Aathira Varier

Biz growth, drop in delinquencies help micro lenders turn the corner

India's microfinance sector recorded its first sequential portfolio expansion in seven quarters, while asset quality improved and disbursements reached a seven-quarter high

Insurers seek higher ceding commissions amid competition in crop insurance

Improved loss experience and rising competition among reinsurers are strengthening insurers' negotiating position during ongoing crop insurance renewals

India Inc's ECB, FCCB intent moderated to $3.76 billion in April

Indian companies proposed raising $3.76 billion through external commercial borrowings and foreign currency convertible bonds in April, down from $5.43 billion in March

Lower bad loans offer respite amid economic uncertainty, shows report

S&P Global Market Intelligence expects asset quality at major lenders to improve further, even as margins remain under pressure from changing interest-rate dynamics

Weak group business drags life insurers' new biz premium to 10-month low

Industry NBP rose 5.15 per cent year-on-year in May, with weak growth in group insurance premiums weighing on both LIC and private-sector life insurers

India's current account posts surprise surplus in Q4 on remittances boost

Strong services exports and record remittance inflows helped India record a current account surplus of $7.1 billion in the March quarter despite continued capital outflows

RBI's bulk deposit proposal paves way for risk-based pricing by banks

Draft framework would allow lenders to align deposit rates with liquidity costs under LCR norms, improving pricing efficiency and balance-sheet management

Reserve Bank of India issues advisory for Mythos-related cyber threats

RBI prepared for handling cyber security threats related to Mythos, says DG Swaminathan

Deposit, lending rates harden despite RBI's monetary policy rate pause

Bank lending rates rose in April despite an unchanged repo rate, supported by strong credit demand, while deposit rates continued to soften

Proposal for polymer banknotes under consideration: RBI Governor Malhotra

RBI Governor says the central bank is assessing the merits and challenges of polymer banknotes even as cash usage and currency circulation continue to grow

Non-life insurance premium up 8.7% in May, led by health insurance growth

Gross direct premium underwritten by non-life insurers rose to Rs 24,194.56 crore in May, supported by steady growth in general insurance and strong gains in health insurance

GIFT City's insurance premiums quadruple to $648.7 million in FY26

Gross premiums underwritten by IFSC Insurance Offices in GIFT City rose fourfold in FY26, driven by rapid expansion in reinsurance business and a doubling of insurance entities

Mastercard expands value-added services push amid UPI dominance

The payments major is expanding into cybersecurity, analytics, AI and loyalty services as it seeks new growth avenues beyond its traditional payments network business

RBI denies reports of gold sale, says holdings remain unchanged

The physical stock of gold remained the same since April 03, 2026

RBI staff strength falls for first time in five years, down 2.2% in FY26

The Reserve Bank of India's workforce declined to 13,220 in FY26, marking the first fall in five years, even as employee expenditure rose on higher pension-related costs

Large-ticket term policies gain traction; share above ₹2 cr rises to 34%

The share of policies below ₹2 crore fell to 66 per cent from 76 per cent over the same period

Now, over a third of term deposits ₹5 crore+ accounts: RBI data

Large-ticket deposits are gaining prominence as banks struggle to mobilise retail savings, increasing reliance on a small pool of high-value depositors

States' mkt borrowing share in deficit funding rises to 76.3% in FY26: RBI

Borrowing programme for 2026-27 would be managed in an orderly manner, keeping in view fiscal deficit goals and evolving market conditions

Net household financial savings rise to 7% of GNDI in FY25: RBI report

Net household financial savings increased to 7 per cent of GNDI in FY25 as a sharp decline in financial liabilities outweighed a moderation in gross financial savings

RBI's penalties on regulated entities at 5-year low of ₹26.33 crore in FY26

RBI's penalties on regulated entities fell to a five-year low of ₹26.33 crore in FY26, with enforcement action taken against 241 entities