UPI Lite is a digital payments feature introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in September 2022 to boost small-value transactions without requiring a UPI PIN. It allows users to make instant payments of up to ₹500 per transaction, with a total wallet balance limit of ₹2,000, directly from their bank-linked UPI app. …
The Indian jewellery market is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rising acceptance of lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) and evolving consumer preferences. Traditionally, gold has been valued both as an investment and a fashion statement, but shifting trends indicate a possible change in consumption patterns. The emergence of LGDs and financial gold instruments could reshape …
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced significant changes in the classification and risk weighting of microfinance loans, aiming to boost credit flow and enhance financial stability. The revised guidelines allow certain microfinance loans to be classified under the Regulatory Retail Portfolio (RRP) if they meet specific criteria. This change is expected to benefit …
Indian equity markets, once a beacon of growth, have had a turbulent start to 2025. The Nifty50 Index, a benchmark tracking the country’s top 50 companies, has slumped by 6% in US dollar terms since the beginning of the year. This sharp decline places Nifty among the worst-performing emerging market indices, trailing only Thailand’s SET …
The Indian stock markets will remain closed today, Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in observance of Maha Shivratri, a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. This closure applies to both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), as per the official holiday calendar. Trading will resume tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, following …
With deepfake scams on the rise, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani stressed Aadhaar’s role in fighting digital fraud and the need for scalable AI in India. Speaking at an AIMA session in New Delhi, he highlighted India’s unique “digital arrest” scams, the importance of data protection laws, and how AI can be applied at scale in …
The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), a Navratna CPSU under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Madhya Pradesh to establish a 200 MW Solar Project in Dhar under the CPSU Scheme, along with a 1000 MWh Battery Storage Project in …
In the international market, the spot gold price has dropped by 0.36% to $2,935.23 per ounce as of 12:15 PM on February 25. In India, gold prices have risen by ₹20 per 10 grams in major cities. Mumbai: 24-carat gold is priced at ₹8,630 per gram, while 22-carat gold costs ₹7,911 per gram. The 24-carat …
Budget 2025 has underscored the government’s evolving stance on Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs). Unlike previous years, the government has chosen not to raise any debt via SGBs, revising its earlier ₹15,000 crore borrowing estimate for FY25 to zero. Consequently, there have been no fresh issuances of SGBs in FY25, making the February 2024 tranche the …
The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) has introduced significant regulatory changes to enhance its financial ecosystem. In a recent circular, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) announced the reduction of the minimum investment size in Portfolio Management Services (PMS) from USD 150,000 (₹1.30 crore) to USD 75,000 (₹65 lakh). This move aligns with …
