Page 3 - Aathira Varier

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

'Strong preference' for cash use despite digital payments growth

Despite rapid growth in digital payments, RBI's survey found that households and small retailers continue to prefer cash, while currency in circulation rose strongly in FY26

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

Bank credit growth remains strong at 16.2% despite global uncertainties

Bank lending continued to outpace deposit growth in the fortnight ended May 15, with strong traction in NBFC, retail and industrial credit segments

GST rationalisation drives surge in Rs 2 crore-plus term insurance covers

Share of policies above Rs 2 crore jumps to 34 per cent in FY26 from 24 per cent in FY25, as cheaper premiums prompt Indians to reassess coverage needs

MFIs recalibrate growth strategy, expand non-microfinance portfolios

Large microfinance institutions are diversifying into retail and MSME lending as regulatory changes and recent sector stress reshape growth strategies