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Real estate basics: What is a Commencement Certificate?

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A commencement certificate is a document that proves the legitimacy of a real estate project. We explain what exactly a commencement certificate is and its importance for a developer, as well as a home buyer. A commencement certificate is a document from the local municipal authority that permits the developer to begin construction of the project. The commencement certificate (or CC) is usually granted, only after the developer has met the legal requirements and obtained the relevant sanctions for the building’s plan. How can a developer obtain a commencement certificate? Before beginning the construction of a new building or project, the developer must obtain a commencement certificate from the local authorities. Once the developer submits his plan for the project, the municipal authority will begin conducting several preliminary checks, before authorising that the project is fit for commencement. During this time, the developer must be able to provide all the necessary no-ob

Real estate basics: What is a Completion Certificate?

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A completion certificate is an important document that states a property has been built, according to standards and proves the legitimacy of a real estate project. We explain its importance, for developers and buyers A completion certificate is a document that is awarded, after the inspection of a real estate project, stating that it has been constructed according to the approved building plan and that it meets all the necessary standards set by the local development authority or municipal corporation. This certificate needs to be obtained by developers, as well as owners of standalone properties. It is required, to ensure the supply of utilities like water, electricity and drainage system. Importance of a completion certificate for developers A completion certificate contains all the details about the building, including the location, identification of the land, details about the developer/owner, the height of the building and the quality of materials used. It also states wh

MahaRERA extends completion deadline for projects by three months

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MahaRERA has also announced extension of time limits for all statutory compliances in accordance with the Real Estate (Regulation and Development Act 2016).  Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) on Thursday extended the period of validity for registration of all registered projects where completion date, revised completion date or extended completion date expires on or after March 15, 2020 by three months. MahaRERA has also announced extension of time limits for all statutory compliances in accordance with the Real Estate (Regulation and Development Act 2016) and the rules and regulations made thereunder, which were due in March, April and May 2020 to June 30, 2020. The authority's order read that in view of the partial lockdown in the state earlier and the eventual nation-wide lockdown, the construction work in MahaRERA registered projects has been severely affected and supply chains for obtaining construction material have been disrupted. Labour work

Aarogya Setu: All you need to know about govt's Covid-19 tracker app

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The app tracks through a Bluetooth and location-generated social graph The Indian government has unveiled an app called Aarogya Setu designed to alert users if they have come in close proximity with any Covid-19 positive patient. The app tracks through a Bluetooth and location-generated social graph. It calculates the user's risk of infection based on recency and proximity of COVID-19 patient."We understand the nature and sensitivity of the topic and have taken strong measures to ensure that your data is not compromised. Your data will be shared only with the Government of India. The app does not allow your name and number to be disclosed to the public at large at any time," said the app. The app is currently available on Google Play Store for download. Released on Wednesday, the app has already been downloaded over 5,000 times. To use the app, one needs switch on Bluetooth and location and set location sharing to "always". How to Download:

video conferencing app: Zoom beats WhatsApp, TikTok to become India's top downloaded Android app

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Millions of people around the globe are working from home due to the coronavirus lockdown. In order to work smoothly and to remain connected to teammates, professionals are using a video conferencing app called Zoom.   The app slowly started gaining popularity and has now become the top app under the free section of the Google Play Store in India. The app has surpassed popular apps like TikTok, WhatsApp and has more than 50 million downloads. For those unaware, Zoom is a free HD meeting app with video and screen starting for up to 100 people. One of the high points of the app is its simplistic user interface and the host of interesting features. The free version of the app enables users to add up to 100 participants in a call, users can also enjoy unlimited 1-to-1 meeting and 40 minutes of group callings. Apart from professional meetings, people are also using the video conferencing app for their personal things. For instance, in the times of coronavirus when we are practicing

Income tax new rules: 5 changes that come into effect from today

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New lower tax slabs, as announced in Budget 2020, will come into effect Dividends received from mutual funds and domestic companies will be taxable at the recipients hands The current financial year 2019-20 is closing on 31st March as usual and the new financial year 2020-21 is starting from today (April 1). In view of the lockdown to check the spread of corornavirus, the government had earlier extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for 2018-19 as well as that for linking PAN with Aadhaar by three months to June 30. Here are some changes in income tax rules that will come into effect from April 1, 2020, as announced in Budget 2020: 1) New tax slabs, as announced in Budget 2020, will come into effect. However, the old tax slabs will also remain in effect, giving a choice to the individual to opt between the two. Under the new tax rates announced in Budget, there is zero tax for income up to ₹2.5 lakh; 5% for income between ₹2.5 lakh and up to ₹5 lakh; 10% for

Real estate basics: What is an Occupancy Certificate?

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An occupancy certificate is an important document you need to obtain, while buying any new property. We explain what it is and why you need it An occupancy certificate (OC), issued by the local authorities, certifies that a building is fit for occupation and has been constructed as per the approved plan and in compliance with local laws. What is the importance of an occupancy certificate? An occupancy certificate is a document that is issued by a local government agency or planning authority, upon the completion of construction of a new project. The certificate is proof that the project has been built, by adhering to the applicable building codes, relevant regulations and laws. It is the responsibility of the developer to obtain an occupancy certificate, once the project has been completed. The certificate is an indication that the building is suitable for occupancy. An OC is required, when applying for water, sanitation and electricity connections. For home owners, an OC is

Checklist of Property Ownership Legal Documents you must possess.

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Dear Readers, Greetings to you, Nowadays, we are all sitting at home because of lock down due to corona virus therefor thought to write this article to utilize plenty of free time to check and make the order of property documents, owned by you for long time however could't able to update the latest legal documents requirements or addition of new documents time to time. Reason: it will be very beneficial to keep all of your property documents upto date as per the law for various reasons like if you decide to sell it or transfer it to your family members or relatives or anyone else or any unexpected unfortunate events where your family/relatives will require to know about it because when you wish to do any property transaction as mentioned earlier by visiting registration authority then these list of documents are necessarily required.  Also It's very worthwhile for new buyers looking to purchase in near future. Thus hereby, just sharing the summery of property ow

How to check Property Records and Land Records online in India?

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Checking land records online is very easy today. With one click button, you will come to know information about the land owner. It is important to check the land record before purchasing the property because real estate is a non-transparent sector where a lot of black money is involved. Not only that, maximum frauds take place in real estate deals. Recently the government of India has modified real estate bill which will protect the buyer against any frauds. However if you are buying and land or property it is recommended that you should check land or property record on your own. Today I will share information about how to check land records online in India. How to check Property/ Land Records online in India? Under National Land Record Modernization Program (NLRMP) to computerize Record of Rights (RoR) launched by the government of India many states started providing RoR online. First thing is to find out online portal applicable for your state for checking land and property re

Lost Property Documents? What Next?

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What happens if your property documents are lost or misplaced? How you will prove ownership on the property? Well, recently I got a case of lost property document. My friend wanted to purchase a property. He selected one property at prime location and reasonably priced. He was about to buy the property. However, before finalizing the deal he asked for the original paper from the owner. The owner was unable to produce all property documents. The owner expressed that the old sale deed is misplaced by his banker due to negligence. Now my friend is in confusion about what to do next? He has taken advice from the advocate and decided to proceed further. Misplacement or loss of property documents such as sales deed, property registration documents, and the title deed is a serious matter. You should not take it lightly. If any of your property documents are missing or lost you may face problems at the time of selling a property. Here is complete information about what you should do to

Nirmala Sitharaman extends ITR filing, GST return deadline to June 30

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Amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced a slew of financial relief measures to help deal with the pandemic-induced economic crisis in the country.  In a press conference, Sitharaman touched upon the taxpayers' concerns surrounding Income tax returns, compliance, and the deadline related to GST, IBT related matters, bank related compliances etc. This comes after the Finance Minister revealed that the Narendra Modi-led government is working on a financial relief package to help people in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In her tweet addressed to her 2.8 million followers on Twitter, FM added that she will be addressing the media on “statutory and regulatory compliance matters” on March 24. Income tax related:  FY 2018-19 the last date for IT returns will be now extended to June 30, 2020.  For delayed payments, interest rate reduced from 12 to 9 percent.  No extension but on delayed deposit of TDS,

Digital land records can ease realty transactions

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Source: Livemint --New index assesses the extent of digitization of land records in various states and UTs --Modernization of land records in digital format will smoothen transactions and reduce land and property disputes Nearly three-fourths of Indian households’ wealth is invested in the real estate sector, yet accessing information related to land records is difficult as only a few states maintain digitized records. When you are buying a property—be it a house from the primary (from the developer) or secondary markets (properties on resale) or a plot of land—it is always advisable to cross-check and verify the documentation. However, in most states and Union territories (UTs), it is difficult to do so, in the absence of proper digitized records, especially related to disputes. A new land record index, NCAER Land Record and Services Index (N-LRSI), will help you figure out how efficient the state in which you are buying a property is in terms of maintaining digital records.

It's time for cloud kitchens now

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Source: ET India’s largest quick-service chain Jubilant FoodWorks is scouting for space to start its  cloud kitchen  business for not only Domino’s Pizza but also for Chinese cuisine, two officials close to the developments said. So far a domain of online aggregators such as Zomato, Swiggy and smaller caterers and restaurants,  the cloud kitchen business is set to heat up in the coming months  with big retailers and restaurants operators planning to enter the segment. India’s largest quick-service chain Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin Donuts in India, is scouting for space to start its cloud kitchen business for not only Domino’s Pizza but also for Chinese cuisine, two officials close to the developments said. “They are experimenting with multiple ways to grow and cloud kitchen is one such potential growth engine,” one of the officials said. An email sent to JFL’s spokesperson remained unanswered till press time. Kishore Biyani’s Future Group  is

LEGALLY SPEAKING: Transfer of Property: Sale Deed or Gift Deed or Will or Relinquishment Deed.

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Source: Online TOI  Sale deed or gift deed – which is better when transferring property? Do you know the difference between a relinquishment deed and will? Let our experts decode different types of property-related legal jargon Transfer of property is an act of conveying property from one person to another, in present or future. According to Section 8 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882, by transferring property, transfer or transfers all rights in a property. The four modes of transferring ownership of the property include – sale deed, gift deed, relinquishment deed and will. HOW TO CHOOSE THE MODE OF TRANSFER: The mode of transfer of an immovable property will depend upon the nature of the transfer. “In case of transfer for monetary consideration, sale deed is the only method, which can be adopted. However, in case a property is to be transferred without any monetary consideration and out of natural love and affection, the transfer should be done through a gift dee

How Pune became a global startup hub riding on these companies

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Source: your story The growth of Pune's startup ecosystem has been led by its wide tech talent pool, Maharashtra’s innovation-friendly policies, and other factors. The Centre for American Entrepreneurship recently identified it as an ‘emerging global startup hub’. Pune , a satellite city about 75 miles from India’s financial capital Mumbai, has picked up a few monikers over the years – ‘Oxford of the East’, ‘ Maharashtra’s cultural capital’, ‘India’s upcoming metro’, and more.  Sometime in 2013, when India was on the brink of a startup revolution, a UK-based journalist travelling to the city found it “fresh and almost Californian in its energy”. “ Pune is to Bangalore what Austin, Texas, is to Silicon Valley, California — a hotbed of innovation with a more affordable standard of living, ” he wrote. And, the city has lived up to the hyperbole.  In a 2018 report titled  Rise of the Global Startup City , the Center for American Entrepreneurship described  Pune as an emerging startup