Harsh Kumar, Asit Ranjan Mishra

Stories by Harsh Kumar, Asit Ranjan Mishra

Bank Deposit Insurance May Be Hiked From 5 Lakh To...

Bank Deposit Insurance May Be Hiked From 5 Lakh To...

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2025

The revised ceiling will be within the Rs 10 lakh mark.

India Wants Pakistan Back On FATF 'Grey List'

India Wants Pakistan Back On FATF 'Grey List'

Rediff.com   26 May 2025

Re-entry into the list could have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan, including diminished foreign investment, increased borrowing costs, and tighter scrutiny from global financial institutions.

Centre plans to list at least five RRBs by FY27-end

Centre plans to list at least five RRBs by FY27-end

Rediff.com   24 May 2025

After the merger of regional rural banks (RRBs) under the "One State, One RRB" policy to improve their efficiency and minimise competition among public-sector banks (PSBs) that sponsor them, the government is planning to list at least five RRBs by the end of financial year 2026-27 (FY27). After the latest amalgamation that came into effect on May 1, there are 28 RRBs in 26 states and two Union Territories (UTs), with more than 22,000 branches covering 700 districts.

Can AI Improve Customer Service At PSBs?

Can AI Improve Customer Service At PSBs?

Rediff.com   20 May 2025

'AI analyses body language, etiquette, and communication skills, providing an in-depth performance matrix and a ranking system to help employees identify areas of improvement.'

Expect India to strike first trade pact: US Treasury Secy Scott Bessent

Expect India to strike first trade pact: US Treasury Secy Scott Bessent

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2025

As in-person negotiations between India and the US kickstarted on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expected India to strike the first bilateral trade deal to avert President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs.

Aviation ministry seeks FinMin help to boost aircraft leasing at GIFT City

Aviation ministry seeks FinMin help to boost aircraft leasing at GIFT City

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2025

To enable Indian banks and financial institutions to develop an aircraft-leasing ecosystem at GIFT City, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought support from the Ministry of Finance. It has also raised concern over slow progress in developing aircraft leasing in India.

India Pauses WTO Move in US Trade Talks

India Pauses WTO Move in US Trade Talks

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2025

This is the first case involving India and the US at the WTO after both sides decided to withdraw all seven pending cases at the WTO during the Biden administration.

ITR-B Targets Undisclosed IncomeReporting

ITR-B Targets Undisclosed IncomeReporting

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2025

Form ITR-B allows the assessee to claim TDS (tax deducted at source) and TCS (tax collected at source) credit against undisclosed income.

'Trump's Hopes For India's Tariff Cuts Too Ambitious'

'Trump's Hopes For India's Tariff Cuts Too Ambitious'

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2025

'I certainly hope the two can avoid a trade war and believe they will.' 'I expect some in India will push for retaliatory tariffs if the Trump administration applies significant reciprocal tariffs.'

Govt dividends from CPSEs set to log record Rs 70,000 crore in FY25

Govt dividends from CPSEs set to log record Rs 70,000 crore in FY25

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2025

Dividends paid by central public-sector enterprises (CPSEs) in 2024-25 are set to be the highest ever, with the government receiving 69,873 crore so far. A government official said he was hopeful the receipts would touch 70,000 crore in the last week of the financial year.

US Firms Back Trump's India Tariffs

US Firms Back Trump's India Tariffs

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2025

Industry associations and companies in the United States, including the US Chamber of Commerce, Coalition of Services Industries and the iconic bike company Harley Davidson have called on the Donald Trump dispensation to push India to reduce tariffs, non-tariffs, and regulatory barriers to boost American exports.

Payments banks urge FinMin to raise deposit limit to Rs 5 lakh

Payments banks urge FinMin to raise deposit limit to Rs 5 lakh

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2025

Payments banks have urged the Union finance ministry to increase their deposit limit for each account to Rs 5 lakh, according to a source who participated in a meeting, chaired by the Department of Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, in New Delhi. At present, they can accept deposits of up to Rs 2 lakh.

Online Scams: 4,245 Cr Gone in 10 Months

Online Scams: 4,245 Cr Gone in 10 Months

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2025

This marks a 67% increase from the Rs 2,537 crore lost in scams in 2022-2023.

FTA deal with India: EU firms want non-tariff barriers to go

FTA deal with India: EU firms want non-tariff barriers to go

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2025

European Union (EU) companies operating in India want New Delhi to streamline or remove non-tariff barriers such as Quality Control Orders (QCOs), complex Customs procedures; simplify labelling, testing, and import procedures; and facilitate cross-border digital transactions without data localisation constraints. These are results of a Business Sentiment Survey, 2025 conducted by the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) ahead of resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between both the sides scheduled to be concluded by year-end.

Rs 45 Bn Scam: ED Launches Searches

Rs 45 Bn Scam: ED Launches Searches

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2025

The Enforcement Directorate said on Monday that it had conducted search operations at four locations in Mumbai and Delhi as part of its money laundering investigation into an alleged Rs 4,500 crore (Rs 45 billion) fraud by Pancard Clubs Limited and others, in which more than 5 million investors have been duped.

Why is India Inc not speaking about investment?: Sitharaman

Why is India Inc not speaking about investment?: Sitharaman

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2025

'The answer is not for me to give. The answer either way has to be heard from the industry itself. Tell us why not if you are not doing it; tell us if you are doing it -- why should this question remain unanswered?'

Will Sitharaman's Debt-GDP vs Fiscal Deficit Gamble Pay Off?

Will Sitharaman's Debt-GDP vs Fiscal Deficit Gamble Pay Off?

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2025

Using the debt-to-GDP ratio as a fiscal anchor aligns with efforts to promote fiscal transparency through proper disclosure of off-budget borrowings.

Irdai seeks IPO road map from 10 insurers

Irdai seeks IPO road map from 10 insurers

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2025

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has asked at least 10 general and life insurance companies to submit a detailed road map for their listing strategies by the end of this month, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter. "The regulator met four life and six general insurers last month and asked them to provide their listing strategies by the end of February," said one of the sources.

'PSB is exploring digital lending solutions'

'PSB is exploring digital lending solutions'

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2025

'We plan to launch new initiatives, including cash flow-based lending, to ensure borrowers are not burdened and can access funds more quickly.'

'Prime Minister Modi Has Been Fiscally Conscious'

'Prime Minister Modi Has Been Fiscally Conscious'

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2025

'Spend, but create assets, spend but make sure that people benefit from it.' 'This has been a beautiful guiding principle. And I think as a finance minister I owe so much to the prime minister for keeping this path clear before us.'