Insurance costs under lens: RBI flags high-cost distribution driving premium growth, warns of medium-term pressure

The Reserve Bank of India has flagged emerging structural pressures in the insurance sector, warning that premium growth is increasingly being driven by high-cost, distribution-led strategies rather than improvements in operating efficiency, even as the sector remains stable in the near term, according to its latest Financial Stability Report.“While posing no near-term systemic risks, the…

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Pension reform: PFRDA allows banks to set up pension funds for NPS; aims to boost competition

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) on Thursday permitted banks to independently set up pension funds to manage the government’s flagship National Pension System (NPS), a move aimed at enhancing competition and safeguarding subscriber interests, PTI reported.The PFRDA board “has approved, in principle, a framework to permit Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) to independently…

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Audit push: NFRA releases second audit practice toolkit; focuses on revenue risk assessment

The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) on Thursday said it has rolled out its second Audit Practice Toolkit to support small and medium audit practitioners across the country, as part of its broader effort to improve the quality of auditing practices, PTI reported.The toolkit, titled ‘Risk & Response Memorandum: ROMM (Risk of Material Misstatement) Assessment…

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Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Launch Soon On This Route! Indian Railways’ New Train Better Than Rajdhani

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Launch, Route & Fares: The much awaited Vande Bharat sleeper train is all set to be launched soon, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced. The new train will be flagged off by PM Narendra Modi in the next few weeks. Vande Bharat sleeper trains, aimed at providing superior experience to Rajdhani…

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Director compliance relief: Corporate affairs ministry eases KYC norms, shifts from annual filing to 3-year cycle

The Corporate Affairs Ministry has relaxed compliance requirements for company directors by replacing the mandatory annual KYC filing with a simplified requirement once every three years under the Companies Act, 2013, PTI reported.The change follows a review of Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment & Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, based on recommendations of the…

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Global investing outlook 2026: Why investors may look beyond the US; how AI, rate cuts and a softer dollar will shape returns

Global investment opportunities are set to widen meaningfully in 2026 as easing monetary policy, a weakening US dollar and profit growth outside the United States reshape capital flows, according to Franklin Templeton report.The asset manager report titled ‘Global Investment Outlook 2026 and Beyond’ said that lobal markets are entering a phase where returns are likely…

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Currency update: RBI says 98.41% of withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes returned; Rs 5,669 crore still in circulation

The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday said that 98.41% of the Rs 2,000 banknotes that were in circulation at the time of their withdrawal announcement have been returned to the banking system, PTI reported.“The total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, which was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on…

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Auto sales surge: Passenger vehicle wholesales hit record 45.5 lakh units in 2025; GST 2.0, SUVs drive turnaround

Passenger vehicle (PV) wholesales in India rose to a record 45.5 lakh units in calendar year 2025, marking a growth of nearly 6 per cent, as policy tailwinds in the second half helped the industry overcome a sluggish start, according to industry estimates, PTI reported.The industry surpassed its previous peak of 43.05 lakh units in…

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