The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled draft norms for branch authorisation and business correspondents (BCs), introducing a two-tiered classification for BCs and redefining 'banking outlets' to include BC-Banking Outlets (BC-BOs), aiming to expand formal banking presence, particularly in rural areas.
India's largest lender SBI on Thursday said it plans to hire this fiscal about 15,000 business correspondents, who will help people in the rural areas to open bank accounts.
A task force led by Nandan Nilekani on Thursday suggested that 10 lakh business correspondents be appointed to ensure that social sector schemes' benefit reach the intended beneficiaries in about six lakh villages.
Jio Payments Bank introduces UPI-based cash withdrawals at business correspondent touchpoints, enhancing financial inclusion and simplifying access to cash for rural and semi-urban customers.
Beijing clearly intends to extend the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor to Bangladesh as part of its larger Maritime Belt and Road Initiative to boost its Indian Ocean presence.
India's net direct tax collection has seen a robust 15 per cent increase, reaching approximately 5.21 trillion in the first two and a half months of FY27, as on June 17, driven by strong growth in both corporate and non-corporate tax segments.
India's net foreign direct investment (FDI) surged more than fourfold to $6.58 billion in April 2026, driven by a significant increase in equity inflows and reduced repatriation by foreign investors, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India saw moderated growth in April 2026, with early signs of stress emerging among micro borrowers and manufacturers, according to a report by credit bureau CRIF High Mark. The slowdown is attributed to potential impacts of global uncertainty.
India's gross GST collections increased by 3.2 per cent to over Rs 1.94 lakh crore in May, driven by improved supplies of goods and services and a continued expansion in collections from imports.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reported strong consolidated numbers for Q4 FY26, with net profit rising 26 per cent year-on-year to 2,714 crore, despite continued weakness in its US generics business. Growth in innovative medicines and increased R&D investments are helping to offset these pressures.
Overseas travel spending by Indians, including holiday trips, decreased by $212.43 million to $1.09 billion in March compared to February, according to the Reserve Bank of India's latest data.
Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has arrested two individuals, including a chartered accountant, in connection with a GST and VAT fraud involving the misuse of business credentials and dummy firms.
President Donald Trump described the chaotic moments after a gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, leading to his evacuation by the Secret Service.
Following a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents' Dinner, US lawmakers from both parties condemned political violence, with President Trump calling for national unity.
Bharti Airtel reported a 33.5 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 7,325 crore for the March 2026 quarter, primarily attributed to one-time provisions for statutory and tax liabilities.
US President Donald Trump and other top officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the hotel ballroom.
A special PMLA court in Gurugram has remanded Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora in Enforcement Directorate's custody for a week in an alleged Rs 100-crore GST fraud-linked money laundering case.
Hampton Sky Realty Limited, formerly directed by Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, has issued a statement asserting its innocence and cooperation with authorities following the arrest of Arora in connection with a money laundering probe.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd reported a significant 48.5 per cent jump in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 5,259.91 crore in the March quarter, primarily attributed to strong performance in its auto and farm sectors, alongside ambitious plans for new SUV and EV launches.
The ongoing West Asia conflict is expected to severely impact the supply of affordable housing in India, as rising input costs further erode already thin developer margins. Fluctuations in crude oil and gas prices, coupled with higher freight costs, are driving up prices of essential construction materials like cement and steel, making new projects increasingly unviable for developers.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that China has committed to halting weapon supplies to Iran, following his personal diplomatic interventions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
With D Gukesh and R Vaishali set to play world title matches, experts urge India to bid for hosting rights, calling it a major boost for the sport.
Fino Payments Bank asserts its compliance with GST regulations following the arrest of its MD and CEO, Rishi Gupta, by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI). The bank clarifies that the investigation pertains to program managers associated with multiple banks and not the bank's own GST compliance.
Loans against gold jewellery in India surged by an impressive 128 per cent year-on-year to nearly 4.28 trillion in February 2026, according to the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, significantly outpacing overall retail loan growth.
In order to optimise branch efficiency, public sector banks (PSBs) are reworking their strategies to streamline operations and reduce cost amid changing customer behaviour. The strategies include closing or merging low traffic branches and reducing their size in smaller centres.
'There is no shortage of fuel whatsoever.' 'India is stock surplus as far as petrol and diesel are concerned.'
By all available indications, the White House drafted a face-saving note and handed it, ready-made, to Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was supposed to then post it in the guise of a plea urging Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks 'to allow diplomacy to run its course'. Trump would then graciously accept Pakistan's 'request' and declare a ceasefire. Sharif dutifully posted the message on X. Except that he, or whoever was handling the account, forgot to delete the tell-tale first line visible in the edit history: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X'. Prem Panicker's must read blog on the Iran War.
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Thursday reported a two-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 6,603 crore in the December quarter of FY'26, on a year-on-year basis, driven by a one-off positive impact from the demerger of its ice cream business.
The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth over 441 crore in connection with the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, which allegedly occurred during the previous YSRCP government's tenure.
Casey Wasserman has apologised for emails with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell Games and denied any relationship with late financier sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, on Wednesday reported a 72.8 per cent jump in its net profit for the third quarter of financial year 2026 (Q3FY26), on the back of a robust momentum in its quick commerce business. The firm's net profit rose to Rs 102 crore in Q3FY26 against Rs 59 crore it reported during the same period a year ago.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption has led firms to moderate hiring, primarily at the entry-level, according to a report.
Fight on toward goals that keep receding, or exit with most objectives unmet. Trump is agitated, his poll numbers falling below the Plimsoll line, his base fractured between those who back the war and those who remember that he campaigned on ending them.
Mastercard and Visa are introducing passkeys that will allow users to authenticate card payments with face scans or fingerprints, eliminating the need for one-time passwords (OTPs).
'Mark had such a profound understanding of India, which was, of course, the land of his birth as well as of his death... He loved India, and lived two-thirds of his life here.'
Qatar has halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after its facilities came under attack amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, disrupting supplies to India and squeezing feedstock availability for key domestic sectors.
When everyone has footage and no one can verify it, the loudest voice wins, notes Prem Panicker who begins a daily blog on the War in the Middle East.
The aggregate net worth of the country's 176 dollar billionaires dropped to $984.2 billion during 2025, down from a record $1,036.2 billion at the end of December 2024.
'Self-declaration from the customer in case of no change in KYC information or change only in the address details may be obtained.'
'His report created a lot of negative reaction in Kerala and in a way, he was crucified for writing such a report.' 'I asked him, "Don't you feel frustrated?"' 'His reply was, "Have you read Bhagavad Gita Chapter2"?' 'He particularly mentioned verse 47, where Sri Krishna tells Arjuna, "Your duty is to work without thinking of the fruits you get".' "He said, "similarly, my duty was to do what best I could do without hoping for any rewards".'
