Ajinkya Kawale, Aathira Varier

Stories by Ajinkya Kawale, Aathira Varier

Budget 2026: The Industry Wishlist...

Budget 2026: The Industry Wishlist...

Rediff.com   22 hours ago

Investors and startup executives are calling for extending the period for an entity to be recognised as a startup from 10 to 15 years for deep-tech companies.

New labour Codes raise operating expenses of pvt banks, insurers

New labour Codes raise operating expenses of pvt banks, insurers

Rediff.com   3 days ago

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.

UPI payments app PhonePe's $1.5 billion IPO to see Walmart cut stake

UPI payments app PhonePe's $1.5 billion IPO to see Walmart cut stake

Rediff.com   6 days ago

As India's biggest Unified Payments Interface (UPI) app PhonePe prepares to list, the updated draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) shows the impact of regulations on the business, and concentration of payments-linked revenue even as UPI lacks MDR (merchant discount rate).

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.

NPCI sets up unit to scale up digital infra beyond payments

NPCI sets up unit to scale up digital infra beyond payments

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2026

Moving beyond digital payments, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the operator of Unified Payments Interface, is planning to add more muscle to the country's digital infrastructure by setting up a fourth subsidiary, NPCI Tech Solutions Ltd (NTSL).

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.

Gold most stable asset during geopolitical tensions: RBI staff study

Gold most stable asset during geopolitical tensions: RBI staff study

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2026

Gold has emerged as the most stable asset during episodes of geopolitical stress, and crude oil has been more sensitive than others when it comes to regional conflicts and sanctions, according to a report in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) monthly bulletin. Silver and the United States Treasury have showed moderate reactions.

PSBs' staff count rises for 1st time in 5 years

PSBs' staff count rises for 1st time in 5 years

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2025

Public sector banks' (PSBs') employee count grew for the first time in five years while private sector banks' staff strength saw a decline in 2024-25 (FY25), according to latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The employee count of state-owned lenders rose 0.22 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 757,641 at the end of March 31, 2025 from 756,015 in FY24.

Corporate lending may rebound as loan-bond rate gap narrows

Corporate lending may rebound as loan-bond rate gap narrows

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2025

Bank lending to companies is expected to go up in the coming quarters because the difference in interest rates between corporate bonds and bank loans has narrowed. In addition, recent policy reforms by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), including allowing domestic banks to do acquisition financing, are expected to give further support to corporate lending, analysts said.

Bank Frauds Surge To 21,515 Cr In H1FY26

Bank Frauds Surge To 21,515 Cr In H1FY26

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2025

This was up 30 per cent from the same period last year, even as the number of frauds fell 2.8 times to 5,092.

New Insurance Amendment Bill: Intermediaries with high commissions may see payouts drop

New Insurance Amendment Bill: Intermediaries with high commissions may see payouts drop

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2025

Insurance intermediaries who receive disproportionately high commissions are likely to see a decline in their payouts, post the new Insurance Amendment Bill. The new Bill gives the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (Irdai) the power to disgorge unlawful gains made by insurers and intermediaries as well as the right to limit commissions paid to intermediaries.

Insurance industry flags concerns over proposed Insurance Amendment Bill

Insurance industry flags concerns over proposed Insurance Amendment Bill

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2025

The insurance industry is trying to get to grips with provisions in the proposed Insurance Amendment Bill, which gives additional powers to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), while there is ambiguity in the very definition of the insurance business, according to industry experts.

Insurance: Lack of legacy distribution network a challenge for foreign cos

Insurance: Lack of legacy distribution network a challenge for foreign cos

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2025

The Union Cabinet's decision to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector to 100 per cent is unlikely to significantly boost foreign investment as distribution remains a critical factor, requiring overseas players to partner with Indian businesses, experts said.

Tier-II, -III mkts make 62% of new health insurance policies

Tier-II, -III mkts make 62% of new health insurance policies

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2025

Tier-II, Tier-III, and rural regions accounted for 62 per cent of all new health insurance policies sold by insurers so far in 2025-26 (FY26), according to a Policybazaar report. These regions are also witnessing a rise in the sum assured opted by customers.