News for 'digital inclusion'

India Inc lauds Budget for bold bets on AI, data centres

India Inc lauds Budget for bold bets on AI, data centres

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

India Inc on Sunday hailed the Union Budget 2026-27 as a 'structural shift' in the country's technology landscape, noting that the government is moving beyond fragmented pilots to build foundational layers where AI serves as a 'horizontal enabler' for the entire economy.

Restrictions, penalties are last resort: RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra

Restrictions, penalties are last resort: RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra

Rediff.com10 Jan 2026

The relation between a regulator and its regulated entities is collaborative and not adversarial with the common objective of maintaining the stability and credibility of the financial system. However, the action on regulated entities like penalties and business restrictions are the last resort, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday.

T20 World Cup, India Vs England Semi-final: Abhishek Faces Axe; Kuldeep Could Be Back!

T20 World Cup, India Vs England Semi-final: Abhishek Faces Axe; Kuldeep Could Be Back!

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

India are looking to create history, as they aim to become the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup, while England will be aiming to reclaim the title they last won four years ago.

RBI Eyes Zero-Fraud Payments

RBI Eyes Zero-Fraud Payments

Rediff.com10 Jan 2026

The amount involved in banking system frauds surged to Rs 21,515 crore in the first half of FY26, up 30 per cent from the same period last year, even as the number of frauds fell 2.8 times to 5,092.

India a messenger of peace: President Murmu in R-Day eve address

India a messenger of peace: President Murmu in R-Day eve address

Rediff.com25 Jan 2026

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on the eve of Republic Day, emphasising India's role in promoting peace, the empowerment of women, and the country's economic growth.

2025 Marks India's Arrival As A Great Power

2025 Marks India's Arrival As A Great Power

Rediff.com26 Jan 2026

In a world fractured by uncertainty, India stands out for its policy consistency, paired with sustained ambition, points out Pritam Banerjee.

Additions, deletions part of electoral roll revision process, says SC

Additions, deletions part of electoral roll revision process, says SC

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

The Supreme Court of India resumed hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, addressing the use of Aadhaar and concerns about voter deletions.

Indo-US deal 'wholesale surrender': Rahul vs govt in LS

Indo-US deal 'wholesale surrender': Rahul vs govt in LS

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Rahul Gandhi said that had an INDIA Bloc government negotiated the trade agreement with the US, it would have told US President Donald Trump that he should treat India as an equal.

AI adoption in MSMEs can unlock over $500 bn value: BCGX-FICCI report

AI adoption in MSMEs can unlock over $500 bn value: BCGX-FICCI report

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India's 64 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) alone could unlock over $500 billion in economic value, but the country must pivot from an "adopt-first" to an "invent-first" mindset to realise this potential, according to a new report.

Budget 2026 boosts healthcare spend, drugs relief

Budget 2026 boosts healthcare spend, drugs relief

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

The government on Sunday gave a strong push to upgradation and expansion of healthcare infrastructure, medical education and pharma sector with the Union Budget 2026-27 announcing a slew of steps, including those aimed at making India a global hub for allied healthcare professionals and biopharma manufacturing.

What Budget 2026 Says About Taxes

What Budget 2026 Says About Taxes

Rediff.com5 Feb 2026

This Budget positions India's taxation ideology as not merely a revenue source but as a strategic catalyst for growth, inclusion and long-term confidence.

Google readies plans for AI push in healthcare, agriculture

Google readies plans for AI push in healthcare, agriculture

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

Google on Tuesday announced funding support of USD 8 million to India's AI Centers of Excellence for health, agriculture, education, and sustainable cities, and committed USD 4,00,000 to support development of India's health foundation model.

India Inc to see 9% salary growth in 2026

India Inc to see 9% salary growth in 2026

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

Average employee salaries in India are set to increase by 9 per cent in 2026, with a renewed focus on short-term incentives and skills-based systems, a report said on Wednesday. According to Mercer's Total Remuneration Survey 2026, organisations in India are shifting toward broader, more holistic value propositions and the top factors influencing salary increases include individual performance, inflation and the organisation's competitiveness in the job market, among others.

How India Can Beat Global Tech Giants

How India Can Beat Global Tech Giants

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

With a confident new generation of innovators, India now has the scale and self-belief to shape its own digital destiny marked by creation, observes Ajay Kumar chairman, UPSC.

Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman tries to cover all bases, leaves out markets

Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman tries to cover all bases, leaves out markets

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Budget 2026 sticks to fiscal discipline, shuns populist measures despite five key state elections coming up, but ends up rattling stock markets with a higher transaction tax on derivatives trading.

Digital access intrinsic to right to life, says SC, bats for disabled

Digital access intrinsic to right to life, says SC, bats for disabled

Rediff.com30 Apr 2025

The Supreme Court of India has directed changes in digital know your customer (KYC) guidelines for persons with disability and acid attack survivors, citing the right to digital access as an intrinsic component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court found that existing KYC procedures, which require visual tasks such as head movements and facial positioning, pose significant challenges for these groups, preventing them from accessing essential services like bank accounts and welfare schemes. The court emphasized the importance of bridging the digital divide and ensuring universal accessibility to digital services for all citizens.

Ethiopia PM drives Modi to his hotel in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia PM drives Modi to his hotel in Addis Ababa

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ethiopia on a bilateral visit, engaging with Ethiopian leadership to strengthen partnerships in various sectors. He was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and participated in cultural events, highlighting the strong ties between the two nations.

'India Has More Job Opportunities Than Skilled People'

'India Has More Job Opportunities Than Skilled People'

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

'Given that the population is almost evenly split, the Indian economy cannot grow without women participating in the workforce.' 'While women's participation has increased, it is still well below 40 per cent,' says Kartik Narayan, CEO of the professional networking and jobs platform, Apna.

UPSC exams to allow change of scribe, screen-readers for visually impaired

UPSC exams to allow change of scribe, screen-readers for visually impaired

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

The Supreme Court has directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to incorporate provisions for scribe changes and implement screen-reader software for visually-impaired candidates in its examinations. The court emphasized the constitutional rights of differently-abled people and the need for inclusive governance.

India's Housing Finance Sector Hits Home Run

India's Housing Finance Sector Hits Home Run

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

India's housing finance sector is riding a wave of post-pandemic revival, driven by policy support, digital innovation, and growing demand from younger homebuyers in emerging cities.

Reits to be gradually included in market indices, says Sebi chief

Reits to be gradually included in market indices, says Sebi chief

Rediff.com23 Nov 2025

India's market regulator is moving ahead to include real estate investment trusts (Reits) in benchmark indices in a phased manner, Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said, while asserting that the regulator was working to strengthen the link between infrastructure building and the markets.

'India's best example is technology': Modi while inviting global investors

'India's best example is technology': Modi while inviting global investors

Rediff.com9 Oct 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited global businesses to participate in the growth story of India, which is the fastest growing large economy of the world.

'If You Can Make a Difference, Just Do It'

'If You Can Make a Difference, Just Do It'

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

'There'll be extended periods where things aren't working in your favour. But if you believe in the cause profoundly, then you simply persevere.'

PhonePe gets RBI nod to operate as online payment aggregator

PhonePe gets RBI nod to operate as online payment aggregator

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

PhonePe on Friday said it has got the final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator. With RBI authorisation in place, PhonePe will be able to expand its reach and tap into online merchants, with a particular focus on small and medium businesses (SMEs) across the country, according to a release.

JLR cyberattack hit TaMo PV Q2 showing; FY26 outlook cut

JLR cyberattack hit TaMo PV Q2 showing; FY26 outlook cut

Rediff.com15 Nov 2025

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) on Friday reported a 13 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decline in consolidated revenue from operations for the second quarter of 2025-26 (Q2FY26), largely due to the cyberattack on its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in late August that forced a shutdown of its manufacturing operations for over five weeks.

RBI considers fresh guidelines to curb mis-selling

RBI considers fresh guidelines to curb mis-selling

Rediff.com10 Jun 2025

Concerned over the rise in mis-selling of products by banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is examining whether to come up with norms to curb such practices. Observing that pushing financial products, such as insurance, indiscriminately to unaware consumers may be detrimental to their well-being, RBI Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao said, "We are examining whether it necessitates framing of guidelines to address mis-selling of financial products and services by REs (regulated entities)."

How Brands Can Connect with Gen Alpha

How Brands Can Connect with Gen Alpha

Rediff.com15 Oct 2025

Though the oldest Alphas are just turning 15 in 2025, they're already more digitally fluent than any generation before, points out Sandeep Goyal.

'Insurance penetration continues to remain low'

'Insurance penetration continues to remain low'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

'By quick, fast, and just awards, the insurance ombudsman can bring the trust of the policyholders in the insurance system and insurance as a product and create a positive impact on the entire industry.'

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.

Ambani says Jio was biggest risk of his life

Ambani says Jio was biggest risk of his life

Rediff.com25 Jun 2025

Billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani described his 2016 return to the telecom industry with Reliance Jio as the "biggest risk" of his life, saying that even if analysts' predictions of financial failure had come true, it would still have been worth it for the role it played in transforming India digitally.

'Insurance Sector Is At An Unstable Equilibrium'

'Insurance Sector Is At An Unstable Equilibrium'

Rediff.com3 Nov 2025

'Other sectors that manage the savings pools of Indians are giving tough competition to life insurance companies.'

Persist With Gill? Or Recall Sanju?

Persist With Gill? Or Recall Sanju?

Rediff.com2 Nov 2025

Since making a comeback to the T20 team for the Asia Cup, Shubman Gill has struggled to tally just 184 runs in 10 innings.

Congress Rout: Rahul's 'Vote Chori' Has No Impact

Congress Rout: Rahul's 'Vote Chori' Has No Impact

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

The Congress on Friday posted its second worst performance in Bihar's electoral history, managing to win only six of the over 50 seats it contested and losing deposits in most seats as its 'vote chori' pitch failed to make any impact on the ground.

Low-Wage Trap Looms Over India's Services Sector, Warns Niti Report

Low-Wage Trap Looms Over India's Services Sector, Warns Niti Report

Rediff.com30 Oct 2025

The services sector employs 188 million people but remains highly informal, trapping most workers in low-wage jobs without social protection.

Bihar electoral rolls: Deleted 65L names published online post SIR

Bihar electoral rolls: Deleted 65L names published online post SIR

Rediff.com17 Aug 2025

Following a Supreme Court directive, details of names deleted from Bihar's draft electoral rolls have been published online. The Election Commission defends the special intensive revision process.

'After GST cut, innovation will boost life insurance'

'After GST cut, innovation will boost life insurance'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

The reduction in goods & services tax (GST) on individual life and health insurance premiums has been called a "landmark step" for making insurance affordable and inclusive. In a panel discussion at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025, Anup Bagchi, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance; Mahesh Balasubramanian, MD & CEO of Kotak Life Insurance; Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO of Bajaj Life Insurance; and Ratnakar Patnaik, MD of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), listed what else the industry needs to reach more people.

'From India-First To India-For-The-World'

'From India-First To India-For-The-World'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2025

'The next decade will be even more transformative,' says Prime Minister Modi. 'We are moving from digital governance to global digital leadership.'

MFs ease exit load to attract investors

MFs ease exit load to attract investors

Rediff.com3 Oct 2025

The competitive intensity in the mutual fund (MF) industry is moving beyond scheme performance, cost structures, and distribution. In recent months, several fund houses have rationalised exit loads applicable on redemptions.

'Peace Is Fragile, Remains Vulnerable To Provocations'

'Peace Is Fragile, Remains Vulnerable To Provocations'

Rediff.com22 Oct 2025

'You cannot 'clear' your way to peace.' 'You need intelligence, calibrated force, impartial law enforcement, political neutrality, humanitarian returns and a sustained reconciliation plan.'

Sitharaman has a message for the fintechs

Sitharaman has a message for the fintechs

Rediff.com19 Jun 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday asked fintech startups to come out with solutions to deal with the rising incidence of digital arrests, cheating by fly-by-night operators, and other kinds of cyber frauds. Speaking at the Digital Payments Awards 2025 ceremony here, the minister credited fintechs with helping speed up financial inclusion and taking the payment system to even the far-flung areas of the country.