logo
RBI releases fulllist of legal digital lending apps on its site

RBI releases fulllist of legal digital lending apps on its site

Time of India02-07-2025
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) has published a comprehensive list of legal digital lending apps (DLAs) on its website, allowing consumers to verify whether a particular app is associated with a regulated entity. The list, which features around 1,600 DLAs, includes prominent fintech platforms such as Google Pay Paytm and PhonePe.The move follows the RBI's 2023 digital lending guidelines, which proposed the public display of all verified DLAs to promote greater transparency in the sector.In May, the central bank directed all regulated entities to report their DLAs through the centralised information management system portal. The published list will be updated automatically based on entries in the portal, without further validation by the RBI.The initiative is aimed at enhancing transparency in digital lending practices, in how loan products are offered and disclosed to prospective borrowers. In a bid to curb spread of illegal lending apps, the finance ministry had in September 2022 proposed the RBI compile a whitelist of legitimate DLAs, while ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) would ensure only these apps are allowed on app stores.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Expansion plans & easing asset woes to lift CreditAccess
Expansion plans & easing asset woes to lift CreditAccess

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Expansion plans & easing asset woes to lift CreditAccess

ET Intelligence Group: The stock of CreditAccess Grameen has gained nearly 12% over the past eight trading sessions after the country's largest microfinance lender announced the appointment of Ganesh Narayanan as the new managing director and CEO on August 6 after RBI's approval. The sector indices have gained over 1% during the period. The company has undertaken accelerated write-offs to clean up the loan book , which has resulted in higher credit costs. The situation is expected to normalise from the December quarter. Given the company's plan to open 200 branches in the current fiscal year and receding pressure on asset quality , the credit growth is expected to be higher in the second half of the current fiscal year. Dwindling credit quality in the microfinance segment over the past few quarters has affected the performance of CreditAccess. For its overall portfolio, 90-day PAR (portfolio at risk ratio) shot up to 3.3% from 1.1% in the year-ago quarter. The company has suffered a greater asset quality stress in Karnataka, which accounts for nearly one-third of its loan book. The PAR ratio for Karnataka in the 90 days and above category increased to 5.1% in the June quarter from 2.4% in the previous quarter. Live Events According to the company management, Karnataka has started showing stabilisation in PAR in the current quarter. In addition, the implementation of stricter norms for loan disbursement has reduced the proportion of highly leveraged borrowers (which have borrowed from three or more lenders) to 11.4% in June from 25.3% last August. The credit cost increased to ₹571.9 crore in the June quarter from ₹420.1 crore in the September 2024 quarter. This was largely due to accelerated write-offs as the proportion of new PAR accretion in the credit cost fell to 61% from 90% during the period. This raises hope that credit costs may ease in the second half of the current fiscal year. Apart from asset cleanup, the company has also increased focus on retail financing, which is likely to form 12-15% of the loan book by FY28. The segment contributed 7% to the gross loans in the June quarter compared with 3% in the year-ago quarter. Axis Securities expects annual growth in loan book and net profit at 18% and over 50% between FY25 and FY28. It has raised target price to ₹1,485 from earlier ₹1,350, implying FY27 expected price-book multiple of 2.5. Stock was last traded at ₹1,351 on Tuesday on the BSE.

Indians on H-1B: Where will they go if they lose jobs in the US?
Indians on H-1B: Where will they go if they lose jobs in the US?

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Indians on H-1B: Where will they go if they lose jobs in the US?

For decades, the United States has been portrayed as the ultimate destination for ambitious professionals, a land where talent could translate into prosperity. For Indians on H-1B and L-1 visas, however, this promise is increasingly fraught with uncertainty. The H-1B visa , a non-immigrant programme allowing US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, is subject to annual caps and a lottery system, leaving holders dependent on employer sponsorship for extensions and permanent residency. The system, once seen as a gateway to professional growth, now acts as a complex maze where careers and life decisions are constantly under negotiation. Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist, has urged an immediate halt to all foreign student visas, declaring that 'no foreign students should be in the country right now.' Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has reinforced this position, calling for a ban on Indian H‑1B visa holders on the grounds that they compete with American tech graduates. Adding a broader perspective, Dhillon warned that such measures could undermine innovation and restrict the inflow of skilled talent critical to the U.S. technology sector. Personal stories highlight visa dilemma A 28-year-old software engineer at Google recently shared her dilemma on Reddit: 'Honestly, I never had plans to move abroad, but during COVID, I was feeling stuck.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo She illustrated the tension that skilled migrants face: professional ambition versus family, culture, and long-term personal priorities. Reflecting on visa constraints, she wrote, 'With the visa uncertainty, we don't know how long we can even stay here,' while acknowledging the emotional pull of home: 'Most days I'm content here. But sometimes, I miss home so much.' Her story captures a larger truth: for H-1B holders, career planning is inseparable from personal and cultural anchors. Anti-America narrative and global insight Global developments and domestic policy shifts have further complicated the narrative. Donald Trump's recent call for American companies to 'stop hiring in India' has ignited sharp debates. According to a Blind poll conducted between July 28 and August 8, 2025, 63 per cent of US-based professionals felt the move could benefit their firms, while 69 per cent of India-based respondents believed it would harm their companies. This discourse has fueled an anti-America narrative among skilled professionals, highlighting growing disillusionment with a system that once symbolized opportunity. Where would Indians return? Poll findings The Blind poll also explored practical outcomes if Indians were forced to leave the US after a job loss: 45 per cent said they would return to India, 26 per cent would relocate to another country, and 29 per cent remained undecided. Key deterrents to leaving included pay cuts (25 per cent), lower quality of life (24 per cent), cultural or family adjustment (13 per cent), and fewer job opportunities (10 per cent). Only 35 per cent expressed willingness to pursue a US work visa again, while the remaining 65 per cent were either unsure (27 per cent) or outright negative (38 per cent). Why Indians are considering a return The reasons driving a potential return to India are multifaceted. Proximity to family, cultural familiarity, and robust social networks create a strong pull. India's tech hubs, particularly Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune, offer competitive roles that allow professionals to leverage international experience while maintaining connections to home. Lower living costs, fewer visa uncertainties, and opportunities to ascend into leadership roles further strengthen the argument for repatriation. Generic considerations—stability, lifestyle alignment, and mental well-being—add additional weight to these decisions. Policy changes heighten uncertainty Cross-border mobility, once an unambiguous advantage, now comes with complex trade-offs. Visa dependency, sudden deportation risks, and regulatory shifts such as the proposed 'Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions' by the US Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which could replace the lottery with a wage-based system, have further heightened unpredictability for H-1B holders. These changes make long-term career planning more challenging and add to the growing uncertainty surrounding professional life in the US. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!

Google's Gemini can now talk — new audio tool reads your Docs out loud with ease
Google's Gemini can now talk — new audio tool reads your Docs out loud with ease

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Google's Gemini can now talk — new audio tool reads your Docs out loud with ease

Google Docs audio feature : Google Docs is getting a voice literally as beginning this week, Google is introducing a new feature that will allow its AI assistant, Gemini, to read your Google Documents aloud, as per a report. New 'Audio' Tool Lets You Listen to Your Docs Out Loud The new "Audio" feature is intended to assist users to absorb information more easily, catch writing errors, or simply listen to their work instead of reading it, as per a 9to5google report. This functionality is currently offered on Google Docs' web version to some Google Workspace users, according to the report. To use the new feature, navigate to the Tools menu for the 'Audio' option in-between Voice typing and Gemini, as per the 9to5google report. The click 'Listen to this tab', which will open a pill-shaped player, with the duration noted and you can move this floating window anywhere on the screen, as reported by 9to5google. ALSO READ: Missed Snowflake's boom? Databricks' $100 billion AI leap could be Wall Street's next jackpot Live Events Choose From Seven AI Voice Styles to Match Your Content Apart from play/pause and a scrubber, available controls include playback speed and changing the 'clear, natural-sounding voices,' so that it distinguishes from being a mere robotic reader, options include: Narrator Educator Teacher Explainer Coach Motivator Persuader Depending on the purpose you want, you can make your doc read aloud to you in a voice that's more informative, encouraging, or convincing. ALSO READ: Move over quiet quitting — as AI looms 'quiet cracking' is costing $438 billion and wrecking workers' health Add Listening Buttons for Shared Documents If you're sharing your document with others, you can also add a listening button into the document for viewers of the document, as per the report by 9to5google. This can be done following the steps: Insert menu > Audio buttons > Listen to tab and then @Listen to tab, according to the rerpot. Google Docs Audio is convinent if you 'want to hear your content out loud, absorb information better while reading, or help catch errors in your writing,' as quoted by 9to5google. ALSO READ: Is Google's AI revolution a threat to website traffic for digital publishers? Here are strategies to stay ahead Who Can Use the Google Docs Audio Feature? The Audio feature is only available in English and only on the web version of Google Docs at present, with the rollout starting from August 18 and continuing over the next few weeks, as reported by 9to5google. The new feature is available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, as well as: Business Standard and Plus Enterprise Standard and Plus Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on Customers with the Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on AI Image Generation in Google Docs for Android Along with Audio, Google Docs for Android is also introducing the capability to create images with Gemini, but this feature is also restricted to AI Pro and Ultra users, as per the 9to5google report. ALSO READ: China's job crisis spurs bizarre trend: Young Chinese pay companies just to pretend they have a job — here's why FAQs What is the new Audio feature in Google Docs? It lets you listen to your documents being read aloud by Gemini, Google's AI assistant. How to use Audio feature in Google Docs? Go to Tools > Audio, then click 'Listen to this tab.' A small audio player will appear and start reading your document.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store