Aathira Varier, Business Standard

Stories by Aathira Varier, Business Standard

Bajaj Finserv targets a 22% profit CAGR, double customers in 5 years

Bajaj Finserv targets a 22% profit CAGR, double customers in 5 years

Rediff.com   5 hours ago

Bajaj Finserv - the holding company of Bajaj group's financial services business - has laid out plans for the next five years. During this period, it is eyeing 18-22 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in net profit at Rs 21,000-24,000 crore on a consolidated basis.

With firefighting behind them, insurers can now shift gears and focus on growth

With firefighting behind them, insurers can now shift gears and focus on growth

Rediff.com   5 days ago

Recent years have been turbulent for the insurance industry due to direct and indirect tax reforms, regulatory overhaul and other external pressures. The events cumulatively slowed growth rate to single digits from the high teens seen earlier.

FinMin: No Directions Given to LIC on Investments

FinMin: No Directions Given to LIC on Investments

Rediff.com   6 days ago

'LIC's investment decisions are taken independently, following strict due diligence, risk assessment and fiduciary compliance.'

Fraud Bleeds Insurers Of Rs 10,000 Crore A Year

Fraud Bleeds Insurers Of Rs 10,000 Crore A Year

Rediff.com   7 days ago

These losses increase insurance premiums for customers and reduce insurer margins on the other.

Insurers to Spend More on Tech for DPDP Compliance

Insurers to Spend More on Tech for DPDP Compliance

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2025

The DPDP rules, which have come into effect, require companies to implement a data protection and consent management system by November 2026.

Pent-up demand boosted retail health insurance segment in October

Pent-up demand boosted retail health insurance segment in October

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2025

Even as non-life insurers reported muted premium growth in October, standalone health insurers saw a robust 38 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) surge. This growth was driven by pent-up demand in the retail health insurance segment.

M&M, Manulife to form life insurance JV with 7,200 crore investment

M&M, Manulife to form life insurance JV with 7,200 crore investment

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2025

Canadian firm Manulife and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), an Indian automaker with interests in financial services, have signed an agreement to form a 50:50 life insurance joint venture (JV) with a total capital commitment of up to Rs 3,600 crore each totalling Rs 7,200 crore.

Sebi Eases IPO Lock-In Rules

Sebi Eases IPO Lock-In Rules

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2025

Sebi has proposed allowing depositories to mark such pledged shares as 'non-transferable' for the duration of the lock-in period, based on instructions from the issuer.

'Don't Consider Gold, Silver As Asset Classes'

'Don't Consider Gold, Silver As Asset Classes'

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2025

'An asset must generate income. Equities yield dividends, bonds pay coupons, deposits give interest, and real estate earns rent.' 'Gold, silver, and even Bitcoin produce no income, they merely store value. So, they should not be compared to productive assets.'

'Banks Need To Reinvent Themselves'

'Banks Need To Reinvent Themselves'

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2025

'Reinvention is not a hugely difficult task. With technology as available today, you can reinvent yourself pretty quickly.'

UPI Goes Global, Fintech Hits A Wall

UPI Goes Global, Fintech Hits A Wall

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2025

'When you think of cross-border payments, the first things that come to mind are risk, compliance, taxation, speed, and cost.'

Credit card transactions surge; debit cards' decline: RBI

Credit card transactions surge; debit cards' decline: RBI

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2025

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) Payment Systems Report highlighted that between 2019 and 2024, credit card transactions doubled in volume and almost tripled in value. During the same period, however, debit card transactions witnessed a decline, both in volume and value.

JLR Cyberattack Triggers $2.55 Billion Shockwave

JLR Cyberattack Triggers $2.55 Billion Shockwave

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2025

At an estimated 1.9 billion in losses and over 5,000 UK organisations affected, the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack has been labelled the most economically damaging cyber incident in UK history, exposing the deep vulnerability of interconnected supply chains.

Insurance staff oppose pvt sector entry in top PSU posts

Insurance staff oppose pvt sector entry in top PSU posts

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2025

The All India Insurance Employees' Association has opposed the government directive seeking to open up top posts in the state-owned insurers to the private sector, saying this would lead to greater private influence and "eventual privatisation".

Pilot Training In India Is Below The Mark

Pilot Training In India Is Below The Mark

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2025

The principal problem lies in lack of training infrastructure and relatively lax safety standards.

Credit quality of companies likely to remain stable in H2

Credit quality of companies likely to remain stable in H2

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2025

Credit quality of Indian corporate is expected to be stable in the second half of the current financial year (H2FY26), supported by easing monetary cycle, and declining inflation, coupled with income-tax relief and rationalisation of the goods and service tax (GST) rates, among others.

Gold, Silver Shine As Stocks Slip

Gold, Silver Shine As Stocks Slip

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2025

'The frenzy for gold is primarily due to the uncertainty surrounding the tariff war.'

'No Indian insurer can ignore bancassurance'

'No Indian insurer can ignore bancassurance'

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2025

'While we expand into other areas, banca remains our primary channel, and we continue to be a banca-led organisation.'

Top four life insurance companies covered 14 mn fewer lives in FY25

Top four life insurance companies covered 14 mn fewer lives in FY25

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2025

Some of the leading life insurance companies have reported a sharp decline in the number of lives covered in FY25, largely due to a slowdown in credit-linked life insurance policies. Stress in the microfinance segment has reduced loan disbursements and, in turn, the flow of new customers to insurers.

Munir's Moves: Why India Must Be On High Alert

Munir's Moves: Why India Must Be On High Alert

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2025

A Pakistan that is more secure in its relations with the US is also one that might well wish to indulge in another cross-border misadventure.