Subrata Panda And Anup Roy

Stories by Subrata Panda And Anup Roy

HDFC Bank readies plan to tackle frequent outages

HDFC Bank readies plan to tackle frequent outages

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2021

The bank has decided to embark on a 'Technology Transformation agenda' to provide its customers smoother, faster, and better banking experience.

The 2nd wave: Insurers brace for rise in Covid-19 policy claims

The 2nd wave: Insurers brace for rise in Covid-19 policy claims

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2021

The unprecedented rise in Covid-19 infections in the country, which many are terming as the second wave, has also resulted in a rise in Covid-related claims for general and health insurance companies as hospitalisations have gone up. The insurers have received more than a million Covid-related claims as of April, 2021. According to the data compiled by General Insurance Council, the reported claims total 1.014 million, amounting to more than Rs 14,800 crore.

Don't panic over sudden movement of rupee, say dealers

Don't panic over sudden movement of rupee, say dealers

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2021

The sudden movement of the rupee - post the monetary policy - is not a reason to panic, said currency dealers. According to them, a correction was overdue for the rupee that remained the best performing currency in the region for well over a month. The rupee closed at 74.72 a dollar on Friday from its previous close of 74.60. It had dropped 1.52 per cent against the dollar on April 7 after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced its monetary policy, committing to buy Rs 1 trillion of bonds in the June quarter. A weak rupee goes well with the export narrative of the government, and is consistent with the RBI's intervention strategy that prevented an appreciation.

You will soon be able to withdraw cash from digital wallets

You will soon be able to withdraw cash from digital wallets

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2021

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday proposed to make interoperability mandatory for digital payments firms. It also allowed users to withdraw cash from e-wallets and fintech companies to process RTGS and NEFT transactions. The RBI expressed dissatisfaction over prepaid payment instruments' (PPIs') failure to migrate towards full-KYC (know your customer) PPIs, and therefore interoperability, even two years after guidelines were issued.

How govt can boost infra funding in India

How govt can boost infra funding in India

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2021

For development finance institution to succeed now, the government must stand like a rock behind it and be patient.

MobiKwik continues to deny any data breach, but will do forensic audit

MobiKwik continues to deny any data breach, but will do forensic audit

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2021

If the data breach is found to be genuine, and if the company is found guilty on the grounds of dereliction of duty, or misleading the general public and the RBI about the data breach, actions taken against it will be severe, the person quoted above said.

RuPay takes on Visa and Mastercard with a little govt help

RuPay takes on Visa and Mastercard with a little govt help

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2021

RuPay is working on how to increase offers to customers. It is also focused on technology innovation in the card payment system.

Life insurers shell out crores as Covid-19 death claims

Life insurers shell out crores as Covid-19 death claims

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2021

As of March 25, life insurers have paid Rs 1,986 crore towards 25,500 Covid death claims

India to become 3rd largest economy by 2031: BofA Securities

India to become 3rd largest economy by 2031: BofA Securities

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2021

Bank of America (BofA) Securities expects India to be the third-largest economy in the world by 2031. The economic rise could become a reality by 2028, but the Covid pandemic delayed the pace, BofA Securities economists Indranil Sen Gupta and Aastha Gudwani wrote in a report.

Loan moratorium: SC ruling clears overhang for banks

Loan moratorium: SC ruling clears overhang for banks

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2021

Lenders can now initiate recovery proceedings since the SC has lifted the standstill on asset classification, which protected stressed accounts from slipping into NPAs.

Amid global rout, govt cancels last bond auction of FY21

Amid global rout, govt cancels last bond auction of FY21

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2021

In the state of the economy report, the RBI said bond vigilantes could undermine the recovery, unsettle financial markets, and trigger capital outflows from emerging markets.

'You never exit a portfolio'

'You never exit a portfolio'

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2021

'We will be looking to prune our portfolio to make GIC Re a healthier entity.'

NUE: 6 in fray for digital payments licence

NUE: 6 in fray for digital payments licence

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2021

The race to get a New Umbrella Entity (NUE) licence for digital payments may get crowded. As many as six consortiums are said to be in the fray to apply for an NUE licence, which would create a for-profit National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)-like body for retail payments. A consortium led by Financial Software and Systems (FSS), a leading provider of payment products and payment processor, is in talks and may file an application to the RBI for an NUE license, said sources aware of the development. The other constituents of this group include Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, India Post Payments Bank, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), and a few small finance banks.

Citibank likely to hive off consumer banking business in India

Citibank likely to hive off consumer banking business in India

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2021

In India, it is not easy to fight it out with the large banks which are nimble-footed and technology-savvy and are continuously innovating on the retail turf with newer products for customer acquisition.

Irdai launches standard personal accident cover

Irdai launches standard personal accident cover

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2021

The product, named Saral Suraksha Bima, will have a maximum sum assured of Rs 1 crore and minimum Rs 2.5 lakh.

Unwinding high indirect taxes on fuel is critical for economy: RBI's Das

Unwinding high indirect taxes on fuel is critical for economy: RBI's Das

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2021

With inflation under control, the Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC's) job is to support growth because the economy had recovered well from the lows in the initial months of the pandemic, according to the panel's members, who met in the first week of this month. The minutes of the meeting show the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor in his statement said: "Given the sharp moderation in inflation along with a stable near-term outlook, monetary policy needs to continue with the accommodative stance to ensure that the recovery gains greater traction and becomes broad-based." Ashima Goyal, external member of the MPC, said: "The current macroeconomic configuration and its expected future evolution imply there is space for the MPC to continue to support the revival of the economy with inflation remaining in the target band."

RBI's lack of support pushes up bond yields

RBI's lack of support pushes up bond yields

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2021

The bond market is not in a mood to reason with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on keeping yields low. The 10-year bond yields continued to rise for the fourth straight session to close at 6.202 per cent from its previous close of 6.135 per cent. The yield was at 6 per cent a week ago. The RBI wants the yields to remain at 6 per cent, but bond dealers say the central bank will have to step up its bond-buying programme.

RBI's intervention drives down 10-year bond yields to 6% level

RBI's intervention drives down 10-year bond yields to 6% level

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2021

The central bank bought the 10-year bonds at 50 paise above the prevailing rate, and brought down the yields from 6.08 per cent to 6 per cent mark.

RBI to buy bonds worth Rs 20,000 crore via open market operations on Feb 10

RBI to buy bonds worth Rs 20,000 crore via open market operations on Feb 10

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2021

However, the RBI is still not in a mood to issue an OMO calendar, which was the expectation in some sections of the market.

UPI Jan volume up 77% to 2.3 bn year-on-year, value doubles to Rs 4.3 trn

UPI Jan volume up 77% to 2.3 bn year-on-year, value doubles to Rs 4.3 trn

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2021

While it took UPI three years to reach a billion transactions in a month, the next billion came in just a year. Digital payments, especially UPI, saw increased adoption in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.