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<ul><li>The development comes a year after <keyword id="1856373" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ankhi-das" source="Orion">Ankhi Das</keyword> quit the position amidst allegations of favouring the ruling BJP.</li><li>Aggarwal has three decades of experience as an <keyword id="6360156" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ias-officer" source="Orion">IAS officer</keyword> and a <keyword id="6529022" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-policy" source="Orion">public policy</keyword> expert.</li><li>He had also worked with Uber as the head of public policy for India and South Asia.</li></ul>US-based social networking giant <keyword id="6354576" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook" source="Orion">Facebook</keyword> has appointed former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer <keyword id="299725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajiv-aggarwal" source="Orion">Rajiv Aggarwal</keyword> as the head of Public Policy, almost a year after Ankhi Das quit the position amidst allegations of favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Aggarwal has three decades of experience as an IAS officer and a public policy expert. He started off his career as an assistant mechanical engineer at Indian railways in 1991 and has spent 26 years working in the IAS. He has been a District Magistrate in nine districts across the state of Uttar Pradesh. During his tenure as an administrative officer, Aggarwal steered India's first ever national policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) as Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, which comes under the ministry of commerce. He later joined Uber in 2019 as the head of public policy for India as well as South Asia. The appointment of Aggarwal as the head of public policy is an important one, especially after the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebooks-india-public-policy-head-ankhi-das-quits/articleshow/78894786.cms"> allegations </a>that were raised against former public policy chief Ankhi Das last year. According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ)<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-11597423346"> report</a> published in August 2020, Das was accused of not applying the company's hate speech policy to BJP politicians to seek favours from the Indian government. Das had reportedly told staff members at Facebook that punishing the violations by leaders from BJP would damage the company’s business prospects in the country. Even the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, led by member of parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor, decided to look into these allegations last year. Facebook India head Ajit Mohan and Das were <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/facebooks-public-policy-head-ankhi-das-appears-before-parliament-committee/articleshow/78825522.cms">asked</a> to appear before the committee. The social media platform has also been part of the Cambridge Analytica data <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54722362">scandal</a>. Political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytics allegedly harvested data of 87 million of Facebook users for political advertisements. The data was taken without people’s consent. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-lawyers-allegedly-paid-bribes-to-indian-government-officials/articleshow/86360262.cms">Amazon is investigating its lawyers for allegedly bribing Indian government officials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/wipro-interglobe-aviation-and-other-top-stocks-to-watch-out-for-on-september-20/articleshow/86357169.cms">Wipro, InterGlobe Aviation and other top stocks to watch out for on September 20</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-ideas-5g-trials-achieve-speeds-in-excess-of-3-7-gbps-in-pune/articleshow/86360103.cms">Vodafone Idea's 5G trials achieve speeds in excess of 3.7 Gbps in Pune</a>

Facebook appoints former IAS officer as head of public policy, a year after Ankhi Das quit

UPSC Civil Services: Here’s a list of books recommended by top educators to crack the exam

<ul><li>The government rolled out the Consumer Protection (<keyword id="35621" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-commerce">E-Commerce</keyword>) Rules of 2020, two weeks ago.</li><li><keyword id="46130" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAS">IAS</keyword> Aruna Sharma highlighted that the e-commerce platforms should not be treated so differently, as retailers follow similar practices too.</li><li>While the retailers are celebrating the regulation at the moment, this may be going to do more harm to them as e-commerce liberalised trade.</li></ul> The government of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> updated its draft e-commerce policy earlier last week, in an attempt to create a level playing field for small retailers that still operate, majorly, out of brick-and-mortar stores. The amendment has been lauded by several traders and associations like the Confederation of All India Traders (<keyword id="853920" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAIT">CAIT</keyword>), but industry experts fear that the policy may not be in their best interest. In a recent webinar conducted by public-policy think-tank ‘The Dialogue’ on the “Draft <keyword id="7222389" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-commerce-rules">e-commerce rules</keyword> and its impact on the industry”, industry experts highlighted that the ecommerce industry and the <keyword id="6354851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail">retail</keyword> industry will have to coexist, not only in the best interest for the end customers, but for themselves. <keyword id="1168444" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepak-Shetty">Deepak Shetty</keyword>, director of software solutions firm Zed-Axis Technologies, highlighted that the Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are reaching out to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/new-technology-is-putting-conventional-jobs-out-of-business-msme-exchange-panelists-highlight-on-how-it-helps-in-the-long-run/articleshow/84013275.cms">global market </a>these days and it would not have been possible without ecommerce platforms. “I [from the perspective of a small seller] would have to spend so much more money to set up offices abroad and go to trade shows, but today I am able to do it at the least possible cost,” he added. Meanwhile, Aruna Sharma, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and former secretary to the government of India, noted that the consumer behaviour is now shifting towards e-commerce portals, just like it shifted to malls over a decade ago. The retail and e-commerce platforms will have to coexist, as technology takes over. Meanwhile Sharma highlighted that the e-commerce industry should not be treated so differently from the retail industry. Though e-commerce platforms are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-and-flipkart-may-have-a-new-headache-as-indias-e-commerce-policy-could-also-question-their-algorithms/articleshow/81512786.cms">barred</a> from giving preferential treatment to any sellers under the foreign direct investment (FDI) rules, retailers are free to do so. She explained any retailer can position the products based on the commission they earn on their sale, but e-commerce companies are not allowed to apply similar tactics to promote products that give them higher commissions. Similarly, Shetty noted that the e-commerce policies are not something dynamic, but are based on the practices that even retailers follow. “If I remove the ecommerce from the guidelines and put retail in it, it will still mean the same. I cannot hold the platform responsible for a seller,” he added. Minimal policy may be the best way out to help sellers Jehangir Gai, joint honorary secretary of the Consumer Welfare Association emphasised that minimal regulation is required in this space to ensure that the consumers’ demands are met. He also highlighted that more regulations lead to more corruption and interference. “The objective is laudable, but the methodology is flawed,” he added. He also agreed that there are some issues within the segments, but “let’s not kill the entire industry, in the name of a few black sheep.” Echoing Gai’s thoughts, Shetty drew comparisons between the real world and a classroom. “Let teachers make rules or allow students to come up with their own ideas to find the solutions. Second part where we nurture creativity, and that’s the one that works. Restriction is going to lead to restricted business growth,” he added. The latest amendment to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/flipkart-and-amazon-may-not-be-able-to-do-flash-sales/articleshow/83737670.cms">Rules </a>of 2020 have barred e-commerce companies from carrying out flash sales that offer products at “significantly reduced prices, high discounts or any other such promotions or attractive offers for a predetermined period of time on selective goods and services or otherwise with an intent to draw large number of consumers.” Grievance system may prove beneficial for customers It also aims to smoothen the grievance redressal process on e-marketplaces by making it mandatory for each of these platforms to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer, a Resident Grievance Officer and a nodal contact person in India. Commenting on the same, Zed-Axis’ Shetty said that there should definitely be a grievance officer, but the government should give them “enough teeth to make decisions in the favour of the consumer”, otherwise it’s not really the right solution. However, Gai noted that the Indian grievance-redress mechanism has failed across other segments and it may happen in this segment as well. He also mentioned that flash sales help consumers. “For over the years, we had monopolistic practices and restrictive trade behaviour, I think it comes from traditional systems. I think these flash sales ultimately help the consumers,” he said. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/failure-to-pivot-covid-19-blues-force-amazon-backed-shuttl-to-look-for-a-buyer/articleshow/84056797.cms">Failure to pivot, COVID-19 blues force Amazon-backed Shuttl to look for a buyer</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/gautam-adani-and-family-slip-out-of-worlds-top-20-billionaires-as-per-forbes/articleshow/84062686.cms">Gautam Adani and family slip out of world’s top 20 billionaires, as per Forbes</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/restaurants-are-starting-to-hire-robots-instead-of-people-who-are-demanding-higher-pay/articleshow/84053058.cms">Restaurants are starting to hire robots instead of people who are demanding higher pay</a>

Why restrict e-commerce players like Flipkart and Amazon when offline retailers follow the same practices, ask industry experts

The <keyword id="160182" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Public-Service-Commission">Union Public Service Commission</keyword> (<keyword id="6373840" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPSC">UPSC</keyword>) on Thursday postponed the civil services preliminary examination, scheduled to be held in June, to October 10 in view of the alarming <keyword id="8764262" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid">COVID</keyword> situation. The commission conducts civil services examination annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview -- to select officers of <keyword id="106848" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Administrative-Service">Indian Administrative Service</keyword> (<keyword id="46130" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAS">IAS</keyword>), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and <keyword id="78965" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Police-Service">Indian Police Service</keyword> (<keyword id="48959" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPS">IPS</keyword>) among others. "Due to the prevailing conditions caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Union Public Service Commission has deferred the civil services (preliminary) examination, 2021, which was scheduled to be held on 27th June, 2021. Now, this examination will be held on 10th October, 2021," a statement issued by the commission said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-responds-to-privacy-criticism-by-alleging-other-apps-like-zomato-ola-aarogya-setu-zoom-google-and-other-apps/articleshow/82570897.cms" style="">WhatsApp responds to privacy criticism by alleging that other apps and tech companies also show disdain for user privacy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-idea-adds-subscribers-for-the-first-time-in-15-months/articleshow/82568343.cms" style="">Vodafone Idea shares up by 10% as it adds subscribers for the first time in 15 months – Airtel, Reliance Jio expand their user base</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/heres-why-the-spike-in-inflation-in-the-us-may-worry-markets-in-india/articleshow/82597218.cms">Here's why the spike in inflation in the US may worry markets in India ⁠— but experts say don’t panic yet</a>

UPSC postpones civil services preliminary examination to October 10 due to surge in COVID-19 cases

<ul><li><keyword id="6264434" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Makkal-Needhi-Maiam">Makkal Needhi Maiam</keyword> (MNM), headed by actor-turned-politician <keyword id="6354603" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kamal-haasan">Kamal Haasan</keyword>, contested from 142 constituencies.</li><li>While Haasan has been in the lead since morning, he eventually lost to BJP candidate Vanathi Srinivasan by little less than 900 votes. </li><li>Haasan’s party won a vote share of 3.72% during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019 but this time at has been much worse.</li></ul>Kamal Haasan's political gamble has failed to pay off one more time. Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) was leading in only one seat, Coimbatore South, where Haasan himself is the candidate. However, by the end of the counting, that was lost too. Vanathi Srinivasan from <keyword id="58687" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), who is also the national head of the saffron party's women's wing, has won Coimbatore South by a margin of little less 900 votes, according to Electin Commission data at 9:30 pm. After registering a new regional political party in <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> named as Makkal Needhi Maiam in February, 2018, the actor-cum-producer Kamal Haasan made a debut in the Lok Sabha election campaign of 2019, for the first time. Haasan did not contest, though. This time, for the state Assembly polls, he has taken a bet on himself. While pollsters never gave the party a winning chance in any constituency, Haasan himself was hoping to send as many candidates as possible to the new legislative assembly that will form post elections. However, not a single candidate from the party or the alliance managed to win. Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2021 <keyword id="6372146" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="assembly-elections">assembly elections</keyword> The election commission has allotted the symbol of ‘torchlight’ for the party and the party’s abbreviated name reads as MNM. Haasan has joined hands with four other smaller parties to face the election. As per the terms of the alliance, the brigade has assumed the name Makkalin Mudhal Kootani and contested from 227 constituencies. Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), headed by Haasan, contested from 142 constituencies. Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) founded by T.R. Paarivendhar faced the electorate from 40 constituencies. All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) under the leadership of actor <keyword id="1589629" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="R-Sarathkumar">R. Sarathkumar</keyword> fought from 33 seats. Tamilaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi (TMJK) led by K.M. Shareef faced the elections in 9 seats and Janata Dal (Secular) JD(S) headed by H.D. Deva Gowda contested from 3 constituencies. Key persons of the party facing elections Dr. Mahendran contested from Singanallur constituency. Dr. Santhosh Babu, a former Indian Administrative Service (<keyword id="46130" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAS">IAS</keyword>) officer was fielded from the Velachery constituency. He faced AIADMK and Congress representatives in these seats. Actor Sripriya fought from Mylapore, locking horns with T. Velu of the DMK and former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and incumbent R. Natraj of the AIADMK party. Senior politician Pazha. Karuppiah fought from T. Nagar constituency. However, none of the other party members or the alliance members were able to make a mark in the election. MNM’s performance in last Lok Sabha elections Haasan’s party won a vote share of 3.72% during the last Lok sabha elections. This feat was achieved only when the party was just 14 months old. This achievement was said to have ensued from Kamal’s popularity among a sizeable segment of the urban voters. In Coimbatore, his party candidate R.Mahendran bagged 1.45 lakh votes. Hassan’s party secured over 1 lakh votes in three of the four seats in Chennai. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/exclusive-asus-rog-flow-x13-companys-portable-2-in-1-gaming-laptop-will-launch-in-india-on-may-12/articleshow/82322142.cms">Exclusive: Asus ROG Flow X13 — company’s portable 2-in-1 gaming laptop will launch in India on May 12</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-live-is-now-a-clubhouse-competitor-with-options-to-mute-and-turn-off-the-video/articleshow/82323741.cms">Instagram Live is now a Clubhouse competitor, with options to mute and turn off the video</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-vaccines-may-take-up-to-5-months-to-reach-private-centres-governments-say-slots-for-all-adults-may-open-only-after-2-3-weeks/articleshow/82326681.cms">COVID vaccines may take up to 5 months to reach private centres — governments say slots for all adults may open only after 2-3 weeks</a>

Kamal Haasan has lost to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan by a narrow margin ⁠— his party is out on a duck

BJP's <keyword id="239882" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Annamalai">Annamalai</keyword>, a former IAS officer, loses to DMK's R Elango in Aravakurichi by 24816 votes Before plunging into elections for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Annamalai has projected quite a few of his avatars in social media. Relinquishing his renowned career as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Annamalai showed his interest in renewing traditional agriculture in the state. He is the founder of the social movement ‘We The Leaders,’ which originated from Aravakurichi, in Karur district of Tamil Nadu. Annamalai in the election scene Totally in alignment to his wishes, BJP fielded him in Aravakurichi for the 2021 Tamil Nadu state assembly elections. Annamalai faced a strategic competition in the seat with a list of powerful candidates lined up against him. Fighting against him were names like Elango R fielded by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Mohammed Haneef Shahil representing the Makkal Needhi Maiam(MNM), and Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam’s (AMMK) candidate PSN Thangavel. However, political experts say that the real competition in this seat is only between Annamalai and DMK’s Elango. DMK appears confident of benefiting from the votes of Muslims and the scheduled castes who make up a sizeable chunk of the constituency’s population. After the BJP successfully wooed Annamalai to represent the party in this constituency, he has been actively engaged in a war of words with the DMK leaders. Annamalai and Aravakurichi Long before stepping into politics, Annamalai has done a lot of ground work in the Aravakurichi constituency. There had also been talks that Annamalai could be the most preferred candidate for the party if Tamil superstar Rajinikanth would start his political party, which never happened. To get popular among the voters in the constituency, Annamalai has been organising a number of programmes, events and competitions in the constituency like rangoli contests and marathons. After joining the BJP, his popularity has surged even more with the locals. In the 2016 assembly elections, the polling was withheld in this constituency on complaints that the political parties heavily bribed the voters. In the election conducted subsequent to this, Senthil Balaji of AIADMK won from here. During the political feuds that took place in the AIADMK after former Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha’s demise, Senthil Balaji was disqualified as an MLA as he took sides with TTV Dhinakaran of the AMMK. Later on, he joined the DMK and faced the by-election in 2019 on behalf of the DMK, bagging a huge victory. This time, Annamalai is banking on the Modi wave ensuing from his BJP candidature and the reputation of AIADMK among the voters of this constituency. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/top-leading-candidates-from-key-constituencies-in-assam-assembly-election-result-2021/articleshow/82352859.cms">Top leading candidates from key constituencies in Assam Assembly election result 2021</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/in-tamil-nadu-ops-o-panneerselvam-aiadmk-confronts-the-toughest-battle-of-his-political-career/articleshow/82352774.cms">In Tamil Nadu, OPS confronts the toughest battle of his political career</a>

BJP's Annamalai, a former IAS officer, loses to DMK's R Elango in Aravakurichi

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President Donald Trump has won Iowa, Insider reports via Decision Desk HQ.</li><li>Iowa is a swing state and evenly split its vote between the two major parties in the past 12 presidential <keyword id="6355644" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="elections">elections</keyword> before 2020.</li><li>The state has six electoral votes.</li><li>Three of the state's six congressional seats are held by Republicans.</li><li>See the live coverage and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-election-results">full results from the US presidential election.</a></li></ul>President Donald Trump has won Iowa, according to Decision Desk HQ.Iowa is a swing state and evenly split its vote between the two major parties in the past 12 presidential elections before 2020. The state is home to a host of competitive down-ballot races including the state's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iowa-1st-district-house-election-abby-finkenauer-ashley-hinson-2020">1st</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iowa-2nd-district-house-election-rita-hart-vs-mariannette-miller-meeks-2020">2nd</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iowa-house-3rd-district-election-cindy-axne-david-young-2020">3rd congressional districts</a>. Iowa is also home to a tight <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joni-ernst-vs-theresa-greenfield-election-polls-fundraising-2020-7">Senate race</a> between incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst and her Democratic challenger, Theresa Greenfield.The state is firmly in Republican control, with Republicans holding both chambers of the state legislature, governor, and three of the state's six congressional seats. Iowa has six electoral votes and was <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/iowa/">expected by analysts</a> to be particularly competitive.

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Facebook appoints former IAS officer as head of public policy, a year after Ankhi Das quit

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Why restrict e-commerce players like Flipkart and Amazon when offline retailers follow the same practices, ask industry experts

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UPSC postpones civil services preliminary examination to October 10 due to surge in COVID-19 cases

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Kamal Haasan has lost to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan by a narrow margin ⁠— his party is out on a duck

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BJP's Annamalai, a former IAS officer, loses to DMK's R Elango in Aravakurichi

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Donald Trump has won Iowa

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