Harsh Kumar, Ajinkya Kawale

Stories by Harsh Kumar, Ajinkya Kawale

Back to basics: Paytm's focus is payments and distribution

Back to basics: Paytm's focus is payments and distribution

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2024

Paytm, the country's leading fintech player which had to shut its payment bank business following regulatory action, is revisiting its business strategy including partnership with lenders. Also, the company's founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Vijay Shekhar Sharma has decided to oversee the day-to-day operations with all the major verticals reporting directly to him now. "The thing on top of everyone's agenda is getting the core businesses back on track," a person in the know said.

'Payment banks' micro-lending to significantly impact economy'

'Payment banks' micro-lending to significantly impact economy'

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2024

'The transition from payment banks to SFBs is only permissible for banks not owned by corporate entities.'

MPS: FinMin may extend August deadline for PSBs, insurers

MPS: FinMin may extend August deadline for PSBs, insurers

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2024

The finance ministry is in favour of extending the August deadline for public sector banks (PSBs) as well as insurance companies to increase their minimum public shareholding (MPS) to the mandated 25 per cent, said a senior government official. "The election results will determine the course of action. "Most likely, those who did not receive an extension to meet the minimum shareholding norm will be granted one," the senior government official said.

AI, Cloud, super app: Adani group to bet big on tech

AI, Cloud, super app: Adani group to bet big on tech

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2024

Coal-to-airports conglomerate Adani group is set to make a splash in the tech world. The group is considering the creation of customised artificial intelligence (AI) models for commercial prospects and consolidating digital services on a super app, according to people in the know. The Adani One app, part of its consumer-facing businesses, is reportedly in talks to expand into e-commerce and digital payments, according to a Financial Times report.

Valuations, access to capital spur fintechs' homecoming

Valuations, access to capital spur fintechs' homecoming

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2024

Why are financial-technology (fintech) players moving back to India, or doing the reverse-flipping?

'I Never Take My Opponent's Name'

'I Never Take My Opponent's Name'

Rediff.com   30 May 2024

'Even last time, when I defeated Shatrughan Sinha, I did not take his name.'

'Draft infra norms good for industry'

'Draft infra norms good for industry'

Rediff.com   29 May 2024

'Probably revised guidelines will come, and then the real picture will emerge.'

BharatPe, PhonePe amicably settle trademark disputes over 'Pe' suffix

BharatPe, PhonePe amicably settle trademark disputes over 'Pe' suffix

Rediff.com   27 May 2024

Financial technology (fintech) firms PhonePe and BharatPe announced on Sunday that they have settled long-standing legal disputes regarding the use of the trademark with the suffix 'Pe' in their brand names. The settlement concludes five-year-long legal disputes across multiple courts. Both companies have decided to withdraw all opposition against each other in the Trade Marks Registry.

'No need to panic on draft infra guidelines'

'No need to panic on draft infra guidelines'

Rediff.com   24 May 2024

'It's a debatable topic, and we will submit our comments to the RBI by June 15.'

Crypto firms bank on fair play as Binance logs into FIU-IND

Crypto firms bank on fair play as Binance logs into FIU-IND

Rediff.com   20 May 2024

The regulatory gap between crypto firms registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-India) and unregistered offshore entities is expected to narrow, industry players said, after global crypto players Binance and KuCoin received approvals to register with India's anti-money laundering unit.

Litchi Heats Up Election Season In Muzaffarpur

Litchi Heats Up Election Season In Muzaffarpur

Rediff.com   19 May 2024

'The local support from our MP is nil. He never comes to see our farms.'

Who Will Taste Grapes Of Wrath In Nashik?

Who Will Taste Grapes Of Wrath In Nashik?

Rediff.com   19 May 2024

'During times of adversity, a brick becomes better than a stone. That is how I look at the election season.'

Who Will Be The Next SBI Chief?

Who Will Be The Next SBI Chief?

Rediff.com   14 May 2024

'The FSIB will conduct interviews for the SBI chairman position on May 21-22 as the tenure of the current chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara is scheduled to end by August.'

Next-gen politicians battle it out for Samastipur

Next-gen politicians battle it out for Samastipur

Rediff.com   9 May 2024

'Dynastic politics has become a tool of convenience for political parties. The BJP does not hesitate to accept it when it comes to its own alliance or party candidates. The same goes for the others.'

UPI credit line: NPCI may go easy on interchange fee

UPI credit line: NPCI may go easy on interchange fee

Rediff.com   8 May 2024

To increase the adoption of credit on United Payments Interface (UPI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is looking at an interchange fee for transactions lower than that for a credit-card transaction. Sources in the know said these charges could be 1-1.2 per cent. Fintech participants concur with the view that the interchange fee is expected to be lower than that for a credit-card transaction.

'Govt won't privatise GIC Re at this stage'

'Govt won't privatise GIC Re at this stage'

Rediff.com   5 May 2024

'Because it is the only public sector company in this sector, currently.'

Fintechs Push For Easier KYC

Fintechs Push For Easier KYC

Rediff.com   3 May 2024

'For smaller merchants, there should be a process that is digital and a minimum KYC journey should be allowed.'

Payments banks bat for new model, pin hopes on lending licence amid stress

Payments banks bat for new model, pin hopes on lending licence amid stress

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2024

Payments banks are expecting to get the rights to offer small-ticket loans sometime soon, according to an industry source familiar with the matter. The industry has been in talks with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for some time in seeking lending rights.

Cautious approach: Small finance bank model in the slow lane, say experts

Cautious approach: Small finance bank model in the slow lane, say experts

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2024

The small finance bank model may still be testing the water some 10 years since its launch. According to banking experts, the regulator has taken a cautious approach in granting approvals. Unity Small Finance Bank was the last one to get a licence in the category in November 2021.

Why Election 2024 Is So Subdued...

Why Election 2024 Is So Subdued...

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2024

'It's dull because this time the election is spread over such a long period.'