Sundar Sethuraman, Ajinkya Kawale

Stories by Sundar Sethuraman, Ajinkya Kawale

Can UPI Stay Free Forever?

Can UPI Stay Free Forever?

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2025

Several executives argue that UPI has the potential to grow tenfold, but warn that the absence of a monetisation model risks stagnating the real-time payments system, which has been recording all-time-high transaction volumes every year.

RMG Ban Will Be Clear Only When Rules Are Issued

RMG Ban Will Be Clear Only When Rules Are Issued

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2025

'Money moves in a web of transactions and payment addresses keep changing for offshore companies, which requires heightened monitoring measures.'

Trump's Tariffs Bites Surat's Diamond Industry

Trump's Tariffs Bites Surat's Diamond Industry

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2025

'We will be able to anticipate the full picture of the impact after August, which is also the time when demand for a year begins to peak ahead of the December holidays and Valentine's Day.'

Pre-IPO deals moderate after peaking in 2023

Pre-IPO deals moderate after peaking in 2023

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2025

Pre-initial public offering (IPO) allotments have fallen out of favour over the past two years amidst buoyant primary markets and increasing average float sizes. In 2023, 13 firms raised a record Rs 1,074 crore through pre-IPO placements.

Investors Bet $1B on Real-Money Gaming

Investors Bet $1B on Real-Money Gaming

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2025

'The essence of RMG is that users participate in skill-based games for financial reward, so this law would directly affect this operating model for both users and gaming companies.'

Casual Gaming To Gain From RMG Ban

Casual Gaming To Gain From RMG Ban

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2025

'There is responsibility to make great games that are played by audiences, that fill the gap from an entertainment perspective.'

RMG Cos Stunned By Ban Bill

RMG Cos Stunned By Ban Bill

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2025

What has surprised the industry is that the Bill has been tabled without any consultation. Critics warn the ban on real-money gaming could fuel black markets, endanger 200,000 jobs and billions in tax revenue.

How Gaming Firms Plan To Make Money

How Gaming Firms Plan To Make Money

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2025

Indian game studios managing to make money out of casual games just show how the Indian gamer is ready to spend money on games.

How India Spends: A Revealing Story

How India Spends: A Revealing Story

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2025

Nearly 7 out of every 10 P2M UPI transactions take place in high frequency categories like groceries, restaurants, pharmacies, fuel service stations, bakeries and utility services such as electricity, gas, water and sanitation.

With 3 mn new entries, demat a/cs see biggest spike in July since Dec

With 3 mn new entries, demat a/cs see biggest spike in July since Dec

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2025

Domestic markets saw the addition of nearly 3 million new dematerialised (demat) accounts in July, marking the highest monthly increase since December 2024. This is also the third consecutive month that witnessed a rise in account openings, following a period of moderation from January to April.

DIIs' dominance on the bourses gets stronger

DIIs' dominance on the bourses gets stronger

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2025

After overtaking foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in market ownership, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have further solidified their dominance. DII ownership reached a new all-time high of 17.82 per cent as of June 2025, up from 17.62 per cent at the end of March 2025, according to an analysis by Prime Database.

'A Pilot's Job Requires Tremendous Physical, Mental Capabilities'

'A Pilot's Job Requires Tremendous Physical, Mental Capabilities'

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2025

'The overall well-being of the pilots should be at the top of any airline's agenda in such situations.'

IPOs Struggle To Attract Retail, HNIs

IPOs Struggle To Attract Retail, HNIs

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2025

Market watchers link the pullback to underwhelming listing-day performance and the lack of big-name IPOs.

SBI eyes Rs 25,000 crore via record QIP, sets floor at 2.5% discount

SBI eyes Rs 25,000 crore via record QIP, sets floor at 2.5% discount

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2025

State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender in the country, has launched a share sale to institutional investors to raise upto Rs 25,000 crore, the biggest qualified institutional placement (QIP) so far by an Indian firm, and has set a floor price of Rs 811.05, which is at a 2.5 per cent discount on Wednesday's closing price.

IPO Pipeline Swells with 118 DRHPs

IPO Pipeline Swells with 118 DRHPs

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2025

Experts say the robust filing suggests the second half of the year will see large-scale issuances, provided the markets remain supportive.

Promoter holdings in private listed firms drop 600 bps to 37% since 2021

Promoter holdings in private listed firms drop 600 bps to 37% since 2021

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2025

Promoters of India's top private listed companies have cut their stakes sharply since 2021, taking advantage of elevated valuations and reshaping ownership dynamics in the market. Holdings of promoters in the top 200 privately owned listed firms declined nearly 600 basis points (bps) to 37 per cent at the end of FY25, from 43 per cent in FY21.

Govt, UPI To Set Up Real-Time Payment Tripwire

Govt, UPI To Set Up Real-Time Payment Tripwire

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2025

Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm may deliberately delay transactions, issue fraud alerts, and require an extra layer of user confirmation before processing any transactions that are likely to be classified as fraudulent.

AI 171 Crash: Fear Lingers Among Pilots

AI 171 Crash: Fear Lingers Among Pilots

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2025

'This (crash) is one of those times where there is no concrete explanation yet for what happened. I think that adds to my parents' worry.'

Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau may net Rs 1,000 crore as firm files for IPO

Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau may net Rs 1,000 crore as firm files for IPO

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2025

As fintech major Pine Labs gears up for its initial public offering (IPO), its Draft Red Herring Prospectus has highlighted its top executives' pay and stock options, including those of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amrish Rau. Rau's net worth is estimated at Rs 850 crore-1,000 crore following the IPO.

Bike Taxis Go Off Roads in Karnataka

Bike Taxis Go Off Roads in Karnataka

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2025

Bike-taxi drivers are also left stranded as many depended on the service.