Aathira Varier

Stories by Aathira Varier

$150 Million Insurance Claims Loom After AI 171 Crash

$150 Million Insurance Claims Loom After AI 171 Crash

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2025

The claims will include three kinds of liabilities: Damage to the aircraft; loss of lives who were aboard the aircraft; including the crew members; and third-party liability because of loss of lives where the aircraft crashed; and cargo liability.

'The demand for health insurance is fine'

'The demand for health insurance is fine'

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2025

'The retail industry is still growing in double digits.'

Will ATMs Dispense Rs 100, 200 By September?

Will ATMs Dispense Rs 100, 200 By September?

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2025

Filling of Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes result in faster depletion and more frequent cash replenishment. This will cost banks and managed service providers more.

'Bharti AXA's First Goal Is To Achieve 3x Revenue'

'Bharti AXA's First Goal Is To Achieve 3x Revenue'

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2025

'Our new business premium is around Rs 700 crore, which we want to take to Rs 2,000 crore.'

RBI's draft circular seeks to standardise gold loan regulations

RBI's draft circular seeks to standardise gold loan regulations

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday came out with comprehensive draft guidelines to harmonise and regulate gold loans across all financial entities, including putting a cap of 75 per cent on loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. The draft guidelines also aim to address concerns related to certain lending practices, provide clarity on specific aspects, and strengthen the conduct-related standards in the sector.

Motor Insurance Growth Slows Amid Weak Vehicle Sales

Motor Insurance Growth Slows Amid Weak Vehicle Sales

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2025

'The slowdown in motor insurance premium growth is due to slower growth in vehicle sales. Also, there has been minimal hike in third-party rates in the past three years which is affecting the growth rate of third-party premiums.'

Terrorism Premiums To Drop 15% From April 1

Terrorism Premiums To Drop 15% From April 1

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2025

'India has not faced a major terrorism loss since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008.'

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.

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.

'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.'

'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.'

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.

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.

Muted deposit and credit growth sends PSB stocks into a tailspin

Muted deposit and credit growth sends PSB stocks into a tailspin

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2025

Shares of state-owned bank stocks were under pressure on Monday due to muted deposit and credit growth numbers reported by these lenders in the October-December quarter (Q3) of 2024-25 (FY25). The Nifty PSU Bank index was down 4 per cent, with Union Bank of India emerging as the biggest loser as its shares fell 7.5 per cent to close at Rs 114.7, followed by a 5.7 per cent drop in shares of Bank of Baroda (BoB) to Rs 228 and a 4.7 per cent slide in shares of Bank of India to Rs 99.8 on the National Stock Exchange.