Aadhaar face authentication hits all-time high of 19.36 cr transactions in July
Aadhaar face authentication reached a record high of 19.36 crore transactions in July 2025, marking substantial growth compared to the previous year. This surge reflects its increasing adoption across various sectors, including government, finance, and telecom. The technology is streamlining service delivery and enhancing convenience for beneficiaries, with significant integration in social assistance programs and attendance systems.
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Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
For retail investors, unlisted shares may prove to be a dangerous gamble
Recent months have seen a rush for the unlisted shares of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) among retail investors, causing a more than fourfold surge in the number of such shareholders at India's largest bourse. The count has jumped from 33,896 as of 31 March 2024 to 146,208 as of 30 June this year. But it's not just the NSE. Tata Capital, the Metropolitan Stock Exchange and the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange are among the companies that have seen investor appetite for their unlisted shares grow. However, investing in unlisted shares is not as straightforward as buying and selling listed stocks. The intermediaries include dealers working offline and online platforms. While investors hope to exit with large gains when such companies eventually list, the unlisted space is also fraught with risks. Here is a look at how investors can deal in unlisted shares. How it works To invest in unlisted shares, you must have a demat account to get the securities credited after the transfer. Platforms or dealers collect these stocks from a mix of shareholders—employees owning the company shares, early-stage investors looking for exit or, in some cases, from the promoters themselves. The process starts with identifying a credible digital platform or an offline dealer. Once an investor selects a stock to buy, the dealer will ask for documents such as PAN, Aadhaar, client market list (CML) and a cancelled cheque of your bank account. CML contains all the details of your demat account and can be procured from the broking platform that holds the account. You then need to sign the deal confirmation letter (DCL) or an agreement with the dealer. The investor then has to transfer funds to the platform of the dealer buying shares. Once the platform receives the shares in its demat account, those are transferred to the investor's demat account. To ensure there is no lag in this process, the platform will also add the investor's demat account to the list of beneficiaries. 'Registering a new beneficiary and activation also takes 24 hours. So, initiating that process simultaneously reduces the lag time for the investors," said a dealer, requesting anonymity. Pricing problem While retail investors may expect to make a quick gain once the unlisted company launches its initial public offering (IPO) and gets listed, they need to be wary of several risks. 'The prices of unlisted shares may not always be a fair picture of the underlying valuation of the company. As the supply of unlisted shares is limited, irrational investor demand can easily move up the prices. Similarly, these prices can see a sudden collapse," said Vijay Kuppa, chief executive officer of InCred Money. 'However, this mismatch between the prices and underlying valuation is not unique to the unlisted market. It is quite common in the listed space as well." Sidhoji Sawant, who is an insights provider on unlisted shares, said this market 'operates in a price vacuum, where volatility thrives and transparency is scarce". 'Without robust research and clear price discovery, investors are often left navigating blind." Investors should also avoid dealers or platforms that require long lag times to settle the trade. 'Investors should opt for platforms that can settle the trade in a short frame of time. Prefer platforms or dealers that offer a settlement period of not more than T+3 or T+5," said the dealer quoted above. If the intermediary needs longer to source the shares and credit to an investor's account and prices change in the interim period, the original seller could back out. 'It is not uncommon for a seller to back out if the price of the unlisted share rises suddenly before the trade is finally settled," the dealer said. Other risks and costs 'The other point to remember is that unlike listed companies, which are bound by regular disclosure requirements on exchanges, unlisted companies have no such requirements. So, for investors, there is no clarity on the fundamentals of the company, whether it is improving or deteriorating," Kuppa said. The unlisted market is not regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), so it is important to pick a credible dealer or platform to avoid the risk of default by a broker. Since it's not an exchange-settled trade, it is important that investors work with reputed names to mitigate counterparty risk. As far as commissions are concerned, buyers may be charged hidden costs via markups. The platforms also charge commissions from sellers for providing liquidity to exit these shares. Taxation If the stock is sold after two years of holding, the capital gains are treated as long-term capital gains—taxed at 12.5%. If the unlisted shares are sold within two years, the appreciation in their price is treated as short-term capital gains, and the investors are taxed at their slab rate. However, if the stock is sold after the company's IPO, the tax treatment changes to that of a listed share. The holding period is still calculated from the original purchase, but long-term rates apply after a one-year holding period. For less than a year, the short-term capital gains tax rate of 20% is applicable, as is the case for listed stocks. Not for everyone Experts advise retail investors avoid unlisted markets despite their increasing popularity in recent months. The lack of disclosures makes it difficult to keep track of an unlisted company's performance. Making a quick return in an IPO is also not straightforward as there is a six-month lock-in after going public, which many retail investors may not be aware of. 'Unlisted shares do not have a mechanism to be valued appropriately and are also not regulated by Sebi. There have also been multiple instances where the IPO price has been significantly lower than the price of the unlisted securities," said Vishal Dhawan, founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors. 'Additionally, investors may not be aware of the risk of the delay in the company going public as well as the lock-ins post IPO," he said. 'For retail investors with limited resources, assessing the fundamentals of an unlisted company can be a challenge. Investors are therefore better off investing in listed businesses where regulations and liquidity are superior."
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Kalaburagi residents confined to their bed to get Aadhaar service on their doorstep
In a welcome move aimed at making essential services accessible to all, the district administration has launched a special, people-friendly initiative to enable Aadhaar registration and updates on the doorstep for Kalaburagi residents who are bedridden. Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum has announced that individuals who are confined to their bed due to illness, disability or old age can now avail themselves of Aadhaar enrolment, or make correction, without having to visit enrolment centres. Special teams will visit their houses to complete the process. Family members or guardians of bedridden people may contact the district administration on Ph: 08472-278605 or 9482564797 to schedule a visit. This initiative has been widely appreciated for its inclusive approach ensuring that even the most vulnerable residents can maintain updated identification records essential for accessing government welfare schemes, healthcare benefits and financial services. Officials have noted that the programme not only eliminates physical hardship and logistical challenges faced by bedridden citizens but also sets an example of proactive governance. By bringing the service to people's houses, the district administration is removing a significant barrier to social and economic inclusion.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
US President Trump's Call To Stop Hiring Foreign Techies Could Be Blessing In Disguise For India
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's recent call for American tech giants to stop hiring foreign workers presents India with a rare opening to leap from the world's outsourced back office to the commanding heights of global technology leadership. India's government is already moving decisively. The IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024, focuses specifically on homegrown solutions in agriculture, healthcare, and language models - sectors crucial to India's unique context and massive population. AI models like Sarvam-1, designed for India's languages, showcase ambition beyond mere adaptation of Western technologies. Boosting compute infrastructure, investing in research, and ramping up support for startups mean the technological engines are being primed for a historic shift, according to an article in India Narrative. It highlights the G20 Task Force report as saying that "India's digital infrastructure, powered by Aadhaar and UPI, already sets a world benchmark. It highlights how scaled digital platforms - built to solve Indian problems - now underpin everything from banking to vaccination logistics. The Aadhaar identity network, 5G rollouts, and financial inclusion have created fertile ground for innovation in domains neglected by Western tech giants. Trump's hiring ultimatum, though disruptive, could provide the nudge India needs to prioritise self-reliance over outsourcing. Building indigenous AI models for agriculture can revolutionise food security and climate adaptation - where over 46 per cent of India's workforce still depends on farming, often under stress from erratic weather and low yield. In healthcare, AI can bridge gaps in diagnostics for rural populations, bringing life-saving solutions where expertise is scarce, the article observes. With its vast digital user base - over 900 million internet connections - and advances in payment technology, India sets an example in scalable public infrastructure. UPI, Aadhaar, and ONDC are not just domestic marvels but international blueprints, now being adopted around the world. Indian SaaS and fintech unicorns, fueled by local know-how, are fast becoming global leaders, with exports topping $200b annually. For decades, US tech companies have relied on Indian engineers for cost-effective, high-quality talent, funnelling graduates from India's premier institutions into roles in California, Washington, and New York. H-1B visas and offshore campuses created a pipeline that shaped careers and fuelled India's software boom. But as Trump's rhetoric pivots American tech toward economic nationalism, Indian professionals face barriers once unthinkable—roles vanishing and dreams deferred. However, dependency on Western opportunity has long restricted India's tech ecosystem from full self-expression. Trump's stance removes the glass ceiling. Indian engineers—1.5 million graduating every year—are now primed to build for India, not just the West. Instead of exporting raw talent, the country can nurture founders, inventors, and creators who tackle Indian problems first. It is a wake-up call to invest in domestic innovation and entrepreneurship, the article further states.
