Aathira Varier, Business Standard

Stories by Aathira Varier, Business Standard

Indian Grad Employability to Hit 55%

Indian Grad Employability to Hit 55%

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2024

Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are emerging as major hubs for employable talent.

618 Drugs 'Not Of Standard Quality'

618 Drugs 'Not Of Standard Quality'

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2024

Among the commonly used analgesic formulations (painkillers) found NSQ are combinations of paracetamol with ibuprofen, diclofenac and mefenamic acid. Medications using these combinations are commonly used to treat fever, mild migraine, period and muscle pain.

AI tool MuleHunter to tackle financial fraud

AI tool MuleHunter to tackle financial fraud

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2024

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Friday said the central bank has developed an innovative artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) based model MuleHunter.ai to address the growing issue of mule bank accounts that are often used for committing financial fraud. Developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, the new initiative is piloted with two public sector banks.

UPI Frauds Cost Indians Rs 485 Crore

UPI Frauds Cost Indians Rs 485 Crore

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2024

In FY24 alone, 1.34 million fraud cases were reported, amounting to losses of Rs 1,087 crore.

Should You Buy a Super Top-up Health Insurance?

Should You Buy a Super Top-up Health Insurance?

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2024

It is similar to top-up health insurance plan, but provides for one or more claims cumulatively crossing the threshold limit.

Life insurers turn to policies with high value

Life insurers turn to policies with high value

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2024

Life insurers shifted their focus to selling high-value policies in October as the transition to new surrender value norms, effective October 1, limited their ability to roll out all products in their portfolio. This led to a 40 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) drop in the number of policies sold in October. Additionally, distributors engaged in a fire sale of policies in September due to uncertainty about the impact of the new norms on their commission structures.

How To Combat Digital Crime Epidemic

How To Combat Digital Crime Epidemic

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2024

The fundamental responsibility for preventing such crimes and for bringing the criminals to justice rests with the State, and it cannot abdicate that function.

No plan to bring clawback clause: LIC

No plan to bring clawback clause: LIC

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2024

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has realigned its commission structures for its distributors in accordance with new surrender value norms but has no plans to introduce any "clawback", it said in a post-earnings analyst call on Friday. "It depends on our experience because the new products have been filed from October 1," said Siddhartha Mohanty, managing director and chief executive officer. The insurance regulator has revised the surrender value norms, and the revised ones came into effect on October 1.

New biz premium of life insurers rises 13% in October

New biz premium of life insurers rises 13% in October

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2024

Life insurance companies reported a 13.16 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in new business premium (NBP), totting up Rs 30,347 crore in October, even as the number of policies sold saw a sharp decline. The growth was largely driven by strong performance from private sector life insurers.

Credit cards get a festive boost, spending increases 25% in Sep

Credit cards get a festive boost, spending increases 25% in Sep

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2024

Credit card spending in September recorded strong growth of 25 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), marking the highest increase in six months. Even as many banks saw higher slippages during the July-September quarter of 2024-25, spending growth exceeded 20 per cent for the first time since February. According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), September spending reached Rs 1.76 trillion, compared to Rs 1.42 trillion in the same period a year ago. In August 2024, credit card spending was Rs 1.68 trillion.

'Will Keep Working To Grow Value Of New Businesses'

'Will Keep Working To Grow Value Of New Businesses'

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2024

'Margins will be an outcome of that. They will likely remain somewhat range-bound.'

6 Month Tenure For Next Chief Justice

6 Month Tenure For Next Chief Justice

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2024

Justice Sanjiv Khanna 'belongs to that school of legal luminaries who give the highest primacy to facts.'

Who's Who In Tata Trusts

Who's Who In Tata Trusts

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2024

The Tata Trusts, led by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, hold a 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons, the Tata group's holding company.

'Our higher growth is coming from retail lines'

'Our higher growth is coming from retail lines'

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2024

'There is more expansion in the industry happening in retail lines, so we will continue to focus on those lines.'

Banks record a higher deposit growth rate in Q2 FY25 than Q1 FY25

Banks record a higher deposit growth rate in Q2 FY25 than Q1 FY25

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2024

Banks recorded a higher growth year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in raising deposits during the second quarter of financial year 2025 (Q2FY25) compared to Q1FY25, owing to intensified efforts to raise liabilities by offering higher rates and innovative schemes.

LIC eyes less than 50% stake in standalone health insurance company

LIC eyes less than 50% stake in standalone health insurance company

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2024

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is not keen on a composite license but it is looking to buy less than 50 per cent stake in a standalone health insurance company to enter the health insurance segment such that they have a say in the management of the company, without having to run the company, sources in the know said. "LIC doesn't need a composite licence. "Even if it is introduced, they will not opt for it.

'Looking to expand international business'

'Looking to expand international business'

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2024

'It is difficult to write business internationally, without an 'A-' rating. It becomes more expensive.'

LIC earmarks Rs 600 crore for digital shift; to be 'paperless' in 2 years

LIC earmarks Rs 600 crore for digital shift; to be 'paperless' in 2 years

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2024

State-run Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has committed Rs 600 crore for its digital transformation journey, Sunder Krishnan, chief risk officer said on Wednesday. The insurance giant is also aiming to become completely "paperless" in two years. "We have hired a large system integrator for more than Rs 400 crore, a consultant for digital transformation for Rs 100 crore, and Rs 100 crore for agency transformation.

Infosys to lay groundwork for LIC's digital transformation

Infosys to lay groundwork for LIC's digital transformation

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2024

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) announced on Monday that it had signed up tech giant Infosys to develop a next-generation digital platform that will act as the foundation for new high-value business applications, such as customer and sales super apps, portals, and digital branches. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed. The tie-up with Infosys is part of LIC's "long-drawn" strategy, said a senior executive of India's biggest insurer, who noted that the IT giant "won the bid to develop the next-generation platform through a request for proposal (RFP) process".

'Insurance should be bought for right reason'

'Insurance should be bought for right reason'

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2024

'We do not believe in fire sale. We don't do it.'