The challenge for India lies in navigating complex landscape to its best advantage. The BRICS Summit will test its navigation skills, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
A letter sent by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust to Venu Srinivasan, Tata Trusts vice-chairman and nominee director on Tata Sons, a day before the Tata Sons board meeting on September 17, is at the centre of deliberations.
OnePlus has expanded the 13s range with a new 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage configuration.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, experienced a significant downturn, with Sensex tanking 778 points and Nifty closing at a five-month low, driven by surging crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and fears of further interest rate hikes by major central banks.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants, effective from October 15, with a comprehensive framework set to take full effect by October 15, 2026. This policy aims to regulate transaction fees while protecting small merchants and person-to-person transactions.
RBI Deputy Governor S C Murmu stated that the introduction of merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions is unlikely to cause a shift back to cash, despite some concerns, emphasising that MDR will help the payments ecosystem recover costs.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Kirshanu Sharda, an alleged middleman for suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, in a money laundering case. Sharda is accused of facilitating illegal gratification for Bhullar, with investigations revealing unexplained cash deposits and frozen assets worth over Rs 1.42 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Deepesh Bajoria, a principal bookie from Guwahati, in connection with a large-scale money-laundering investigation linked to an illegal T20 cricket-betting syndicate operating during IPL seasons across the Northeast. Bajoria allegedly used online platforms and encrypted channels to facilitate betting, routing over Rs 28 crore through a non-operational firm's bank account.
It is because dealing with a regulatory system that is largely headed by retired IAS officers then becomes relatively easy, points out A K Bhattacharya.
State-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) is strategically planning to enter the wealth management segment by early 2027 and significantly expand its credit card portfolio, aiming to tap into lucrative markets largely dominated by private-sector banks.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is facing a thinning of its top management as Managing Director Dinesh Pant exits to join Irdai, leaving one of four MD posts vacant. This comes amidst broader staffing challenges across several public sector insurers and a headless Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB).
Gujarat CID-Crime has registered FIRs against three political outfits Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party, Satyavadi Rakshak Party, and Garib Kalyan Party for allegedly orchestrating a 'poll donation scam' amounting to Rs 314 crore in tax evasion. These parties reportedly collected donations, returned money after deducting commissions, and facilitated tax rebates for donors, with chartered accountants also implicated. The scam involved submitting false contribution reports to the Election Commission.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has proposed a phased reduction in the expenses of management (EoM) limits for insurers, aiming to lower the overall cost of insurance and enhance returns for policyholders. The proposals also include a new framework for commissions, stricter measures against mis-selling, and mandatory cost audits.
'Your retirement corpus isn't just a big pile of cash for 'one day' -- it is the salary you pay yourself when you no longer want to go to work.'
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, ended marginally lower after recovering from sharp intraday losses, driven by cooling crude oil prices and buying interest in HDFC Bank and IT sector stocks.
Andhra Pradesh and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed an MoU to establish the PNB Quantum Finance Hub at Amaravati Quantum Valley. This initiative aims to foster innovation and adopt next-generation technologies like AI and Quantum Computing in the banking sector, focusing on cybersecurity, fraud detection, and customer experience.
India's proposal to link BRICS payment systems, including central-bank digital currencies (CBDCs), was notably absent from the grouping's New Delhi Declaration, despite being a key agenda item for India's chairmanship. This omission leaves the 16-year effort for trade in local currencies without a settled payment architecture, with the declaration only 'acknowledging' the work of the BRICS Payment Task Force.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of quietly paving the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions, alleging it's a surrender to American pressure. The government's recent notification exempts charges only up to Rs 2,000, sparking concerns that higher value transactions and eventually all UPI payments could incur fees. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, clarified that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers, and supports digital infrastructure.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4 per cent charge on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants, with a cap of Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. This policy shift ends the zero-MDR regime, which was previously criticised by financial institutions. While essential sectors and capital markets have specific fee structures, small merchants with monthly UPI QR code earnings up to Rs 1 lakh remain exempt. Person-to-person transfers are unaffected, and measures are in place to prevent merchants from passing these costs to customers.
A high-level committee, including representatives from banks and payment associations, is set to decide on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 to merchants. While person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions up to Rs 2,000 remain free, the move follows a recent amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, sparking debate and clarification from the Finance Minister that only certain high-value merchant transactions might incur charges.
Shares of major private lenders, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, experienced a sharp selloff after their June-quarter results indicated persistent pressure on net interest margins (NIMs), despite healthy credit growth. This decline overshadowed gains in ICICI Bank and Punjab National Bank (PNB), which reported resilient or stronger-than-expected earnings.
The Congress party has criticised the government's recent notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for users to be charged fees, particularly for transactions above Rs 2,000. The party claims the government lacks transparency and questions if the move is to benefit American firms. The government, however, states that charges are necessary for the system's sustainability and infrastructure upgrades, with the Finance Minister clarifying that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has endorsed the introduction of a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move, which levies a 0.4 per cent fee on merchant payments above the threshold, aims to bolster the long-term sustainability and growth of India's digital payments ecosystem. The RBI clarified that person-to-person (P2P) transactions and small person-to-merchant (P2M) payments below Rs 2,000 will remain free for users, ensuring no direct charge on customers.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed intent to invest an additional $25 billion in India, with an ultimate goal of reaching $100 billion in investments, Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced. This comes as both nations plan to enhance cooperation in shipping, ports, energy, and emerging technologies, against a backdrop of expanding bilateral trade.
Kerala Police have issued a warning against online fraudsters selling fake tickets for the upcoming India-West Indies first ODI match in Thiruvananthapuram. Scammers use social media to lure victims, collect personal details, and demand multiple payments under various pretexts, advising the public to only use official booking platforms.
Former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, ex-IAF Chief NAK Browne, and other prominent figures in Delhi have received notices regarding discrepancies in their voter details during the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Over 33 lakh electors have been identified for such notices, with a deadline of September 30 for responses.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected Tata Sons' application to surrender its non-banking finance company (NBFC) licence, a decision that mandates a public markets listing for the conglomerate's holding company as it is classified as an upper-layer NBFC.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed higher on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak, driven by late buying in financial heavyweights like HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, despite persistent geopolitical tensions and crude oil prices exceeding USD 100 per barrel.
Since recruiters need to be able to spot relevant information quickly, adding unnecessary details can weaken your most important qualifications, says rediffGURU Nayagam PP.
Within days of the RBI's letter to Tata Sons that its CIC deregistration application had been rejected, the regulator filed a caveat in the Bombay High Court so that it could be heard before any order is passed on the matter in case there's a petition challenging its listing directive.
The Indian government has mandated that banks and payment providers cannot levy charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 or on payments made via RuPay debit cards. This directive follows an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, aiming to sustain and expand the digital payments ecosystem.
Venu Srinivasan, a trustee and Tata Sons nominee director, has requested a regulatory inquiry into the governance of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the charitable entities controlling 66 per cent of Tata Sons, citing concerns over trustee appointments and the trusts' involvement in commercial affairs.
Large office leases in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR are commanding premium rentals in key micro-locations, driven by a scarcity of quality Grade-A space and sustained occupier demand, according to real estate consultants.
Thailand's Puripol Boonson made history by winning the 200 metres gold, completing an Asian Games sprint double and matching the Asian record, while China's 18-year-old javelin sensation Yan Ziyi defeated an Olympic champion for her first gold.
HDFC Bank's board is actively discussing the appointment of its new managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) as incumbent Sashidhar Jagdishan's three-year term concludes in October, with the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee (GNRC) expected to finalise the process soon.
India's foreign exchange reserves have surged by a record USD 44.903 billion to a new lifetime high of USD 785.706 billion for the week ended September 4, driven by the Reserve Bank of India's concessional forex swap initiatives.
'This rise in foreign exchange reserves was expected given the amount of FCNR(B) flow.'
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, saw a significant rebound in early trade, with the Sensex jumping 726 points and the Nifty climbing over 200 points, primarily driven by strong performances in IT stocks, HDFC Bank, and renewed foreign fund inflows. Track Sensex, Nifty on July 29.
Indian stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty recorded their second consecutive day of decline, with the Sensex dropping 555.23 points and the Nifty falling 144.05 points, primarily due to rising crude oil prices and ongoing US-Iran hostilities in West Asia.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, rallied in early trade, driven by positive global market trends and easing crude oil prices, despite the US Federal Reserve's hawkish stance tempering overall sentiment. Track Sensex, Nifty on September 18.
