News for 'The Impact Institute'

Loan growth, margins set to improve for banks in Q3

Loan growth, margins set to improve for banks in Q3

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

The banking sector could see better loan growth in the third quarter of financial year 2026 (Q3FY26) with improved net interest margins (NIMs), though the full impact of latest rate cuts will be largely felt in the fourth quarter. There may be lower slippage in unsecured loans and microfinance institutions (MFIs) along with steady recovery trends, which should lower credit cost.

Rupee plunges 5% in 2025 amid persistent foreign fund outflows, dollar strength

Rupee plunges 5% in 2025 amid persistent foreign fund outflows, dollar strength

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

The rupee slumped 5 per cent in 2025 as persistent capital outflows from foreign investors, alongside heightened dollar demand from importers, making it one of the worst-performing Asian currencies.

ITC stock downgraded after excise duty hike

ITC stock downgraded after excise duty hike

Rediff.com3 Jan 2026

Analysts have sharply reduced cigarette maker ITC's earning estimates for the next two years, fearing a significant dent in the company's profitability and margins. This is owing to a steep hike in excise duty on tobacco by the government.

1.51 Trillion: What FPIs Sold This Year, Highest Ever!

1.51 Trillion: What FPIs Sold This Year, Highest Ever!

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

Domestic mutual funds have infused the highest ever -- Rs 4.84 trillion -- this year amid strong inflows via SIPs.

One-Regulator Education Bill Sent To Panel

One-Regulator Education Bill Sent To Panel

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

'It interferes in administrative matters of institutions, robbing them of their independence in day-to-day affairs and appointments.'

'The Key Is Talent, Technology, Trust'

'The Key Is Talent, Technology, Trust'

Rediff.com30 Dec 2025

'Our problem is not a budget deficit but a trust deficit. We need to trust our institutions and industries to innovate and lead. That is the way forward for India.'

Dhawan on Manifestation, Mindset as He Drops Autobiography

Dhawan on Manifestation, Mindset as He Drops Autobiography

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

The unveiling, held in association with BMW Deutsche Motoren, HarperCollins, and the Trends Literature Series, highlighted the core pillars of Dhawan's journey.

SFIO questions IndusInd execs on accounting discrepancies

SFIO questions IndusInd execs on accounting discrepancies

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

Private-sector lender IndusInd Bank had said the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) interacted with its officials this week and would send a written communication seeking specific details related to the accounting discrepancies identified at the bank.

Gold most stable asset during geopolitical tensions: RBI staff study

Gold most stable asset during geopolitical tensions: RBI staff study

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

Gold has emerged as the most stable asset during episodes of geopolitical stress, and crude oil has been more sensitive than others when it comes to regional conflicts and sanctions, according to a report in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) monthly bulletin. Silver and the United States Treasury have showed moderate reactions.

Corporate lending may rebound as loan-bond rate gap narrows

Corporate lending may rebound as loan-bond rate gap narrows

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

Bank lending to companies is expected to go up in the coming quarters because the difference in interest rates between corporate bonds and bank loans has narrowed. In addition, recent policy reforms by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), including allowing domestic banks to do acquisition financing, are expected to give further support to corporate lending, analysts said.

Meet The 10 Indian-Origin Nobel Laureates

Meet The 10 Indian-Origin Nobel Laureates

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

Who have been India's Laureates, winners from India or of Indian-origin?

How RBI Governor Fared In The First Year

How RBI Governor Fared In The First Year

Rediff.com29 Dec 2025

Sanjay Malhotra has made structural changes to banking regulation to bring down costs and increase efficiency. Plus, he kicked off a benign interest regime. But there are challenges ahead.

Weaker Rupee: Plan Overseas Goals

Weaker Rupee: Plan Overseas Goals

Rediff.com26 Dec 2025

Investors must account for currency depreciation in their financial plans and use instruments that can cushion the erosion in purchasing power.

CBSE cancels affiliation of Jaipur school after student's suicide

CBSE cancels affiliation of Jaipur school after student's suicide

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the affiliation of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur due to gross violations of student safety norms following the death of a 9-year-old girl. The board cited a failure of counselling and redressal mechanisms and ordered the school to cease new admissions.

Sensex jumps 427 points on buying in metal, auto shares

Sensex jumps 427 points on buying in metal, auto shares

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

Among the Sensex constituents, Eternal, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement, Maruti Suzuki India, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Infosys, Trent, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries and HCL Technologies were the gainers. However, Asian Paints, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, PowerGrid, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and Titan were among the laggards.

Sensex, Nifty hit fresh highs in early trade

Sensex, Nifty hit fresh highs in early trade

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

From the Sensex firms, Adani Ports, Bharat Electronics, Eternal, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, State Bank of India and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the biggest gainers. However, ITC, Bajaj Finance, Titan and Tech Mahindra were the laggards.

FPIs withdraw Rs 17,955 cr from Indian equities so far in Dec

FPIs withdraw Rs 17,955 cr from Indian equities so far in Dec

Rediff.com14 Dec 2025

Foreign investors pulled out Rs 17,955 crore (Rs 2 billion) from Indian equities in the first two weeks of this month, taking the total outflow to Rs 1.6 lakh crore (Rs 18.4 billion) in 2025.' This sharp withdrawal follows a net outflow of Rs 3,765 crore in November, extending the pressure on domestic equity markets.

Rupee recovers 55 paise from all-time low to close at 90.38/USD

Rupee recovers 55 paise from all-time low to close at 90.38/USD

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

The rupee recovered 55 paise from its all-time low level to close at 90.38 against the US dollar after a volatile trade on Wednesday, amid suspected aggressive central bank intervention.

Nationwide Stir Against Scrapping MGNREGA

Nationwide Stir Against Scrapping MGNREGA

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Civil society groups, led by the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, are planning a nationwide protest -- similar to the farmers' stir a few years ago -- starting December 19 demanding scrapping of the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission.

The Dilemma Of A Missing Workforce For Climate Action

The Dilemma Of A Missing Workforce For Climate Action

Rediff.com19 Dec 2025

This was perhaps a missed opportunity for India to spotlight a core domestic challenge: The scale of workforce preparation required for a young, populous, rapidly growing country seeking to reach net zero, points out Radha Roy Biswas.

Inefficiency in MFIs leads to high interest rates: DFS secretary M Nagaraju

Inefficiency in MFIs leads to high interest rates: DFS secretary M Nagaraju

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

The reduction in the number of loan accounts and the outstanding amount during the last financial year is a cause of concern and stress for microfinance institutions (MFI), Secretary, Department of Financial Services, M Nagaraju said on Thursday, highlighting "inefficiency" in MFIs that leads to higher rates of interest.

'If You Play A Goon Once, Everyone Starts Thinking You Are A Goon'

'If You Play A Goon Once, Everyone Starts Thinking You Are A Goon'

Rediff.com19 Dec 2025

'I felt I didn't understand the film industry at all.'

27% Bitcoin Slide: What Must Investors Do?

27% Bitcoin Slide: What Must Investors Do?

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

'Exiting during corrections tends to lock in losses. Patient investors have benefited from holding through similar drawdowns in past cycles.'

IndiGo Crisis: What Was Its Board Doing?

IndiGo Crisis: What Was Its Board Doing?

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Where was the Board when a predictable regulatory change brought the country's largest airline to its knees? asks Dr Sudhir Bisht.

FPIs withdraw Rs 11,820 cr in first week of Dec

FPIs withdraw Rs 11,820 cr in first week of Dec

Rediff.com7 Dec 2025

Foreign investors have pulled out Rs 11,820 crore ($1.3 billion) from Indian equities in the first week of this month, primarily driven by the sharp depreciation of the rupee. This sharp withdrawal follows a net outflow of Rs 3,765 crore in November, further pressuring markets.

PSU banks write off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh cr in last 5.5 years

PSU banks write off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh cr in last 5.5 years

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

Public sector banks have written off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh crore in the last five and a half years, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Not aware of, nor accepted: Tharoor says NO to Veer Savarkar Award

Not aware of, nor accepted: Tharoor says NO to Veer Savarkar Award

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

Tharoor later told reporters in the national capital that he heard about the award on Tuesday and that he was not going for the ceremony.

Won't accept Savarkar award or attend event: Tharoor

Won't accept Savarkar award or attend event: Tharoor

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

Shashi Tharoor categorically stated that he would not accept an award named after VD Savarkar, nor attend a related event, even as a senior party colleague wanted the Congress MP to not accept any honour named after the ideologue whom he claimed "bowed before the British."

Loan growth, profitability seen improving for public sector banks

Loan growth, profitability seen improving for public sector banks

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

The Indian banking sector could be due for a rise in profitability after several quarters of net interest margin (NIM) compression. The Q2FY26 results suggest NIMs have bottomed out.

Stock markets likely to stay range-bound

Stock markets likely to stay range-bound

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday delivered a 25 basis point (bps) repo rate cut analysts expected, driven by the strong 8.2 per cent GDP growth in the September quarter. However, analysts do not expect a runaway market rally as the impact of US tariffs continues.

Economy picked up steam in Oct on GST rejig, festival spends

Economy picked up steam in Oct on GST rejig, festival spends

Rediff.com25 Nov 2025

Notwithstanding global headwinds, the Indian economy saw further momentum in October on the back of goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalisation and festival spending, as indicated by high-frequency indicators, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) monthly State of the Economy report said.

'Yunus Government Has Given Space To Pakistanis'

'Yunus Government Has Given Space To Pakistanis'

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

'There is no substantive basis for Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. The only real link they can have is mischief, with Pakistan's intelligence agency using Bangladesh to create trouble along our eastern borders.'

Sebi's Move Could Erode Mutual Fund, Broker Earnings

Sebi's Move Could Erode Mutual Fund, Broker Earnings

Rediff.com3 Nov 2025

'Sebi's move to cap brokerage charges will help investors by lowering the overall cost of investments.'

Relief for Mamata govt as HC reinstates 32K primary teachers

Relief for Mamata govt as HC reinstates 32K primary teachers

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

The Calcutta High Court overturned a single bench order that annulled the appointments of 32,000 primary school teachers in West Bengal, stating that irregularities were not proven in all recruitments. The decision brings relief to the teachers and is seen as a boost for the TMC-led state government.

'Every Time I See A Cancer Victim Smile, I Feel A Surge Of Energy'

'Every Time I See A Cancer Victim Smile, I Feel A Surge Of Energy'

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

Meet Zeenath PA, the Kochi social worker whose handmade wigs are helping Cancer survivors reclaim their identity.

India rejects IMF view that US tariffs will stay indefinitely, hit growth

India rejects IMF view that US tariffs will stay indefinitely, hit growth

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

The Indian government has expressed its disagreement with the IMF staff's 'baseline' assumption that the 50 per cent US tariffs on its goods exports 'would remain in place indefinitely', based on which the staff pegged the country's GDP growth at 6.6 per cent this year, and pared its 2026-27 projection by 20 basis points to 6.2 per cent.

Why Educated Muslim Youth Join Terror Modules

Why Educated Muslim Youth Join Terror Modules

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

Radical Islamist networks are deliberately targeting Muslim youths embedded within the country's professional and academic ecosystems, leveraging their skills, mobility, and digital reach to quietly strengthen operational capabilities. This trend highlights a dangerous evolution in terror recruitment -- one that exploits ideological faultlines, online echo chambers and transnational radical Islamist influences to attract individuals who outwardly embody India's modern and aspirational narrative, points out Dr Kanchan Lakshman.

'India Is Staring At Dementia Epidemic'

'India Is Staring At Dementia Epidemic'

Rediff.com21 Nov 2025

'10 million Indians are currently living with dementia, and the number is expected to double by 2036.'

GST reforms expected to ignite animal spirits in financial sector: DEA secy

GST reforms expected to ignite animal spirits in financial sector: DEA secy

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

Noting that recent uncertainties created by global tariffs have not impacted the Indian economy severely, Anuradha Thakur, secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, said the central government is hopeful that the recent goods and services tax (GST) rationalisation will ignite the much needed animal spirits in the financial sector.

CAG to conduct pan-India audit on ease of doing biz for MSMEs

CAG to conduct pan-India audit on ease of doing biz for MSMEs

Rediff.com20 Nov 2025

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has launched an integrated audit across 32 states and Union Territories to assess the ease of doing business for the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.