Ajinkya Kawale
 "Ajinkya Kawale")
Ajinkya Kawale
Ajinkya Kawale works as a correspondent for Business Standard, specialising in the emerging fintech industry in India. In addition to his assigned beats, he has had the opportunity to cover agrarian distress in Maharashtra and political developments during the Lok Sabha election season. He holds a postgraduate degree in multimedia journalism from Christ University in Bengaluru. He is passionate about India's infotainment space on YouTube and other OTT platforms. His favourite sections in a library are non-fiction and biographies.
Ajinkya Kawale works as a correspondent for Business Standard, specialising in the emerging fintech industry in India. In addition to his assigned beats, he has had the opportunity to cover agrarian distress in Maharashtra and political developments during the Lok Sabha election season. He holds a postgraduate degree in multimedia journalism from Christ University in Bengaluru. He is passionate about India's infotainment space on YouTube and other OTT platforms. His favourite sections in a library are non-fiction and biographies.
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Nandan Nilekani says Finternet to go live in 2026 using AI, tokenisation
Infosys co-founder says India's next digital public infrastructure will unify tokenised assets such as land, property, and bonds under a regulatory framework
 "Nandan Nilekani says Finternet to go live in 2026 using AI, tokenisation")
India missing AI opportunity at scale: Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Vijay Shekhar Sharma says India must not surrender AI sovereignty to other nations and urges tech entrepreneurs to bet big on home-grown innovation
 "India missing AI opportunity at scale: Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma")
NPCI launches new tech subsidiary to boost payments innovation in India
NPCI Tech Solutions will focus on fintech experimentation and breakthrough innovations, expanding NPCI's role in global digital payments and cross-border connectivity
 "NPCI launches new tech subsidiary to boost payments innovation in India")
Tech must not be weaponised to thwart global progress: FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister asks fintechs to focus on trust, safety and financial inclusion
 "Tech must not be weaponised to thwart global progress: FM Sitharaman")
NBFCs, capital markets lead consents in account aggregator system
NBFCs, RIAs, and stockbrokers dominate India's expanding account aggregator ecosystem, serving over 24 million users in FY25
 "NBFCs, capital markets lead consents in account aggregator system")
Unclear guidelines hold back growth of credit line on UPI since launch
Industry sources in the know added that more clarity was required in terms of reporting the use of credit line on UPI to credit bureaus in the country.
 "Unclear guidelines hold back growth of credit line on UPI since launch")
Diamond City stares at gloomy paydays amid Donald Trump tariff cloud
Following the double tariff whammy in August, the average effective American levy on gems and jewellery has climbed to 55%
 "Diamond City stares at gloomy paydays amid Donald Trump tariff cloud")
Fintech firm Kiwi launches interest-backed EMI on UPI with cashback option
Fintech Kiwi introduces interest-backed EMI on UPI, offering cashback on interest across tenures, as it expands credit access and targets one million credit cards
 "Fintech firm Kiwi launches interest-backed EMI on UPI with cashback option")
No proposal to levy charges on UPI transactions, says RBI governor
RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra said UPI transactions will remain free, while the central bank tests an AI-driven fraud detection system to curb risks in digital payments
 "No proposal to levy charges on UPI transactions, says RBI governor")
FACE appoints ex-RBI executive Manoranjan Mishra as independent director
Ex-RBI executive director Manoranjan Mishra has joined FACE as an independent director, bringing decades of regulatory experience to strengthen fintech self-regulation
 "FACE appoints ex-RBI executive Manoranjan Mishra as independent director")
Fintech firms eye investments in 'switching' as UPI's scale picks up
These investments in critical technology stacks enable fintechs to process transactions faster, with higher success rates, while handling large volumes with greater stability
PhonePe, Mastercard roll out tap-and-pay contactless payments in India
PhonePe and Mastercard have launched contactless tap-and-pay payments for Indian cardholders using NFC-enabled Android smartphones at merchant outlets in India and abroad
 "PhonePe, Mastercard roll out tap-and-pay contactless payments in India")
Ignosis raises $4 mn in pre-series A led by Peak XV's Surge, Razorpay
Ignosis, an AA infra and financial data intelligence firm, has raised $4 million led by Peak XV's Surge to scale teams and build AI-driven solutions for India's BFSI sector
 "Ignosis raises $4 mn in pre-series A led by Peak XV's Surge, Razorpay")
In age of AI, time to own your data amid rising sovereignty concerns
Geopolitical tensions and a sense of control have made data sovereignty an urgent strategic issue for enterprises
 "In age of AI, time to own your data amid rising sovereignty concerns")
Borzo eyes group-level profitability by FY26, says CEO Alina Kisina
Borzo CEO Alina Kisina said the firm aims for group-level profitability across five markets by March 2026 after turning profitable in India, its largest market, in 2024
 "Borzo eyes group-level profitability by FY26, says CEO Alina Kisina")
Indian tech ecosystem gets $7.7 bn in funding, down 23% from 2024
India's tech ecosystem attracted $7.7 billion in funding in the first nine months of 2025, down from $10.1 billion in 2024 and sharply below the $29.3 billion peak in 2021
 "Indian tech ecosystem gets $7.7 bn in funding, down 23% from 2024")
RBI mandates stronger two-factor authentication in new guidelines
RBI has mandated two-factor authentication for all digital payments from April 2026, with guidelines allowing biometrics, tokenisation and risk-based checks alongside OTPs
 "RBI mandates stronger two-factor authentication in new guidelines")
PhonePe files draft papers via confidential route ahead of likely IPO
Fintech startup reported 40% revenue growth and positive cash flows in FY25
 "PhonePe files draft papers via confidential route ahead of likely IPO")
Oolka raises $7 million seed funding led by Lightspeed India, Z47
AI credit management platform Oolka raises $7 million in seed funding led by Lightspeed India Partners and Z47, with plans to expand tech and product teams
 "Oolka raises $7 million seed funding led by Lightspeed India, Z47")
Cashfree Payments integrates Apple Pay to support int'l transactions
Indian merchants using Cashfree's international payment gateway can now accept Apple Pay, reducing errors, boosting trust, and cutting drop-offs by up to 75 per cent
 "Cashfree Payments integrates Apple Pay to support int'l transactions")
