Aathira Varier

$100 mn marine insurance pool on cards for vessels sailing via war zones

Indian insurers plan $100 million marine insurance pool to cover war risks for ships amid West Asia conflict, with possible government support and rising premiums

New India Assurance shares rise nearly 20% after FY26 business update

Shares of New India Assurance surged nearly 20% after strong FY26 premium growth and improved market share, supported by favourable valuations and investor sentiment

Standalone health insurers' market share increases to 13.6% in FY26

Standalone health insurers expanded their market share in FY26, supported by GST rationalisation and higher premium collections, even as general insurers saw a marginal decline in their overall share

Axis Bank to infuse ₹389 crore in Axis Max Life to meet funding needs

Axis Bank has received the requisite approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the said infusion

Non-life insurers log 9.3% premium growth in FY26 amid GST relief

Health insurance growth and GST rate cuts drive premium expansion, even as accounting changes and crop insurance decline weigh on overall industry growth

CBDC transactions cross 150 million, value exceeds Rs 34,000 crore

CBDC transactions have crossed 150 million with value exceeding Rs 34,000 crore, as RBI works on programmability and gradual rollout of digital currency

Average unclaimed deposit payouts rise to ₹760 crore per month: RBI

RBI says average monthly payouts of unclaimed deposits rose to Rs 760 crore after campaigns and incentives, up from Rs 180 crore earlier, reflecting improved recovery efforts

MSME, retail demand to drive bank credit growth by 13% in FY27: Crisil

Newer options such as acquisition financing, now allowed for banks by the RBI, should also support credit growth

Banks' Casa ratios rise in Jan-Mar; analysts flag seasonal boost

Banks report higher low-cost deposits in March quarter, but analysts caution the uptick is seasonal amid persistent competition and pressure on deposit mobilisation

System readiness gaps: Insurers likely to seek forbearance for 1 year

Irdai had mandated insurers to transition to Ind AS effective April 1

GIFT City's insurance premium ecosystem hit $1.2 billion in 2025

GIFT City's insurance and reinsurance ecosystem grows over 11-fold to $1.2 billion by 2025, driven by global entrants, rising underwriting capacity and expanding IFSC market

Excess capacity, lower losses drive steep decline in reinsurance rates

Reinsurance rates soften sharply in latest renewal cycle, with property premiums dropping up to 90 per cent amid excess capacity, lower losses and rising competition

ARCs likely to see improved growth in AUM in FY27 amid West Asian conflict

Asset reconstruction companies are likely to see steady AUM growth in FY27, driven by stress in MSMEs and retail segments amid geopolitical tensions and interest rate concerns

Crisil to Icra: Rating upgrades tempered in FY26 as downgrades edged up

West Asia conflict to test India Inc's balance-sheet strength and margins in FY27

Excess capacity, low losses drive steep fall in reinsurance rates

Reinsurance rates have softened significantly, with property premiums dropping up to 90 per cent amid excess capacity, low losses, and intense competition

Irdai forms joint expert group to guide insurers on Ind AS transition

Irdai forms a joint expert group to guide insurers on Ind AS transition, addressing implementation challenges, audit clarity, and actuarial roles

BFSI firms use AI, but only a handful track its impact on revenue

AI adoption is widespread in BFSI firms to improve efficiency, but most companies lack mechanisms to track its revenue impact, limiting its role in driving measurable business outcomes

Irdai notifies Ind AS norms for insurers; allows one-year forbearance

Regulator allows one-year forbearance and extends parallel reporting to two years as insurers transition to Ind AS framework from April 2026

Banks' gold loan portfolio surges 128% in February, shows RBI data

Gold loans drive retail credit growth, with bank lending against jewellery doubling year-on-year in February, sharply outpacing overall retail loan expansion

CMS Info Systems acquires FSS ATM management business for ₹115 crore

The deal will add nearly 8,000 units and new private sector banking ties, strengthening CMS Info Systems' managed services portfolio and advancing its ATM solutions consolidation strategy