The benchmark Sensex plummeted 813 points to a three-month low, with the Nifty settling below 23,450, as escalating tensions in West Asia drove crude oil prices above USD 100 per barrel, leading to widespread selling in IT, FMCG, financial services, and oil & gas shares.
'Ultimately, banks are a channel for people to get some long-term return, and this means banks need to adjust their asset-liability mismatch.' 'Customers also need long-term deposits, say those of three-five years. How would they get them if returns on those deposits do not climb?' 'Otherwise, on fixed deposits, a senior citizen doesn't get anything.'
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, though person-to-person (P2P) transfers and small P2M payments remain free. The charges aim to bolster investment in UPI infrastructure, with specific exemptions and caps for essential sectors.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) stated that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) "is distributed only amongst the UPI ecosystem, to further invest into infrastructure resilience, innovation, cybersecurity (protecting the UPI infrastructure with banks and non-banks) and customer service."
The government is introducing a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends the zero-MDR regime, aiming to fund UPI infrastructure and sustainability, as the previous government subsidy was insufficient to cover operational costs. Payments between individuals and most everyday merchant transactions will remain free.
Ahead of Ganeshotsav, which commences on September 14, Rediff's Divya Nair visits a workshop in Mumbai where young girls, most of them first-timers, are using their brushes to bring Lord Ganesha to life.
'Indian private sector hospitals provide quality healthcare at a fraction of the global cost.'
Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia expressed confidence in the Indian contingent's performance at the upcoming Asian Para Games in Japan. He highlighted the team's focused training, stress-free environment, and recent successes, while also outlining long-term plans for the 2028 and 2032 Paralympics and addressing grassroots development challenges.
Potential external candidates include Anup Bagchi, Rajiv Sabharwal and CSB Bank's Pralay Mondal.
If you do not insulate your retirement corpus from the true cost of modern critical care, you don't have a retirement plan -- you have a fragile strategy waiting for an expensive medical emergency to break it
BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors have called for increased representation of emerging-market and developing economies in the IMF and World Bank, while also criticising unilateral tariffs and trade measures, as the expanded bloc aims to bolster financial cooperation amidst global fragmentation.
Premature surrender and withdrawal of life insurance policies in India have surpassed maturity payouts over the past five years, indicating a growing trend of policyholders exiting long-term policies before their full tenure, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha.
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.
One of the important topics of discussion between the two leaders is expected to be the Northern Sea Route and the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor.
A man wanted for nearly nine years in connection with the murder of a woman for an alleged Rs 50 lakh insurance claim and property has been arrested in Bihar, Delhi Police said. Another accused in the case was found to have died in 2018.
The United States and the European Union have strongly criticised India's trade policies at the World Trade Organization review, highlighting concerns over high tariffs, quality-control orders (QCOs), and restrictions on digital trade and services, which they argue undermine India's economic openness.
The rules require nuclear plant operators to maintain an insurance policy, financial security or a combination of both to cover civil liability for nuclear damage.
The combined market valuation of four of India's top-10 most valued firms eroded by Rs 87,960.29 crore last week, with Bharti Airtel experiencing the largest decline, amidst a bearish trend in the equities market.
'In the current environment, India is effectively paying a premium for supply security and diversification.'
The search for N Chandrasekaran's successor as Tata Sons Chairman has reportedly narrowed to Tata Steel CEO T V Narendran, Tata Sons Executive Director Saurabh Agrawal, and NSE MD & CEO Ashish Chauhan, with Chauhan emerging as a potential 'dark horse' candidate.
Cybersecurity specialists warn AI-driven attacks require continuous threat monitoring instead of periodic security checks.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory and uniform labelling of ethanol percentage in petrol at fuel pumps. The petitioner, Narendra Kumar Goswami, was advised to approach the jurisdictional high court for relief, with the Attorney General arguing it was a proxy litigation.
'Wages have not risen. Rural wages have stagnated. The growth was 0.7 per cent last year. For casual and irregular labour, the wage growth is negative.'
A recent Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report reveals that over 70,500 corruption complaints were lodged against various government bodies last year, with banks and the Railways accounting for the highest numbers. While a significant portion of these complaints has been disposed of, thousands remain under process, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing corruption within public sector entities.
A former life insurance manager in Thane has been sentenced to two years in jail for defrauding people of over Rs 3.51 crore with false promises of high returns on stock market investments.
A debt-ridden man in Jalna allegedly staged his own death to escape financial liabilities and claim an insurance benefit of Rs 20 lakh by masterminding the killing of his acquaintance, whose body was found inside a gutted car.
Get ready for a packed September as Bollywood unveils a diverse slate of theatrical releases, promising a thrilling mix of drama, psychological thrillers, and supernatural tales for movie enthusiasts.
Newly listed companies Vedanta Aluminium Metal, SBI Funds Management and Manipal Health Enterprises have entered the Rs 1 trillion mcap list since March 2026.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition seeking mandatory and uniform labelling of ethanol percentage at petrol pumps and a public database on vehicle compatibility with ethanol-blended fuel. The plea also calls for an expert committee to assess the impact of E20 fuel on vehicles, environment, and food security, and a consumer disclosure protocol.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan launched Gnani Artha, an end-to-end sovereign AI stack for Indian enterprises and public institutions. He emphasised that new technologies, including AI, will enhance ease of work and create more jobs, drawing parallels with the IT industry's growth. The initiative, backed by the India AI Mission, aims for self-reliance and includes the Gnani Evon v3.3 language model and Gnani Plexus AI platform, offering cost-effective Indic language capabilities.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan launched Gnani Artha, an end-to-end sovereign AI stack for Indian enterprises and public institutions. He emphasised that new technologies, including AI, will enhance ease of work and create more jobs, drawing parallels with the IT industry's growth. The initiative, backed by the India AI Mission, aims for self-reliance and includes the Gnani Evon v3.3 language model and Gnani Plexus AI platform, offering cost-effective Indic language capabilities.
'The sales pressure on the ground, a board and CEO not fully aligned, and a senior team that isn't pulling together -- that's when these things surface.'
India and China are in what experts call 'a cooperation-versus-competition situation'.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced official vehicles and a monthly allowance for MLAs to address public grievances and monitor government projects in their constituencies. This initiative aims to reduce financial burden, improve transparency, and ensure grassroots service delivery.
Marriage, childbirth, dependent parents and ageing increase the cover a person needs.
'Many policyholders do not understand that non-medical expenses, cosmetic treatments, and certain other procedures are not covered by health insurance policies.'
Understand your travel insurance policy before travelling abroad this summer. This article outlines what travel insurance covers, including trip cancellations, missed connections, and medical emergencies, and what it excludes, such as war-related disruptions and pre-existing conditions.
Today, many investors are less concerned about holding bullion physically. What matters more is gaining exposure to price movements. As a result, the new-age investment trend has shifted more towards ETFs.
A savings or current account with no customer-induced transaction for more than 24 months is classified as inoperative.
Jio Financial Services and Munich-based Allianz Group have signed a binding agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture for general and health insurance in India, building on an earlier reinsurance partnership.
