http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16195344

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=Op171211proscons.asp

http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2011/12/internet-engineers-dont-like-pipa-and-sopa/

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/internet-inventors-warn-against-sopa-and-pipa

http://164.100.47.4/newbios_search/intsessionreport3.aspx

Lok Sabha

http://164.100.47.4/newlsbios_search/sessionreport3.aspx

Some of the bills are very interesting and well researched.

http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20080324/technologylife01.shtml

http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/ew/2008/04/21/stories/2008042150020100.htm

http://www.i4donline.net/articles/current-article.asp?articleid=2041&typ=Features

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051011/asp/atleisure/story_5342890.asp

http://www.omamconsultants.com/milestones_detail5.htm

http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=60

NEFT transfers are disabled by banks on certain days of a month.

It takes 12-14 hours for the transfer to be completed, and a longer time if there is a backlog due to a bank holiday.

Beyond Technocoolies

throws some light on why there is so little innovation in India, why many people do not keep an open mind ,  think beyond stereotypes.  If people are treated fairly and there is little exploitation, they are far more productive.

http://governancenow.com/ - government operation

http://www.observerindia.com/  – policy

http://www.akosha.com/ - legal assistance for consumers

https://infinity.icicibank.co.in/web/cards/creditcardNLI/jsp/ccNonLoginPage.jsp

For generating a 3D secure code for online transactions (Visa /Mastercard), use

https://www.3dsecure.icicibank.com/ACSWeb/EnrollWeb/ICICIBank/main/index.jsp?utm_source=GA&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=3dsecure-RHS-banner-4

If your computer is hacked or ISP connection is insecure, the hacker may use the credit / debit card number entered to generate the 3D secure code himself and you will not be able to use the debit card for online transactions.  In such cases, the card will have to be blocked to prevent misuse online.

Notification for PayPal users in India
With effect from 1 March 2011, you are required to comply with the requirements set out in the notification of the Reserve Bank of India governing the processing and settlement of export-related receipts facilitated by online payment gateways (“RBI Guidelines”).

1.Any balance in and all future payments into your PayPal account may not be used to buy goods or services and must be transferred to your bank account in India within 7 days from the receipt of confirmation from the buyer in respect of the goods or services; and
2.Export-related payments for goods and services into your PayPal account may not exceed US$500 per transaction. Click here to learn more.
Go to My Account

The notification did not appear for a few days, but it is now again visible.

Other than blocking mass payments , no other major changes have appeared in Paypal site for Indian users. Many personal and premier account holders have been able to send money from their account and receive money, though some Paypal business account holders have had the $500 restriction implemented and accounts limited. Paypal users who have written to Paypal support have been told that their accounts are being monitored. A similar rule seems to be implemented in  Turkey without advance notification with users unable to pay from Paypal balance.

Till January 2010, any Paypal user could have one business and one personal account as per Paypal’s Terms of Service. After Paypal wanted users to associate a PAN number with each account, some users had to choose between the business and personal account, since a PAN number could be associated with one account only.  With the new changes users now face the following disadvantages:
1. They are forced to withdraw at the prevailing exchange rate, earlier they could time their withdrawals to get the best exchange rate.
2. Higher exchange rates for payments in US$ -  Visa/ Mastercard charge around Rs 47/$ , Paypal charges approx. Rs 46/$ .

In order to comply with the RBI Guidelines, our user agreement in India will be amended for the following services as follows:

1.Any balance in and all future payments into your PayPal account may not be used to buy goods or services and must be transferred to your bank account in India within 7 days from the receipt of confirmation from the buyer in respect of the goods or services; and

2.Export-related payments for goods and services into your PayPal account may not exceed US$500 per transaction.

Many online publishers / webmasters earn more than $500 from advertising from  a single source, so the ad network will either split the payments or use alternate payment methods.  As conditions change, you always find new methods.

Links to 2 articles from the book

The Value of Privacy

Privacy and Power

the proverb  -  “Who watches the watchers?” is very relevant today, especially in the Indian context.