News for 'digital inclusion'

Card-less cash withdrawal to be enabled at all ATMs soon, says RBI

Card-less cash withdrawal to be enabled at all ATMs soon, says RBI

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

In a bid to check fraud, the Reserve Bank on Friday decided to permit all banks to introduce card-less cash withdrawal through ATMs.

Strong deal pipeline may boost Q1 show of IT firms: Analysts

Strong deal pipeline may boost Q1 show of IT firms: Analysts

Rediff.com12 Jul 2021

A seasonally-strong quarter, with no immediate impact of the second wave and continued acceleration of digital transformation will allow the IT services sector to report a robust Q1 this financial year. However, key metrics to look out for will be attrition rate and margin lever as they will be impacted by salary hikes. Analysts expect growth for the quarter to be broad-based, with sectors like banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), retail, manufacturing, hi-tech and life sciences driving revenue growth. Analysts across brokerage houses are pegging revenue growth in the range of 1.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

'Unlike Twitter, Koo won't charge money for verification'

'Unlike Twitter, Koo won't charge money for verification'

Rediff.com10 Nov 2022

Koo -- the made-in-India rival of Twitter -- will not charge users for a verification badge, its co-founder and CEO Aprameya Radhakrishna said as he took on the larger rival for allegedly first creating bots and now charging users for verification. Koo, which allows users to express views in Indian languages, has already crossed 50 million downloads and is now flying into the rival's nest, starting a campaign on Twitter by making itself prominently visible on verified handles and offering them better deals on its platform at no cost. Since taking over Twitter, billionaire Elon Musk has set in motion massive changes, sacking employees and talking of levying a $8 charge for 'verified' handles.

Many firsts as Justice Chandrachud completes 100 days as CJI

Many firsts as Justice Chandrachud completes 100 days as CJI

Rediff.com16 Feb 2023

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud's first 100 days in office saw the Supreme Court take a giant leap towards reforms, especially making courts more technology-friendly, and ensuring relatively fast judicial appointments including those of eight judges to the apex court.

CEC, EC give up perks as part of austerity measure

CEC, EC give up perks as part of austerity measure

Rediff.com21 May 2022

According to an Election Commission statement, the two have decided not to avail exemption from income tax on sumptuary allowance and to surrender two of the three Leave Travel Concessions (LTC) available each year.

Should India Inc get licence to operate banks? RBI still undecided

Should India Inc get licence to operate banks? RBI still undecided

Rediff.com16 Dec 2021

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor M Rajeshwar Rao on Wednesday defended the central bank's decision of not allowing industrial houses to float banks, and said more deliberations are needed before RBI changes its stance on this issue agreed back in 2001. An internal working group (IWG) of the RBI had recommended allowing industrial groups into banking, but late last month the RBI said it kept on hold the two recommendations of allowing industrial houses and large non-banks to float banks. However, RBI had accepted 21 of the 33 recommendations of the group that submitted its report a year ago.

Denial of justice would lead to anarchy: CJI Ramana

Denial of justice would lead to anarchy: CJI Ramana

Rediff.com14 May 2022

'One of the major challenges to the protection of rule of law and human rights is the inability of the formal justice system to deliver speedy and affordable justice to all'

India is a very special and important country: Zuckerberg

India is a very special and important country: Zuckerberg

Rediff.com15 Dec 2020

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday said India is a very special and important country with a remarkable entrepreneurship culture, as he sought to push deeper the just-launched payments services that allow users to make payments over WhatsApp. Last month, Facebook-owned WhatsApp received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for rolling out its payments services in India. In 2018, WhatsApp started testing its UPI-based payments services in India -- a global first -- with about a million users.

e-Payment regulations stuck as RBI unwilling to cede control

e-Payment regulations stuck as RBI unwilling to cede control

Rediff.com15 Dec 2016

Watal panel had suggested an independent payments regulator be set up.

Govt issues guidelines for online classes by schools

Govt issues guidelines for online classes by schools

Rediff.com14 Jul 2020

The guidelines have been framed by the ministry, following concerns raised by parents about schools conducting online classes like regular schools, which has increased children's screen time after the COVID-19 pandemic mandated a shift from classroom teaching to online learning as schools continue to remain shut for over four months.

Bresnan denies racism claim but apologises to Rafiq

Bresnan denies racism claim but apologises to Rafiq

Rediff.com17 Nov 2021

Commentator David 'Bumble' Lloyd also took to Twitter to apologise to Rafiq after he was accused of making disparaging comments on Asian cricketers to a third party.

This is the next battleground for PhonePe, Amazon and Google

This is the next battleground for PhonePe, Amazon and Google

Rediff.com10 Oct 2020

The size of the Indian financial services market could touch around $340 billion in the next few years.

Sitharaman bets big on infra spending to take highway to growth

Sitharaman bets big on infra spending to take highway to growth

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

While she primed up spending on infrastructure to create jobs and boost economic activity, Sitharaman did not tinker with income tax slabs or tax rates. Her Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 2022 proposed a massive 35 per cent jump in capital expenditure to Rs 7.5 lakh crore, coupled with rationalisation of customs duty, an extension of time for setting up new manufacturing companies and plans for starting a digital currency and tax crypto assets.

RBI's retail direct scheme could be a game changer

RBI's retail direct scheme could be a game changer

Rediff.com12 Nov 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday launch two schemes of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that may go a long way in changing how the household sector invests, and complains if anything goes wrong with their savings. These schemes - retail direct and an integrated ombudsman - will be launched by the Prime Minister virtually, in the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. With the introduction of retail direct, a common man can directly take a position in government securities (G-Sec), considered to be the safest asset class a sovereign can offer.

Students going abroad: PM nudges pvt firms to expand medical education

Students going abroad: PM nudges pvt firms to expand medical education

Rediff.com26 Feb 2022

His remarks assume significance at a time when a large number of Indian students, many of them studying medicine, have been stuck in Ukraine following the Russian attack on that country.

PM may announce these health sector initiatives in I-Day speech

PM may announce these health sector initiatives in I-Day speech

Rediff.com14 Aug 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce a host of initiatives for the health sector on Independence Day with the highlights being the 'Heal in India' and 'Heal by India' projects and a roadmap to eliminate sickle cell disease by 2047, official sources said.

COVAX urges equal recognition of WHO approved vaccines

COVAX urges equal recognition of WHO approved vaccines

Rediff.com2 Jul 2021

Calling for 'equal recognition of vaccines', COVAX on Thursday urged all governments to recognise as 'fully vaccinated' those people who have received COVID-19 vaccines deemed safe by World Health Organisation, saying any move that restricts travel of people based on the vaccines they have received is 'counter-effective, both in spirit and outcome'.

India Wants World's Money, But Not World's Modernity

India Wants World's Money, But Not World's Modernity

Rediff.com14 Oct 2022

A bit of economic reforms stalled and decisions delayed -- what Narayana Murthy spoke of -- don't hurt if a country's compassionate and inclusive social fabric has survived intact; if the country is happy, observes Shyam G Menon.

Coming Soon! RBI's CBDCs Revolution

Coming Soon! RBI's CBDCs Revolution

Rediff.com20 Aug 2021

If the CBDCs don't offer interest, why will people shift from cash to CBDCs?, asks Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Govt promises broadband access in all villages by 2022

Govt promises broadband access in all villages by 2022

Rediff.com18 Dec 2019

The mission - unveiled by Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad -- will enable strengthening of technological infrastructure for education, health, entrepreneurship and development.

Google tax: American IT and steel lobbies back action against India

Google tax: American IT and steel lobbies back action against India

Rediff.com3 May 2021

The group has called for a retaliatory tariff action against India, if New Delhi does not roll back the 'unilateral and discriminatory' equalisation levy or Google Tax.

NITI pegs India's gig workforce at 2.35 cr by FY30

NITI pegs India's gig workforce at 2.35 cr by FY30

Rediff.com27 Jun 2022

India's gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30 from 77 lakh in 2020-21, a NITI Aayog report said on Monday, and recommended extending social security measures for such workers and their families in partnership mode as envisaged in Code on Social Security. The report titled 'India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy' further said gig workers are expected to form 6.7 per cent of the non-agricultural workforce or 4.1 per cent of the total livelihood in India by 2029-30. Gig workers can be broadly classified into platform and non-platform workers.

World Bank hails Aadhaar, India saves $1 billion per annum

World Bank hails Aadhaar, India saves $1 billion per annum

Rediff.com14 Jan 2016

India is on track to register its entire 1.25 billion population using its Aadhaar digital ID.

Inflation to further decline, assures Sitharaman

Inflation to further decline, assures Sitharaman

Rediff.com14 Dec 2022

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday exuded confidence that inflation would further decline and the government is on track to meet its budgetary target for deficit and said that there is no fear of stagflation in India. Replying to the debate on first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants 2022-23 in Lok Sabha, the finance minister said inflation has come down and it is now in the tolerable band of the RBI. Inflation has been declining since April 2022 and it is declining further, she said.

Modi calls for 'repair and prepare' as India emerges from pandemic

Modi calls for 'repair and prepare' as India emerges from pandemic

Rediff.com16 Jun 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for focus on 'repair and prepare' as the nation emerges out of a devastating pandemic. "Over the past year, we have witnessed a lot of disruption in different sectors. Much of it is still there. Yet, disruption does not have to mean despair," he said at VivaTech Summit. "Instead, we must keep the focus on the twin foundations of repair and prepare," he said referring to the need to augment healthcare infrastructure in the country as well as prop up the economy.

'Booking is like boarding a train after reservation'

'Booking is like boarding a train after reservation'

Rediff.com7 Jun 2021

'Some are doing one vaccination with one mobile number and the second with another.' 'Creating more accounts will not multiply the number of slots.'

Making card payments? Service levy, surcharge to be waived soon

Making card payments? Service levy, surcharge to be waived soon

Rediff.com25 Feb 2016

The move would help tax authorities get leads on evasion.

One in eight recoverees suffer from long Covid, says comprehensive Lancet study

One in eight recoverees suffer from long Covid, says comprehensive Lancet study

Rediff.com5 Aug 2022

One in eight adults who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience long term symptoms due to Covid-19, according to one of the most comprehensive studies on the viral disease to date published in The Lancet journal on Friday.

RuPay takes on Visa and Mastercard with a little govt help

RuPay takes on Visa and Mastercard with a little govt help

Rediff.com30 Mar 2021

RuPay is working on how to increase offers to customers. It is also focused on technology innovation in the card payment system.

Nadella exhorts Indian firms to develop own tech

Nadella exhorts Indian firms to develop own tech

Rediff.com24 Feb 2020

Leaders need to be ready to adapt to technological changes as quickly as possible, while they build the tech capabilities, Nadella said.

'That there are no surprises is a big positive'

'That there are no surprises is a big positive'

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

'The fiscal pressure will be there, but the intent of the government behind this move is to spur demand and growth.'

India natural ally of G7: Modi

India natural ally of G7: Modi

Rediff.com13 Jun 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is a natural ally for the G7 countries in defending the shared values from a host of threats stemming from authoritarianism, terrorism and violent extremism, disinformation and economic coercion.

Ajay Banga to hang up his boots at Mastercard on December 31

Ajay Banga to hang up his boots at Mastercard on December 31

Rediff.com22 Sep 2021

Ajay Banga, one of the topmost Indian-American corporate leaders, and a strong advocate of India-US relationship, would retire from Mastercard at the end of the year, the global credit card company has said.

RTGS will be made available 24X7 in next few days

RTGS will be made available 24X7 in next few days

Rediff.com4 Dec 2020

In a business friendly move, the Reserve Bank of India on Friday said that the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, used for large value transactions, will be made available round-the-clock in the next few days. In December 2019, the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system was made available on a 24x7x365 basis. Currently, RTGS is available for customers from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm on all working days of a week, except second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

India must be ahead of curve in post-COVID world: PM

India must be ahead of curve in post-COVID world: PM

Rediff.com19 Apr 2020

India, with the right blend of the physical and the virtual, can emerge as the global nerve centre of complex modern multinational supply chains in the post COVID-19 world.

Jaishankar and Blinken hold talks on various issues

Jaishankar and Blinken hold talks on various issues

Rediff.com28 Jul 2021

This is Blinken's first visit to India after assuming charge as the US Secretary of State and the third by a high-ranking Biden administration official after it came to power in January.

Reliance Retail raises another Rs 5,512.5 crore

Reliance Retail raises another Rs 5,512.5 crore

Rediff.com6 Oct 2020

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd, run by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, on Tuesday raised Rs 5,512.50 crore from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), taking the total fundraise to Rs 37,710 crore in less than four weeks.

India to share CoWIN story with over 20 nations showing interest

India to share CoWIN story with over 20 nations showing interest

Rediff.com21 Jun 2021

India will share the development story of Co-WIN, the digital platform that helped it launch and implement a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme, with more than 20 countries that have shown interest in adopting the portal to run their own inoculation drives.

The A-W Of Desi Guests At the White House Dinner

The A-W Of Desi Guests At the White House Dinner

Rediff.com24 Jun 2023

The dinner Jill Biden and her husband US President Joe Biden hosted for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, June 22, at the White House brought together, Indians and Americans from so many firmaments.

Draft ecommerce policy to ensure goods sold online meet standards

Draft ecommerce policy to ensure goods sold online meet standards

Rediff.com15 Mar 2021

Conformity assessment procedures will be put in place to verify that goods and services sold on e-commerce platforms meet required standards and technical regulations, according to the draft e-commerce policy. The policy, which is under discussion, also stated that actions and things which cannot be done by the online platform entities "can also not be done" by any of its associates and related parties. Government may, from time to time, notify parties which fall in the definition of associates and related parties, it said.