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Union Minister of Labour and Employment <keyword id="19906409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mansukh-mandaviya" source="keywords">Mansukh Mandaviya</keyword> and Chairperson of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF, have given the green light to the proposal for a Centralised <keyword id="23037839" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pension-Payment-System" source="keywords">Pension Payment System</keyword> (<keyword id="23039389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPPS" source="keywords">CPPS</keyword>) under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995. According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, this initiative represents a major advancement by establishing a national-level centralised system, allowing pension disbursement through any bank or branch across India. Commenting on this development, Mandaviya stated, "The approval of the Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) marks a significant milestone in the modernization of the <keyword id="19966712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPFO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="EPFO" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="EPFO">EPFO</keyword>. By enabling pensioners to receive their pensions from any bank, any branch, anywhere in the country, this initiative addresses the long-standing challenges faced by pensioners and ensures a seamless and efficient disbursement mechanism." He added, "This is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to transform the EPFO into a more robust, responsive, and tech-enabled organisation, committed to serving the needs of its members and pensioners better." The CPPS is expected to benefit over 7.8 million <keyword id="21992385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPS-Pensioners" source="keywords">EPS pensioners</keyword> of EPFO. By leveraging advanced IT and banking technologies, it aims to provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for pensioners. The CPPS will also ensure seamless pension disbursement across India, eliminating the need to transfer Pension Payment Orders (PPO) when a pensioner relocates or changes their bank or branch. This will be a significant relief for pensioners who move to their hometowns post-retirement. This facility will be launched on January 1, 2025, as part of EPFO's ongoing <keyword id="23015602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT-Modernization" source="keywords">IT modernization</keyword> project, Centralised IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01). In the following phase, CPPS will enable a smooth transition to an <keyword id="20028363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aadhaar-based-Payment-System" source="keywords">Aadhaar-based payment system</keyword> (ABPS). The CPPS marks a significant departure from the current decentralised pension disbursement system, where each EPFO Zonal/Regional Office maintains separate agreements with only 3-4 banks. Pensioners will no longer need to visit branches for verification at the start of their pension, as it will be credited immediately upon release. Additionally, EPFO anticipates a significant reduction in disbursement costs with the new system.

EPS Pensioners to get pension from any bank, any branch, anywhere in India from January 1, announces Mansukh Mandaviya

New Delhi [India], August 1 (ANI): The <keyword id="6354335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="Orion">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) has released a draft framework on alternative <keyword id="20470059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="authentication" source="keywords">authentication</keyword> mechanisms to supplement the SMS-based OTP system for digital <keyword id="22624644" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payment-transactions" source="keywords">payment transactions</keyword>. The RBI noted, "No specific factor was mandated for authentication, but the <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> ecosystem has primarily adopted SMS-based OTP as <keyword id="22624645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="additional-factor-of-authentication" source="keywords">Additional Factor of Authentication</keyword> (AFA). While OTP is working satisfactorily, technological advancements have made available alternative authentication mechanisms." The draft discusses the Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA), which involves using more than one factor to authenticate a payment instruction. It requires that the process validate and confirm the credentials of the customer initiating the payment. Furthermore, the draft specifies that issuers must obtain explicit consent from customers before enabling any new authentication factor. Customers should also have the option to deregister from using the new authentication method. The draft states, "All digital payment transactions, other than card present transactions, shall ensure that one of the factors of authentication is dynamically created, i.e., the factor is generated after initiation of payment, is specific to the transaction and cannot be reused." Additionally, the draft mandates that issuers must have a system to alert customers in near real-time for all eligible digital payment transactions. It also prohibits transaction issuers from entering into exclusive arrangements with any Payment Service Provider or Technology Service Provider, which could limit their ability to implement alternative authentication solutions. RBI has proposed <keyword id="22624646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-mandates" source="keywords">e-mandates</keyword> for <keyword id="21970493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="recurring-transactions" source="keywords">recurring transactions</keyword> in mutual funds, insurance premiums, credit card bill payments for values up to Rs 1 lakh and in respect of all other categories for value up to Rs 15,000. The banking regulator also suggests that issuer shall be liable for the process and technology deployed for authenticating digital payments. There should also be a system of alerting the customer in near real time for all digital payment transactions. The draft notes that small value card present transactions up to Rs 5000 per transaction in contactless mode at Point of Sale (PoS) terminals are exempt from the AFA requirement. The central bank has invited comments and feedback on the draft framework until September 15, 2024. The proposed alternative authentication mechanisms aim to provide more choices for authentication factors to Payment System Operators and users.

RBI proposes alternative methods for authentication of digital payments, in addition to SMS-based OTP system

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The West's sanctions are pushing Russia to develop alternative payment systems with its trade partners.</li><li>Russia's SPFS and Mir systems, China's CIPS, and India's UPI help aim to challenge SWIFT's dominance.</li></ul>The West's tightening sanctions are driving Russia nearly up against the wall — but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-how-moscow-pays-war-economy-afloat-sanctions-ukraine-2024-2">Moscow keeps finding ways</a> to keep the country's economy going.Russia's trade partners, too, are looking for ways to continue doing business with the country via alternative systems to rival the Western-led, US dollar-dominated global financial order.Discussions about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/de-dollarization-reasons-why-countries-move-away-us-dollar-2023-7">de-dollarization</a> have been gaining traction in recent years as Western-led sanctions against Russia related to its invasion of Ukraine are making other countries wary of the potential consequences of crossing Washington.There's been some success, with trade between Russia and China, as well as Russia and India, chugging along until recently. Now, even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-all-china-banks-refuse-yuan-ruble-transfers-sanctions-2024-8">Chinese banks</a> — buckling under the pressure of tightening US sanctions — are pushing back on processing transactions for Russian companies.But Russia and its partners have been looking at other ways to do business outside the Western-led order, in part because technology is making it easier to process payments and get around the US-dollar-dominated global financial order.As <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-changing-role-of-the-us-dollar/">Brookings researchers</a> Sam Boocker and David Wessel explained in an August post, "innovations in payment technology could reduce the dollar's role in the global economy."To be sure, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/king-dollar-reign-supreme-3-reasons-dedollarization-fears-yuan-euro-2023-5">king dollar</a> is entrenched in the world's financial system, so it's unlikely to be dethroned, most experts say. However, new platforms are coming up that could chip away at its dominance.These are some of the alternative trading and payment systems that are trying to crack the US-led trade and payments order:<h2 id="e3db2e40-91e6-40ce-8ea6-bd2555a945d0">Russia set up SPFS and Mir years ago, citing 'risks'</h2>Russia prepared for even more sanctions years ago, following trade restrictions after it annexed Crimea in 2014."There are risks in using the global financial networks," Elvira Nabiullina, governor of Russia's central bank, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/23/russias-central-bank-governor-touts-moscow-alternative-to-swift-transfer-system-as-protection-from-us-sanctions.html">CNBC in 2018.</a> "Therefore, since back in 2014, we have been developing our own systems."Some Russian banks were banned from the SWIFT messaging system for banking transactions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has been touting its homegrown ruble-based payment system — the System for Transfer of Financial Messages, or SPFS — that was set up in 2014.<div type="image" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina" height="3605" width="5408" msid="112978409" hostid="261" sizebytes="1587422"></div>At the end of 2023, users of SPFS included 556 organizations from 20 countries. Of these, 159 — about a quarter of total participants — were foreign and their use of the messaging system more than doubled from 2022, according to Russia's central bank, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/103040/">Interfax</a>.In July, Russia and Iran — another heavily-sanctioned country — finalized details to connect the banking systems of the two countries, Iran's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://en.mehrnews.com/news/217372/Iran-Russia-finalize-integration-of-national-payment-systems">Mehr news agency</a> reported.This means that Russia's Mir payment system would work with Iran's Shetab banking system, allowing for both pariah states to trade more smoothly.<h2 id="dc8236fe-da57-4f21-8a5f-0a2f6f46c77a">China's CIPS is growing quickly</h2>China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, or CIPS, is an alternative system that processes payments in Chinese yuan.Launched in 2015, CIPS has about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cips.com.cn/en/2024-08/01/article_2024080115043180408.html">2,000 participants as of July,</a> compared to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.swift.com/about-us">11,000 for SWIFT.</a>CIPS "has been growing rapidly in recent years," the Brookings researchers wrote.In 2023, CIPS processed over 6.6 million transactions, totaling 123 trillion Chinese yuan, or $17.3 trillion — up nearly 30% by value from a year ago, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="http://www.pbc.gov.cn/en/3688110/3688172/5188125/5327700/2024041216580199504.pdf">China's central bank.</a><h2 id="a578a224-e5df-4b31-8404-e02cff739d93">India's UPI is already used extensively</h2>India — now a key trading part of Russia — also has its own system.The country's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/upi/product-overview">Unified Payments Interface,</a> or UPI, was developed in 2016 and is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/29/tech/india-digital-payments-upi-growth-hnk-intl/index.html">used extensively</a> in India today, even among everyday consumers.The payment system has gotten so big that it's not just limited to India. The National Payments Corporation of India, which runs the platform, has partnered with financial institutions in other countries, including France, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.<div type="image" title="A man behind piles of fruits at his stall in India that features a QR payment code." height="701" width="1024" msid="112978412" hostid="261" sizebytes="98408"></div>If the UPI's footprint expands to more countries, it could be a way to bypass the SWIFT banking system, wrote Evan Freidin, an international relations analyst, for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/india-s-plan-world-without-cash">Lowy Institute,</a> an Australian think tank."It is significant that UPI can also be used to bypass the SWIFT banking system, enabling payments with sanctioned countries such as Russia, thereby weakening US financial hegemony," Freidin wrote in July.<h2 id="48c27799-0d46-40f6-b4b7-e9225b102131">Central banks are looking at digital currencies</h2>Countries are also increasingly looking to build central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs. These currencies are similar to cryptocurrencies but are <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/cbdcs-how-different-cryptocurrency-stablecoin/">issued and backed by central banks</a>.The <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/cbdcs-crypto-central-banks-bis-digital-currencies-bitcoin-stablecoins-tether-2021-9">Bank for International Settlements,</a> an organization of central banks, is overseeing the trial of a CBDC platform for wholesale cross-border payment.Participants of the project, called <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/saudi-arabia-joins-bis-led-central-bank-digital-currency-trial-2024-06-05/">mBridge,</a> include China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. It's dominated by Beijing, which has already rolled out the digital Chinese yuan.<div type="image" title="Woman with a face mask using a touch screen at an exhibition booth for the e-renminbi." height="746" width="1024" msid="112978411" hostid="261" sizebytes="54016"></div>The Brookings researchers wrote that these CBDCs could "upend the dollar's role as a currency 'middleman' by reducing settlement times, making it cheaper and easier to trade non-dollar currencies."The CBDCs integrate messaging and payments, unlike current systems like SWIFT and major US dollar clearing system CHIPS.<h2 id="67caf2a1-65f8-470a-8a88-3f2e381242e9">Russia rushes into crypto</h2>As doors to transact in fiat money close, Russia is now looking to trade in cryptocurrencies.It's in such a rush to get the system up and running that it plans to start crypto exchange trials as soon as September 1, anonymous sources told <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-26/russia-close-to-starting-trials-of-crypto-payments-exchanges?srnd=homepage-americas">Bloomberg in late August.</a>Creating this mode of payment has gotten more pressing because even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-all-china-banks-refuse-yuan-ruble-transfers-sanctions-2024-8">banks from China</a> are rejecting most transactions with Russian entities.<a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74566">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> himself said in July that Russia had to <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1818055">"seize the moment"</a> to create a legal framework for digital assets, as they are being increasingly used to settle international payments.<h2 id="15b13f44-3051-4887-85cf-66563ce70c10">Going back to barter trade</h2>If all else fails, there's also the age-old method of barter trade.In August, <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/first-russia-china-barter-trade-may-come-this-autumn-sources-say-2024-08-08/">Reuters</a> reported that Russia and China are planning to revive the practice of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-russia-china-barter-trade-us-secondary-sanctions-payments-2024-8">barter trade</a> to get around Western sanctions.The deals could involve agriculture and could come as soon as this fall, the news agency reported, citing anonymous trade and payments sources.The two countries are no strangers to barter.It was practiced during the <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.joc.com/maritime-news/soviet-union-allows-return-barter-some-trading-deals-partners-former-e-bloc_19910708.html">Soviet era</a> and <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/06/world/as-ruble-withers-russians-survive-on-barter.html">in the years following the bloc's collapse.</a> At the time, China was a key trading partner.In August 2022, the <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-import-russia-oil-barter-exchange-afghanistan-raisin-minerals-medicine-2022-8">Taliban regime in Afghanistan</a> also discussed barter trade with Russia that could involve trading Russian crude oil products in exchange for raisins, minerals, and medicinal herbs, according to RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency.Last year, cash-strapped <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-allows-barter-trade-with-iran-afghanistan-russia-/7120806.html">Pakistan</a> authorized the barter trade of specific goods with Russia.In 2019, China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/currencies/china-in-barter-deal-for-200000-tonnes-of-malaysian-palm-oil-report-idUSKCN1T22W0/">traded $150 million worth of palm oil</a> from Malaysia for a range of products and services, including natural resources and defense equipment.

Countries from Russia to China are building payments systems that could threaten the dollar's global dominance

The just-announced <keyword id="22906567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-Pension-Scheme" source="keywords">Unified Pension Scheme</keyword> for central <keyword id="19933272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-employees" source="keywords">government employees</keyword> will be available only for those who are currently subscribers of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), including retirees. The new scheme guarantees employees 50% of their average basic pay over the last 12 months before retirement, as a pension for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years against a market returns linked payout under the NPS. According to the scheme approved by the Union Cabinet, the pension will be proportionate for a lesser service period of up to a minimum of 10 years. Also, assured pension of Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after a minimum of 10 years of service will be provided. The scheme has been brought out to address the concerns of government employees over NPS, which came into effect from January 1, 2004. Under the <keyword id="3246232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Old-Pension-Scheme" source="Orion">old pension scheme</keyword> (OPS), effective before January 2004, employees got 50 % of their last drawn basic pay as pension. Unlike the old pension scheme, UPS is contributory in nature, wherein employees will be required to contribute 10% of their basic salary and dearness allowance while the employer's contribution (the central government) will be 18.5%. Under the NPS, the employer contribution is 14%, and the employee contribution is 10%. However, the eventual payout depends on the market returns on that corpus, mostly invested in government debt. Employees, under the OPS, were not required to make any contribution. They, however, contributed to the General Provident Fund (GPF). The accumulated amount, along with interest, was paid to the employee at the time of retirement. As the NPS was less attractive than the OPS, several non-BJP-ruled states decided to go back to the old pension scheme, which offered a DA-linked benefit. This prompted the Centre to constitute a committee in April 2023, under former Finance Secretary and now Cabinet Secretary-designate TV Somanathan to suggest improvement in the NPS architecture. Fulfilling the long pending demands of government employees ahead of assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Cabinet on August 24 approved the UPS, which will provide assured pension to 23 lakh eligible central government employees. Those opting for the UPS will not be able to switch back. The UPS will put an additional burden of Rs 6,250 crore on the exchequer per year. The expenditure will vary every year according to variations in the number of employees. In addition, there will be an arrear of Rs 800 crore that has to be paid under the National Pension System (NPS) to employees retiring before March 31, 2025. If these retirees opt for UPS, they will receive arrears. "UPS is being implemented by the Central Government, benefitting 23 lakh central government employees," Information &amp; Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X on Sunday. If states also adopt the UPS architecture, a total of over 90 lakh government employees, who are presently on NPS, would be benefitted, he added. On Sunday, Maharashtra, where assembly elections are due later in the year, became the first state to announce the adoption of the UPS for its employees. RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said though the government has attempted to overcome the shortcomings of the NPS, there are still some issues compared to OPS. BMS will decide its future course of action only after a detailed study of the UPS after it is notified. All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said it is nothing but an extension of the existing NPS. The trade union expressed apprehensions that UPS will have a lot of aberrations once implemented. AITUC reiterated that it will continue to fight for the restoration of the non-contributory OPS. ICRA Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said assured pensions will add to the government's committed expenditure in the future while reducing the uncertainty for employees. "This will have to be built into the fiscal consolidation roadmap going ahead," Nayar added. The UPS reflects a thoughtful approach to long-term social security, addressing concerns about the adequacy and sustainability of pension benefits in a rapidly changing economic landscape, said Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp; Co Partner Dorothy Thomas. "This move signals the government's commitment to providing robust support for its workforce, enhancing financial stability for millions of government employees across the country," Thomas said.

Over 23 lakh govt employees under NPS get option to choose unified pension scheme

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia passed a bill allowing crypto trade payments and is aiming to roll out the digital ruble next July.</li><li>Moscow's tilt to crypto reverses its previous anti-crypto stance.</li></ul>Russia is stepping up sanctions-evading measures to keep its international trade flowing. The country is passing new laws regulating cryptocurrency and a plan for the digital ruble.On Tuesday, Russia's State Duma — the lower house of Russia's federal assembly — passed a bill that would let businesses use cryptocurrencies in international trade, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/russia-launch-international-payments-crypto-before-end-2024-2024-07-30/">Reuters</a> reported.Under this new law, Russia's central bank will create a new "experimental" payments platform. Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said the first transactions are expected by the end of this year, per Reuters.Nabiullina also said on Tuesday that the Russian central bank plans a mass introduction of the digital ruble in July next year, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1823089">TASS.</a>Digital currencies, like the digital ruble, are similar to cryptocurrencies but are <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/cbdcs-how-different-cryptocurrency-stablecoin/">issued and backed by central banks.</a><h2 id="04f69842-16d5-468a-85c4-9bbe54193e49">Some Russian businesses are already using crypto</h2>In addition, Russia passed new regulations legalizing crypto mining on Tuesday.An existing ban on crypto payments in Russia remains, but Moscow's greenlighting crypto for international trade marks a significant shift.In January 2022 — before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/russian-cbank-proposes-banning-cryptocurrencies-crypto-mining-2022-01-20/">Russia's central bank</a> proposed a ban on the use and mining of cryptocurrencies within the country, citing risks to financial stability and monetary policy.However, the heavily sanctioned country is facing so many issues with international payments that it has been forced to shift its position.Some Russian businesses are already using cryptocurrencies to trade with settlements done via Hong Kong, but through central Asian intermediaries, <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-25/russian-companies-face-mounting-payment-issues-as-sanctions-bite">Bloomberg</a> reported last week.<a target="_blank" class="" href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74566">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> himself said earlier this month that Russia had to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1818055">"seize the moment"</a> to create a legal framework for digital assets, as they are being increasingly used to settle international payments.Russia's tilt toward crypto isn't unexpected. Analysts have been speculating about how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/cryptocurrencies-and-us-sanctions-evasion-implications-russia">Russia would eventually move</a> toward using crypto and digital assets following sweeping sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.<h2 id="0eca508c-15cf-41aa-b85a-a557ee507d8d">Increasingly tight Western sanctions hit Russia's international trade</h2>Until recently, Moscow hasn't really had to look into digital currencies that intently — since Russian companies have managed to keep on doing business using non-US dollar currencies, such as the Chinese yuan, or via smaller banks.But Russia's international trade is getting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-china-yuan-payments-delay-months-bounce-back-sanctions-2024-7">ever more difficult.</a>The troubles started in December when the US authorized <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-takes-aim-financial-institutions-with-new-russia-sanctions-authority-2023-12-22/">secondary sanctions</a> targeting financial institutions that help Russia skirt sanctions.This prompted <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-financial-system-us-sanctions-oil-trade-foreign-banks-2024-3">global banks</a> from <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-biggest-banks-stop-russia-payments-icbc-ccb-boc-2024-2">China </a>to the UAE, Turkey, and Austria to reduce transactions — even in non-US dollars — with Russia to avoid getting in the crosshairs."This episode demonstrates the global power of the US Treasury, causing banks from Turkey to India and China to pause the processing of payments invoiced by or to Russian counterparties," wrote Christopher Granville, the managing director of global political research at GlobalData TS Lombard, in a May note about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-brics-usd-dollar-central-banks-digital-currency-payments-mbridge-2024-5">digital currencies and dedollarization.</a>"In other words, simply settling commercial invoices in national currencies rather than US dollars turns out to be an insufficient counter to US sanctions," Granville added.The payment issues were exacerbated last month when the US Treasury rolled out a new package of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-sanctions-us-china-ukraine-war-economy-janet-yellen-treasury-2024-6?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;_gl=1*1nuxsvd*_ga*MTM0MjM1NDU5My4xNjg1MTUzMTcw*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyMDE0NzM3MS45MzUuMS4xNzIwMTQ5OTU5LjYwLjAuMA..">expansive US sanctions</a> against Russia, forcing the Moscow Exchange — Russia's key bourse — to halt <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/russia-dollar-ruble-exchange-us-sanctions-currency-yuan-ukraine-war-2024-6">dollar and euro trade.</a><h2 id="b33701e6-83ac-4290-b6c2-ada7fbc1bf3a">Russia could be eying a digital-currency-based settlement system</h2>It isn't clear how Russia's crypto and digital currency regimes will shape up.Implementation may be easier said than done.Even China, which has one of the world's most advanced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3228094/chinas-digital-currency-bank-china-helps-mainland-tourists-spend-e-cny-hong-kong-select-retailers">digital currencies,</a> relies on a "two-tier" system involving banks as wallet-holding agents. Granville wrote in May that that setup avoided excessively disrupting the operations of banks, which could threaten broader financial stability.

Sanctions-hit Russia is rushing to set up payment systems, including crypto, to make trading easier

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The emergence of new regional payment systems likely won't spur de-dollarization, OMFIF said.</li><li>So far, their infrastructure is weak and they are plagued by implementation challenges.</li></ul>De-dollarization risks are on the rise, but rising alternative transaction networks won't be the basis of a major decline in the use of the US currency, the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum said.According to <a href="https://www.omfif.org/2024/05/will-growth-in-regional-payment-systems-spur-de-dollarisation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commentary</a> published Thursday, obstacles are already afflicting new regional payment systems, even as de-dollarization rhetoric creeps up."For instance, regional payments continue to suffer from weak implementation, infrastructure and complex geopolitical obstacles among participatory economies," senior economist Julian Jacobs wrote. "This is why the emergence of the technological capacity to drive de-dollarisation does not necessarily mean de-dollarisation will occur."Such systems include tech initiatives such as mBridge, a cross-border platform built around emerging central bank digital currencies. Backing it are monetary authorities in China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand.Meanwhile, efforts to assemble regional financial systems have delivered the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, OMFIF cited as one example. This infrastructure delivers payments in local currencies, in a step away from the greenback.Still, none of these have been enough to shake how entrenched the dollar remains in world finance, OMFIF said. Not only does it account for 58% of global reserves, it tops all other currencies for its share of global payments. As of April, it accounted for 47.31%, according to the latest data from the <a href="https://www.swift.com/our-solutions/compliance-and-shared-services/business-intelligence/renminbi/rmb-tracker/rmb-tracker-document-centre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SWIFT financial system</a>. While countries may want to wean off of the dollar — especially in light of how the greenback was used to punish Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — a major migration to regional payment systems would require economies to tackle a whole new set of issues, OMFIF said. If de-dollarization is a rising threat, it's instead coming from Western competition, the think tank said. That's as the euro has come to serve as the world's second top reserve currency and offers high liquidity and quality infrastructure.To be sure, those worried over the greenback's status have chiefly focused on China's yuan, as Beijing pursues policies to bolster its international standing. For instance, it's even launched its own payments infrastructure, the Cross-border Interbank Payment System.But China's efforts to create an alternative system are a defensive ploy for now, OMFIF wrote in a separate <a href="https://www.omfif.org/2024/05/china-is-defending-against-the-dollars-dominance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">note</a> from May. "The goal is to minimise the negative consequences of the West's comprehensive sanctions against China in extreme geopolitical scenarios such as a military conflict over Taiwan," Council on Foreign Relations fellow Zongyuan Zoe Liu wrote. "Expanding the use of the renminbi in trade is less challenging than increasing its status as an international reserve currency."

De-dollarized payment systems are cropping up. Here's why they're unlikely to dent greenback dominance.

New Delhi [India], February 15 (ANI): The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> on Thursday restrained a <keyword id="20601951" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="card-network" source="keywords">card network</keyword> that had an arrangement to enable businesses to make card payments through certain intermediaries to entities that do not accept card payments. The central bank, however, did not specify the name of the card network. "It has come to the notice of <keyword id="19922074" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank" source="keywords">Reserve Bank</keyword> of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> that a Card Network had an arrangement that enables businesses to make card payments through certain intermediaries, to entities that do not accept card payments. Under this arrangement, the intermediary accepts card payments from corporates for their commercial payments and then remits the funds via IMPS/RTGS/NEFT to non-card accepting recipients," the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> said in an official statement. "On closer scrutiny, it was observed that this arrangement qualified as a payment system. Under the provisions of Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007, such payment system requires authorization under Section 4 of PSS Act, which has not been obtained in the instant case. The activity was, therefore, without legal sanction," it added. The central bank further said, "The arrangement has also raised following concerns: i) The intermediary in the above arrangement pooled large amount of funds into an account which is not a designated account under PSS Act and; ii) Transactions processed under this arrangement did not comply with the originator and beneficiary information requirements, as stipulated under Master Direction on KYC issued by the Reserve Bank." The RBI further stated that only one card network has operationalized this arrangement in the country so far. "As the matter is under detailed examination, the Card Network has been advised to keep all such arrangements under abeyance, till further orders," it said. Meanwhile, the central bank also clarified that it has not placed any restriction with respect to normal usage of business credit cards. (ANI)

RBI asks card network to restrain unauthorised commercial payment system

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia will start cryptocurrency exchange trials on September 1, Bloomberg reported.</li><li>The nation is look for new ways to transact payments amid sanctions.</li></ul>Russia, home to anti-crypto legislation, plans on testing digital assets as a way to break away from Western sanctions, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-26/russia-close-to-starting-trials-of-crypto-payments-exchanges?srnd=homepage-americas">Bloomberg</a> reported.Moscow will initiate cryptocurrency exchange trials as soon as September 1, anonymous sources told the outlet. The intention is to ease payment difficulties for Russian exporters, caused by restrictions related to Moscow's war in Ukraine.Sources said the National Payment Card System will be used to swap between rubles and cryptocurrencies in these trials. The network was chosen due to its preexisting functions, such as an interbank settlement and clearing feature, and its full regulation by the central bank.If successful, this experiment could eventually provide Russia with an alternative payment method for cross-border transactions. Payment issues have made it difficult to buy foreign supplies and have left exporters struggling to get reimbursed.This became problematic in June, when the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-russia-sanctions-war-spending-exports-ukraine-china-banks-treasury-2024-8">new US sanctions</a> started targeting Russia-friendly foreign lenders. Given that global institutions rely on access to the dollar, the threat of secondary sanctions forced many to cut off ties with Moscow.For instance, most Chinese banks have since <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-china-yuan-payments-delay-months-bounce-back-sanctions-2024-7">halted yuan payments</a> to Russia despite the yuan's prominent role in Russia's current-day economy. Meanwhile, Moscow can't rely on Western currencies such as the dollar, after the country lost access to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-eu-announce-some-russian-banks-removed-from-swift-2022-2">SWIFT international banking system</a>.Moscow's possible embrace of digital currencies is a significant retreat from its usual attitude: Russia has spent years arguing against crypto and has proposed a blanket ban in 2022. Even if crypto is adopted in international payments, its use inside the country <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/russia-weighs-risk-embracing-crypto-international-payments-2024-07-17/">remains restricted</a>.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-moscow-cryptocurrency-bill-digital-ruble-trade-payments-sanctions-2024-7">legal turnaround came on August 8th</a>, when President Vladimir Putin legalized the creation of a cross-border crypto framework. Additionally, he signed into law a bill allowing from crypto mining in the country.Eventually, Russia may permit the Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Currency Exchange to creat crypto platforms next year, sources told Bloomberg. As to traditional crypto exchanges, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov acknowledged that this looks less likely:"We haven't found a solution yet on how to do this," he said at a forum on August 14th, quoted by the state-run Tass new agency.

Russia is turning to crypto as sanctions snarl payments, report says

The Reserve Bank on Thursday proposed to create a <keyword id="22711172" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-repository" source="keywords">public repository</keyword> of <keyword id="21305551" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-lending-apps" source="keywords">digital lending apps</keyword> in a bid to address the problems arising from mushrooming <keyword id="22711171" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unauthorised-players" source="keywords">unauthorised players</keyword> in the segment. In another significant move, the central bank proposed to introduce a facility of "<keyword id="22710839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delegated-Payments" source="keywords">Delegated Payments</keyword>" in UPI to enable an individual to allow another individual to make <keyword id="19957378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI-transactions" source="keywords">UPI transactions</keyword>. In a <keyword id="13144094" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="post-monetary-policy-review" source="Orion">post-monetary policy review</keyword> address, <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> <keyword id="20595794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Governor-Shaktikanta-Das" source="keywords">Governor Shaktikanta Das</keyword> said the central bank has taken several measures for the orderly development of the <keyword id="12577431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-lending-ecosystem" source="Orion">digital lending ecosystem</keyword> in India. In a bid to address the problems arising from unauthorised digital lending apps (DLAs), he said the RBI proposes to create a public repository of DLAs deployed by its regulated entities. "The regulated entities (REs) will report and update information about their DLAs in this repository. This measure will help the consumers to identify the unauthorised lending apps," Das said. On introduction of 'Delegated Payments' through UPI, the Governor said the facility would enable an individual (primary user) to allow another individual (secondary user) to make UPI transactions up to a limit from the primary user's bank account without the need for the secondary user to have a separate bank account linked to UPI. This, he added, will further deepen the reach and usage of digital payments. The central bank also announced an increase in the transaction limit for tax payments through UPI to Rs 5 lakh. Currently, the transaction limit for UPI is Rs 1 lakh, except for certain categories of payments which have higher transaction limits. "It has now been decided to enhance the limit for tax payments through UPI from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per transaction. This will further ease tax payments by consumers through UPI," Das said. The Governor also announced measures to speed up cheque payment which will benefit both the payer and the payee. At present, cheque clearing through Cheque Truncation System (CTS), operates in a batch-processing mode and has a clearing cycle of up to two working days. "It is proposed to reduce the clearing cycle by introducing continuous clearing with 'on-realisation-settlement' in CTS," Das said. This means that cheques will be cleared within a few hours on the day of presentation.

RBI to set up public repository of digital lending apps to check unauthorised players

Security agencies will be deploying artificial intelligence-based security systems with enhanced <keyword id="22713904" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surveillance-features" source="keywords">surveillance features</keyword> and automated crowd estimation facilities at and around <keyword id="20283480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Red-Fort" source="keywords">Red Fort</keyword> on the upcoming Independence Day, sources said. A document accessed by the reveals that CCTVs having video analytics features will be deployed at important locations at the venue. The intelligence video surveillance system will have features like a vehicle number plate recognition system, face detection, people movement counting, tripwire, audio detection, intrusion, defocus, and abandoned or missing objects. "We will also be using AI-armed cameras to count the entry and exit of people inside the premises. The estimation of the crowd will be done through AI," an official added. The cameras, said the official, will have the capability of detecting abandoned baggage in public places. Intrusion detection features will be the security of high risk. Different zone-based alarms can be set as per priority and sensitivity of each zone. The advanced FRS facility will be in recognition of faces on live cameras as well as on recorded videos. Detect any matches with faces on the "Watch List" database and provide alerts to the control room. Detecting multiple faces from group images and searching for similar faces from a single camera or across multiple cameras. An enrolled person can be searched by names or similar faces and also search via. unknown faces using a single image or group photo. Divulging further details on the new changes, a senior government official informed that they have been using a <keyword id="20903661" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="facial-recognition-system" source="keywords">facial recognition system</keyword> for the past several years but this year they will be deploying Number Plate Recognition (NPR) that will have vehicle plate detection based on real-time 24x7 video processing. It will immediately video record and snapshot each vehicle or violated vehicle. It will be integrated with multiple cameras or sensors for driver image capture. Delhi police will be deploying more than 700 CCTVs and more than 150 cameras having video analytics features. More than 10,000 security personnel, including Delhi police and paramilitary jawans, will be deployed in and around the Red Fort and other crucial locations in central and north Delhi. A team of central intelligence agencies and all concerned security agencies visited the Red Fort and held a security review meeting recently for the Independence Day event. At the review meeting, held in the backdrop of the attack on former US president Donald Trump during a public meeting, additional arrangements would be needed to maintain a stricter vigil at the high-security event, reliable sources claimed. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank">Ola wants to re-enter the quick commerce business to take on Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-mpc-meet-cheque-clearing-time-reduced-upi-limit-increased-for-tax-payment/articleshow/112366099.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-mpc-meet-cheque-clearing-time-reduced-upi-limit-increased-for-tax-payment/articleshow/112366099.cms" target="_blank">RBI MPC meet – Cheque clearing time reduced, UPI limit increased for tax payment</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-curvv-ev-with-up-to-585-km-range-launched-starting-at-17-49-lakh/slidelist/112342769.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-curvv-ev-with-up-to-585-km-range-launched-starting-at-17-49-lakh/slidelist/112342769.cms" target="_blank">Tata Curvv EV with up to 585 km range launched starting at ₹17.49 lakh</a>

You Searched For "Centralized Pension Payment System" and got 10 results

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Countries from Russia to China are building payments systems that could threaten the dollar's global dominance

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Over 23 lakh govt employees under NPS get option to choose unified pension scheme

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Sanctions-hit Russia is rushing to set up payment systems, including crypto, to make trading easier

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De-dollarized payment systems are cropping up. Here's why they're unlikely to dent greenback dominance.

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RBI to set up public repository of digital lending apps to check unauthorised players

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