Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

On Thursday, the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) sought action against four non-banking financial companies (<keyword id="19938300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NBFCs" source="keywords">NBFCs</keyword>), barring them from making new loan sanctions and disbursements, effective October 21, 2024. A report by <keyword id="19977638" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morgan-Stanley" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Morgan Stanley" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Morgan Stanley">Morgan Stanley</keyword> suggests that more lending companies might face similar scrutiny in the coming days. As named by the RBI in its order yesterday, <keyword id="20146314" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asirvad-Microfinance" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Asirvad Microfinance" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Asirvad Microfinance">Asirvad Microfinance</keyword>, Arohan Financial Services, DMI Finance, and Navi Finserv failed to adhere to the <keyword id="21471399" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fair-Practices-Code" source="keywords">Fair Practices Code</keyword> and did not properly assess borrower's income and repayment capacities before disbursing loans, especially when it came to their microfinance loans. Additionally, these companies also resorted to dubious asset classifications and incomplete interest rate and fee disclosures, which in turn led to alarming practices like loan evergreening and more. RBI also found that the weighted average lending rate (WALR) and the interest spread charged over their cost of funds by these NBFCs were over the stipulated norms. Earlier this month, the apex had already issued a stern warning to the NBFC sector, discouraging them from pursuing aggressive loan book expansion at the cost of regulations and fair practices. Per the bank, it would be ideal if NBFCs self-corrected their ways and refrained from giving incentives and fixed targets to their employees for granting loans. As for these four NBFCs, RBI flagged significant deviations with respect to Income Recognition and Asset Classification (IR&amp;AC) norms in their functioning and gross mismanagement of their gold loan portfolios. As RBI noted, these NBFCs had outsourced several of their core financial services as well. The restrictions on these 4 NBFCs will be effective at the close of business as of October 21, 2024. But this will not affect the existing, active loans of the companies. Also, loan collection and recovery processes will also continue in line with existing guidelines. However, Morgan Stanley, in a recent report, has questioned this move, asking whether lending rates alone were the cause for concern by RBI against specified NBFCs or whether broader issues are at play. "Based on an observation of lending rate data collated and presented by MFIN (the industry body for microfinance lenders), we note that Asirvad Microfinance's lending rates are not very different from other lenders," the report said. The report also observes that more regulatory action might follow in the sector, but the intention here was not to shut down new lending by <keyword id="21739781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microfinance-institutions" source="keywords">microfinance institutions</keyword> and NBFCs entirely. RBI's restrictions will stay in place until these NBFCs show that they have fully aligned their practices with regulatory guidelines. In response, Navi Finserv Limited has noted that it is committed to conducting its business operations with the highest standards of compliance, customer service, and transparency. "The company is reviewing the directions received from the Hon’ble Reserve Bank of India and will work with them and address all the concerns raised with promptness and completeness," it further added.

Reserve Bank may act against more NBFCs to keep obscure lending practices in check, says Morgan Stanley

On September 18, 2024, the US <keyword id="19900043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fed" source="keywords">Fed</keyword> delivered a jumbo-sized surprise to the global economy. Not only did they trim their interest rates by a massive 50 basis points to bring their yields down to 5%, but also hinted at further rate cuts in the upcoming months. This move from the fed and several other central banks globally had pushed expectations high for a similar rate slash closer home, from the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> this month. But governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, in a “picture abhi baaki hai” moment, decided to hold the repo rates here steady, leaving them unchanged at 6.5% for the record 10th straight time. Although, he did tinker with the policy stand, changing it from “rate cuts are absolutely off the table” to a more accommodating “we’re okay with bringing down the rates, if needed”. This, rather neutral, stance from India’s financial custodian sparked hopes for a rate cut in December this year. However, the stubborn inflation levels in September have again dented such hopes. As consumers, you may be wondering what all the hullabaloo this is about, since it hardly makes a difference to your regular financial routine. Well, the majority of both economic growth and inflation is closely connected to this policy stance from the central bank and it does have a rather indirect effect on both our earnings and spending. But more directly, it would have clear implications for those looking to own a house. Even the slightest modification of interest rates, or the lack of it, influences the <keyword id="19916018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi" source="keywords">EMI</keyword> you pay significantly. So, all aspiring homebuyers, is this the right time to take out a loan and buy a house? Can you expect a rate cut anytime soon, and what will that mean for your home-owning dreams? We lay it out. <h2>What’s the connection?</h2>You see, buying a house is no small feat, at least financially. The task becomes even more herculean if you are scouting for your own roof in cities like Delhi, Noida, Bangalore or Mumbai where, as Circuit from Munnabhai says, “room shuru hote hi khatam ho jata hai”. Naturally, you’ll have to take a <keyword id="6354730" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="home-loan" source="Orion">home loan</keyword> from the bank. Don’t be mistaken, the bank won't give you a loan that covers 100% of the value of the property you want to own. Rather, your loan amount will be equivalent to a certain percentage of the property’s total value. RBI’s guidelines on this are pretty clear: <ul><li>If your loan amount is up to Rs 30 lakh, you can get a loan worth 90% of the property’s value.</li></ul><ul><li>If the loan amount is between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, you are eligible for a loan worth 80% of the property’s value.</li><li>If you are taking a loan of more than Rs 75 lakh, your loan amount will be equivalent to 70% of the property’s value.</li></ul>Now assuming that you have the money, it's all about paying back the principal amount, but not without a little (read hefty) interest added on top. See, when you’re taking a home loan, you are actually signing up for a long-term, even multi-decadal financial commitment, which will unfailingly present itself to your bank accounts and finances every single month, in the form of EMIs, or equated monthly instalments). When you take a home loan, you can choose to pay the interest in two ways (talk about choices!). One is that you decide to keep a fixed rate of interest throughout the tenure of your home loan. So, if you opt for a 25-year fixed-rate home loan at the rate of 8.8% p.a., you’ll have to pay interest at this rate for the next 25 years, till your entire loan is paid off. Yes, you can go backsies and switch to a floating-rate home loan by paying a fee. Floating, as the name suggests, means that your interest rate is not set in stone. But starting October 2019, when it comes to a floating interest rate home loan, your payable interest and EMIs are directly impacted by any changes in <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword>, which were left unchanged by RBI this time around. Why are these two so chummy, you might ask. Well, home loan interest rates are a sum of two things: <ol><li>Repo Rate (the rate at which RBI lends money to banks)</li><li>Operational cost + margins</li></ol>Any plus or minus in this equation would send your home loan interests tanking, or skyrocketing. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat explains that any change in the repo rates impacts the cost of funds and thereby the home loan interest rates. “When the interest rates are expected to reduce, the corresponding impact will be in the form of a reduced EMI. Home loan borrowers should always try to borrow at a floating rate when interest rates are expected to reduce and at a fixed rate when the interest rates are expected to increase. This minimizes the outflow in the form of EMIs that the home loan borrowers will experience”, he continues. So, no change in repo rates means no change in your home loan interest payout and no financial relief whatsoever. A rate cut, which most experts are anticipating will start this December, would mean your EMI payments come down, and your wallet might save a little more. But there’s also a chance of an UNO reverse happening. In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Consider this. You took a floating interest rate home loan worth Rs 50 lakh in January 2022 at 8% p.a., for a period of 20 years. This brings your total monthly EMI to Rs Rs 41,822. But, as luck would (or won't) have it, RBI raised the interest rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023, bringing it to its current status of 6.5%. Some back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that now, your home loan interest payout will also rise by a hefty 2.5%, taking the total to 10.5%. In other words, you’ll have to dish out Rs 49,919 per month as EMI. Now, won't you heave a sigh of relief if the RBI were to bring down the interest rate by say, even 50 basis points, or 0.5%? Agreed, your EMI will come down just marginally, to Rs 48,251. But look at this over a 20-year period, and you’ll see how big the difference is. <h2>Are rates set to change anytime soon?</h2>Generally, RBI hikes the repo rates if it sees inflation spiralling out of control. Then, in a bid to reduce consumer spending, it raises interest rates to make borrowing expensive. But when the apex bank sees sluggish consumption in the economy, inflation in control and wants to boost spending, it slashes down on interest rates, making it more lucrative for people to borrow. As of now, most experts are not anticipating any changes in the interest rates anytime soon. This means home loans are not getting cheaper anytime soon. The CPI data, which came out yesterday, saw inflation rise to 5.49% in September, compared to 3.65% last month. Food and beverage prices jumped to a four-month high of 8.36% in September, as opposed to a 5.3% rise in August. So a rate cut seems a no-go at the moment! Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities explains that the RBI had probably expected a hardening of inflation and that's why it chose to hold on to the rates in the monetary policy announcement last week. “Now, it seems that RBI will take a cautious stance going ahead and will not be in a hurry into rate cuts like its global peers”, he added. In all this, one thing is clear, in the grand movie of the Indian economy, the RBI has chosen stability over drama. And just like in every good Bollywood film, we're left wondering what twist the sequel will bring. Until then, it might be “The End" for rate cuts, but the show must go on for the Indian economy!

Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

<div type="image" title="In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit" msid="114284206" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Or, if it leaves the rates unchanged, your EMIs wont budge one bit&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On September 18, 2024, the <keyword id="19951097" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us-fed" source="keywords">US Fed</keyword> delivered a jumbo-sized surprise to the global economy. Not only did they trim their interest rates by a massive 50 basis points to bring their yields down to 5%, but also hinted at further rate cuts in the upcoming months. This move from the fed and several other central banks globally had pushed expectations high for a similar rate slash closer home, from the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> this month. But governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, in a “picture abhi baaki hai” moment, decided to hold the repo rates here steady, leaving them unchanged at 6.5% for the record 10th straight time. Although, he did tinker with the policy stand, changing it from “rate cuts are absolutely off the table” to a more accommodating “we’re okay with bringing down the rates, if needed”. This, rather neutral, stance from India’s financial custodian sparked hopes for a rate cut in December this year. However, the stubborn <keyword id="22195" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="Orion">inflation</keyword> levels in September have again dented such hopes. As consumers, you may be wondering what all the hullabaloo this is about, since it hardly makes a difference to your regular financial routine. Well, the majority of both economic growth and inflation is closely connected to this policy stance from the central bank and it does have a rather indirect effect on both our earnings and spending. But more directly, it would have clear implications for those looking to own a house. Even the slightest modification of interest rates, or the lack of it, influences the <keyword id="19916018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi" source="keywords">EMI</keyword> you pay significantly. So, all aspiring homebuyers, is this the right time to take out a loan and buy a house? Can you expect a rate cut anytime soon, and what will that mean for your home-owning dreams? We lay it out. <h2>What’s the connection?</h2>You see, buying a house is no small feat, at least financially. The task becomes even more herculean if you are scouting for your own roof in cities like Delhi, Noida, Bangalore or Mumbai where, as Circuit from Munnabhai says, “room shuru hote hi khatam ho jata hai”. Naturally, you’ll have to take a <keyword id="6354730" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan" source="Orion">home loan</keyword> from the bank. Don’t be mistaken, the bank won't give you a loan that covers 100% of the value of the property you want to own. Rather, your loan amount will be equivalent to a certain percentage of the property’s total value. RBI’s guidelines on this are pretty clear: <ul><li>If your loan amount is up to Rs 30 lakh, you can get a loan worth 90% of the property’s value.</li></ul><ul><li>If the loan amount is between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, you are eligible for a loan worth 80% of the property’s value. </li><li>If you are taking a loan of more than Rs 75 lakh, your loan amount will be equivalent to 70% of the property’s value. </li></ul>Now assuming that you have the money, it's all about paying back the principal amount, but not without a little (read hefty) interest added on top. See, when you’re taking a home loan, you are actually signing up for a long-term, even multi-decadal financial commitment, which will unfailingly present itself to your bank accounts and finances every single month, in the form of EMIs, or equated monthly instalments). When you take a home loan, you can choose to pay the interest in two ways (talk about choices!). One is that you decide to keep a fixed rate of interest throughout the tenure of your home loan. So, if you opt for a 25-year fixed-rate home loan at the rate of 8.8% p.a., you’ll have to pay interest at this rate for the next 25 years, till your entire loan is paid off. Yes, you can go backsies and switch to a floating-rate home loan by paying a fee. Floating, as the name suggests, means that your interest rate is not set in stone. But starting October 2019, when it comes to a floating interest rate home loan, your payable interest and EMIs are directly impacted by any changes in <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword>, which were left unchanged by RBI this time around. Why are these two so chummy, you might ask. Well, <keyword id="173069" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-loan-interest" source="Orion">home loan interest</keyword> rates are a sum of two things: <ol><li>Repo Rate (the rate at which RBI lends money to banks)</li><li>Operational cost + margins</li></ol>Any plus or minus in this equation would send your home loan interests tanking, or skyrocketing. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat explains that any change in the repo rates impacts the cost of funds and thereby the home loan interest rates. “When the interest rates are expected to reduce, the corresponding impact will be in the form of a reduced EMI. Home loan borrowers should always try to borrow at a floating rate when interest rates are expected to reduce and at a fixed rate when the interest rates are expected to increase. This minimizes the outflow in the form of EMIs that the home loan borrowers will experience”, he continues. So, no change in repo rates means no change in your home loan interest payout and no financial relief whatsoever. A rate cut, which most experts are anticipating will start this December, would mean your EMI payments come down, and your wallet might save a little more. But there’s also a chance of an UNO reverse happening. In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Consider this. You took a floating interest rate home loan worth Rs 50 lakh in January 2022 at 8% p.a., for a period of 20 years. This brings your total monthly EMI to Rs Rs 41,822. But, as luck would (or won't) have it, RBI raised the interest rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023, bringing it to its current status of 6.5%. Some back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that now, your home loan interest payout will also rise by a hefty 2.5%, taking the total to 10.5%. In other words, you’ll have to dish out Rs 49,919 per month as EMI. Now, won't you heave a sigh of relief if the RBI were to bring down the interest rate by say, even 50 basis points, or 0.5%? Agreed, your EMI will come down just marginally, to Rs 48,251. But look at this over a 20-year period, and you’ll see how big the difference is. <h2>Are rates set to change anytime soon?</h2>Generally, RBI hikes the repo rates if it sees inflation spiralling out of control. Then, in a bid to reduce consumer spending, it raises interest rates to make borrowing expensive. But when the apex bank sees sluggish consumption in the economy, inflation in control and wants to boost spending, it slashes down on interest rates, making it more lucrative for people to borrow. As of now, most experts are not anticipating any changes in the interest rates anytime soon. This means home loans are not getting cheaper anytime soon. The CPI data, which came out yesterday, saw inflation rise to 5.49% in September, compared to 3.65% last month. Food and beverage prices jumped to a four-month high of 8.36% in September, as opposed to a 5.3% rise in August. So a rate cut seems a no-go at the moment! Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities explains that the RBI had probably expected a hardening of inflation and that's why it chose to hold on to the rates in the monetary policy announcement last week. “Now, it seems that RBI will take a cautious stance going ahead and will not be in a hurry into rate cuts like its global peers”, he added. In all this, one thing is clear, in the grand movie of the Indian economy, the RBI has chosen stability over drama. And just like in every good Bollywood film, we're left wondering what twist the sequel will bring. Until then, it might be “The End" for rate cuts, but the show must go on for the Indian economy!

Simply Put: Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

<keyword id="19898109" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paytm" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Paytm" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Paytm">Paytm</keyword> has regained approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>) to onboard new UPI users, marking a significant turnaround for the fintech giant. This development follows a setback earlier this year when <keyword id="20410154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paytm-Payments-Bank-Limited" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Paytm Payments Bank Limited" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Paytm Payments Bank Limited">Paytm Payments Bank Limited</keyword> (PPBL), an associate company of Paytm, was barred from adding new users to its UPI platform due to regulatory concerns raised by the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI). <h2>Paytm gets permission to onboard new UPI users </h2> In a regulatory filing on Tuesday evening, Paytm disclosed that NPCI granted permission for the company to resume onboarding UPI users, provided it complies with all procedural guidelines and circulars issued by the corporation. “We would like to inform you that vide letter dated October 22, 2024, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has granted approval to the Company to on-board new UPI users, with adherence to all NPCI procedural guidelines and circulars,” Paytm said in the filing. This move is seen as a relief for the company, which has been under scrutiny following the RBI’s intervention in January. The NPCI, which had previously allowed Paytm to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) for UPI transactions, has now reinstated its ability to bring new users onto the platform, albeit with strict conditions. Paytm can continue UPI operations through its partnerships with major banking institutions, including SBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and YES Bank. The NPCI’s approval comes after a thorough review of Paytm’s compliance with procedural guidelines, including those pertaining to risk management, app branding, multi-bank participation, and data privacy. The fintech firm has been instructed to adhere to key regulatory frameworks, such as the Payments and Settlement Act of 2007 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023. This approval follows a request by Paytm’s parent company, <keyword id="20253123" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="One97-Communications" source="keywords">One97 Communications</keyword> Ltd (OCL), in August, seeking permission to resume UPI onboarding. The NPCI’s decision also reflects that Paytm has addressed concerns raised in the RBI’s directive from earlier this year, which had highlighted persistent non-compliance issues with its banking subsidiary, PPBL. On a related note, Paytm reported a strong financial performance for the quarter ending September 2024. The company posted a net profit of ₹928.3 crore, a marked improvement from the ₹290.5 crore loss it recorded during the same period last year. <h2>What had happened? </h2> For the unversed, in January 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) told Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) to stop accepting deposits and processing UPI top-ups. This decision stemmed from ongoing concerns about the bank’s compliance and serious issues that needed addressing. As a result, Paytm found itself unable to onboard new UPI users, significantly disrupting its growing customer base and raising doubts about its future in the crowded <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> market. However, things took a turn for the better in March 2024 when the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) gave Paytm the green light to resume UPI transactions. The catch? Paytm could only operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP), meaning it had to partner with established banks like SBI, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and YES Bank for its UPI services. While this arrangement posed some limitations, it allowed Paytm to keep moving forward and adapt to the regulatory challenges it faced in India’s digital payment landscape. (with PTI inputs)

Paytm can onboard new UPI users again, receives NPCI nod months after RBI restrictions

In a significant move, the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) has imposed penalties on <keyword id="19952948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="axis-bank" source="keywords">Axis Bank</keyword> and <keyword id="19895995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hdfc-bank" source="keywords">HDFC Bank</keyword> for lapses in regulatory and statutory compliance. The fines, which amount to a total of ₹2.91 crore, highlight the central bank's ongoing efforts to ensure that financial institutions adhere to prescribed guidelines. The RBI levied a penalty of ₹1.91 crore on Axis Bank for violations that included contraventions of the <keyword id="19976511" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banking-regulation-act" source="keywords">Banking Regulation Act</keyword> and non-compliance with specific RBI directions related to interest rates on deposits, Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, and collateral-free loans for agriculture. Meanwhile, HDFC Bank faced a ₹1 crore fine for failing to comply with directions concerning interest rates, customer service practices, and the use of recovery agents. <h2>Axis Bank: Key regulatory failures</h2>Axis Bank’s penalty stems from a supervisory evaluation conducted by the RBI based on its financial position as of March 31, 2023. Upon reviewing the bank’s activities, the RBI found several areas of non-compliance. One of the primary issues was the opening of savings deposit accounts in the names of ineligible entities, a direct violation of regulatory norms. Additionally, Axis Bank was found to have issued multiple customer identification codes to certain clients instead of assigning a Unique Customer Identification Code (UCIC), which is mandatory to avoid duplication and ensure proper monitoring of accounts. The bank also violated guidelines concerning agricultural loans. RBI regulations prohibit banks from asking for collateral for agricultural loans up to ₹1.60 lakh, but Axis Bank had obtained such collateral in certain cases. Lastly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axis Bank was found to be engaged in providing technology services—an activity that is not permissible for a banking company. This contravention added to the overall penalty levied by the central bank. <h2>HDFC Bank: Regulatory shortcomings</h2> In the case of HDFC Bank, the RBI’s investigation was based on its financial position as of March 31, 2022. The central bank uncovered several violations, including the offering of gifts, specifically covering the first-year premium for complimentary life insurance, which exceeded the permissible limit of ₹250. Moreover, HDFC Bank was found to have opened savings accounts in the names of ineligible entities, a violation similar to that of Axis Bank. Another significant failure was the bank’s inability to ensure that customers were not contacted by bank officials outside the permitted time frame of 7 am to 7 pm. <h2>RBI's Stance on Compliance</h2> While the RBI has been stringent in penalising both banks, it clarified that these penalties are based on lapses in regulatory compliance and are not reflective of the validity of any transactions or agreements between the banks and their customers. The central bank’s message is clear—financial institutions must adhere strictly to guidelines to maintain transparency, protect customers, and uphold the integrity of the banking system. The penalties serve as a reminder to all banks to stay vigilant and maintain high standards of compliance to avoid such financial and reputational damage in the future. Both Axis Bank and HDFC Bank have accepted the fines and are expected to take corrective actions to avoid future infractions. For customers, this action from the RBI is a reassurance that regulatory oversight remains a priority to ensure fair banking practices across the country.

RBI slaps fine of Rs 2.91 crore on Axis Bank and HDFC Bank: All details

The Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>) issued comprehensive guidelines on the measures to be put in place by the banks covering various aspects of classifying <keyword id="6374937" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="accounts" source="Orion">accounts</keyword> and <keyword id="6496248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deposits" source="Orion">deposits</keyword> as inoperative accounts and <keyword id="1084310" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unclaimed-deposits" source="Orion">unclaimed deposits</keyword>. The central bank called for steps to trace the customers of inoperative accounts or unclaimed deposits including their nominees or legal heirs for re-activation of accounts, settlement of <keyword id="6387025" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="claims" source="Orion">claims</keyword> or closure. RBI also stressed a periodic review of such accounts and deposits, measures to prevent fraud in such accounts or deposits, and grievance redressal mechanisms for expeditious resolution of complaints. These instructions are expected to complement the ongoing efforts and initiatives taken by banks and the RBI, to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits in the banking system and return such deposits to their rightful owners or claimants. According to rules, the credit balance in any deposit account maintained with banks, which has not been operated upon for ten years or more, or any amount remaining unclaimed for ten years or more, is required to be transferred by banks to Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) fund maintained by the central bank RBI. This latest circular applies to all commercial banks (including regional rural banks) and all cooperative banks. The revised instructions shall come into effect from April 1, 2024. In August last year, RBI launched a Centralised Web Portal UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits - Gateway to Access information), for the public to facilitate and make it easier for them to search their unclaimed deposits across multiple banks at one place. Given the increasing trend in the number of unclaimed deposits, RBI had then said it has been undertaking public awareness campaigns from time to time to sensitise the public on the matter. Further, through these initiatives, the RBI maintains it has been encouraging members of the public to identify and approach their respective banks for claiming unclaimed deposits. (ANI)

RBI issues guidelines to trace customers with inoperative accounts, unclaimed deposits

India's <keyword id="22879519" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="organised-gold-loan-market" source="keywords">organised gold loan market</keyword> is projected to double in the next five years to Rs 14.19 lakh crore despite expected moderation in growth due to stricter regulations, according to a <keyword id="19938520" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PwC-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PwC India" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="PwC India">PwC India</keyword> report. In fiscal 2023-24, the organised <keyword id="21627536" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gold-loan-market" source="keywords">gold loan market</keyword> demonstrated substantial growth, reaching a valuation of Rs 7.1 lakh crore, according to the report titled 'Striking gold: The rise of India's gold loan market' . "It is expected to reach around Rs 14.19 lakh crore by FY 2029 at a five-year CAGR of 14.85 %," it said. Indian families own massive quantities of gold, estimated at 25,000 tonne. Existing gold holdings with <keyword id="19895507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-households" source="keywords">Indian households</keyword> are valued at roughly Rs 126 lakh crore, the report said. It further said the gold loan market is poised to see moderate growth over the next two years, as gold lenders are facing increased scrutiny from regulatory authorities regarding loan-to-value (LTV) maintenance and auction-related procedures. "The second-largest player in the gold loan market being inactive would have an impact on market growth in FY25," the report said. Also, the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>'s advisory to <keyword id="19938300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NBFCs" source="keywords">NBFCs</keyword> on cash disbursement, which limits the amount of cash disbursal to Rs 20,000, could push customers to rely on the unorganised sector. The regulator has also raised concerns about the evaluation process for lending activities through fintech startups. The increased regulatory scrutiny and revised guidelines have led to a dip in the share prices of leading NBFCs, PwC said. "Gold loan lenders are expected to use this period to ensure that they are compliant with all regulatory guidelines while undertaking several measures to optimise their middle and back offices through digitisation initiatives," it said. Lenders are also expected to implement cost optimisation initiatives that will help drive up the bottom-line profitability of their companies and enhance investor confidence which has slightly depleted as a result of the regulatory scrutiny. Furthermore, the report said rising gold prices over the past financial year may also drive lenders to take a cautious approach to lending rates and pricing as any downward movement in gold prices will result in a substantial LTV breach that will further create operational issues for lenders in the form of auctions. "The growth of the gold loan market is expected to be steered by both banks and NBFCs," the report said. The emergence of digital gold loan aggregator platforms and their strategic collaboration with gold loan lenders such as banks and NBFCs will be a key driving factor for the growth of the industry, enabling gold loan lenders to tap into a previously untapped segment of digitally savvy customers. "While the forecasted growth of the gold loan market means potential growth for all players, the impact on the players may vary. Banks are expected to benefit from their lower interest rates," PwC said. Jaikrishnan G, Partner (Financial Services), PwC India said lending against gold is the oldest form of credit. It remains one of the most attractive options for consumer as well as lenders. "High return-on-assets, manageable risk, timely regulatory interventions, growing adoption, tech-enabled operating models have all contributed to sector growth. As India embraces the vision of Viksit Bharat, gold loans will provide much needed liquidity and credit access to growing small and medium entrepreneur segments," he said. The report further said growth by NBFCs is expected to be fuelled by their expansion and increased outreach to regions with low penetration, bringing new credit customers to the financial services ecosystem. Also, fintechs will play a critical role in bringing in the required technology and innovation into the industry, thus helping lenders to create unique product propositions to boost growth, it said. <keyword id="20037818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-India" source="keywords">South India</keyword> contributes to a vast extent, as it emerges as the dominant market for gold loans, with 79.1% share of the total outstanding loans. The report also noted that an assumption can be made that the entire Rs 126 lakh crore worth of gold will not be available for pledging due to various reasons like jewelry belonging to religious institutions, jewellery with emotional value, and certain jewellery held by individuals who are not in need of finance.

Gold loan market projected to double in 5 years to Rs 14.19 lakh crore, says PwC India's report

In a bid to bolster the safety and security of <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> and enhance regulatory frameworks, the Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) unveiled a series of proposals aimed at fostering innovation, inclusivity, and efficiency in the financial ecosystem. These initiatives, announced by RBI Governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, signify the central bank's commitment to fortifying India's digital infrastructure and promoting a conducive environment for financial transactions. One of the key announcements made by Governor Das pertained to the establishment of a Digital Payments <keyword id="21971766" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="intelligence-platform" source="keywords">Intelligence Platform</keyword>. This platform, leveraging advanced technologies, aims to mitigate payment <keyword id="19898489" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fraud" source="keywords">fraud</keyword> risks and enhance the safety of digital transactions. According to the annual report released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 30, there was a significant surge in the number of financial frauds reported by banks, increasing by 166 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24 to reach 36,075 cases. This figure starkly contrasts with the 13,564 cases reported in the previous fiscal year, FY23. Despite the notable rise in the number of fraud cases, there was a substantial decrease in the total amount involved in these incidents. The amount of money associated with total bank frauds plummeted by 46.7 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24, totaling Rs 13,930 crore. In comparison, the amount recorded in FY23 stood at Rs 26,127 crore. RBI has proposed a revision of the limit of bulk deposits for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Small Finance Banks (SFBs). This move, aimed at enhancing flexibility and aligning with evolving market dynamics, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for the banking sector. Currently, banks have the discretion to offer differential rates of interest on bulk deposits based on their requirements and Asset-Liability Management (ALM) projections. The existing bulk deposit limit for SCBs (excluding Regional Rural Banks) and SFBs, set at 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 2 crore and above,' was established in 2019. However, following a comprehensive review, the RBI has proposed to revise this definition to 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 3 crore and above' for SCBs and SFBs. In addition to the proposed revision for SCBs and SFBs, the RBI has also suggested defining the bulk deposit limit for Local Area Banks (LABs) as 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 1 crore and above,' mirroring the criteria applicable to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). RBI has also unveiled plans to rationalize export and import regulations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. This initiative, driven by the imperative of progressive liberalization and operational flexibility, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for international trade and investment. By eliminating redundancies, enhancing clarity, and reducing procedural complexities, the RBI aims to promote ease of doing business for all stakeholders involved in cross-border trade. The RBI aims to streamline and simplify operational procedures related to export and import transactions, thereby reducing administrative burdens and enhancing efficiency for businesses and authorized dealer banks. By aligning regulations with international best practices and market realities, the RBI seeks to create a business-friendly environment conducive to fostering trade and investment growth. Simplified regulations will facilitate smoother trade transactions, encouraging businesses to explore new markets and expand their global footprint. While promoting ease of doing business, the RBI remains committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and safeguarding the integrity of the financial system. The proposed rationalization will uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and risk management in cross-border transactions. As part of the process, the RBI plans to publish draft regulations and directions on its official website by the end of June 2024. In a bid to enhance the convenience and efficiency of digital payments, RBI has unveiled plans to expand the e-mandate framework to include recurring payments for Fastag, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and similar services. This initiative, aimed at modernizing payment systems and promoting financial inclusion, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering innovation and leveraging technology to meet evolving consumer needs. The current UPI Lite service permits customers to load their UPI Lite wallets with up to Rs 2000/- and conduct transactions of up to Rs 500 from the wallet. To enhance the seamless usage of UPI Lite for customers, and in response to feedback from various stakeholders, it is suggested to integrate UPI Lite into the e-mandate framework. This integration would introduce an auto-replenishment feature for UPI Lite wallets, automatically refilling the wallet balance when it falls below a predetermined threshold set by the customer. Since the funds remain under the customer's control (transferring from their account to the wallet), it is proposed to eliminate the need for additional authentication or pre-debit notifications. Relevant guidelines pertaining to this proposal will be issued shortly. RBI has embarked on a mission to foster innovation and transformation in the financial sector with the launch of its third edition of the global hackathon, "HARBINGER 2024 - Innovation for Transformation." It would feature two primary themes: 'Zero Financial Frauds' and 'Being Divyang Friendly.' Solutions aimed at bolstering the safety and security of digital transactions, with a specific emphasis on identifying, preventing, and combating financial frauds, will be solicited. Additionally, there will be a focus on fostering inclusivity for individuals with physical disabilities. Further details regarding the hackathon will be unveiled shortly. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-smartwatch-shipments-remain-flat-in-q1-2024-the-year-expected-to-end-in-a-decline/articleshow/110789121.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-smartwatch-shipments-remain-flat-in-q1-2024-the-year-expected-to-end-in-a-decline/articleshow/110789121.cms" target="_blank">Indian smartwatch shipments remain flat in Q1 2024, the year expected to end in a decline</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/computex-2024-intel-debuts-lunar-lake-chips-with-focus-on-microsofts-ai-ambitions-for-pcs/articleshow/110745670.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/computex-2024-intel-debuts-lunar-lake-chips-with-focus-on-microsofts-ai-ambitions-for-pcs/articleshow/110745670.cms" target="_blank">Computex 2024: Intel Debuts Lunar Lake Chips With Focus On Microsoft’s AI Ambitions For PCs</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/may-auto-sales-tata-motors-and-hyundai-continue-to-fight-for-the-second-spot-as-car-sales-grow-by-4/articleshow/110649713.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/may-auto-sales-tata-motors-and-hyundai-continue-to-fight-for-the-second-spot-as-car-sales-grow-by-4/articleshow/110649713.cms" target="_blank">May Auto Sales – Tata Motors and Hyundai continue to fight for the second spot as car sales grow by 4%</a>

RBI announces digital payments intelligence platform to check online frauds

The Reserve Bank of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) on Thursday allowed the opening of rupee accounts outside India as part of its strategic action plan to internationalise the domestic <keyword id="20256153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="currency" source="keywords">currency</keyword>. With emphasis on continuous synchronisation of the <keyword id="19940710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FEMA" source="keywords">FEMA</keyword> operating framework with the evolving macroeconomic environment, rationalisation of various guidelines will be of primary focus, the central bank said in its annual report. The RBI said it has finalised a strategic action plan for 2024-25 and envisaged liberalisation of external commercial borrowing (ECB) framework and 'Go-live' for phase I of software platform for ECBs and trade credits reporting and approval (SPECTRA) project. The RBI will permit opening of rupee (INR) accounts outside India by persons resident outside India (PROIs) as part of the 2024-25 agenda for internationalisation of the domestic currency. "INR lending by Indian banks to PROIs and enabling foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio investment through special accounts [special nonresident rupee (SNRR) and special rupee vostro account (SRVA)," the report said. Rationalisation of the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and review of the IFSC regulations under FEMA also are part of the agenda for the current financial year. The RBI report further said rationalisation of regulations towards promoting the internationalisation of the INR was undertaken to enable the settlement of bilateral trade in local currencies. Going forward, it said the liquidity operations would continue to be in sync with the stance of the monetary policy, while the foreign exchange operations would be guided by the objective of ensuring orderly movements in the exchange rate of the rupee. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-exit-poll-2024-what-are-they-when-will-they-be-announced-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/110565608.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lok-sabha-exit-poll-2024-what-are-they-when-will-they-be-announced-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/110565608.cms" target="_blank">Lok Sabha Exit Poll 2024 – what are they, when will they be announced and all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/truecaller-can-now-detect-if-the-caller-is-using-ai-how-to-use-it-to-prevent-ai-call-scams/articleshow/110556100.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/truecaller-can-now-detect-if-the-caller-is-using-ai-how-to-use-it-to-prevent-ai-call-scams/articleshow/110556100.cms" target="_blank">Truecaller can now detect if the caller is using AI – How to use it to prevent AI call scams</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/indias-t20-world-cup-team-matches-and-everything-you-need-to-know/slidelist/110551798.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/indias-t20-world-cup-team-matches-and-everything-you-need-to-know/slidelist/110551798.cms" target="_blank">India’s T20 World Cup team, matches and everything you need to know</a>

RBI to allow opening of rupee account outside India

<ul><li>The determination of interest rates for credit facilities, as well as the conditions for resetting interest rates, will be closely regulated by the applicable regulatory instructions. </li><li>Penal charges cannot be capitalized, which means that no further interest can be calculated on these charges. </li><li>Whenever reminders for installment payments are sent to borrowers, the applicable penal charges must also be communicated to them, said RBI. </li></ul>Banks and NBFCs cannot charge you a higher rate of interest or charge you an interest on late fees in case you default on your EMI payments. To ensure fairness and openness in disclosing penal interest, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued several guidelines to Regulated Entities (REs) on Wednesday. These new guidelines allow lending institutions to create their own board-approved policy for charging penal rates of interest in case of defaults or non-compliance by borrowers with the terms of their credit facilities. However, the RBI has noticed that many REs are imposing penal rates of interest on top of the regular interest rates when borrowers default or fail to comply with the terms of their credit facilities. The purpose of imposing penal interest or charges is primarily to encourage credit discipline among borrowers by using negative incentives and to provide fair compensation to the lender. It is not intended to be used as a way to increase revenue beyond the contracted interest rate. However, it has been seen that there are varying practices among REs when it comes to charging penal interest or fees, which can result in customer complaints and disputes. The new guidelines intend to alter this practice. <keyword id="8814215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi-defaulters" source="Orion">EMI defaulters</keyword> cannot be charged a penal interest The determination of interest rates for credit facilities, as well as the conditions for resetting interest rates, will be closely regulated by the applicable regulatory instructions. REs are not permitted to introduce any extra components to the interest rate, as per the new guidelines. “Banks and NBFCs can no longer charge penal interest on overdue payments from borrowers. So, for e.g. you had a loan at 16% interest. In case of default some banks and NBFCs, would charge you incremental penal interest on the overdue amounts (and sometimes on the principal), over and above the agreed interest rate,” says Aditya Kumar, co-founder &amp; CEO, NIRO, a fintech platform that provides embedded credit solutions to consumer internet platforms. This is now prohibited. Also, if a borrower defaults or fails to comply with significant terms and conditions of the loan agreement, any penalty that is charged should be considered as 'penal charges'. It should not be in the form of 'penal interest', which is added to the interest rate applied to the advances. Penal charges cannot be capitalized, which means that no further interest can be calculated on these charges. However, this does not affect the standard procedures for compounding interest in the loan account. “While banks and NBFCs are permitted to levy penal charges for late payments, these can no longer be capitalized. Let us say you have an EMI of ₹3,000 and a late payment fee of ₹500, you can not treat ₹3,500 as overdue and start charging interest on it,” says Kumar. Clear communication of penal charges REs must clearly communicate penal charges and the conditions under which they may be imposed to customers through the loan agreement and other important terms and conditions documents or Key Fact Statement (KFS), as applicable, RBI said in its new guidelines. REs must also display this information on their website under the section on Interest Rates and Service Charges. Whenever reminders for installment payments are sent to borrowers, the applicable penal charges must also be communicated to them. "The RBI Circular on penal charges represents a significant move towards greater disclosure and transparency on penal charges to customers. As a part of customer complaints, penal interest and hidden charges have been a significant area of concern for the customers and the regulator has taken cognizance of the same and come up with these guidelines,” says Vivek Iyer, partner and leader, financial services risk, Grant Thornton Bharat. Iyer says that distinguishing penal charges from penal interest is a significant change in these guidelines. “We expect customers to have greater clarity on penal charges going forward,” he added.

RBI bats for borrowers, releases guidelines to prevent lenders from levying penal interest on loan defaults

<ul><li>If your <keyword id="6355272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bank" source="Orion">bank</keyword> does not resolve the <keyword id="42974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="complaint" source="Orion">complaint</keyword> within a month, you can approach the <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> Ombudsman</li><li>You can file your complaint online through the RBI's CMS portal or send it via email or post to the Ombudsman office </li><li>Make sure to include all relevant details and documents supporting your complaint while raising it</li></ul>If you are a regular user of banking services in India, you are likely to have faced some hassle when doing banking transactions. These could be levying charges without notice, credit card-related issues, no cash disposal at an ATM even after the money is deducted and so on. You are not alone! Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that the complaints to the Ombudsman have gone up by 68 per cent in 2022-23, with a total of 7,03,544 complaints. One-fifth of the complaints were concerning mobile and internet banking, while another-fifth were concerning loans and advances. The central bank’s “One Nation One Ombudsman” principle provides a single window for complaints against regulated entities, including banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Payment System Participants and Credit Information Companies. So, if you have any grievance, what can we do to get it resolved? First, register your complaint with the bank The first line of complaint is the bank branch. One may call up the customer care service for resolution of the complaint. If that does not address the problem, one needs to approach the respective bank branch. “Fill in your complaint at the complaint register of the bank. If not available, ask for it or fill it up online on the bank’s website,” says Hina Shah, director, of LUHEM, a financial planning firm. Next, complain to the nodal officer To address unresolved complaints with a bank, customers can contact the nodal officer of the bank, designated to handle escalated issues. Locate the nodal officer's details on the bank's official website, typically found under "Customer Grievance Redressal”. Prepare a detailed complaint, including relevant dates and transaction details. Draft a formal complaint letter or email, specifying your expectations for resolution. Include previous complaint reference numbers if available. Submit the complaint to the nodal officer through the provided contact details. Approach the ombudsman if not resolved in a month If the bank does not resolve the complaint within a month, approach the ombudsman. “If you are not satisfied with the resolution or if you don't receive a response within 30 days, you can approach the RBI Ombudsman. You can file your complaint online through the RBI's complaint management system (CMS) portal or send it via email or post to the Ombudsman office jurisdictional to your bank's location,” says Adhil Shetty, CEO of BankBazaar. Make sure to include all relevant details and documents supporting your complaint while raising it. As a general guideline, the <keyword id="339657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banking-ombudsman" source="Orion">Banking Ombudsman</keyword> aims to resolve complaints within a reasonable time frame. The ombudsman should address the complaint within one month. However, this may be extended to two months in certain cases, considering the complexity of the matter. It's important to note that the timeline can also be affected by the cooperation of the complainant and the bank involved in providing necessary information promptly. If there are delays or additional information is required, the resolution process may take longer.

Did you know the RBI Ombudsman received 68% more complaints in FY2023? Here’s how to file your grievance

<ul><li>Reserve Bank of India’s (<keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>) deputy governor M Rajeshwar Rao on Friday outlined several measures in the central bank’s revamped <keyword id="113684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microfinance" source="Orion">microfinance</keyword> framework to safeguard customers. </li><li>RBI had announced a revamped regulatory framework for <keyword id="164768" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microfinance-Institutions" source="Orion">microfinance institutions</keyword> in March this year. </li><li>From transparent pricing of loans to preventing intimidation of borrowers, here are the key aspects of the revamped guidelines for microfinance institutions. </li></ul>Customer protection is the ‘guiding light’ of the central bank’s revamped microfinance regulations that came into effect in April, Reserve Bank of India’s deputy governor M Rajeshwar Rao said on Friday. Rao said that with the new regulations the RBI has moved from a rule-based approach to a principle-based one in order to expand the availability of credit to the last mile, while improving the transparency and competition to foster a healthy environment. In his keynote address at the India Microfinance Review organised by industry body MFIN, the deputy governor said the measures were intended to ensure customer protection, which was the “guiding light while revamping the regulatory regime for the microfinance sector”. RBI’s revamped regulatory framework for microfinance institutions also relaxed norms for household income and repayment criteria to address the growing needs of borrowers. For instance, the limit on maximum annual household income to avail credit from microfinance institutions was ₹1.25 lakh in rural areas, while in urban and semi-urban areas it was ₹2 lakh. This has now been increased to ₹3 lakh for all the three areas. Rao, in his address, highlighted the following key new customer protection measures that are part of RBI’s revamped microfinance framework. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Transparent pricing of loans" comment="subhead" text="Transparent pricing of loans">Transparent pricing of loans</cmsannotation> Under the revamped framework, microfinance institutions will have to ensure transparency in the pricing of loans by clearly disclosing the methodology used in calculation of the effective interest rate. Effective interest rate includes the impact of compounding, showing exactly how much a borrower is paying in the form of interest on a loan. Rao said that this measure would not only help the borrower understand the total cost of a loan, but also help in comparing the cost amongst lenders to choose the best option. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Policies for conduct of employees" comment="subhead" text="Policies for conduct of employees">Policies for conduct of employees</cmsannotation> Rao also underlined that the boards of microfinance institutions should approve policies for the conduct of employees, including their recruitment, training and conduct. These policies should also include programmes to train employees in interacting with customers and link it with their compensation matrix, he said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="No coercive recovery measures against borrowers" comment="subhead" text="No coercive recovery measures against borrowers">No coercive recovery measures against borrowers</cmsannotation> Lastly, the updated guidelines also require the microfinance institutions, or the recovery agencies outsourced by them, to not indulge in coercive recovery measures. This includes preventing recovery agents from intimidating borrowers or calling them before 8 am or after 7 pm. The guidelines also require the boards of these institutions to lay down policies for grievance redressal mechanisms so that customer complaints can be addressed appropriately. “While we acknowledge the rights of the lenders to recover overdue loans, I would like to make it clear in no uncertain terms that the Reserve Bank has zero tolerance for misconduct towards the borrowers,” Rao said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/meta-expected-to-announce-massive-layoffs-this-week-that-could-impact-thousand-as-tech-bloodbath-continues-wsj/articleshow/95343558.cms">Meta expected to announce massive layoffs this week that could impact thousand as tech bloodbath continues: WSJ</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sensex-rises-over-360-pts-to-scale-61k-level-in-early-trade-nifty-above-18220/articleshow/95348184.cms">Sensex rises over 360 pts to scale 61k-level in early trade; Nifty above 18,220</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/twitter-backtracks-elon-musks-platform-will-delay-its-paid-blue-check-verification-plan-until-after-midterms-nyt/articleshow/95343175.cms">Twitter backtracks: Elon Musk's platform will delay its paid blue check verification plan until after midterms: NYT</a>

Customer protection 'guiding light' of revamped microfinance regulations, says RBI deputy governor

<ul><li>Unified regulatory framework on connected lending aims to strengthen pricing and management of credit by regulated entities.</li><li>Experts believe that this move is related to bank lending to NBFCs.</li><li><keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> will also come up with a regulatory framework for web-aggregation of loan products. </li></ul> The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Friday that it will come up with a unified regulatory framework on connected lending for the entities it regulates. This move is to strengthen the pricing and management of credit by regulated entities. “The extant guidelines on connected lending are limited in scope,” said Shaktikanta Das, governor of RBI said in his speech where he announced that the Monetary Policy Committee <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-expects-indias-gdp-to-grow-at-7-in-fy24-keeps-repo-rate-unchanged/articleshow/105828012.cms">has decided to keep repo rates unchanged</a>. RBI’s deputy governor Rajeshwar Rao clarified at the press conference that the regulations do not refer to interconnectedness. “Connected lending refers to persons who are in the position to control the decision of the lender,” he said, without giving any more details. Das said that it refers to cases where the director of a bank borrows from the same bank and can have some influence. It also refers to cases of related parties as well, he clarified. “It has nothing to do with interconnectedness,” Das said. The central bank has recently increased the risk weightage on unsecured loans given out by banks and NBFCs. “It’s a pre-emptive measure to address potential risks. We don’t wait for the house to catch fire and then act,” said Das. Neutrality and transparency to web-aggregators of loans The RBI also said it will lay down a regulatory framework for web-aggregation of loan products. Das said that he has noticed that such loan products are harming consumer interest and the framework is expected to result in enhanced customer centricity and transparency in digital lending. This move is a follow-up to the recommendations they received from the working group on digital lending norms, says Rabi Shankar, deputy governor of RBI. The Reserve Bank had introduced a regulatory framework for digital lending in August/September 2022. The digital lending ecosystem also comprises of services that aggregate loan offers from lenders (called web-aggregation of loan products) for guidance of customers. “Lenders on web platforms get their information from various sources and give weightage to customers. Sometimes they might miss something,” added Shankar. Das said that the move will bring neutrality, transparency and avoid mis-selling and also not influence the decision of the borrower. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/nifty-scales-21000-as-stocks-rally-and-rbi-mpc-hikes-growth-forecast/articleshow/105829753.cms">Nifty scales Mount 21,000 as RBI hikes growth forecast</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-expects-indias-gdp-to-grow-at-7-in-fy24-keeps-repo-rate-unchanged/articleshow/105828012.cms">RBI expects India’s GDP to grow at 7% in FY24; keeps repo rate unchanged</a>

You Searched For "RBI guidelines" and got 13 results

Reserve Bank may act against more NBFCs to keep obscure lending practices in check, says Morgan Stanley

Ira Alok Puranik

Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

Ira Alok Puranik

Simply Put: Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

Ira Alok Puranik

Paytm can onboard new UPI users again, receives NPCI nod months after RBI restrictions

BI India Bureau

RBI slaps fine of Rs 2.91 crore on Axis Bank and HDFC Bank: All details

BI India Bureau

RBI issues guidelines to trace customers with inoperative accounts, unclaimed deposits

ANI

Gold loan market projected to double in 5 years to Rs 14.19 lakh crore, says PwC India's report

PTI

RBI announces digital payments intelligence platform to check online frauds

ANI

RBI to allow opening of rupee account outside India

PTI

RBI bats for borrowers, releases guidelines to prevent lenders from levying penal interest on loan defaults

Anagh Pal

Did you know the RBI Ombudsman received 68% more complaints in FY2023? Here’s how to file your grievance

Anagh Pal

Customer protection 'guiding light' of revamped microfinance regulations, says RBI deputy governor

Rounak Jain

RBI to come up with unified regulatory framework on connected lending

Katya Naidu

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides