Finance
IIFL Finance opens 7 'Shakti' branches on Women's Day
IIFL Finance has launched seven new gold-loan branches run by female employees across NCR and MMR in celebration of International Women's Day. These 'Shakti' branches emphasize women's empowerment, offering special benefits and financial literacy programs for female entrepreneurs. Each branch provides employment opportunities for up to forty women.
Religare Enterprises withdraws NCLAT petition against CCI order favouring Burman group's stake buy
Religare Enterprises has withdrawn its appeal against the CCI order allowing Burman group entities to acquire a stake in the firm. This follows the Burman Family gaining a controlling stake in Religare Enterprises Limited. The NCLAT dismissed the appeal, and the Burman Family’s total holding now exceeds 50 percent, solidifying their position as the largest shareholders.
Indian corporates need Rs 120 lakh cr debt by FY30 for Capex and working capital: Crisil
Corporate India is projected to raise Rs 115-125 lakh crore in debt between FY26 and FY30 to fund capital expenditure, working capital, and NBFC financing. Around Rs 45-50 lakh crore will be needed for capital expenditure, with the infrastructure sector driving most of the investments.
RBI imposes Rs 76.6 lakh penalty on 4 entities
The Reserve Bank of India imposed penalties totaling Rs 76.6 lakh on four non-banking financial companies for non-compliance with its peer-to-peer lending platform regulations. Fairassets Technologies India, Bridge Fintech Solutions, Rang De P2P Financial Services, and Visionary Financepeer were each penalized based on regulatory deficiencies.
50 pc of Indian women borrowers are aged 25-35: Report
According to the BharatLoan Lending Report 2025, there has been a significant increase in financial independence and credit market participation among India's salaried women. Female borrowers aged 25-35 constitute 50% of this group, with steady annual growth observed. Maharashtra and Karnataka dominate loan disbursements, highlighting regional variations and opportunities for increased lending awareness in North and East India.
Digital lenders, microfinance companies urge RBI to set interest rate formula for small loans
Several digital lenders and microfinance companies have approached the Reserve Bank of India to introduce a formula for calculating interest rates on small-ticket loans. They argue that a regulatory formula would ensure fair pricing, prevent business disruptions, and reduce the risk of regulatory actions. The industry seeks clarity and a framework modelled after practices in other countries.
RBI governor holds meet with fintechs and others, says there is need for compliance by entities new to regulatory space
RBI Governor and Deputy Governors engaged with Payment System Operators and FinTechs, highlighting their role in India's financial growth. They stressed the importance of responsible innovation and regulatory compliance. Feedback on the payment and fintech ecosystem was shared during the session, and RBI reaffirmed its commitment to consultative interactions with industry participants.
LIC Housing Finance board approves Rs 1.23 lakh cr borrowing budget for FY26
LIC Housing Finance's board has approved borrowing Rs 1.23 lakh crore through various loans and instruments for the fiscal year 2025-2026. This includes issuing bonds, commercial papers, and external commercial borrowing. The company's shares rose by 3.49%, closing at Rs 521.20 on the BSE. This decision aims to streamline the financing process across multiple tranches.
Housing finance market to grow at 15-16% CAGR through 2029-30: CareEdge
CareEdge Ratings forecasts the Indian housing finance market, valued at Rs 33 trillion, to reach Rs 77-81 trillion by 2029-30. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15-16%, driven by robust structural elements and government incentives. The market share of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) remains stable, with considerable growth and improved asset quality observed in recent years.
Jio Financial buys out SBI's stake in payments bank JV
Jio Financial Services will acquire full ownership of Jio Payments Bank after SBI's divestment of its 17.8% stake. With the deal valued at ₹104.54 crore, the transaction awaits the Reserve Bank of India's approval and is expected to conclude within 45 days.
Must Watch
RBI directs large NBFCs to stop new lines of credit and renewals
The Reserve Bank of India has directed large finance companies to stop renewing lines of credit for businesses due to concerns over disguised borrower stress. This credit facility allows flexible fund withdrawals and delayed principal repayment, making NBFCs less capable of gauging borrowers' real-time cash flows.
RuPay now accounts for 16% of credit card spending, says NPCI MD Dilip Asbe
Around 16% of India's credit card spending occurs on the RuPay network, driven by UPI-linked credit cards. With more than 30 banks issuing RuPay credit cards, transactions have significantly increased. The NPCI is expanding its influence with a new R&D centre and efforts to internationalize UPI.
Lenders asked to tighten process for micro loans
The government urges lenders to strengthen credit evaluations and monitor micro loans for self-help groups (SHGs) to avoid multiple loans. A unified business correspondent registry and unique IDs for SHG members are being planned. This move supports financial inclusion, rural enterprise development, and targets identified sectors more effectively, ensuring better fund utilization.
Religare board approves appointment of four directors
Religare Enterprises, now controlled by the Burman family, has appointed four new non-executive, non-independent directors, namely Abhay Kumar Agarwal, Arjun Lamba, Gurumurthy Ramanathan, and Suresh Mahalingam. The board has also temporarily suspended operations of its subsidiary MIC Insurance Web Aggregator to re-evaluate its business model's feasibility.
Religare asks subsidiaries to initiate removal of Rashmi Saluja from their boards
Religare Enterprises' board has directed its subsidiaries to remove former executive chairperson Rashmi Saluja and Rakesh Asthaana from their respective positions. This follows the Burman family's acquisition of a controlling 25.16% stake in the company. Subsidiaries affected include Religare Finvest Limited, Care Health Insurance, and Religare Broking Ltd. The Burmans' open offer valued at Rs 2,116 crore saw limited response.
NCLT asks RCAP lenders to complete all procedural issues by Mar 12 for ownership transfer to IIHL
The NCLT has directed lenders and the monitoring committee to complete all pending procedural formalities by March 12 for IndusInd International Holdings Limited’s acquisition of debt-ridden Reliance Capital. IIHL also offered to inject Rs 2,750 crore in equity capital to show commitment, while approvals from RBI, Irdai, and exchanges were already secured.
