Aathira Varier &Amp; Ajinkya Kawale

Stories by Aathira Varier &Amp; Ajinkya Kawale

'We Don't Want To Survive On Govt Incentives'

'We Don't Want To Survive On Govt Incentives'

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2025

'The only solution is for the government to allow us to charge a low controlled MDR of 25 bps on UPI P2M transactions only for merchants with more than a Rs 40 lakh turnover.'

Navi Mumbai airport opening pushed back by 2 months

Navi Mumbai airport opening pushed back by 2 months

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2025

The entire construction of the Navi Mumbai airport project is expected to be completed in five phases.

Meet India's first private reinsurer

Meet India's first private reinsurer

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2025

In Debasish Panda's last board meeting as chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), the regulator approved the "R2" licence for Kamlesh Goyal and Prem Watsa-backed Value Attics Reinsurance, making it the first private-sector Indian reinsurer after GIC Re, the public-sector reinsurer. "The authority reviewed and approved the R2 application of Value Attics Reinsurance, making it the first private-sector reinsurer after GIC Re, the public-sector reinsurer.

'We Expect 1 Million Start Ups By 2035'

'We Expect 1 Million Start Ups By 2035'

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2025

'Binary fission will happen -- startups will lead to more startups.'

Why health insurance premium growth is in slow lane

Why health insurance premium growth is in slow lane

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2025

Health insurance premium growth has slowed after touching record highs during the Covid-19 pandemic due to tapering demand from retail consumers amid affordability issues. According to General Insurance Council data, health insurance premiums grew by 10.44 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in the Apr-Jan period of FY25 in comparison with 20.79 per cent in the year-ago period. It was around 23.57 per cent in FY23, and 25.89 per cent in FY22.

An insurer can now effectively manage market volatility

An insurer can now effectively manage market volatility

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2025

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai's) decision to allow insurers to hedge risks through equity derivatives will help them manage market volatility and protect policyholder returns. However, this move is unlikely to alter their investment strategies.

International flights at Navi Mumbai airport by July next year

International flights at Navi Mumbai airport by July next year

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2025

It is the first airport in the country to have multi-modal connectivity. This includes a linkage to the project via road, rail, and a metro system.

'Insurance companies will need more capital'

'Insurance companies will need more capital'

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2025

'I now see rates rising again, particularly after recent losses - especially the January wildfires in Los Angeles.'

'How Will I Survive Without My Monthly Withdrawals?'

'How Will I Survive Without My Monthly Withdrawals?'

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2025

'I don't know when I will be able to access those funds.'

What fintechs must do to scale up presence of e

What fintechs must do to scale up presence of e

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2025

Non-banking entities such as fintech firms will have to tap into use cases beyond peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-merchant (P2M) transactions to scale up the presence of the retail version of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is also known as the e, said industry players. These use cases will enable programmable transactions across domains, including the government's direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes, with subsidies restricted to specific purposes such as food coupons, hospital bills, fertilisers, pesticides, and cross-border remittances.

Why Has FATF Summoned Indian Gaming Firms?

Why Has FATF Summoned Indian Gaming Firms?

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2025

Dream11, Baazi Games, Zupee and WinZO among others are invited for the discussion with the anti-money laundering watchdog.

'Goal for Axis Max Life Insurance is to become listed entity'

'Goal for Axis Max Life Insurance is to become listed entity'

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2025

'However, this process will take some time. Depending on the approval timeline, it may span a few quarters.'

Budget And ULIPs: Should You Invest?

Budget And ULIPs: Should You Invest?

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2025

'The incentives to switch to the new tax regime... are viewed as a negative due to potential loss of customers who buy policies for saving tax.' 'The tax-saving value proposition for the sector reduces.'

'Post acquisition funding cost will come down'

'Post acquisition funding cost will come down'

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2025

'Earlier, our cost of funds was higher than most in the peer group.'

RBI lens on 8 fintech companies in P2P lending space

RBI lens on 8 fintech companies in P2P lending space

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2025

Currently there are 26 licensed players in the P2P lending sector but only 10-11 are actively operating.

Private sector banks' credit costs up in Q3FY25 on higher provisions

Private sector banks' credit costs up in Q3FY25 on higher provisions

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2025

Private sector banks that announced their earnings for the October-December quarter (Q3) of 2024-25 (FY25) reported a rise in credit costs due to higher provisions, mainly for unsecured retail loans.

BharatPe targets IPO in 18-24 months, Ebitda profitability in FY25

BharatPe targets IPO in 18-24 months, Ebitda profitability in FY25

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2025

Fintech firm BharatPe is targeting an initial public offering (IPO) in the next 18-24 months with the company expecting profitability at an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and ammotisation (Ebitda) level for FY25, chief executive officer (CEO) Nalin Negi said.

Life insurance Dec new biz premium falls 21.7% to Rs 30,218.71 crore

Life insurance Dec new biz premium falls 21.7% to Rs 30,218.71 crore

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2025

The new business premium (NBP) of life insurance companies dropped 21.7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 30,218.71 crore in December 2024 on the back of a steep fall in business. According to data published by the Life Insurance Council, LIC's premium dropped 41.15 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 13,523.87 crore while private insurers reported 7 per cent growth in NBP to Rs 16,694.85 crore as the industry absorbs the impact of the revised surrender value norms.

Insurers to double down on tech, rural expansion for growth in '25

Insurers to double down on tech, rural expansion for growth in '25

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2025

The Indian insurance industry is set to focus on customer-centric technological adoption and expansion into rural areas to drive growth in 2025.

Draft DPDP rules: Task cut out for banks as operational challenges loom

Draft DPDP rules: Task cut out for banks as operational challenges loom

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2025

The draft digital personal data protection (DPDP) rules, which require banks to obtain explicit consent from their customers before using their data for purposes beyond the original intent, although is being followed in spirit, leaves no room for regulatory arbitrage, experts said. They said that the potential business impact is difficult to assess at this stage, but the formalisation of these rules will mean banks now need to establish clear data processing agreements with third-party entities to ensure compliance.