Should transactions done on UPI (Unified Payments Interface) be charged? A merchant discount rate (MDR) or a transaction fee is currently not charged for almost all UPI payments (excluding payments through PPI or prepaid instruments) as it is seen as one of the major ways to enhance UPI’s coverage and minimise the resistance to technology … Read more
Not only will this amount to significant savings when buying foreign currencies for overseas travel, it will also make spending towards fees or investments abroad a much smoother process. That said, the money parked in Gift City foreign currency accounts can only be used for purposes permitted in the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. LRS allows resident … Read more
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) penalised five banks including Punjab National Bank (PNB) with various RBI directions, reported The Economic Times. RBI imposed a penalty of ₹1.31 crore on PNB, which became the fifth bank for getting the wrath of the banking regulator. Other banks fined by the RBI are The Gujarat Rajya Karmachari … Read more
Investing in overseas markets is a great way of diversifying your portfolio. By spreading investments across countries, you can mitigate risks associated with domestic market concentration and benefit from growth opportunities in different regions. It also allows you to tap sectors and industries that may not be well-represented in India, making for a more balanced … Read more
Spending money overseas through credit card does not come under the liberalised remittance scheme limit yet, but it may change in the near future. And if it does, credit card users may have to cough up 20 percent tax collection at source (TCS). As per a media report published recently, bringing credit card spend under the … Read more
Personal Loan Rates: Over the past few months several private lenders such as ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank had increased interest rates on personal loans (PLs) after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had deemed them as riskier in November 2023, said a report by the Economic Times. Citing data … Read more
Edited excerpts: What are your key expectations from the Union Budget 2024? Do you expect growth-oriented measures or populist ones? As we approach Budget 2024, we anticipate a continued focus on advancing India’s digital public infrastructure, which is essential for achieving the $5 trillion economy dream. Enhanced government initiatives for financial inclusion, smart cities, AI … Read more
With the dawn of Modi 3.0, all eyes are eagerly set on the upcoming Union Budget of 2024, slated for presentation in July. Anticipation runs high among industries, farmers, taxpayers, and the middle class alike, as they await potential boosts and tax reliefs from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. As the first budget of this new … Read more
Domestic Infrastructure and Capital Goods stocks are on a sturdy path. Over the past 3 years, capital goods stocks have, on average, tripled in value, while infra stocks have doubled. There were concerns about whether this trend would persist during the recent national election period due to high prices and valuations. However, these concerns have … Read more
The non-banking finance company founded in 2018 had stitched some early high-profile partnerships with fintech platforms Cred and BharatPe. It is now leaning more towards mutual fund distributors, targeting clients looking to diversify beyond fixed deposits. But where does the 10% rate come from? The answer is quite surprising: zero-cost EMIs, or equated monthly payments, … Read more