Ajinkya Kawale, Subrata Panda

Stories by Ajinkya Kawale, Subrata Panda

Infosys to lay groundwork for LIC's digital transformation

Infosys to lay groundwork for LIC's digital transformation

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2024

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) announced on Monday that it had signed up tech giant Infosys to develop a next-generation digital platform that will act as the foundation for new high-value business applications, such as customer and sales super apps, portals, and digital branches. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed. The tie-up with Infosys is part of LIC's "long-drawn" strategy, said a senior executive of India's biggest insurer, who noted that the IT giant "won the bid to develop the next-generation platform through a request for proposal (RFP) process".

Ayushman Bharat's 70+ coverage: Minimal impact expected on health insurers

Ayushman Bharat's 70+ coverage: Minimal impact expected on health insurers

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2024

Industry experts believe that health insurance companies are unlikely to experience business cannibalisation due to the central government's decision to extend health coverage to people aged 70 and above, regardless of their income level, under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to include all senior citizens aged 70 and older. This move is expected to benefit nearly 45 million families, comprising 60 million senior citizens, by providing Rs 5 lakh in free health insurance coverage per family.

'We want to build best housing finance company of future'

'We want to build best housing finance company of future'

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2024

'Opportunity is there in each segment of the market. There is opportunity in affordable and specifically governed by government initiatives as well as for housing for all.'

SBI focuses on JanDhan, trusts, societies to mobilise incremental deposits

SBI focuses on JanDhan, trusts, societies to mobilise incremental deposits

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2024

In order to boost its deposit base, State Bank of India (SBI) is focusing on various segments, including JanDhan account holders, trusts, societies, and the segment below the affluent class but above the normal account holders. According to Ashwini Tewari , managing director, SBI, the bank is focusing on three broad segments. One is wealth banking, where the bank is focusing on individuals who perhaps do not qualify for private banking but are above regular accounts and require individual attention.

'Insurance should be bought for right reason'

'Insurance should be bought for right reason'

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2024

'We do not believe in fire sale. We don't do it.'

'NIM To See Increase After Couple Of Quarters'

'NIM To See Increase After Couple Of Quarters'

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2024

'There has been a change in the advances mix, with the share of corporate loans decreasing.'

RBI recognises FACE as fintech SRO

RBI recognises FACE as fintech SRO

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recognised the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) as a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) in the fintech sector, the central bank announced on Wednesday. The banking regulator received three applications for fintech SRO. Of the remaining two applications, one has been returned by the RBI with a provision for resubmission after meeting specific requirements, while the third application is still under examination, said Governor Shaktikanta Das at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.

Flipkart-backed super.money aims to be among top five on UPI leaderboard

Flipkart-backed super.money aims to be among top five on UPI leaderboard

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2024

Flipkart-backed fintech firm super.money is aiming to be among the top five players on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) leaderboard by the end of this year, a senior company executive has said. The company, which rolled out its beta version in June this year, has processed about 10 million transactions till date. "We have a target of 100 million transactions for the end of the year.

RBI set to launch UPI-like unified lending platform

RBI set to launch UPI-like unified lending platform

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will launch the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) nationwide in due course, aiming to transform India's lending sector, similar to how the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) revolutionised the payments ecosystem, Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Monday.

NRI deposits see nearly $4 billion inflows in April-June FY25: RBI data

NRI deposits see nearly $4 billion inflows in April-June FY25: RBI data

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2024

Overseas Indians deposited around $4 billion in non-resident Indian (NRI) deposit schemes in April - June FY25, up 79 per cent over the amount deposited in these schemes in the same period last year, data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday showed. In April - June FY25, inflows into the NRI schemes stood at $3.95 billion, compared to $2.21 billion during the same period a year ago. With this, the total outstanding NRI deposits as of June stood at $155.71 billion.

Private banks' bottom line remains healthy in Q1, bad loans inch up

Private banks' bottom line remains healthy in Q1, bad loans inch up

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

Private banks' net profit grew 26.3 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 48,982 crore in the first quarter ended June 2024 (Q1FY25) owing to healthy growth in credit and other income. The gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) increased with the end of dispensation granted during the pandemic, according to the data compiled by BS Research Bureau for listed 18 private banks.

RBI releases draft rules on AePS to counter frauds on payments system

RBI releases draft rules on AePS to counter frauds on payments system

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday released draft guidelines for streamlining the onboarding and monitoring of Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) operators to counter frauds perpetuated through the ecosystem. Banks and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) are required to comply with these directions within three months from the date of issue of the guidelines.

Draft framework: RBI for more options to authenticate digital payments

Draft framework: RBI for more options to authenticate digital payments

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday issued a draft framework for alternative authentication mechanism for digital payments, wherein it has mandated that all digital payment transactions would have to be authenticated with an additional factor of authentication (AFA), except small value contactless card payments for up to Rs 5,000 at point of sale terminals, e-mandates for recurring transactions, and small value digital payments through offline mode, among others. Additionally, it has said that all digital payment transactions, other than card present transactions, have to ensure that one of the factors of authentication is dynamically created, i.e., the factor is generated after initiation of payment; is specific to the transaction; and cannot be reused.

WazirX Seeks FBI Help To Recover $230M

WazirX Seeks FBI Help To Recover $230M

Rediff.com   31 Jul 2024

WazirX lost about 45 per cent of its crypto assets to the security breach. People privy to the discussions say North Korea has been mentioned.

Rs 32,619 cr and rising: India Inc back with overseas bonds in 2024

Rs 32,619 cr and rising: India Inc back with overseas bonds in 2024

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2024

Overseas fundraising by Indian firms is experiencing a robust revival in 2024, following a lacklustre 2023. This resurgence is primarily driven by strong demand for high-yield bonds from international investors amid improving liquidity conditions and reduced hedging costs. Indian companies raised ~32,619 crore through overseas bonds in the first half of 2024, surpassing the total amount raised via such instruments in the entire 2023, which stood at ~31,218 crore, according to PRIME Database. In comparison, ~45,237 crore was raised in 2022 and ~1.05 trillion was secured in 2021.

WazirX Breach: 'Recovering Stolen Crypto Is Hard'

WazirX Breach: 'Recovering Stolen Crypto Is Hard'

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2024

'A lot of them are converted to other tokens, and since crypto is dealt with internationally, it can go to any exchange in any country.'

'Banks must be prepared for providing UPI credit'

'Banks must be prepared for providing UPI credit'

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2024

'A credit line on UPI is going to make banks think about credit fundamentally as they digitise the credit process entirely.'

WazirX Loses $234 Million In Security Breach

WazirX Loses $234 Million In Security Breach

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2024

The swindled amount is nearly half of WazirX's total assets.

Banks make beeline for fundraise via infrastructure bonds

Banks make beeline for fundraise via infrastructure bonds

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2024

Public-sector banks, including Canara Bank and Bank of India, are tapping the infrastructure bond market. Canara Bank on Tuesday raised Rs 10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.40 per cent through 10-year infrastructure bonds. This comes after SBI on July 10 raised Rs 10,000 crore also through infrastructure bonds with a 15-year tenor at a coupon rate of 7.36 per cent.

Major credit card issuers go live on Bharat Bill Payment Systems platform

Major credit card issuers go live on Bharat Bill Payment Systems platform

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2024

Major credit issuers, including the largest - HDFC Bank - have integrated their systems with the Bharat Bill Payment Systems (BBPS) for receiving credit card repayments via third-party applications.