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<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> and Maldives have signed an agreement to introduce the <keyword id="19998949" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unified-Payments-Interface" source="keywords">Unified Payments Interface</keyword> in the archipelago nation, which will have a "very positive" impact on its <keyword id="20260982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-sector" source="keywords">tourism sector</keyword>, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday during Jaishankar's three-day official visit to the Maldives. "Witnessed signing of MoU between (the) National Payments Corporation of India and (the) Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Maldives on (the) introduction of (a) digital payment system in the Maldives," he said in a post on X. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>), Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment system to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. Addressing a press conference with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer after their "productive discussions", Jaishankar said that India, through its UPI, has "revolutionised digital transactions". Stressing that it has taken financial inclusion in India to new levels, he said "Today 40 per cent of the world's real-time digital payments take place in our country." "We see this revolution, every day in our lives. I am pleased to note that with the signing of the MoU today, we have taken the first step towards bringing this digital innovation to Maldives," he said. "I wish the very best to stakeholders on both sides and hope that we will soon see the first UPI transaction here. I should mention that it will have a very positive impact on tourism," he added. Tourism is the main source of economic activity for the Maldives, contributing nearly 30 per cent of the GDP and generating more than 60 per cent of foreign exchange. Jaishankar's visit aims to reset the bilateral relationship with the Maldives and is the first high-level trip from India after the archipelago nation's pro-China president, Mohamed Muizzu, assumed office last year. "India's partnership with the Maldives is based on our deep desire to work together for each other's welfare and interests. It is a partnership that has enabled us to always swiftly and effectively respond to challenges, as witnessed in the past," Jaishankar said. "It is a partnership that has enabled us to deliver results and bring tangible benefits to our people in accordance with their wishes, aspirations and priorities," he said. In a post on X, Jaishankar also said, "Jointly inaugurated six High Impact Projects in areas of street lighting, mental health, children speech therapy and special education." "Welcome renewal of MoU between National Centre for Good Governance and Civil Services Commission on (the) training of additional 1,000 civil services officers," he added. Addressing the joint press conference, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer said, "India has always been one of our closest friends and a vital development partner." He said the "enduring friendship" was built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect and has continued to flourish over the years. "High-level exchanges between our countries have deepened our dialogue and cooperation in areas of shared interest. We remain dedicated to strengthening and advancing this mutually beneficial partnership," he said. "Minister Dr Jaishankar and I agreed that much more needs to be done to promote trade and investment between the Maldives and India," he said, adding that both sides are committed to establishing "effective mechanisms to enhance economic cooperation, fostering a vibrant and prosperous partnership that will benefit both the nations." Zameer said he conveyed President Muizzu's proposal to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the Maldives and India. "This agreement alongside other economic and trade-related agreements will facilitate trade liberalisation and ease the risks of doing business in both our countries," he said. Zameer said that India and Maldives have also mutually agreed to further strengthen their partnership by continuing joint exercises and expanding training opportunities for officers from both countries, asserting that this reflects "our commitment to working together to ensure the security of our nations as well as ensuring the safety and stability of the Indian Ocean region." India's relations with the Maldives suffered a major setback last year when President Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms in the Maldives. Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians by May 10, the mutually agreed date. "On regional and multilateral issues of importance, our countries have a common understanding and are united in our efforts to resolve them. We agreed to continue our cooperation on issues ranging from combating terrorism, violent extremism, drugs, human trafficking and to the promotion and protection of human rights," Zameer said. In his press statement, Jaishankar said that India and the Maldives "are not just close neighbours, we are also natural partners." "Today, we are mutually invested in each other's development and progress. In a globalised and interconnected world, we see a lot of volatility and global tensions. Even as the world is recovering from the impact of the COVID pandemic, we have been confronted with new challenges arising from international conflicts," he said. In this tumultuous environment, India has been and will be, an anchor of stability for its friends, partners and neighbours. To the Maldives specifically, India has provided support to deal with economic challenges through financial assistance and budgetary support, and by ensuring an uninterrupted supply of critical items, he noted. India's actions have been and will continue to be guided by its firm commitment to the philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabke Vikas - which is- Together, we prosper', Jaishankar said. 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India to introduce UPI payment service in Maldives

The number of credit cards in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> is projected to reach 200 million by FY28-29, growing at a compound annual growth rate (<keyword id="20256055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAGR" source="keywords">CAGR</keyword>) of 15%, according to a report by <keyword id="20055667" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PwC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PwC" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="PwC">PwC</keyword>. The report highlights the significant expansion of the credit card industry, which has doubled the number of cards issued over the past five years. This strong momentum is expected to continue, with the market poised to replicate this growth in the coming years. The report states, "The <keyword id="23032285" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="credit-card-market" source="keywords">credit card market</keyword> in India is expected to double its cards in force by FY28-29, reaching 200 million cards. The industry, which has seen a 100% increase in issued cards over the past five years, is anticipated to replicate this growth within the next five financial years." In addition to the increase in the number of credit cards, the report notes a substantial rise in transactional activity within the industry. Transaction volumes have grown by 22%, while the value of transactions has surged by 28%. The report attributes this growth to the introduction of new products, innovative offerings, and the expansion of customer segments, which have collectively driven the adoption and usage of credit cards. However, the report also highlights a decline in debit card usage. Debit card transactions have decreased both in volume and value, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences. In FY23-24, the volume of debit card transactions dropped by 33% compared to the previous year, and spending on debit cards decreased by 18% year-on-year. "The growth of debit cards in the country has been muted in terms of the number of cards issued, and the volume and value of debit card transactions took a significant hit during FY23-24," the report noted. This decline is largely attributed to the rising popularity of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has become the preferred payment method for small to medium merchants due to its ease of use and zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). The report states, "This decline can be attributed to the inclination towards UPI, driven by its ease of use and the push from small to medium merchants who favour UPI due to 0% MDR." Furthermore, the report points out that debit cards have struggled to compete with credit cards in terms of rewards, which has further contributed to their decline. The lack of attractive reward programs and lower awareness of existing benefits have made debit cards less appealing to consumers. Meanwhile, <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> in India continue to flourish, with transactional volume growing by 42% year-on-year in FY23-24. This trend is expected to triple by FY28-29. The report indicates that the ongoing growth in digital payments is driven by various factors, including innovations by payment ecosystem participants, new business models, technological advancements, and increasing customer awareness.

India’s credit card market set to double by 2029, reaching 200 million cards

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian businesses are being shut out on billions as payment issues and delays are piling up abroad.</li><li>Russia's foreign financial assets have grown $45 billion so far this year, per central bank data.</li></ul>Russian businesses are being locked out of billions of dollars thanks to payment issues at foreign banks, according to data from Russia's central bank.Foreign financial assets of the Russian Federation surged another $4.7 billion over the month of July. The nation has seen its foreign financial assets soar by $44.6 billion so far this year, more than double the $21.4 billion increase in foreign financial assets recorded in the same period in 2023, according to data from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbr.ru/eng/statistics/macro_itm/svs/bop-eval/">Bank of Russia</a>.The jump in foreign assets is largely due to "lags in settlements for foreign economic activities," and accumulated payments abroad as "international settlement chains become more complex," central bankers said in their latest estimate of the country's financials on Tuesday, likely alluding to payment issues stemming from Western sanctions.The US Treasury <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-sanctions-us-china-ukraine-war-economy-janet-yellen-treasury-2024-6">threatened to impose secondary sanctions</a> on institutions engaging with Russia's economy last year. That move pushed international banks to shut their door on Russian businesses or heavily curb the amount of financing they offer — even from Russia's closest allies.India, which was a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/china-india-russian-oil-crude-moscow-war-ukraine-volumes-kpler-2023-4">huge buyer of Russian oil</a> in the early days of the Ukraine invasion, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-oil-india-ships-moscow-us-sanctions-ukraine-war-revenue-2024-1">turned away several oil ships</a> from its coasts this year after payment scuffles between Russian suppliers and Indian refiners, traders told Reuters.The United Arab Emirates, another big Russian oil customer, just <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2024/08/08/uae-bans-eswatini-flagged-ships-in-fresh-shadow-fleet-crackdown/">cracked down on Russia's shadow fleet,</a> banning some tankers from docking at its ports, according to shipping data cited by Bloomberg.And China, one of Russia's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-ukraine-war-putin-china-trade-partnership-economy-moscow-beijing-2024-4">largest economic partners</a>, now has most of its banks refusing to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-all-china-banks-refuse-yuan-ruble-transfers-sanctions-2024-8">accept payments from Russia</a>, one Russian media outlet reported.Moscow still has a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-moscow-cuba-trade-partnership-sanctions-2024-3">handful of allies</a> willing to trade and do business. The nation is also pursuing alternative payment methods, such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-moscow-cryptocurrency-bill-digital-ruble-trade-payments-sanctions-2024-7">crypto</a>, to keep business flowing.Still, experts say that Russia's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-resilience-sanctions-costly-unattainable-isolate-large-globally-integrated-economy-2024-2">increasing isolation from global markets</a> could have a big consequence on its economic future. The nation looks poised to enter a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-collapse-recession-moscow-ukraine-war-us-dollar-energy-2024-7">severe recession</a> within the next year, one UC Berkeley economist told Business Insider, pointing to Moscow's weakening energy trade and its waning access to the US dollar.

Russian businesses are locked out of billions as payment issues reportedly pile up abroad

<keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> laid off thousands of employees in 2023 and many found their lives turned upside down with just an email notification. After all, when you have given your heart and soul to an organisation, it is never easy accepting the fact that you are being asked to leave at a moment’s notice. The situation becomes even more complicated when you have been with the company for more than a decade. Something similar happened with <keyword id="23300967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nicholas-Whitaker" source="keywords">Nicholas Whitaker</keyword>, who had been working with the company since 2010 and found out about his <keyword id="20118388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="layoff" source="keywords">layoff</keyword> abruptly. <h2>The 3 am email bringing bad news</h2>“My layoff experience was traumatic. I got an email at 3 am to my personal email, that I only found because a colleague pinged me on Linkedin in the DMs to ask if I was ‘Ok’ and if I was ‘safe’,” Whitaker told <keyword id="21390875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Business Insider India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Business Insider India">Business Insider India</keyword> in a conversation. He added that when his colleague enquired about his safety, he thought it was a “shooting or some natural disaster.” In other words, he didn’t even imagine that he was being laid off from Google. He then revealed that when he checked his work email, he discovered that he was locked out of his laptop and phone. He then checked his personal email and there it was, the “short and impersonal email” that told him that his role at Google was being eliminated. <h2>The layoff process was uncomfortable</h2>When Google announced large-scale layoffs last year, the company made a lot of headlines for handling them in an unprofessional manner. In March 2023, several Google employees had even written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, asking him to deal with layoffs in a better manner. Whitaker, narrating his own experience, shared with Business Insider India that after receiving the dreadful layoff email at 3 am, he spent the next few months completing formalities to get his payments that were due. He said, “It took all of the next several months for me to mail back my laptop, badge and any gear that I had that was Google property. (I also had to) navigate unemployment, health insurance and get all of the documentation I had to submit to "self Offboard" and to receive payments that I was supposed to get.” “Along the way there were multiple errors and miscommunications from the team that made it all even more uncomfortable,” he said. Whitaker also noted a complete lack of communication and empathy from his old team at Google. “I got a single text message from my prior manager asking how I was doing a few days after I was laid off, but otherwise no one reached out to check on me or offer assistance from my old team. Overall I found the process to be brutally impersonal and inhumane,” he said. <h2>Experience at Google</h2>But was Google always “inhumane” in his experience? Not really. There were some amazing days too and Google, according to Whitaker, was a different company when he had joined. “My initial experience working at Google was like it was a completely different company. I started as a temp, contractor and then a vendor for Google back in 2010, and at the time I think it was something like 40,000 employees. It had a real startup feel to it. Teams were agile and collaborative, and there was a lot of room for growth. It may have been specific to my team and org, but it felt like you had a lot more room for experimentation and autonomy to make decisions, and failure wasn't seen as a bad thing, but a necessary part of innovation,” he said. Whitaker also said that a “class system” was there at Google, especially since he was a TVC (Temporary, Vendor and Contractor). “As a TVC you wouldn't be included in many of the activities and learning opportunities that full time employees had, and didn't get invited to extracurricular activities. There was a real bias towards culture at the time, and words like Don't be Evil, and be Googly were often used.” However, in general, he added that the atmosphere was positive and full of possibilities. “Colleagues generally were very supportive, collaborative and encouraging to work with. I was excited as this was my first time working in big tech, or Corporate America and I saw that period of time as a real coming of age for me. I learned how to be a professional at Google and appreciated all of the early guidance and support that I got from colleagues and leaders.” <h2>Helping others</h2>It has now been over a year since Whitaker was laid off. He now has his own venture and helps other people navigate their careers. Talking about what motivated him to kick-start his own venture, he said, “After 13 years in big tech, the last few years in particular being particularly difficult due to toxic teams and leaders, I didn't want to jump right back into that kind of experience again. A year before getting laid off, I had experienced a bad <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> crisis that was the result of workplace bullying, gaslighting and toxic leadership. "I wanted to help others avoid and recover from similar situations and create a community where people can find mutual support and coaching on how to best navigate their careers in a conscious way. My severance after working so long at Google allowed me to fund the launch of my coaching business, and eventually ‘changingwork.org’." <keyword id="23300968" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Changing-Work" source="keywords">Changing Work</keyword>, Whitaker explained, is his way of addressing a deep need in corporate life — helping people rediscover their sense of purpose and alignment in their careers and finding ways to build more conscious leaders and businesses. He added, “What makes this so transformative for me personally is that it allowed me to step into a role where I could integrate all the lessons from my own career—especially the parts that were hardest for me. During my time at Google, I saw firsthand how high-pressure environments can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a disconnect from our true selves.” The recent tragic death of a young CA at Ernst &amp; Young (EY) employee in India has turned the spotlight on toxic work cultures prevalent in many high-pressure industries. Broader debates on burnout, mental health struggles, and unrealistic expectations in corporate environments in the workplace have occupied social media platforms. This incident serves as a painful reminder that companies must prioritize <keyword id="21050364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-well-being" source="keywords">employee well-being</keyword> and mental health to foster sustainable, humane workplaces. And makes the work that people like Whitaker are doing all the more important. “I’ve spoken publicly about how mindfulness practice, coaching and therapy literally saved my life during some of my darkest times at Google. Changing Work is the culmination of that journey. It’s not just about helping others find balance and fulfillment—it’s about creating a space where I can live those values every day,” he concludes.

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

Issues related to data privacy and rising <keyword id="20127272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-frauds" source="keywords">online frauds</keyword> are emerging as significant hurdles in the growth of e-commerce in India, said the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Economic Survey" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Economic Survey">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 tabled in Parliament on Monday. Citing third-party data, the survey said that the e-commerce industry in India is expected to cross USD 350 billion by 2030 and called for the need to educate users on the safe use of e-commerce platforms. "The rise of e-commerce is constrained by inadequate skills required for online selling, such as cataloguing. <keyword id="22505774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-privacy-issues" source="keywords">Data privacy issues</keyword> and increasing online fraud have turned out to be the most significant hurdle in the growth of e-commerce in India. It becomes imperative to educate users on the safe use of e-commerce platforms," the survey said. The survey mentioned that India's e-commerce market has gained significant momentum during the past few years, owing to technological advancements, evolving new-age business models coupled with government initiatives like the Digital India program, UPI, One District - One Product (ODOP), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), new foreign trade policy, easing of FDI limits and Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules 2021. It has identified data privacy and <keyword id="19906883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="keywords">cybersecurity</keyword> as critical concerns in the <keyword id="22505776" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digitisation-of-services" source="keywords">digitisation of services</keyword> in the country and called for adopting strong security measures, compliance with privacy regulations, and innovation, among others. "Data privacy and cybersecurity have become critical concerns with the increasing digitisation of services," according to the survey. It said that the government is spearheading data protection laws and cybersecurity policies to safeguard consumer data and strengthen cybersecurity measures in the services sector. "To further embrace technology with confidence, ensuring the adoption of strong security measures, compliance with privacy regulations, and fostering innovation in security technologies are essential," the survey noted. It said the future of e-commerce is built on the enhanced <keyword id="20290101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="user-experience" source="keywords">user experience</keyword> through <keyword id="19899640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI" source="keywords">AI</keyword>, seamless <keyword id="21332958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payment-methods" source="keywords">digital payment methods</keyword>, innovations like UPI, and business engineering data analytics for business operations and enhancements. The survey mentioned that the buyer ecosystem in India is evolving at a very sharp rate, and business models will need to innovate to serve the needs of a diverse shopper base regarding service expectations, price sensitivity and language requirements. "Local language platforms are needed as the shopper base expands to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Growing startups and innovative social media platforms provide an opportunity to test unique business models that might be targeted to specific demographic cohorts," the survey said.

Data privacy issues, online frauds emerging as e-commerce growth hurdles: Eco Survey

If you have a younger sibling, chances are that you’ve turned down their request for some money by saying you aren’t carrying your wallet or are simply not carrying enough cash. Well, here is some bad news—you might not be able to give this excuse in the near future. <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="RBI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="RBI">RBI</keyword> has recently introduced <keyword id="22728221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delegate-payments" source="keywords">delegate payments</keyword>. And this means that your <keyword id="22728220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI-account" source="keywords">UPI account</keyword> can now be used by others to make payments. <h2><keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="upi" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> payments from a single account</h2> As mentioned already,<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" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"> a single UPI account </a>can now be used by other users to make payments from the same account. RBI introduced the feature, called delegated payments, during the August monetary policy review. The feature allows a primary user to authorise another individual, such as a family member or employee, to make transactions from their bank account. The primary user sets limits on these transactions, giving them control while enabling others to manage finances within predefined boundaries. RBI Governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword> highlighted the potential of this feature to expand <keyword id="19994585" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payment" source="keywords">digital payment</keyword> usage across diverse segments of society. "Delegated Payments will enhance financial inclusivity, especially in rural areas where banking access is limited," Das said as per a TOI report. Mohit Bedi, Co-Founder and CBO of Kiwi, a third-party payments application, told ET that this feature could transform how UPI is used by families. "The RBI is essentially making parents the approving authority for transactions, which means UPI can now be used by minors with parental oversight," Bedi said. <h2>Only permissible through <keyword id="20708705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="savings-accounts" source="keywords">savings accounts</keyword></h2> But can all types of accounts make payments using this new feature? Not really. It is important to note that these delegated transactions will only be permissible through savings accounts, excluding credit lines or credit cards, as industry experts confirm. This focus on savings accounts underscores a commitment to secure and manageable transactions. In addition to delegated payments, the RBI also raised the limit for tax payments via UPI. Previously capped at Rs. 1 lakh per transaction, the new limit is of Rs 5 lakh. With this increase, taxpayers can avoid the cumbersome NEFT process, which requires manual entry of account details, and benefit from the speed and convenience of UPI. On a related note, UPI transactions are immensely popular in India and people have started preferring them over cash payments. Right from a vegetable vendor to a small business owner, almost everyone has started accepting payments via UPI. In April this year, <keyword id="19912360" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister-Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> revealed that the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/upi-transactions-cross-rs-20-trillion-for-third-successive-month-in-july-2024/articleshow/112226370.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"> Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has seen an unprecedented volume</a> of transactions in the fiscal year 2024. The platform recorded around 131 billion transactions, with a total value of Rs 200 trillion.

You can let your family members use your UPI account for payments, RBI introduces delegate payments

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 <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> on Tuesday proposed rationalising <keyword id="19909672" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regulations" source="keywords">regulations</keyword> that cover <keyword id="19986776" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="export" source="keywords">export</keyword> and <keyword id="20040382" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="import" source="keywords">import</keyword> <keyword id="19971375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="transactions" source="keywords">transactions</keyword> with an aim to promote ease of doing <keyword id="19933715" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business" source="keywords">business</keyword> and empower banks to provide more efficient service to their <keyword id="19986712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-exchange" source="keywords">foreign exchange</keyword> customers. The central bank has issued 'Regulation of Foreign Trade under Foreign Exchange Management Act (<keyword id="19940710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fema" source="keywords">FEMA</keyword>), 1999 - <keyword id="20399690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="draft" source="keywords">Draft</keyword> Regulations and Directions' in this regard. As per the draft, every exporter should furnish to the specified authority a declaration specifying the amount representing the full export value of the goods or services. "The amount representing the full export value of goods and services shall be realised and repatriated to India within nine months from the date of shipment for goods and date of invoice for services," it said. The draft also proposes that an exporter who has not realised the full value of export within the time specified may be caution listed by the authorised dealer. An exporter who has been caution listed can undertake export only against receipt of advance payment in full or against an irrecoverable letter of credit, to the satisfaction of the authorised dealer. According to the draft, no advance remittance for the import of gold and silver should be permitted unless specifically approved 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="153" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword>. The RBI said the proposed regulations are intended to promote ease of doing business, especially for small exporters and importers. They are also intended to empower Authorised Dealer banks to provide quicker and more efficient service to their foreign exchange customers, the central bank said. The RBI has sought comments on the draft regulations under FEMA and directions to authorised dealer banks by September 1.

RBI proposes rationalising regulations on export, import transactions

<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

<ul><li>The average ticket size of debit cards grew by 24% in H2 2023, even as their value and volumes fell.</li><li><keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi" source="keywords">UPI</keyword>’s average ticket size fell by 8%, mainly indicating a wider usage for almost all types of transactions.</li><li>While card transaction volume and value are falling, credit cards are bucking the trend. </li></ul>Indians have gotten habituated to fishing out their phones instead of cards, and that’s been fuelling a remarkable increase in UPI payments. Unlike their uppity cousins (credit cards), debit cards have been losing out on transaction value and volume. But all’s not lost for these ubiquitous cards. People seem to ‘still’ rely on debit cards for large-sized purchases, as per data by <keyword id="20219639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="worldline" source="keywords">Worldline</keyword>’s <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> Digital Payments Report. The average ticket size (ATS) of debit cards grew by 24% year-on-year to ₹2,642 in the second half of 2023, the data says. In fact, most of the growth seen in the cards business, which also includes credit and prepaid cards, was driven by debit cards. The number of debit cards in circulation is 960.8 million, which showed a miniscule growth of 2% YoY. “The growth in debit card ATS suggests that while debit card transactions volume fell, there was still a significant population that used debit cards for their purchases and that ensured that transactions value did not fall parallelly,” says Worldline. Debit card volumes are now a fraction of UPI transactions at 1.15 billion in H2 in 2023 — a drop of 34% YoY. Debit card transaction value at ₹3.02 lakh crore also saw a fall of 16%. In India, UPI rules On the other hand, UPI’s ATS also fell, but that too is a sign of growth, as people seem to use it even for small transactions. Its ATS declined 8% YoY to ₹1,515 from ₹1,648. “The ATS persistently follows a downward trend, indicating a more profound integration of UPI, particularly in smaller or micro-transactions. This decline is predominantly propelled by the surge in person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions,” said Worldline. This decline, however, is related to an extensive growth in UPI transactions. As of the second half of 2023, as much as ₹99.68 lakh crore flowed via phones —exhibiting a whopping 44% surge. The volumes grew 56% YoY to 65.77 billion in H2 in 2023. Between July 2022 and December 2023, there was a notable increase in the payment acceptance infrastructure channels. Point of Sale (PoS) terminals expanded by 26%, dominated by private sector banks with a 73% market share. “This trend underscores users' growing confidence and familiarity with smartphone-based payment methods. The proliferation of Point of Sale terminals has reached unprecedented levels, concurrent with the ascendance of mobile payments as a dominant transaction avenue,” said <keyword id="21180241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ramesh-narasimhan" source="keywords">Ramesh Narasimhan</keyword>, CEO- India, Worldline. While UPI is rising fast ahead of debit cards, credit cards tell another story of growth. Not only did credit card issuances rise a strong 21%, but credit card transaction value rose 11% to ₹9.39 lakh crore. The number of credit card transactions also grew by a healthy 30.5% — indicating the rising popularity of buy now pay later trends, both online and offline.

Size does matter: Debit cards for large payments & UPI for smaller ones

<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>'s parent company, <keyword id="20253123" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="One97-Communications" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="One97 Communications" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="One97 Communications">One97 Communications</keyword>, declared its Q2FY25 results today, announcing a one-time, exceptional profit of Rs 1,345 crore during the quarter, thanks to the sale of its entertainment ticketing business. The company's PAT (profit after tax) stood at Rs 930 crore. Notably, without this windfall gain, Paytm's finances would still be in red, with the company racking up losses worth Rs 415 crore. Paytm was in red in the year-ago period as well, incurring losses worth Rs 290.5 crore. This windfall profit also improved Paytm's EBITDA by Rs 388 crore on a QoQ basis. The company's revenue also saw a slight uptick of 10.5% quarterly to Rs 1,659 crore, as opposed to Rs 1,501 crore in the previous quarter. But on a year-on-year basis, Paytm's revenue dipped significantly by 34%. The company also announced that it has entered into a DLG (<keyword id="23641220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Default-Loss-Guarantee" source="keywords">default loss guarantee</keyword>) model for its merchant loans of about Rs 225 crore with SMFG India Credit. Under this arrangement, Paytm will be first in line to take a hit in case of a loss that emerges from borrowers defaulting or skipping their payments. "Following the regulatory framework and the emerging market practice, we see increased willingness from lenders to partner and allocate more capital in the default loss. The DLG model will help to increase disbursements with the existing partners and expand partnerships with new lenders for the loan distribution,” said the company in its earnings release today. The company's revenue from its payment business also inched up 9% on a quarterly basis, along with its revenue from <keyword id="19976433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-services" source="keywords">financial services</keyword>, which also grew by 34% QoQ. At present, Paytm's total merchant subscriptions stand at 1.12 crore, with the company garnering 3 lakh new merchants during the quarter. During the previous quarter, Paytm's <keyword id="20253122" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gross-merchandise-value" source="keywords">gross merchandise value</keyword> (GMV) also inched up by 5% on a sequential basis, which experts anticipate will continue in the coming quarters, just as India braces for the festive season. Per its release, Paytm aims to achieve <keyword id="23641219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EBITDA-profitability" source="keywords">EBITDA profitability</keyword> (before ESOPs) by the fourth quarter of this financial year. However, investors remained unimpressed with Paytm's performance, with its share slipping by around 3.96% during the day to trade at Rs 697.20. The stock has a YTD (yield-to-date) of 7.91% during the year.

Paytm declares Q2 results, earns Rs 930 crore as windfall gains by way of sale of ticketing business to Zomato

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)

You Searched For "payments business in india" and got 12 results

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RBI asks card network to restrain unauthorised commercial payment system

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