Manojit Saha &Amp;Amp; Aathira Varier

Stories by Manojit Saha &Amp;Amp; Aathira Varier

LIC earmarks Rs 600 crore for digital shift; to be 'paperless' in 2 years

LIC earmarks Rs 600 crore for digital shift; to be 'paperless' in 2 years

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2024

State-run Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has committed Rs 600 crore for its digital transformation journey, Sunder Krishnan, chief risk officer said on Wednesday. The insurance giant is also aiming to become completely "paperless" in two years. "We have hired a large system integrator for more than Rs 400 crore, a consultant for digital transformation for Rs 100 crore, and Rs 100 crore for agency transformation.

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".

'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.'

RBI seen warming up for a neutral shift in stance

RBI seen warming up for a neutral shift in stance

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2024

With concern on food inflation ebbing with the monsoon progressing well, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is warming up to the idea of a change in stance to "neutral" from "withdrawal of accommodation", according to economists. In his speech on Thursday during the annual event of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry-Indian Banks' Association, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said: "The balance between inflation and growth is well-poised."

'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.'

Mis-selling of life insurance policies at alarming level: Irdai

Mis-selling of life insurance policies at alarming level: Irdai

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2024

The alarming level of life insurance policy misselling has caught the attention of policymakers amid efforts by the insurance regulator to boost insurance penetration, a top official from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) said on Tuesday. According to Satyajit Tripathy, member-distribution at Irdai, while life insurance grievances often relate to product issues, non-life insurance complaints typically concern claim payments and exclusions. Addressing these grievances is essential to increasing insurance penetration, he said.

Can Setty Take SBI To New Heights?

Can Setty Take SBI To New Heights?

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2024

It is to be seen if SBI under Setty, who will have a three-year term, can ride the economic cycle to take SBI to new heights, navigating some of these challenges.

''Growth Expected To Be 1% Below Last Year'

''Growth Expected To Be 1% Below Last Year'

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2024

'A possible post-election growth momentum may be lost.'

Pvt insurers ceded ground in rural areas in FY24; Tier-II,-III saw growth

Pvt insurers ceded ground in rural areas in FY24; Tier-II,-III saw growth

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2024

The share of life insurance policies sold by top private insurers in the rural areas declined in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) compared to previous year. SBI Life, HDFC Life, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance -- the top three players from the private sector-- have seen the share of insurance policies sold in rural areas drop in FY24 as compared to the previous financial year. Max Life Insurance's share of rural policies recorded an increase in FY24.

Dahi Handi: Insurers Cover 90,000+ Govindas

Dahi Handi: Insurers Cover 90,000+ Govindas

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2024

'As on August 25, 94,753 Govindas have been insured.' 'This number is expected to rise further, as proposals for 5,000 to 8,000 Govindas are received daily.'

MPC Members Were Divided On Rate Cut

MPC Members Were Divided On Rate Cut

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2024

Deputy Governor Michael Patra warned about the spillover effects of food inflation.

Why RBI Cracked Down On P2P Lending

Why RBI Cracked Down On P2P Lending

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2024

Following a review of peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, certain issues -- including high non-performing asset levels, significantly high balances in escrow accounts, and non-compliance with net owned fund and disclosure requirements -- came to the RBI's attention.

'Our objective is to keep improving Casa ratio'

'Our objective is to keep improving Casa ratio'

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2024

'The Casa ratio is at 33.4 per cent, which has to keep improving. Right now, there is a bit of liquidity pressure in the market.'

How Banks Plan To Tackle 'Mule' Fraud

How Banks Plan To Tackle 'Mule' Fraud

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2024

'A mule operates someone else's account to transfer illegal money.'

Banks report muted treasury book gains

Banks report muted treasury book gains

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

Banks reported muted treasury gains during April-June of FY25 (Q1FY25) following Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) revised norms on investment portfolio effective from April 1, 2024, despite softening of government bond yields. "Banks have reported muted treasury gains during Q1 of FY25 despite softening of yields across the curve. "The main reason was change in the investment valuation and classification guidelines by the RBI.

RBI proposes to tighten banks' LCR norms, releases draft guidelines

RBI proposes to tighten banks' LCR norms, releases draft guidelines

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2024

In view of the rising number of mobile and internet banking users, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to tighten norms related to the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) by increasing the run-off factor for retail deposits. "Banking has undergone rapid transformation in recent years. "While increased usage of technology has facilitated the ability to make instantaneous bank transfers and withdrawals, it has also led to a concomitant increase in risks, requiring proactive management," the RBI said in the draft guidelines released on Thursday.

Net credit card additions down 48% to 2 mn in Q1

Net credit card additions down 48% to 2 mn in Q1

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2024

The net credit card additions in the banking sector nearly halved to 2 million in the first quarter of the current financial year (Q1FY25) from the previous quarter due to seasonal and regulatory factors. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the net credit card additions during the April-June quarter of FY25 stood at 2 million, 48 per cent lower than 3.9 million in the December-March quarter of FY24.

How Aditya Birla Health Insurance plans to achieve full year profitability by FY26

How Aditya Birla Health Insurance plans to achieve full year profitability by FY26

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2024

'We want to play the value game for our consumers, which is health and retail will grow faster for us than the group.'

RBI Flags Concern Over Illegal Accounts

RBI Flags Concern Over Illegal Accounts

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2024

'We found certain banks having lakhs of such accounts with apparently no valid reason.'

New biz premium rises 23% in Q1

New biz premium rises 23% in Q1

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2024

Insurance companies reported nearly 23 per cent growth in first year premium in the first quarter of financial year 2024-25, when compared to the same period last year, with market leader LIC leading the charge with 28 per cent growth. According to the data released by the Life Insurance Council, the new business premium (NBP) increased by 22.91 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to ~89,726.7 crore in Q1FY25 from ~73,004.87 crore in Q1 FY24, reflecting a robust demand for insurance policies in the country.