for foreign companies and even think tanks and policy advocates have been roped into to force the government to give up most of the clauses of the Digital Competition Act. It is essential to understand the importance of this bill, which is expected to level the playing field not only between Indian and foreign digital companies but also enable the Indian manufacturing sector to survive the onslaught of Chinese imports. Digital is taking over the retail sector at a breakneck pace; buyers are moving away from offline to digital, malls in metros are already witnessing a stagnation in rentals or vacancies. The online digital market is expected to touch $325 billion by 2030 according to Deloitte, growing 2.5 times the offline retail market. Real estate consultancy firm ANAROCK is even more bullish, it says that digital retail will touch $550 billion by 2035 in a report titled 'Future of Retail". It estimates the overall online market will jump to $325 billion in 2030 from $70 billion in 2022. However, it will be larger than the organised retail market, which is projected to reach just $230 billion in 2030, doubling from a base of $110 billion in 2022. Organised retail is defined by companies such as Trent and Reliance Trends, which rent malls and sell through them. Lobbyists try to downplay this growth of digital by comparing it not to the organised retail, but to the total retail market, where the unorganised sector is much larger. These lobbyists keep saying that digital is so small that it does not matter. Why are we trying to curb its growth? Online retail is driven by technology, creating jobs that fuel further innovation. Lobbyists representing Big Tech and industry bodies such as the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and the US-India Business Council (USIBC) have continuously raised objections to the bill and are especially concerned about its ex-ante regulatory approach. Their core argument is that India should avoid adopting an EU-style framework like the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and instead focus on strengthening its existing competition law through better enforcement. However, this opposition ignores India's interest as well as the fact that all these companies are following this very rule in the EU. It is as if they still want to treat India as a third world country where they can bully and beat their way into ignoring everything that is fair. Ex-ante regulation refers to a pre-emptive system of oversight. Rather than waiting for anti-competitive behaviour to occur and then reacting—as is the case with ex-post regulation—ex-ante rules seek to prevent abuses before they can harm consumers or distort markets. The draft Digital Competition Bill (DCB) proposes to classify certain large digital firms as 'Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises" (SSDEs), subjecting them to a set of obligations aimed at preventing monopolistic conduct. These include bans on self-preferencing, the misuse of non-public business data, and mandatory interoperability, along with requirements for transparency and user choice in defaults. Lobbyists write in the Economic Times of July 7, 2025 against the DCB, suggesting that India should avoid emulating Europe's 'stringent rules' and instead focus on building up the enforcement capacity of its existing framework under the Competition Act. They caution that hardwired bans could penalise scale, discourage innovation, and stifle growth. This is the traditional argument given by all Tech monopolists that scale will be affected, the question is whose scale it is the scale of these monopoly platforms that is affected. Who loses the whole economy of the country loses if these rules are not enacted. Jobs are lost, as consolidation of sellers leads to Chinese imports, which harms manufacturing. The loss of jobs in organised and unorganised retail has been well documented. In the long run this leads to the hollowing out of the Indian economy, like it has happened in the US. EU regulators are therefore insisting on controls. Lobbyists even get vague surveys done to show that DCB will harm MSMEs and legacy media publishes without checking the accuracy of the sample size and its impact. If ex-ante regulations are not applied these tech platforms have perfected the system of delaying any impact of regulations. They have been running circles around CCI by filing so many petitions in the court against every decision that no action can be taken against them. The action by CCI almost becomes irrelevant by the time it is implemented through the courts, which in India can take years. Moreover, the fine that is levied is so small and the profits that these platforms generate is so humongous that they are willing to pay the fine and continue doing what they were fined for. Another paper funded by Google and Amazon and written by the think tank Carnegie Endowment has a similar if more detailed take. The paper says that ex-ante regulation is not effective not only due to new rules but because it builds preventive capacity within regulators. This is particularly relevant in digital markets, where network effects and data lock-ins can lead to early entrenchment of power and create 'winner-takes-most" scenarios well before any formal abuse is registered. The central reason why Big Tech and their affiliated lobbyists are pushing back against the Digital Competition Bill lies in how it threatens the core of their business models. Ex-ante rules would curtail their ability to self-preference their services, integrate user data across platforms, and push default settings that steer users toward their own offerings. These practices have been instrumental in consolidating their dominance. While they argue that such regulation would stifle innovation and increase compliance costs, what they are effectively defending is their capacity to extract advantage from scale, integration, and opacity. Below is a snapshot of the main concerns raised by the lobbyists and their implications for competition and consumers in India: What's often left unsaid in the lobbyist submissions is that global giants are already adapting to the DMA in Europe. The opposition to India adopting a similar path has less to do with the principle of regulation and more with maintaining the asymmetry of power in markets like India, where regulatory institutions are weaker and startup ecosystems are still maturing. For Indian digital businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, the current imbalance often manifests in opaque search rankings, exploitative commissions, and arbitrary changes to algorithmic visibility—all of which could be addressed through ex-ante mechanisms. Moreover, the claim that ex-ante rules will deter investment is not supported by global evidence. The DMA has not led to any large-scale disinvestment in Europe; instead, it has encouraged many emerging firms to explore European markets because they now face a more level playing field. For India, a calibrated ex-ante approach could do the same: enhance competition, promote innovation from the bottom up, and ensure that market dominance does not translate into market abuse. The Digital Competition Bill attempts to do exactly that. By identifying SSDEs based on both quantitative and qualitative thresholds, it aims to target those enterprises whose control over user data, platform infrastructure, and market access creates systemic dependencies. What the lobbyists are asking India to do is to delay such a move in favour of a slower, case-by-case model that has already proven inadequate in addressing fast-moving harms. Their appeals to protect innovation and investment are, in effect, appeals to maintain dominance and avoid disruption. India would do well to reject these pleas and proceed with a well-designed ex-ante framework—not as a copy of the EU model, but as a sovereign assertion of its right to define fair competition in its own digital economy. top videos View all India has the opportunity to shape the next decade of global digital regulation—not as a passive recipient of Western frameworks but as a proactive leader crafting rules that protect its innovators, empower its consumers, and secure its economic sovereignty. The Digital Competition Bill, with its ex-ante core, is a step in precisely that direction. K Yatish Rajawat is a public policy researcher and works at the Gurugram-based think tank Centre for Innovation in Public Policy (CIPP). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 08, 2025, 15:34 IST News opinion Opinion | Foreign Lobbyists Want India To Give Up Digital Competition Bill
The Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- The Wire
Average Home Prices in Thane Up 46% in Last 3 Years, 2BHKs Dominate New Supply
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (NewsVoir) • Residential prices in Thane stand at INR 19,800 per sq. ft. as of Q2 2025-end, against INR 13,550 per sq. ft. in Q2 2022 • 2BHKs comprise approx. 45% of overall new supply b/w FY 2020 and FY 2025; 42% is 1BHKs (strong demand for smaller homes); 3BHK share - 11%, 4BHKs - just 2%; dominant budget range - INR 80 lakh to INR 1.6 Cr • Thane's skyline now has 89 residential skyscrapers of 40 floors: vertical growth imperative amid reducing land availability • Thane housing market significantly changed b/w FY 2020 & FY 2025; post-COVID-19, new supply rose approx. 103% in FY 2023 over FY 2020; absorption rose approx. 78% in FY 2024 vis-à-vis FY 2020 • 47% supply share by Grade A developers, leading to high confidence & demand • Top 5 micro markets based on highest new supply - Panchpakhadi & Naupada (Thane Central), Pokhran Road, Majiwada-Balkum, Kolshet Road & Kasarvadavali Thane, once seen as a supporting suburb, now headlines the Mumbai Metropolitan Region residential real estate revolution, riding on rapid infrastructure upgrades, surging buyer interest, and a hot housing market. A report by ANAROCK titled 'Thane: The Rising Star of MMR Real Estate' highlights the city's explosive housing price growth – a whopping 46% leap in average residential prices in just three years, from INR 13,550/sq. ft. in Q2 2022 to INR 19,800/sq. ft. in Q2 2025. Aayush Puri, Head – ANAROCK Channel Partners (ACP) & ANACITY, points out that prices in Thane have rocketed up 60% since 2020, when the average was around INR 12,400 per sq. ft. 'Thane is not just a hot residential destination - it has also played a key role in redefining the MMR housing landscape. 'Thane's steady capital values growth has largely been fuelled by infrastructure upgrades that have ignited homebuyer interest. Demand for under-construction homes outperforms ready-to-move-in units in 2025 so far, largely because the city offers luxury homes at relatively affordable prices in contrast to Mumbai's prime markets.' A total of 65,800 units were launched in Thane between FY 2020 to FY 2025, finds the report. Nearly 45% of the overall new supply in this period comprises of 2BHKs, followed by 42% of 1BHKs. 3BHKs comprise a 11% share, and 4BHKs just 2%. 'Affordability is a major keyword in Thane's housing market,' says Aayush Puri. 'We are seeing a strong market inclination towards smaller residential units. On that front, Thane is at least 78% more affordable than suburban Mumbai. For instance, a 2BHK home with an average carpet area of 650 sq. ft. costs about INR 1.25 Cr, while in Mumbai's central suburbs it will cost around INR 2.11 Cr. In the western suburbs, it goes as high as INR 2.36 Cr – and this is just the BSP, not factoring in GST, registration, and other charges.' Amid core Mumbai's skyrocketing property values, Thane is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for homebuyers and investors seeking better value without compromising on quality. The report adds that Thane's residential skyline currently boasts of 89 skyscrapers of 40 floors, mirroring the land scarcity-driven vertical growth imperative of Mumbai City. There have been some notable changes on the Thane real estate market, finds the report. Between COVID-struck FY 2020 and FY 2025, FY 2023 saw new housing supply there grow by almost 103% when compared to FY 2020, while absorption rose a dizzying 78% - to 19,600 units in FY 2024 from FY 2020. In Q1FY 2026, Thane saw approx. 3,130 residential units sold, while new supply stood at 2,910 units. Other Report Highlights: • Panchpakhadi and Naupada in Thane Central, Pokhran Road, Majiwada-Balkum, Kolshet Road and Kasarvadavali are the top five micro-markets based on maximum new supply. 47% of the new supply being delivered by Grade A developers • Around 44% of Thane's residential supply is in the INR 80 lakh to INR 1.6 Cr. budget segment, which will likely dominate the market going forward given the prevailing capital value trends in the region • Thane, being in the heart of MMR, is assured of sustained growth real estate growth thanks to large-scale planned and ongoing infrastructure enhancements worth INR 59,000 Cr (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
India Today
7 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Is Thane outshining Mumbai real estate with cheaper housing?
Thane is no longer just a quiet neighbour of Mumbai, it has become one of the busiest real estate pockets in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). In just three years, home prices here have shot up by 46%, showing how popular this city has become among homebuyers looking for better to a new report by ANAROCK titled, 'Thane: The Rising Star of MMR Real Estate', the average price of a home in Thane was around Rs 13,550 per square foot in the second quarter of 2022. By the end of June 2025, this has jumped to about Rs 19,800 per square SMALLER HOMES ARE IN DEMANDMost new homes coming up in Thane are either 1BHK or 2BHK units. About 45% of new supply from 2020 to 2025 was 2BHKs, while 42% was 1BHKs. Larger homes like 3BHKs and 4BHKs together make up only around 13% of the new supply. The most popular price bracket for these homes is between Rs 80 lakh and Rs 1.6 crore, which is still seen as reasonable when compared to Mumbai's central or western suburbs.'Affordability is the main draw for people choosing Thane,' says Aayush Puri, Head- ANAROCK Channel Partners (ACP) and ANACITY. He explains that Thane homes are at least 78% cheaper than similar ones in Mumbai's example, a 2BHK with an average carpet area of 650 sq. ft. costs about Rs 1.25 crore in Thane, while the same unit can cost over Rs 2 crore in Mumbai's central suburbs and nearly Rs 2.4 crore in the western parts of the city, not including GST, registration and other extra GROWTH THE NEW NORMALDue to shrinking land in Thane, builders are now going vertical. The city now has 89 residential towers that are more than 40 floors shows how developers are trying to make the best use of limited land by building upwards. Around 47% of this new supply comes from Grade A developers, giving buyers more trusted AREAS IN THANESome of the hottest areas in Thane are Panchpakhadi and Naupada in Thane Central, Pokhran Road, Majiwada-Balkum, Kolshet Road, and Kasarvadavali. These pockets have good connectivity, social infrastructure, and new projects by well-known more people looking for affordable but modern homes, Thane's property market looks set to stay strong in the years to come.- Ends
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Thane housing prices soar 46% in 3 years-Should you still buy here?
Thane is no longer just a Mumbai suburb—it's a booming residential hub. Over the past three years, average home prices in Thane have jumped a steep 46%, from ₹13,550/sq. ft. in Q2 2022 to ₹19,800/sq. ft. as of Q2 2025, according to a new ANAROCK report titled 'Thane: The Rising Star of MMR Real Estate.' "Thane's steady capital values growth has largely been fuelled by infrastructure upgrades that have ignited homebuyer interest. Demand for under-construction homes outperforms ready-to-move-in units in 2025 so far, largely because the city offers luxury homes at relatively affordable prices in contrast to Mumbai's prime markets," said Aayush Puri, Head – ANAROCK Channel Partners(ACP) & ANACITY. A total of 65,800 units were launched in Thane between FY 2020 to FY 2025, finds the report. Nearly 45% of the overall new supply in this period comprises of 2BHKs, followed by 42% of 1BHKs. 3BHKs comprise a 11% share, and 4BHKs just 2% What's Fueling Thane's Property Boom? Massive Infrastructure Push: With projects worth ₹59,000 crore underway—including new metro lines, road upgrades, and connectivity to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and beyond—Thane's accessibility is rapidly improving. Affordable Luxury: A 2BHK in Thane (~650 sq. ft.) costs around ₹1.25 crore—at least 78% cheaper than a similar unit in Mumbai's western suburbs. Post-Covid Momentum: New housing supply surged 103% in FY23 over FY20, and sales jumped 78% by FY24, with 19,600 units sold. Buyer Preferences: Smaller, Smarter, and Skyscraper Living Between FY2020 and FY2025: 2BHKs accounted for 45% of new launches. 1BHKs came in close at 42%. Only 11% of launches were 3BHKs and just 2% were 4BHKs, reflecting demand for budget-conscious homes. Vertical growth is booming too—Thane now has 89 residential towers with 40+ floors, reflecting rising land scarcity and urban densification. Why Investors Are Still Interested Grade A Confidence: 47% of new supply is from top-tier developers, ensuring quality and buyer trust. Mid-Budget Sweet Spot: 44% of supply is priced between ₹80 lakh and ₹1.6 crore—a range that suits both end-users and investors. Consistent Demand: In Q1 FY26 alone, 3,130 homes were sold against 2,910 new launches—a healthy absorption rate. 'Thane is not just a satellite city anymore—it's a value-rich real estate magnet,' said Puri. "We are seeing a strong market inclination towards smaller residential units. On that front, Thane is at least 78% more affordable than suburban Mumbai. For instance, a 2BHK home with an average carpet area of 650 sq. ft. costs about INR 1.25 Cr, while in Mumbai's central suburbs it will cost around INR 2.11 Cr. In the western suburbs, it goes as high as INR 2.36 Cr – and this is just the BSP, not factoring in GST, registration, and other charges," Puri added. Where Is the Action? Top 5 high-growth micro-markets: Panchpakhadi & Naupada (Thane Central) Pokhran Road Majiwada-Balkum Kolshet Road Kasarvadavali These zones dominate new launches and are emerging as investment hotspots thanks to proximity to transport corridors and social infrastructure. At what price? Around 44% of Thane's residential supply is in the Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.6 Cr. budget segment, which will likely dominate the market going forward given the prevailing capital value trends in the region, as per Anarock. Bottom Line: Should You Buy in Thane? Yes, if you want a long-term asset with solid appreciation potential—and especially if you're priced out of Mumbai's prime areas. The sweet spot remains 1–2BHKs in well-connected zones, ideally with upcoming infrastructure and from reputed developers. But be cautious of overpaying—prices have surged fast, and new supply is catching up. Focus on projects with clear delivery timelines and long-term growth prospects. Tip for First-Time Buyers: Use Thane's price differential to your advantage. Opt for under-construction homes from trusted names for the best value. Just remember to factor in GST and other hidden costs before signing.
United News of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
76 land deals over 2,898 acres transacted in H1 2025, value Rs 30,885 cr
Kolkata, July 9 (UNI) The real estate market's unprecedented post-pandemic growth across sectors has seen large and listed developers, as well as other entities, snapping up land for various developments. Besides residential real estate, commercial, retail, industrial & logistics, and warehousing are also driving prime land deals in key locations across India, an ANAROCK report said. This land buying spree continued unabated in the first half of 2025, breaking all previous records and defying the overall sombre sentiment brought on by ongoing geopolitical tensions in other industries. Over 2,898 acres of land were transacted in 76 deals across India in H1 2025, finds the latest ANAROCK report titled 'Land as Capital: Decoding India's Land Transaction Patterns and Investment Flows'. The total volume of the land transacted so far in 2025 is already 1.15 times the deals volume seen in the whole of 2024, which saw about 133 deals for 2,515 acres concluded. The total value of the land transacted in H1 2025 was Rs 30,885 Cr, with a revenue potential of approximately Rs 1.47 lakh crore and a total development potential of over 233 Mn sq. ft. UNI PC PRS
