Aathira Varier, Subrata Panda

Stories by Aathira Varier, Subrata Panda

ICICI Bank plans $500 million dollar bond issue, first in a decade

ICICI Bank plans $500 million dollar bond issue, first in a decade

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2026

ICICI Bank, India's second-largest private-sector lender, is set to raise approximately $500 million through an overseas dollar bond issuance, marking its first such move in nearly a decade. This fundraising effort will utilise the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) concessional swap window, a facility designed to reduce hedging costs for foreign currency borrowings.

Bank of Baroda to pay $600 million to settle NMC Health litigation

Bank of Baroda to pay $600 million to settle NMC Health litigation

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2026

State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) has agreed to pay $600 million (about 5,700 crore) to settle litigation arising from the collapse of NMC Health, ending years of cross-border legal proceedings.

Bharti Airtel Becomes India's Biggest Wealth Creator, IT Giants Lose 8.5 Trillion

Bharti Airtel Becomes India's Biggest Wealth Creator, IT Giants Lose 8.5 Trillion

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2026

Bharti Airtel added 7.64 trillion in value over the past five years, making it the biggest wealth creator in India's private sector, while the IT sector, including TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, collectively lost 8.5 trillion in value, according to the latest Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 report.

Gulf NRIs opt for Indian term life insurance amid Iran conflict

Gulf NRIs opt for Indian term life insurance amid Iran conflict

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2026

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf region are increasingly purchasing term life insurance policies from India, driven by geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia and the significant cost advantages offered by Indian products, with the GCC region now contributing over half of the total NRI demand.

RBI Caps Fraud Compensation at Rs 25,000

RBI Caps Fraud Compensation at Rs 25,000

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2026

Customers must report the fraud both to their bank and to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or Helpline 1930 within five calendar days of the occurrence of the fraudulent transaction.

Outward LRS slips 7.85% Y-o-Y to $2.28 bn in April

Outward LRS slips 7.85% Y-o-Y to $2.28 bn in April

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2026

Outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) saw a 7.85 per cent year-on-year contraction in April 2026, primarily driven by reduced international travel spending due to global uncertainty stemming from the US-Iran conflict.

India's Remittances Stay Strong Amidst West Asia Conflict

India's Remittances Stay Strong Amidst West Asia Conflict

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2026

India's remittance inflows have remained robust despite the West Asia conflict, driven by precautionary transfers and diversification of remittance sources, with bankers expecting continued stability for the year.

Assess Mythos Threat By June 30: RBI To Banks

Assess Mythos Threat By June 30: RBI To Banks

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2026

'...A new challenge has emerged in the form of Mythos.'

India must focus on long-term growth, not short-term challenges: Citi CEO

India must focus on long-term growth, not short-term challenges: Citi CEO

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2026

Despite current headwinds, India remains the world's fastest-growing major economy and should not allow near-term challenges to obscure its long-term growth potential, said Jane Fraser, Citi Chair and Chief Executive Officer.

PSU External Borrowings May Top $15 Billion in FY27 Amid RBI Incentives

PSU External Borrowings May Top $15 Billion in FY27 Amid RBI Incentives

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2026

State-owned enterprises in India are projected to significantly increase their overseas borrowings, potentially exceeding $15 billion in FY27, driven by the Reserve Bank of India's new concessional forex swap facility which offers a 3 per cent funding-cost advantage.

Would You Like Polymer Currency Notes?

Would You Like Polymer Currency Notes?

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2026

The primary objective of introduction of polymer notes was to increase its life and not to combat counterfeiting.

India aims to operationalise 9 FTAs in 10 months, eyes more pacts: Piyush Goyal

India aims to operationalise 9 FTAs in 10 months, eyes more pacts: Piyush Goyal

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2026

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India expects to operationalise nine free trade agreements (FTAs) within the next 10 months, with plans for an additional three to four significant pacts over the coming year, reinforcing India's ambition to become a global manufacturing and investment hub.

SBI Chief Setty backs RBI rate pause, urges focus on India's long-term growth story

SBI Chief Setty backs RBI rate pause, urges focus on India's long-term growth story

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2026

State Bank of India Chairman C S Setty has expressed support for a 'pause' in policy rates by the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy committee, believing it will help stabilise conditions and support economic growth. He also urged investors to look beyond short-term equity market movements and focus on India's structural transformation, driven by reforms and digital infrastructure.

Protection products fuel double-digit VNB growth for major life insurers

Protection products fuel double-digit VNB growth for major life insurers

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2026

Major life insurers in India reported close to double-digit growth in the value of new business (VNB) last financial year, primarily driven by increased sales of high-margin protection and non-participating (non-par) products.

MSME Credit Growth Slows, Micro Borrowers Show Early Stress: Report

MSME Credit Growth Slows, Micro Borrowers Show Early Stress: Report

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2026

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.

Bank Frauds Drop, Losses Soar

Bank Frauds Drop, Losses Soar

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2026

The highest number of frauds was reported under the card, Internet, and digital payments categories in FY24 and FY25. 'Advances' accounted for the largest share (85.5 per cent) in FY26.

RBI Plans New UPI Safety Checks

RBI Plans New UPI Safety Checks

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2026

Authorised push payment frauds have emerged as a growing challenge globally as scammers increasingly rely on social engineering techniques to persuade users to transfer money voluntarily, making recovery more difficult even when transactions are authenticated.

States increase reliance on market borrowings, face higher yields

States increase reliance on market borrowings, face higher yields

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2026

Indian states significantly increased their reliance on market borrowings to finance gross fiscal deficits in 2025-26, with the share of market borrowings rising to 76.3 per cent, even as the weighted average cut-off yield on State Government Securities (SGS) and spreads over central government securities also increased.

RBI surplus transfer to govt hits a new high of Rs 2.87 trn

RBI surplus transfer to govt hits a new high of Rs 2.87 trn

Rediff.com   24 May 2026

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a record surplus transfer of Rs 2.87 trillion to the central government for FY26, driven by increased income and an expanded balance sheet, despite a reduction in the contingent risk buffer (CRB) to 6.5 per cent.

Sanjiv Bajaj: 'Fortunately, We've More Companies Than Family Members'

Sanjiv Bajaj: 'Fortunately, We've More Companies Than Family Members'

Rediff.com   23 May 2026

'We strongly believe that anyone with capability and a strong work ethic should have a chance at the top job.'