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

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

Are you an avid credit card user? Are you up to speed with all the changes that have come into effect starting today, which is all set to impact your credit card usage, and your pocket. Here's a quick snapshot of all the changes that you should be well aware of: <h2><keyword id="19900482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ICICI Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ICICI Bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> </h2>Starting today, ICICI bank has done away with fees for many services, which include request for a charge slip, which was earlier chargeable at Rs 100/slip and cash and cheque pick up, which also carried a fee of Rs 100 earlier. Earlier, for outstation cheque processing and duplicate bank statement (for three months), a fee of Rs 100 was payable. Now, all those charges have been waived. However, going ahead, you'll have to dish out Rs 200 instead of Rs 100, if you wish to get your credit card replaced. <h2><keyword id="19952948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Axis-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Axis Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Axis Bank">Axis Bank</keyword></h2>If you hold a <keyword id="19941660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citibank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Citibank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Citibank">Citibank</keyword> credit card, this is for you. The migration of all Citibank <keyword id="19953671" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="credit-cards" source="keywords">credit cards</keyword> to Axis bank will be complete by 15th July, 2024. Post that, you will receive new credit cards from Axis bank .However, until then, your existing Citibank cards will continue to work just fine. All your unredeemed points will be converted into EDGE miles. After migration, they will have an expiration period of 3 years. Starting today, RBIs new rules mandate that all credit card transactions in the country be processed through <keyword id="20779381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Bill-Payment-System" source="keywords">Bharat Bill Payment System</keyword> (BBPS). This means that if your bank has not come on board with BBPS, you will not be able to make payment through their credit card on other third-party platforms. Out of 34 banks that can issue credit cards, 12 banks have come onboard the BBPS. These include SBI, <keyword id="19938728" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kotak-mahindra" source="keywords">Kotak Mahindra</keyword>, IndusInd, Federal, HDFC, ICICI and IDFC bank. Indian Overseas bank and <keyword id="45660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yes-bank" source="Orion">YES Bank</keyword> are expected to go live soon. <h2>SBI Bank</h2>Starting July 15th, if you hold one of the 22 specified SBI credit cards, you will no longer accrue any reward points while making certain transactions, particularly if they are related to government services. These include Air India SBI Platinum Card, Air India SBI Signature Card, Central SBI Select+ Card, Chennai Metro SBI Card, Etihad Guest SBI Card, Fabindia SBI Card SELECT, IRCTC SBI Card, Mumbai Metro SBI Card and more. <h2>YES Bank </h2>If you hold a YES Bank credit card, the criteria for you to qualify for complimentary lounge access has changed. Starting today, you will have to spend at least Rs 35,000 from your credit card in the previous quarter, in order to be able to get a complimentary access to domestic airport lounges in the next quarter. Earlier, this threshold was set at Rs 10,000. This will impact YES Marquee, YES SELECT, YES Reserv, YES First Preferred, YES Bank ELITE, YES BYOC, and YES Wellness Plus cards. <h2>HDFC Bank</h2>Starting August 1st, if you make rent, or education related payments via platforms like Cred and Paytm, you will have to pay a fee of upto 1% of the transaction, which will be a maximum of Rs 3,000. However, if you make the payment directly through your school or college's website, you will be able to save on this charge. Similarly, on all fuel expenses of over Rs 15,000, a 1% fee will be applied, which can be a maximum of Rs 3,000.

What has changed for your credit cards, starting today?

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

“Ye le beta, humare khaandani sone ke gehne. Ise girvi rakhva de, shayad kuch paise aa jaye ghar main.” How many times have we seen similar dialogues repeat itself in Bollywood films of the 70s and 80s—abject poverty and a frail-looking old mother pleading to her son to pawn the family’s heirloom gold ornaments to a jeweller, all to get a few bucks? Well, if you’d ask that son in 2024, he’d rather hit the loan button on his <keyword id="105386" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Demat-account" source="Orion">Demat account</keyword> than pawn his mother’s gold jewellery. Given how Indians are rapidly resorting to taking loans against their investments in shares and mutual funds, these might as well be a cherished family heirloom in today’s time. Fair warning though; it's not as if gold and loans against it are going down in India’s lending scene. It's very much the opposite, shining brighter than ever! The secured loan category is having its time in the spotlight, and people are certainly looking beyond land and property to get their hands on some extra monies! But what is funding the steep rise behind these loans? And are they as failsafe and secure as they’re made out to be? We decode for you in this week’s Simply Put. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">The great Indian pawning party</h2>Pawning one’s gold has been, by far, the OG Indian financial move to get a loan. That continues well into 2024, and apparently, more so when India decides to wed and celebrate! Data from <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> suggests that the outstanding amount on gold loans has swelled from Rs 85,009 crore in September 2022 to Rs 1,47,081 crore in September 2024. It looks like Gold took the motto of rise and shine too seriously! Table 1: Growth in gold loans <table class="redcator-table-advance" style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; box-shadow: none; width: 468pt; font-family: Merriweather; table-layout: fixed; padding-bottom: 10px !important; background-image: inherit !important; background-position: inherit !important; background-size: inherit !important; background-repeat: inherit !important; background-attachment: inherit !important; background-origin: inherit !important; background-clip: inherit !important;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Year </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Amount (In Rs crore) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">September 2022 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">85,009 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">March 2023 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">89,370 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">September 2023 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">97,426 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">March 2024 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1,02,562 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">September 2024 </td><td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 5pt; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1,47,081 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> Source: RBI data While the world continues to be riled up in multiple geopolitical crises in 2024, gold has been making merry of these tough times. Thus far this year, <keyword id="3886593" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-gold" source="Orion">domestic gold</keyword> prices have grown by 23%, outperforming benchmark indices like Nifty and Sensex by a mile, which have gone up by 9.85% and 8.86%, respectively. The growth in gold loan disbursal rates month on month this year could also put Nifty and Sensex’s growth to shame. In just September 2024, gold loans grew an astounding 51%, up from 40.9% in August, 30.5% in June, and just 14.8% in March. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Hey, wait up for me, says LAS</h2>In lockstep with the elder, gold loan sibling, advances against shares and bonds have also been inching up since 2022. Data from RBI (Reserve Bank of India) notes that as of September 2022, the outstanding quantum of loans that were taken against shares (LAS) and bonds stood at Rs 7,397.94 crores. This inched up to Rs 7,764 crore in September 2023. Come 2024, and it looked like this was LAS’ time to shine. Loans swiftly skyrocketed, with outstanding loans in this category going up from Rs 8,492 crore in March 2022 to a staggering Rs 9,546 crore at the end of September 2024. Naturally, the smoke of LAS has its fire in the record inflows that Indians are pouring into the stock market and mutual funds month on month. Per AMFI (<keyword id="134904" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Association-of-Mutual-Funds-in-India" source="Orion">Association of Mutual Funds in India</keyword>), the net AUM (assets under management) of India’s mutual fund industry grew to Rs 67,25,614.61 crores in October 2024, up from Rs 67,09,259.24 crores in September 2024. Even the number of retail mutual fund folios, which include equity, hybrid, and solution-oriented mutual funds, burgeoned to 17,23,52,296 in October, as compared to 16,81,61,366 in September. The same goes for stock investments in India, where the number of new demat accounts that are added every month just simply refuses to climb down. As of last month, total demat accounts in the country stood at 17.9 crore, which is more than the entire population of full-fledged nations like Japan (12.45 crore), Russia (14.38 crore), and Bangladesh (17.3 crore). In fact, since February this year, the monthly growth of LAS has been hitting double digits. From 11.3% in March to 21.6% in May to 26.8% in August, growth in LAS has been exceptional, hitting 22.9% in September this year. For context, monthly growth in the LAS segment was at a mere 5% in September 2023. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">What's driving the growth?</h2>It's a win-win for both the bank and the customer. Customers love them because LAS is available at a lower interest rate compared to unsecured personal loans. You can get a loan at an interest rate of anywhere between 9 and 12% by pledging your gold, MF units, or shares. Compare this to over 10-28% rates, which is the range where unsecured personal loans charge interest. Banks love <keyword id="827883" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Secured-Loans" source="Orion">secured loans</keyword> since they are well-secured. In case you default on paying back, the bank can sell off your gold, shares, or mutual fund units to recover the amount. This takes a lot of stress off the banks, which are already dealing with secured loans’ riskier sibling-<keyword id="947940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unsecured-lending" source="Orion">unsecured lending</keyword>. High NPAs (non-performing assets) and non-payments in the unsecured borrowing space have already put RBI on red alert, which is why the apex bank is tightening the screws on unsecured lending, which was well on its way to becoming a ticking time bomb. As a result, credit growth has moderated to 12.8% YoY in October, as against the 19.3% rise recorded in the year-ago period. Yet it's not like the banks won't feel the heat. Analysts at Nomura note that <keyword id="23954457" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-loan-delinquencies" source="Orion">personal loan delinquencies</keyword> in India that have been overdue by over 90 days rose to 5.1% in the last financial year, as opposed to just 3.9% in the year prior. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">How does it work?</h2>Both these loans work on a similar principle: Your <keyword id="857141" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-amount" source="Orion">loan amount</keyword> is equal to a certain percentage of the actual market value of your asset. This is known as the LTV (loan-to-value ratio). In the case of gold and debt mutual funds, RBI mandates that this LTV be about 75-80%. So, for every Rs 100 of gold or debt mutual fund unit you pledge, your maximum loan amount cannot exceed Rs 80. If you pledge gold, which has a market value of Rs 10 lakh, you can take a loan of up to Rs 8,00,000. In the case of shares and mutual fund units, this limit is set at 50%. So, your shares worth Rs 5,00,000 can only get you a loan worth Rs 2,50,000. But the bright side? You can continue earning returns on your investments and pay interest only on the amount you use, since this loan works as an overdraft facility. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Super safe, you say?</h2>Interest rates on both of these loans are very much dependent on the market value of the asset, which wildly fluctuates on a day-to-day basis. So, in case the value of your asset falls, you’ll have to keep a margin or more of the same asset in order to continue with the loan and maintain the LTV balance. Failure to do so could mean the bank can even sell off your asset. Says financial planner Nema Chaya Buch. “Yes, LAS offers easy availability of funds since these loans come with a lower interest rate as compared to personal loans. Also, you continue to earn average returns of 10–13% on your equity investments. But the downside is, in case of emergency, those pledged securities cannot be sold. Also, if the equity market goes down, then the bank may ask for additional collateral. Raghvendra Nath, MD, Ladderup Wealth Management notes that taking a LAS is best when the value of your securities has appreciated significantly. “This allows you to maximize the loan amount based on your collateral while also addressing financial needs without having to liquidate your investment portfolio. However, there are notable disadvantages to consider. The market risk is significant; a substantial decline in market value could lead to margin calls, which may incur fees and charges if there are delays or prepayments, ultimately increasing the effective cost of borrowing. Furthermore, failure to make timely payments could result in the loss of your assets.”. Umesh Mohanan, ED &amp; CEO, of Indel Money, cautions that one should have a sufficient quantity of gold to get the loan amount one wants. "According to the current RBI rules, the loan applicant/borrower can draw up to 75% of the total market value of the collateral/gold jewellery. So, always carry a sufficient quantity of gold based on one’s loan requirement. “The most important thing is that the valuation of the gold depends on the purity of the gold. If the borrower pledges gold with higher purity, such as 24 carats or 22 carats, he will get the maximum loan amount," he adds.

Secured Loans 2.0 — why more and more Indians are turning to gold, shares and mutual funds to get loans

<div type="image" title="Data from RBI suggests that the outstanding amount on gold loans has swelled from Rs 85,009 crore in September 2022 to Rs 1,47,081 crore in September 2024." msid="115250619" hostid="261" sizebytes="118350" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Data from RBI suggests that the outstanding amount on gold loans has swelled from Rs 85,009 crore in September 2022 to Rs 1,47,081 crore in September 2024.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “Ye le beta, humare khaandani sone ke gehne. Ise girvi rakhva de, shayad kuch paise aa jaye ghar main.” How many times have we seen similar dialogues repeat itself in Bollywood films of the 70s and 80s—abject poverty and a frail-looking old mother pleading to her son to pawn the family’s heirloom <keyword id="18712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold" source="Orion">gold</keyword> ornaments to a jeweller, all to get a few bucks? Well, if you’d ask that son in 2024, he’d rather hit the loan button on his <keyword id="19977340" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="demat" source="keywords">Demat</keyword> account than pawn his mother’s gold jewellery. Given how Indians are rapidly resorting to taking loans against their investments in shares and mutual funds, these might as well be a cherished family heirloom in today’s time. Fair warning though; it's not as if gold and loans against it are going down in India’s lending scene. It's very much the opposite, shining brighter than ever! The secured loan category is having its time in the spotlight, and people are certainly looking beyond land and property to get their hands on some extra monies! But what is funding the steep rise behind these loans? And are they as failsafe and secure as they’re made out to be? We decode for you in this week’s Simply Put. <h2>The great Indian pawning party</h2>Pawning one’s gold has been, by far, the OG Indian financial move to get a loan. That continues well into 2024, and apparently, more so when India decides to wed and celebrate! Data from <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> suggests that the outstanding amount on gold loans has swelled from Rs 85,009 crore in September 2022 to Rs 1,47,081 crore in September 2024. It looks like Gold took the motto of rise and shine too seriously! Table 1: Growth in gold loans <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Year </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Amount (In Rs crore) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">September 2022 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">85,009 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">March 2023 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">89,370 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">September 2023 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">97,426 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">March 2024 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,02,562 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">September 2024 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,47,081 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> Source: RBI data While the world continues to be riled up in multiple geopolitical crises in 2024, gold has been making merry of these tough times. Thus far this year, domestic gold prices have grown by 23%, outperforming benchmark indices like Nifty and Sensex by a mile, which have gone up by 9.85% and 8.86%, respectively. The growth in gold loan disbursal rates month on month this year could also put Nifty and Sensex’s growth to shame. In just September 2024, gold loans grew an astounding 51%, up from 40.9% in August, 30.5% in June, and just 14.8% in March. <h2>Hey, wait up for me, says <keyword id="23953567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="las" source="keywords">LAS</keyword></h2>In lockstep with the elder, gold loan sibling, advances against shares and bonds have also been inching up since 2022. Data from RBI (Reserve Bank of India) notes that as of September 2022, the outstanding quantum of loans that were taken against shares (LAS) and bonds stood at Rs 7,397.94 crores. This inched up to Rs 7,764 crore in September 2023. Come 2024, and it looked like this was LAS’ time to shine. Loans swiftly skyrocketed, with outstanding loans in this category going up from Rs 8,492 crore in March 2022 to a staggering Rs 9,546 crore at the end of September 2024. Naturally, the smoke of LAS has its fire in the record inflows that Indians are pouring into the stock market and mutual funds month on month. Per AMFI (<keyword id="20090034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="association-of-mutual-funds" source="keywords">Association of Mutual Funds</keyword> in India), the net AUM (assets under management) of India’s mutual fund industry grew to Rs 67,25,614.61 crores in October 2024, up from Rs 67,09,259.24 crores in September 2024. Even the number of retail mutual fund folios, which include equity, hybrid, and solution-oriented mutual funds, burgeoned to 17,23,52,296 in October, as compared to 16,81,61,366 in September. The same goes for stock investments in India, where the number of new demat accounts that are added every month just simply refuses to climb down. As of last month, total demat accounts in the country stood at 17.9 crore, which is more than the entire population of full-fledged nations like Japan (12.45 crore), Russia (14.38 crore), and Bangladesh (17.3 crore). In fact, since February this year, the monthly growth of LAS has been hitting double digits. From 11.3% in March to 21.6% in May to 26.8% in August, growth in LAS has been exceptional, hitting 22.9% in September this year. For context, monthly growth in the LAS segment was at a mere 5% in September 2023. <h2>What's driving the growth?</h2>It's a win-win for both the bank and the customer. Customers love them because LAS is available at a lower interest rate compared to unsecured personal loans. You can get a loan at an interest rate of anywhere between 9 and 12% by pledging your gold, MF units, or shares. Compare this to over 10-28% rates, which is the range where unsecured personal loans charge interest. Banks love <keyword id="827883" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="secured-loans" source="Orion">secured loans</keyword> since they are well-secured. In case you default on paying back, the bank can sell off your gold, shares, or mutual fund units to recover the amount. This takes a lot of stress off the banks, which are already dealing with secured loans’ riskier sibling-unsecured lending. High NPAs (non-performing assets) and non-payments in the unsecured borrowing space have already put RBI on red alert, which is why the apex bank is tightening the screws on unsecured lending, which was well on its way to becoming a ticking time bomb. As a result, credit growth has moderated to 12.8% YoY in October, as against the 19.3% rise recorded in the year-ago period. Yet it's not like the banks won't feel the heat. Analysts at Nomura note that personal loan delinquencies in India that have been overdue by over 90 days rose to 5.1% in the last financial year, as opposed to just 3.9% in the year prior. <h2>How does it work?</h2>Both these loans work on a similar principle: Your loan amount is equal to a certain percentage of the actual market value of your asset. This is known as the <keyword id="20051485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ltv" source="keywords">LTV</keyword> (loan-to-value ratio). In the case of gold and debt mutual funds, RBI mandates that this LTV be about 75-80%. So, for every Rs 100 of gold or debt mutual fund unit you pledge, your maximum loan amount cannot exceed Rs 80. If you pledge gold, which has a market value of Rs 10 lakh, you can take a loan of up to Rs 8,00,000. In the case of shares and mutual fund units, this limit is set at 50%. So, your shares worth Rs 5,00,000 can only get you a loan worth Rs 2,50,000. But the bright side? You can continue earning returns on your investments and pay interest only on the amount you use, since this loan works as an overdraft facility. <h2>Super safe, you say?</h2>Interest rates on both of these loans are very much dependent on the market value of the asset, which wildly fluctuates on a day-to-day basis. So, in case the value of your asset falls, you’ll have to keep a margin or more of the same asset in order to continue with the loan and maintain the LTV balance. Failure to do so could mean the bank can even sell off your asset. Says financial planner Nema Chaya Buch. “Yes, LAS offers easy availability of funds since these loans come with a lower interest rate as compared to personal loans. Also, you continue to earn average returns of 10–13% on your equity investments. But the downside is, in case of emergency, those pledged securities cannot be sold. Also, if the equity market goes down, then the bank may ask for additional collateral. Raghvendra Nath, MD, Ladderup Wealth Management notes that taking a LAS is best when the value of your securities has appreciated significantly. “This allows you to maximize the loan amount based on your collateral while also addressing financial needs without having to liquidate your investment portfolio. However, there are notable disadvantages to consider. The market risk is significant; a substantial decline in market value could lead to margin calls, which may incur fees and charges if there are delays or prepayments, ultimately increasing the effective cost of borrowing. Furthermore, failure to make timely payments could result in the loss of your assets.”. Umesh Mohanan, ED &amp; CEO, of Indel Money, cautions that one should have a sufficient quantity of gold to get the loan amount one wants. "According to the current RBI rules, the loan applicant/borrower can draw up to 75% of the total market value of the collateral/gold jewellery. So, always carry a sufficient quantity of gold based on one’s loan requirement. “The most important thing is that the valuation of the gold depends on the purity of the gold. If the borrower pledges gold with higher purity, such as 24 carats or 22 carats, he will get the maximum loan amount," he adds.

Simply Put: Secured Loans 2.0 — why more and more Indians are turning to gold, shares and mutual funds to get loans

<ul><li>From October 1, <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>’s new auto-debit rules will be effective after which banks will have to process an additional authentication step for all recurring transactions through debit cards, credit cards and UPI.</li><li>Under the new norms, users who have set automated recurring payments for utility bills, phone recharge, OTT platforms etc., through above payment methods will receive notification from the bank every time before auto-transaction to approve or cancel payment.</li><li>The new norm looks to ensure secure and safe payments by inserting checkpoints before every auto transaction made.</li></ul>Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) new norms for auto-debit transactions will come into effect from today, October 1, according to which banks are required to notify users or rather take their confirmation before every auto generated transaction. This rule goes for those using debit/credit cards, wallets and unified payments interface (UPI) for transactions. Those who have e-mandated their recurring payments through net banking mode for paying either utility bills, phone recharge, over-the-top (OTT) will continue to be the same. Apart from these, systematic investment plan (SIP) transactions will also not be impacted. This is because most SIP transactions happen through the national automated clearing house (NACH) mandate, which is executed directly by the bank. So, investors who have their ongoing investment through apps like Zerodha, Upstox, Groww, Motilal Oswal, Angel Broking and other broking firms aka investment platforms need not worry about their SIP payments. “Zerodha uses an e-mandate facility on the NPCI NACH platform to allow its clients to set up auto-debits. Since the auto-debit instruction is authorised by the client using their bank account, the new RBI rules do not affect this channel. All existing and new auto-debit instructions will be carried out in the same mode as before,” said a spokesperson at Zerodha. An e-mandate is a standing instruction initiated by the RBI and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that allows businesses to collect recurring payments of up to ₹5,000. For recurring payments above Rs 5,000, banks will require an additional link for authentication as they are not eligible for e-mandate based recurring transactions. This is also because SEBI doesn’t allow stock brokerage firms to accept debit or credit cards from users to make transactions through the investment platform. Basically, the new <a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11668">guidelines </a>require users to opt for an e-mandate facility through a one-time registration process, which can only be successful once the user validates using a one-time password (OTP), besides entering their bank/card/UPI details. Users will also get an option to pause, modify or cancel their recurring transactions. So if you have been making payments to your Netflix account or any other OTT platform that lets you make recurring payments, you will have to set up an e-mandate. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ola-electric-raises-200-million-from-softbank-falcon-edge-at-valuation-of-3-billion/articleshow/86649236.cms">5-year old Ola Electric is now worth over a half of its older sibling Ola</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/from-netflix-and-hotstar-to-airtel-to-jio-bills-brace-for-surprises-as-rbis-guidelines-on-auto-debit-transactions-kick-in-from-october-1/articleshow/86642500.cms">From Netflix and Hotstar to Airtel to Jio bills, brace for surprises as RBI’s guidelines on auto-debit transactions kick-in from October 1</a>

If you’re paying electricity, water, LPG bills via auto-debit, RBI’s new norms affect you

<ul><li>Tokenisation is nothing but giving your sensitive information a secret identity. </li><li>When you <keyword id="14220192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tokenise" source="Orion">tokenise</keyword> something, like a debit or <keyword id="6368202" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-card" source="Orion">credit card</keyword>, you replace the actual details with a unique digital token. </li><li>To make it more convenient to the customers, <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> has recently announced card-on-file tokenisation or CoF.</li></ul>Many of us would have seen Amitabh Bacchan on television telling us that by tokenising our cards we can make our online transactions more secure and alo get freed from the hassle of entering our card details every time we make a purchase. In fact, many websites will ask you to save your card details which you may not be comfortable with. Tokenisaiton is the answer. “Tokenisation simply refers to the replacement of actual card details with an alternate code called the 'token'. It is used for recurring payments or in cases where merchants have stored the card details for providing faster checkout experience,” says Rahul Jain, CFO, NTT DATA Payment Services India. RBI’s initiative on tokenisation is targeted towards the disablement of card storage at the payment service providers' and merchants' end to ensure better security. “Simply put, tokenisation is nothing but giving your sensitive information a secret identity. When you tokenise something, like a debit or credit card, you replace the actual details with a unique digital token, which is further used while making online transactions, making it secure,” says Gaurav Chopra, founder and CEO of IndiaLends, a digital lending marketplace. Steps to tokenise your card We will look at the steps to tokenise your card. <ol><li>To purchase any products or services and to initiate a transaction, a customer visits e-commerce or a merchant's website. Then select the preferred card options as the payment method and enter all the card details</li><li>In case the website wants the customer to store the card details for a faster checkout experience, there will be an option 'secure your card as per RBI guidelines'. A customer must opt for this option to securely generate a token and have it stored as per RBI guidelines</li><li>To complete the transaction, a customer will receive a one-time password (OTP) on the mobile device or email from the card issuer company.</li><li>Once the OTP is entered on the bank page, the card details are sent for token generation as well as transaction authorization</li><li>Generated token is sent back to the merchant, who then stores the token against the customer identification data eg; mobile number or email address</li><li>When a customer visits the same e-commerce or merchant website, the last four digits of the saved card are shown which helps them to recognize during the transaction. This means that a customer’s card has been tokenised.</li><li>A new token is generated for every merchant website where the card details are required to be stored.The token is now ready for use in subsequent recurring or express checkout payment transactions by consumers on the merchant platform. </li></ol>Source: NTT DATA Payment Services India When you tokemise your card, your card information is not stored by the merchant website. “The genuine payment details of the customer are securely stored by their bank in a protected token vault. Upon receiving the token from the credit card issuer and confirming its match with the account number, the bank verifies the transaction,” says Akash Sinha, CEO and co-founder, Cashfree Payments, a payments and banking platform. Card on file tokenisation “Meanwhile, to make it more convenient to the customers, RBI has recently announced that card-on-file tokenisation (CoF) can now be generated directly at the issuer bank level,” says Jain. This will allow users to generate tokens through their bank’s app or website. Currently, it is not mandatory to tokenise the cards. A customer can choose whether to or not to tokenise his/her card. A customer can continue to transact as before by entering card details manually at the time of initiating the transaction if he/she does not wish to create a token.

Making online payments safer – Here’s how to tokenise your card

<ul><li>The new <keyword id="7567986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-debit" source="Orion">auto-debit</keyword> guidelines for recurring <keyword id="6359540" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payments" source="Orion">payments</keyword> kicked in from today, October 1.</li><li>“The current <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> guidelines place more friction in recurring payment,” said Upekkha’s Thiyagarajan Maruthavanan.</li><li>Industry experts believe that this move will push more SaaS companies to move overseas and chase international clients.</li></ul>The new auto-debit guidelines for<a href="https://businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/what-is-e-mandate-or-upi-autopay-and-how-to-enable-it-for-jio-hotstar-and-others/articleshow/86650600.cms?_ga=2.76036176.459036666.1632714936-227132192.1626769520"> recurring payments</a> kicked in from today, October 1, but the Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry expects this new regulation to have a much deeper impact on their businesses. Before getting into this, it is important to understand what the guidelines really say. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to do away with automatic recurring payments by adding a layer of authentication for transactions. A user will have to manually mandate such transactions every month, dropping the idea of recurring payments altogether. Now where does the <keyword id="11064864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SaaS-industry" source="Orion">SaaS industry</keyword> come into play? The <keyword id="4360787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-saas-companies" source="Orion">Indian SaaS companies</keyword> — which are poised to meet a fifth of world’s software demand and pocket a revenue of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/amazon-twitter-hyundai-and-dominos-are-buying-indian-software-fuelling-a-75-billion-dream-chased-by-top-vcs-like-sequoia-and-tiger-global/articleshow/85646116.cms">$75 million in the next four years</a> — are worried that this would lead to default or delayed payments, impacting their revenue. Suresh Sambandam, founder of work management software company Kissflow, in a conversation with Business Insider, explained that any small ticket-size SaaS companies in India — whose payments range between $5 to $500 a month — go through a credit card-enabled payments system that is recurring in nature. The latest step, which adds an additional layer of authentication, is going to introduce default in payments, a lot of paperwork and a lot of human involvement to follow up with customers on past payments. “Earlier it was a smooth transaction and now it's overcomplicated,” he added. Thiyagarajan Maruthavana, partner at Upekkha Value SaaS Accelerator, told Business Insider said, “In the last 15 years, while the global SaaS market grew manifold to $200 billion in revenue, the domestic SaaS market failed to take off due to lack of easy collection of recurring payments. Many global SaaS startups and corporations have dialled back their India market plans in the last 5 years due to this issue.” “The current RBI guidelines place more friction in recurring payment,” he further added. Both Sambandam and Thiyagarajan reiterated that this move will push more SaaS companies to go after international clients as well as headquarters. “However it does not impact the SaaS industry from India as these Indian SaaS companies had already moved away from serving the domestic market to the global market. The guidelines impact only a handful of SaaS businesses that focus on Indian customers. These companies will now be forced to move their geography focus elsewhere,” Thiyagarajan said. Ankur Bansal, co-founder of BlackSoil Capital, in a previous conversation with Business Insider, had highlighted that SaaS business margins are really high and they are even higher from customers based out of the US or Europe. This is why most SaaS companies — such as Zoho, Freshworks, Postman, MindTickle and others — usually go after clients in international markets. This, in turn, also increases their valuation in the eyes of the investors significantly. These companies, along with many others, do have a portion of their customers coming in from India as well, which is going to get impacted now. The latest move will leave Indian SaaS companies with little reason to actually operate in India. What do other experts have to say? <div type="image" title="India’s new guidelines on recurring payments sends SaaS industry in a turmoil" msid="86679002" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Anand Jain, cofounder and chief strategy officer at CleverTap&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “Recurring services don’t need the friction of executing the payment on a recurring basis — that friction makes business, especially SaaS business, tougher… The requirement for banks to provide at least 24 hour notice before a recurring payment is executed also ensures that unnecessary payments or buyers’ guilt are reduced. The only challenge I see is that this will need better help and training by financial institutions for their end users in setup. But India is getting much more savvy with these things.” — Monish Darda, cofounder and chief technology officer at Icertis, said. “These are a matter of habit, for instance, when RBI made 2FA [two-factor authentication] mandatory, we all thought that it would dent online transaction volumes. While there was some inconvenience felt initially, digital transactions (one-time password et al) have grown manifold in recent times and are set to continue to grow. In fact, the safety net provided by these checks and balances will only bring new users to the fold. Having said that, this will [be an] inconvenience [to] merchants and customers both for pre-existing debit mandates, since the card issuers will have to revalidate the mandates now.” — Shishir Mankad, managing partner and head of financial services at management consulting firm, Praxis Global Alliance said. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ritesh-agarwal-led-oyo-files-preliminary-papers-for-its-1-2-billion-ipo/articleshow/86674003.cms">Ritesh Agarwal-led OYO files preliminary papers for its $1.2 billion IPO</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/zee-entertainment-falls-nearly-3-in-trade-as-board-refuses-to-hold-egm/articleshow/86678219.cms#:~:text=to%20hold%20EGM-,Zee%20Entertainment%20falls%20nearly%203%25%20in%20trade,board%20refuses%20to%20hold%20EGM&amp;text=Zee%20Entertainment%20has%20declined%20to,board%20to%20consider%20the%20demand.&amp;text=Post%20the%20development%2C%20Zee%20Entertainment's,3%3A30%20p.m.%20on%20Friday.">Zee Entertainment falls nearly 3% in trade as board refuses to hold EGM</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/air-india-gets-a-saviour-in-tata-sons/articleshow/86675842.cms#:~:text=The%20government%20has%20reportedly%20accepted,was%20also%20among%20the%20bidders.">Tata Sons reportedly wins bid to takeover the ‘Maharaja’</a>

New guidelines on recurring payments may send SaaS companies out of India, say experts

<ul><li>Unified Payments Interface (<keyword id="6358921" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="upi" source="Orion">UPI</keyword>) has emerged as one of the most popular modes of payments in India.</li><li>Some new changes have been announced to UPI from January 1, 2024.</li><li>Here are the new rules and features of UPI that you need to be aware about.</li></ul> The year 2024 has begun and with this, there have been some changes in the financial sector. Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the country’s fastest growing mode of payment has some new rules that you need to keep in mind. To improve UPI and improve user experience, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have formulated some new rules and regulations that have come into effect from January 1, 2024. In this post, we look at the five new changes in UPI that you need to be aware about – <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Inactive UPI IDs" comment="subhead" text="Inactive UPI IDs">Inactive UPI IDs</cmsannotation> As per guidelines by the NPCI, payment apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay, PayTM and more are required to verify and maintain active UPI IDs. UPI IDs that haven’t been used for a year will be deactivated. So, if you have a UPI ID that hasn't been used in a long time, it is important to at least make one payment soon to avoid deactivation of that ID. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Fraud prevention" comment="subhead" text="Fraud prevention">Fraud prevention</cmsannotation> In a bid to reduce the increasing financial frauds, the central bank has reportedly proposed a 4-hour window for users making a first payment of ₹2,000 or more to a new recipient. During this window, the users will be able to modify or reverse the transaction, if they haven’t transacted with the person before. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Increased transaction limit" comment="subhead" text="Increased transaction limit">Increased transaction limit</cmsannotation> To help users making large transactions to hospitals and educational institutions, the transaction limit for such institutions has been increased from the existing INR 1 lakh to INR 5 lakh. This will make it easier for those paying large amounts to such institutions to complete their payment. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="UPI ATMs" comment="subhead" text="UPI ATMs">UPI ATMs</cmsannotation> In a bid to make it easier for users to withdraw cash, NPCI in collaboration with Hitachi Payment Services has started rolling out UPI ATMs, which allow users to withdraw cash using UPI apps, without having to carry a debit card. The first ATM has already been launched and more ATMs will be rolled out across the country. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="UPI for secondary market" comment="subhead" text="UPI for secondary market">UPI for secondary market</cmsannotation> NPCI’s UPI for secondary market project has entered the beta phase, allowing selected users to block funds post-trade confirmation in the secondary market. This enabled settling of funds on T 1 basis via clearing corporations. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-s24-pre-reservation-starts-how-to-pre-book-benefits-and-more/articleshow/106505615.cms">Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-reservation starts – How to pre-book, benefits and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/new-upcoming-smartphones-in-india-in-2024-apple-samsung-google-mobiles-in-the-list/slidelist/106489936.cms">Apple to Samsung and many more – smartphones set for launch in 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-motors-hyundai-sales-rise-maruti-suzuki-reports-a-decline-in-december-2023/articleshow/106474205.cms">Mixed December – While Tata Motors, Hyundai sales rise, Maruti Suzuki reports in the slow lane</a>

UPI in 2024 – Five rule changes that you need to know

<ul><li>Starting October, users will need to re-authenticate their net banking/card/unified <keyword id="6359540" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payments" source="Orion">payments</keyword> interface (UPI) details as per the new format, and validate it with a one-time password, to continue their <keyword id="7567986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-debit" source="Orion">auto-debit</keyword> transactions.</li><li>The development comes as <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> introduced an additional factor of authentication for all <keyword id="8009153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="recurring-transactions" source="Orion">recurring transactions</keyword> in August 2019.</li><li>Even as the RBI’s new guidelines help make payments more secure for customers, there are likely to be short-term challenges as banks will see a sudden rise in authenticating e-mandates.</li></ul> As the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) guidelines for auto-debit transactions kick-in from October 1, those having online subscriptions, or other recurring payments such as phone bills, utility bills and rent are likely to face short-term pain as the banking regulator looks to impose <keyword id="1592017" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="two-factor-authentication" source="Orion">two-factor authentication</keyword> on all such transactions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Here’s what will change" comment="subhead" text="Here’s what will change">Here’s what will change</cmsannotation> Starting October, users will need to re-authenticate their net banking/card/unified payments interface (UPI) details as per the new format, and validate it with a one-time password, on all such platforms to continue their auto-debit transactions below ₹5,000. Whereas all transactions above ₹5,000 will require a further additional link for authentication, as they are not eligible for e-mandate-based recurring transactions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Why the change?" comment="subhead" text="Why the change?">Why the change?</cmsannotation> The development comes as RBI introduced an additional factor of authentication for all recurring transactions in August 2019. The <a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11668">guidelines </a>require users to opt for an e-mandate facility through a one-time registration process, which can only be successful once the user validates using an OTP, besides entering their bank/card/UPI details. Users will also get an option to pause, modify or cancel their recurring transactions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How will it work?" comment="subhead" text="How will it work?">How will it work?</cmsannotation> An e-mandate is a standing instruction initiated by the RBI and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that allows businesses to collect recurring payments of up to ₹5,000. These mandates can be directly set up through a net banking transaction from merchant websites. For example, if a user is signing up for a <keyword id="128682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="netflix" source="Orion">Netflix</keyword> subscription via an e-mandate, he or she can schedule all monthly payments through a one-time authentication. <div type="image" title="From Oct, what will change" msid="86655011" hostid="261"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What experts say?" comment="subhead" text="What experts say?">What experts say?</cmsannotation> What this essentially means is that one will have to re-authenticate all their subscriptions and recurring payments once again starting October, without which the payment to the merchant (say, Netflix) will fail, said Mandar Kagade, founder and principal at Black Dot Public Policy Advisors. “The onus of re-authentication and grievance redressal falls on issuing banks, which would need to have their systems prepared as customers may see failed payments or issues with authentication via OTPs. Since so many e-mandates would need to be set up on the same day, it is likely that we will see a non-trivial number of failures,” he said. Even as the RBI’s new guidelines help make payments more secure for customers, there are likely to be short-term challenges as banks will see a sudden rise in authenticating e-mandates, said Srinath Sridharan, member of governance council at Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE). “October is going to be a critical month because there will be multi-fold challenges in processing such payments, starting from the tremendous pressure on bank servers due to spike in bulk OTP messages, which would need to be sent to consumers for setting up their e-mandates, to addressing disputes emanating from failures in such authentication,” he said. Further, banks will increasingly need to depend on fintech companies to help them handle such large volumes of e-mandates that will come through October, he said. “Most banks will have to depend on fintech companies to make this processing possible, which are much better equipped to assist banks in processing e-mandates for recurring transactions,” he said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="If not manually, how else can I set up e-mandates for all my recurring payments?" comment="subhead" text="If not manually, how else can I set up e-mandates for all my recurring payments?">If not manually, how else can I set up e-mandates for all my recurring payments?</cmsannotation> Customers who do not want to make all their recurring payments manually can either set up auto-pay using the net banking facility, or do it through online <keyword id="6420963" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bill-payment" source="Orion">bill payment</keyword> companies. Fintech companies such as BillDesk, Citibank’s Billpay, ICICI Bank’s Mandate Hub and Yes Bank’s PayNow allow users to set up auto-pay e-mandates, while others such as PayU's Zion and Razorpay’s Mandate HQ enable banks to automate recurring transactions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="More pain for banks and telecom operators" comment="subhead" text="More pain for banks and telecom operators">More pain for banks and telecom operators</cmsannotation> “The usual retail consumer traffic increases over the weekend, which means every time a customer tries to re-authenticate their recurring payment, the bank will have to send out OTPs, and those banks that are not well-equipped or have not adequately invested in integrating their servers, will face a lot of challenges,” said Sridharan. In March, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had to roll back its norms on commercial text messages, which required ‘scrubbing’ of text messages by telecom providers, to protect customers from spams. However, once implemented, many customers took to social media to complain about not receiving OTPs for transactional messages such as for banking and e-commerce. “As each of these banks start pushing out bulk messages, the traffic from bank servers to authenticate transactions will suddenly increase. Hopefully, the user banks are ready with technology preparedness and SoPs (standard operating procedures) for this. And more importantly, all industry stakeholders should be geared to address consumer concerns, and to ensure that the customer call centres and other touch points are ready for handling both queries and speedy redressal of grievances,” said Sridharan. 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From Netflix and Hotstar to Airtel to Jio bills, brace for surprises as RBI’s guidelines on auto-debit transactions kick in from October 1

Credit card payments for foreign travel will be brought under the purview of the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (<keyword id="447038" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="lrs" source="Orion">LRS</keyword>) of the Reserve Bank, to ensure that such expenses do not escape <keyword id="6357150" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tcs" source="Orion">TCS</keyword> (Tax Collection at Source). While moving the <keyword id="25455" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="finance" source="Orion">Finance</keyword> Bill 2023 for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Reserve Bank has been asked to look into ways to bring credit card payments on foreign tours under the LRS. "It has been represented that payments for foreign tours through a credit card are not being captured under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and such payments escape tax collection at source (TCS)," she said. The <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> is being requested to look into this with a view to bringing credit card payments for foreign tours within the ambit of LRS and tax collection at source thereon, she added. The Union Budget 2023 proposed a TCS for foreign outward remittance under LRS other than for Education and medical purposes of 20 per cent applicable from July 1, 2023. Before this proposal, the TCS of 5 per cent was applicable on foreign outward remittances above Rs 7 lakh. <keyword id="735754" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tax-collected-at-source" source="Orion">Tax Collected at Source</keyword> (TCS) is an income tax, collected by the seller of specified goods, from the buyer. TCS is a concept where a person selling specific items is liable to collect tax from a buyer at a prescribed rate and deposit the same with the government. The LRS, introduced in 2004, initially permitted an outflow of USD 25,000. The LRS limit has been revised in stages consistent with prevailing macro and micro economic conditions. LRS permits Indians to freely remit up to USD 250,000 (about Rs 2.05 crore) per financial year for current or capital account transactions or a combination of both. Any remittance exceeding this limit requires prior permission from the RBI. The rules clearly mention that one can remit foreign exchange (forex) only for any permissible current account transactions or capital account transactions or a combination of both. If one wishes to invest abroad in shares, property etc, the LRS rules will define them as capital account transactions. Only certain capital account transactions are allowed under LRS rules such as opening a bank account abroad i.e. a Foreign Currency Account, purchasing real estate property overseas, for making investments overseas which includes investing in shares, mutual funds, and debt instruments amongst others. Authorised dealers, such as banks, enable such transactions between residents and their overseas dependents, using only PAN cards for verification. Besides remittances, LRS can also offer foreign exchange services to Indian citizens for medical expenses or travelling. However, corporates, partnership firms, HUFs, and charitable trusts are not eligible to use the LRS. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/debt-schemes-of-mfs-lose-edge-over-bank-deposits-as-budget-proposes-to-scrap-ltcg-indexation-benefits/articleshow/98965932.cms">Debt schemes of MFs lose edge over bank deposits as Budget proposes to scrap LTCG &amp; indexation benefits</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/canva-just-got-a-major-ai-upgrade-with-new-features-like-magic-eraser-text-to-image-and-moreheres-what-they-do/articleshow/98965377.cms">Canva just got a major AI upgrade with new features like Magic Eraser, Text to Image, and more–here’s what they do</a>

Credit card payments on foreign tours to be brought under LRS to ensure compliance with TCS

The government has waived the requirement for clinical trials of certain categories of drugs in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> if they are approved in the <keyword id="19899478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US" source="keywords">US</keyword>, the <keyword id="19922618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UK" source="keywords">UK</keyword>, Japan, Australia, Canada and the European Union. The waiver only covers five categories -- orphan drugs for rare diseases, gene and cellular therapy products, <keyword id="22559447" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-drugs" source="keywords">new drugs</keyword> used in pandemic situations, new drugs used for special defence purposes and new drugs having significant therapeutic advances over the current standard care. This waiver would ensure expeditious availability of the latest medicines for treating diseases like cancers, rare diseases like Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMA), and autoimmune conditions in India. "As per Rule 101 of New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, the Central Licensing Authority, with the approval of the Central Government, may specify, by an order, the name of the countries, from time to time, for considering waiver of local clinical trial for approval of new drugs under Chapter X and for grant of permission for conduct of clinical trial under Chapter V of the said rules," the Drugs Controller General of India (<keyword id="20559042" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DGCI" source="keywords">DGCI</keyword>) said in an order issued on August 7. "In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 101 of the said rules with the approval of the Central Government, the countries namely USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada and EU are hereby specified for following categories of new drugs," it said. Presently, several medicines already approved by other regulatory authorities in the US, the UK and the EU are not immediately available for Indian patients because of certain regulatory requirements under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and rules made thereunder. These include the requirement of conducting a local clinical trial and generating safety and efficacy data before marketing authorisation in India, an official explained. However, Rule 101 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trials, 2019, allows the DCGI to specify certain countries for considering waiver of local clinical trials for approval of new drugs. "The advantages of operationalising this rule are that the latest medicines to treat diseases like cancers, rare diseases like SMA and DMA, and autoimmune conditions will become available expeditiously in India. "Presently, the delay in launching a new or novel medicine in India is anywhere between 5-20 years when compared to western markets. With the waiver of Rule 101, the scope of parallel launches of medicines in India along with the West will be opened up," the official explained. Besides, there will be a considerable reduction in the cost of various advanced medicines. Also, there will be a substantial reduction in the public procurement costs of the central and state governments under various schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ayushman Bharat. Another advantage is that the resources which would have gone into approving the Indian clinical trials could now be utilised productively elsewhere, the official said. The costs of conducting local clinical trials will be reduced for pharmaceutical firms, therefore passing on these savings to patients. This is especially true for cases of rare diseases where firms have logistical difficulties in finding participants. The change will promote further research in these areas as there will be access to patient data in the Indian context much earlier, ultimately promoting indigenous innovation and shift from volume to value, the government's mission for the pharmaceutical industry, the official said. 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You Searched For "rbi new rules on recurring payments" and got 12 results

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