Ajinkya Kawale, Anushka Bhardwaj, Ishita Ayan Dutt &Amp;Amp; Ramveer Singh Gurjar

Stories by Ajinkya Kawale, Anushka Bhardwaj, Ishita Ayan Dutt &Amp;Amp; Ramveer Singh Gurjar

AI Takes Over Delhi Election Campaign

AI Takes Over Delhi Election Campaign

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2025

From dubbing voices to putting faces with the help of AI, political campaigns are undergoing a Bollywood makeover. Among the favourites is a scene from the Anil Kapoor-starrer Nayak, posted by the BJP, where Kapoor asks about the Chunaavi Vaade (poll promise), with Arvind Kejriwal at the receiving end instead of Amrish Puri.

Thousands Mourn Dr Singh

Thousands Mourn Dr Singh

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2025

Dr Singh's eldest daughter Professor Upinder Singh gently reminded the gathering that this was a moment for prayer, not accolades.

Crypto assets can negatively impact financial stability, says RBI report

Crypto assets can negatively impact financial stability, says RBI report

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2024

Widespread use of crypto assets, including stablecoins, can have a negative impact on the macroeconomic and financial stability of a country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday. In its Financial Stability Report (FSR), the banking regulator highlighted that excessive use of crypto assets can reduce effectiveness of monetary policy, worsen fiscal risks, circumvent capital flow management measures, divert resources available for financing the real economy and threaten global financial stability.

Number of UPI apps grows in 2024, yet top two command maximum market share

Number of UPI apps grows in 2024, yet top two command maximum market share

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2024

In 2024, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) approved 20 third-party Unified Payments Interface (UPI) applications, a record since UPI's launch in 2016. This surge reflects growing interest from financial technology (fintech) companies, driven by the integration of credit products like UPI-linked credit cards and pre-approved credit lines.

Small ticket transactions drag avg retail payments value by 48% in 3 years

Small ticket transactions drag avg retail payments value by 48% in 3 years

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2024

The average value of retail digital payments dropped 48 per cent from Rs 8,769 in March 2021 to Rs 4,560 in March 2024 due to a growing preference to use digital modes of transactions for small value payments, according to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) report on the trend and progress of banking in India.

Crypto wrap 2024: Bitcoin, altcoins remain popular among Indian investors

Crypto wrap 2024: Bitcoin, altcoins remain popular among Indian investors

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2024

The majority of crypto investors in the country have invested in mainstream virtual digital assets (VDAs) such as Bitcoins, altcoins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Ethereum, followed by non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and stablecoins, a compilation of year-end reports of crypto majors CoinDCX and CoinSwitch revealed. The crypto exchange platform CoinDCX reported that 14.6 per cent of total investments on its platform were allocated to Bitcoin, while CoinSwitch saw the share of the VDA at 7 per cent.

Mobikwik leads IPO debut with 90% surge; Vishal, Sai Life gain around 40%

Mobikwik leads IPO debut with 90% surge; Vishal, Sai Life gain around 40%

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2024

All the three companies that made their stock market debut on Wednesday delivered huge day-one gains for investors. Shares of digital payment major One Mobikwik Systems surged 90 per cent, while that of fashion retailer Vishal Mega Mart and pharma firm Sai Life Sciences gained around 40 per cent each. These stellar debuts came despite the benchmark indices logging continuous declines since their initial public offerings (IPOs) closed on Friday.

NPCI Lists Digital Scam Warning Signs

NPCI Lists Digital Scam Warning Signs

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2024

UPI-related frauds have accounted for a cumulative loss of Rs 2,145 crore across 2.7 million reported incidents.

Bad loans in P2P more than doubles to Rs 1,163 cr in FY24

Bad loans in P2P more than doubles to Rs 1,163 cr in FY24

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2024

Bad loans in the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending industry more than doubled in financial year 2024 (FY24) to Rs 1,163 crore from Rs 472.1 crore in FY23, said a financial services company on Monday. Non-performing assets (NPAs), as such loans are officially called, were a modest Rs 14.7 crore at the end of FY19 when P2P lending was in its nascent stage, according to Capitalmind Financial Services that accessed data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a right to information application.

The ambitious plans of Flipkart-backed super.money

The ambitious plans of Flipkart-backed super.money

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2024

Flipkart-backed super.money is on an expansion spree and plans to expand its range of offerings in credit and wealth management after launching its operations in July this year. The Bengaluru-based fintech company is on track to roll out credit products such as credit on Unified Payments Interface (UPI), unsecured credit cards, and personal loans within the first half of the next calendar year (2025).

Bitcoin at $100,000: Milestone likely to boost Indian investors' rush

Bitcoin at $100,000: Milestone likely to boost Indian investors' rush

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2024

The recent Bitcoin rally, which saw the cryptocurrency surge past the $100,000 mark on Thursday, is drawing Indian investors in droves. Cryptocurrency platforms in India are experiencing a significant uptick in activity and user sign-ups, driven by the optimism surrounding "crypto-friendly" Donald Trump's US presidential election victory.

'Urban demand is under stress, would need an upward spiral'

'Urban demand is under stress, would need an upward spiral'

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2024

'Spending by the middle class is limited with a focus on savings. However, there is buoyancy at the top-end.'

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.

'1,800 Mosques Are Disputed In This Country'

'1,800 Mosques Are Disputed In This Country'

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2024

'Unless Justice Chandrachud's judgment is (over)turned, there is no end to it.'

FACE's ambitious goal: Uniting 75% fintech players

FACE's ambitious goal: Uniting 75% fintech players

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2024

The Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE), the only self-regulatory organisation for financial technology/fintech (SRO-FT) companies, is aiming to secure membership from at least 75 per cent of players across all key fintech categories within the next three years, according to a senior executive. The total number of members in the organisation has increased to 110, up from around 60 when it received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an SRO-FT in August.

Will Poll Gamechanger Laadki Bahin Continue?

Will Poll Gamechanger Laadki Bahin Continue?

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2024

'I wonder if they will keep it up after the elections.' 'I fear they'll start questioning eligibility -- income, age, bank accounts -- and eventually stop the scheme altogether.'

Crypto or not: Industry to focus on user protection, licensing regime

Crypto or not: Industry to focus on user protection, licensing regime

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2024

User protection and a proposal for a licensing framework for companies seeking to operate in the cryptocurrency area will be part of an upcoming consultation paper on the sector, said a senior industry executive. Even as specific regulations around crypto are yet to take shape, companies are setting up baseline user protection processes, including a redressal mechanism, fraud detection, regular filing of suspicious transaction reports (STRs), among others.

Delhi's Air Is Forcing People To Migrate

Delhi's Air Is Forcing People To Migrate

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2024

Some residents have already taken this step to relocate, either temporarily or permanently, some to their native places and others to clean-air destinations like Goa and Himachal Pradesh.

Maharashtra farmers seek better pricing for produce

Maharashtra farmers seek better pricing for produce

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2024

A group of onion traders gathered at the Pimpalgaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), near Nashik, to inspect one of the season's final harvests of red onions as they look to place their bids. They were surrounded by farmers, who brought their produce here from different parts of the district. Farmers have reasons to be optimistic.

India Inc sends mixed signals on H2FY25 capex path

India Inc sends mixed signals on H2FY25 capex path

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2024

After subdued earnings in the first half amid global headwinds, India Inc is taking a cautious approach on their capital expenditure (capex) for the second half of the financial year ending March 2025, according to management commentary. Minutes from the October monetary policy meeting show the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) optimism about private investments picking up.