Aathira Varier

Stories by Aathira Varier

HDFC Life profit rose 4% in Q4; parent bank to invest Rs 1,000 crore

HDFC Life profit rose 4% in Q4; parent bank to invest Rs 1,000 crore

Rediff.com   1 days ago

HDFC Life Insurance reported a 4 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 495.6 crore for Q4FY26, while its parent, HDFC Bank, announced a Rs 1,000 crore preferential share issuance to raise its stake to 50.5 per cent.

LIC unveils MyLIC and Super Sales Saathi apps for digital transformation

LIC unveils MyLIC and Super Sales Saathi apps for digital transformation

Rediff.com   2 days ago

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has launched two new mobile applications, MyLIC for policyholders and Super Sales Saathi for its sales intermediaries, aiming to enhance digital agility and cater to the younger generation's needs. The apps, part of LIC's DIVE digital transformation platform, offer features like policy management, premium payments, and personalised recommendations.

GST rationalisation, equity volatility to hit insurers' Q4FY26 profitability

GST rationalisation, equity volatility to hit insurers' Q4FY26 profitability

Rediff.com   4 days ago

Indian insurance companies are bracing for reduced profitability in Q4FY26, primarily due to the rationalisation of GST on retail life and health policies, leading to a loss of input tax credit, coupled with volatility in equity markets impacting investment income.

Gold price volatility: Lenders demand more collateral or partial repayment if LTVs breached

Gold price volatility: Lenders demand more collateral or partial repayment if LTVs breached

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2026

Lenders are actively monitoring gold price volatility, prompting them to ask borrowers for additional gold collateral or partial principal repayment when loan-to-value (LTV) thresholds are breached, particularly for loans disbursed in February.

Strait of Hormuz opens to ships but marine covers to stay pricey

Strait of Hormuz opens to ships but marine covers to stay pricey

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2026

Despite Iran allowing 'non-hostile vessels' through the Strait of Hormuz, marine insurance premiums are expected to remain elevated due to persistent high-risk classifications and ongoing geopolitical tensions, with experts cautioning that the threat of attacks and collateral damage still exists.

Banks' gold loan portfolio surged 128% in Feb

Banks' gold loan portfolio surged 128% in Feb

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2026

Loans against gold jewellery in India surged by an impressive 128 per cent year-on-year to nearly 4.28 trillion in February 2026, according to the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, significantly outpacing overall retail loan growth.

Remittances from West Asia see 20-30% jump in March due to conflict

Remittances from West Asia see 20-30% jump in March due to conflict

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2026

Remittances from West Asia in March rose sharply amid the conflict in the region, with industry insiders estimating inflows to be 20-30 per cent higher than what is usual in a month.

LIC drove 18% rise in life insurers' NBP in Feb

LIC drove 18% rise in life insurers' NBP in Feb

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2026

New business premium of life insurance companies grew 18 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 35,417 crore in February, driven by robust growth at the state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) due to a favourable base.

'LIC sets sights on sustained 60% plus market share'

'LIC sets sights on sustained 60% plus market share'

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2026

'LIC will reduce but not fully exit its stake in IDBI Bank, which remains an important bancassurance partner,' says LIC of India' MD and CEO R Doraiswamy.

RBI Proposes Strict Curbs On Bank Recovery Agents

RBI Proposes Strict Curbs On Bank Recovery Agents

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2026

Abusive language, threats, harassment, excessive or anonymous calls, public humiliation, and misleading representations are explicitly prohibited.

RBI to roll out risk-based premium model for deposit insurance

RBI to roll out risk-based premium model for deposit insurance

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2026

The RBI will now charge banks different deposit insurance fees based on how risky they are, allowing safer banks to pay less premium.

New labour Codes raise operating expenses of pvt banks, insurers

New labour Codes raise operating expenses of pvt banks, insurers

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2026

The new labour Codes, notified by the central government in November 2025, have pushed up employee costs for private-sector banks and insurance companies, with these firms reporting higher operating expenses in the October-December quarter (Q3FY26) due to the statutory impact of the new labour Codes.

Positive biz outlook nudges banks to hire for sales growth

Positive biz outlook nudges banks to hire for sales growth

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2026

Banks are witnessing a surge in hiring for sales staff in secured segments such as home, vehicle and gold loans as compared to the recovery category, driven by a boost in business growth, and a host of regulatory measures aimed at improving ease of doing business, according to industry experts.

After Yes stake buy, Japan's SMBC gets RBI nod for wholly owned subsidiary

After Yes stake buy, Japan's SMBC gets RBI nod for wholly owned subsidiary

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2026

Months after picking up 24.21 per cent stake in private sector lender Yes Bank, Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has received the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) in-principle approval for setting up a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) in India.

Can't treat compliance as a quarter-end activity: RBI DG

Can't treat compliance as a quarter-end activity: RBI DG

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2026

Banks cannot treat compliance as a quarter-end activity, and must have stronger operational discipline and data governance throughout the year, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Swaminathan J said in a speech at the Third Annual Global Conference of the College of Supervisors.

GST rejig helps life insurers' NBP surge 40% in December

GST rejig helps life insurers' NBP surge 40% in December

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2026

The life insurance industry recorded nearly 40 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in new business premiums (NBP), aided by the rationalisation of goods and services tax (GST) on individual life insurance premiums, which has made policies more affordable for consumers.

Bajaj Finserv completes Allianz's stake buyout in its insurance arms

Bajaj Finserv completes Allianz's stake buyout in its insurance arms

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2026

Bajaj Finserv on Thursday said it has completed the acquisition of Allianz SE's stake in Bajaj General Insurance and Bajaj Life Insurance, worth Rs 12,190 crore and Rs 9,200 crore, respectively. Bajaj Finserv, along with Bajaj Holdings & Investment and Jamnalal Sons, acquired the foreign insurer's 23 per cent stake in the businesses, marking the largest transaction in the Indian insurance sector.

Commission structure in life insurance sector may change

Commission structure in life insurance sector may change

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2026

The committee formed under the Life Insurance Council to review the commission structure in the life insurance sector has recommended capping distributor commissions or deferring them to ease acquisition costs. The recommendations will be sent to the insurance regulator -- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).

GST rate cuts spur credit growth in banking sector in Q3 FY26

GST rate cuts spur credit growth in banking sector in Q3 FY26

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2026

Banking sector has witnessed healthy growth in advances in the third quarter of financial year 2026 (Q3FY26) against the same period last year, as the full impact of goods and service tax (GST) rate cuts drove growth. Most of the lenders saw their credit growth outpace the deposit growth in the quarter.

Banks see double-digit credit growth in Q3 FY26 on strong lending

Banks see double-digit credit growth in Q3 FY26 on strong lending

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2026

Six banks that reported their quarterly business updates for the October-December (Q3FY26) quarter on Friday recorded double-digit growth in their loan books compared with a year ago. Deposits also posted healthy growth during the period.