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Business Standard
04-08-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Irdai imposes ₹5 crore penalty on Policybazaar for violating norms
The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (IRDAI) on Monday imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore on Policybazaar Insurance Brokers for multiple violations. 'Irdai, in exercise of the powers under Section 102 of the Insurance Act, 1938, has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore on M/s Policybazaar Web Aggregator Pvt. Ltd. (now known as 'M/s Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd.') along with Direction, Advisory, and Caution for various violations established under the Insurance Act, 1938 and Rules and Regulations made thereunder,' IRDAI said in its press release. According to IRDAI, apart from regulatory breaches such as KMPs (Key Managerial Personnel) holding directorships in other companies without prior approval from the insurance regulator, Policybazaar was also found guilty of promoting products in a biased manner and ranking various insurance products as top or best without 'making available any material to the prospects to make an informed choice.' As per the order, the aggregator's website displayed only details of ULIP products from five insurance companies, while the Insurance Web Aggregator (IWA) had agreements with other life insurance companies offering ULIPs. Similarly, under the 'Health' section, there was mention of 'Top plans-health insurance' from 12 insurers in a particular sequence (rating). Although the IWA had agreements with 23 insurers, it only named some products of about 12 insurers as 'Top plans'. The order noted that at the time of inspection (1st to 5th June 2020), the top five ULIP plans displayed on the site were Bajaj Allianz Goal Assure, Edelweiss Tokyo Wealth Gain+, HDFC Click2 Wealth, SBI Life e-wealth Insurance, and ICICI Signature. 'By showing certain insurance products of some insurers as 'Best' or 'Top plans', it has led to the creation of preference and promotion of these insurers and their specific plans only,' the regulator added. Moreover, there were no clear grounds on which these products were marketed as the best or top in their category. The insurance regulator also noted delays in remitting insurance premiums to the insurer. IRDAI's order highlighted that Policybazaar mostly used its own payment gateway and its own nodal account for collecting premiums, with a minimum of three working days required to remit such insurance premiums. Upon examining a selection of 67 insurance policies, IRDAI found that premiums were remitted with delays exceeding 30 days. Additionally, for 8,971 sample insurance policies, delays in remittance ranged from 5 to 24 days. For another set of around 77,033 policies, premiums were remitted after 3 working days, according to the order.
Irish Times
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Days of Light by Megan Hunter: Echoes of the Bloomsbury set
Days of Light Author : Megan Hunter ISBN-13 : 9781529010183 Publisher : Picador Guideline Price : £18.99 A charge sometimes levelled at novelists is that we write the same book over and over, trying to get it right. This could not be said about Megan Hunter, whose first book, The End We Start From , was a dystopian novel, and whose second, The Harpy , was an enjoyably twisted love story. Her third, Days of Light, is different again, with echoes of the Bloomsbury set, although whether it's meant as a pastiche, a parody, or a work of original fiction might be open to debate. The novel begins in 1938, where protagonist Ivy is awaiting the arrival of Frances, her older brother's girlfriend, who's been invited to meet their extended family over Easter lunch. A motley crew is gathered, including Ivy's separated parents, her mother's lover Angus, and Angus's former lover Rupert, who is now making eyes at Ivy herself. A complicated dynamic, certainly, and when the day ends in tragedy, Hunter presents Ivy's memories of the incident in a striking, dreamlike fashion. Fast forward six years to when Ivy, now married with children, encounters Frances again, and then to 1956, where she describes herself as 'unravelling, somehow ... I seem to not know – who I am, any more. If I ever did? Do any of us?' READ MORE Continuing the story into 1965 and, finally, 1999 provides a neat structure, Hunter offering a single day in Ivy's life each time, but as her relationship with Frances develops and changes, memories of their first encounter bubble beneath the surface for both, threatening to re-emerge and cause emotional damage. [ Thirst Trap by Gráinne O'Hare: For fans of well-written absolute riots Opens in new window ] Alan Hollinghurst's The Stranger's Child and Michael Cunningham's The Hours are novels that repeatedly came to my mind as I was reading, for the language employed, the character traits, the time slips, and the deeply interior and sensitive perceptions are common to all. But there's something a little calculated about the writing here that makes it feel like an exercise in style rather than a work of authentic fiction. Eventually, every novelist must decide the type of writer they want to be: someone who mimics successful formulae or hopes to create their own. For all of Megan Hunter's obvious talent, I wonder if it's time for her to make that choice.
Forbes
25-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Golden Globes Goes To .... Best Podcasts For Leaders During Hard Times
On Halloween night in 1938, CBS Radio broadcasted a Martian invasion that sent listeners into panic—'The War of the Worlds' was a landmark in audio storytelling. Fast forward to 2004, when Guardian journalist Ben Hammersley coined the term 'podcasting.' Since then, podcasts have gone mainstream, and are as ubiquitous as cell phones – not surprising considering 70% of listeners use their mobile phones to tune in. With over 584.1 million podcast listeners worldwide, businesses too have taken notice- - and are spending an estimated $4.5 billion on advertisements. The Golden Globes too, are getting in on the action with a new Best Podcast category, signaling the growing cultural clout of this medium. Busy Leaders listening to Podcasts to Inspire, Inform, and De-Stress According to Pew Research, most people turn to podcasts not for breaking news, but for learning or escape— hence the paradox of a podcast- it is passive yet intimate, it can be background noise yet also brain food. The modern leader is juggling AI disruption, trade wars, economic whiplash, and declining morale. Gallup reports a crisis of engagement among managers. One in three has been laid off in recent times—and more could follow. The declining engagement numbers reported by the Gallup are directly attributed to managers raising worries about what experts call a 'manager crash. In this environment, helping leaders build resilience, perspective, and creativity—without demanding more from their already-stretched calendars is imperative. Podcasts can offer precisely that: low-effort, high-value learning. I find podcasts help me stay informed and inspired while walking, driving, or even decompressing after a long day. For leaders facing increasing pressure, a good podcast can be more than just entertainment— it can inspire, inform, and help de-stress. But with over 6.5 million podcasts out there, how do you find the right one? Here is my curated list of selected podcasts tailored for busy leaders seeking insight and sanity during today's uncertain times. Woman executive with headphones working remote, playing with daughter and with dog. Morning Brew Daily. A breezy, business-focused podcast that distills market and cultural trends into a daily 30-minute package. Its 4M+ subscribers and $70M in revenue speak to its staying power. Managers can stay in the know with quick digestible updates on market and economic trends such as the recent episode on federal funding bill's market impact and potential phase-out of the penny. Today, Explained. Produced by Vox, this NPR-style show offers expert-backed reporting that contextualizes the news. Topics are topical and varied from why dating sucks right now to the Gulf of America. For leaders, both podcasts are great choices for getting situationally aware while avoiding the rabbit-hole of doomscrolling. Hidden Brain. Hosted by Shankar Vedantam, this podcast offers stories that challenge assumptions and spark self-reflection. It's one of the best at blending science, empathy, and leadership insight. A case in point: a recent episode exploring limits of how much we really know and the illusion of knowing more. Radiolab. Known for its innovative sound design and narrative style, Radiolab explores deep philosophical and scientific questions. A must-listen for reflective minds. With topics as varied as curing what ails us to exploring the origins of hums speech, leaders will find curiosity stimulated and their minds filled fresh ideas and new perspectives. A McKinsey survey reports continuous learning, personal balance, and a humble mindset as top traits for 21st century leadership — precisely what these award winning podcasts help nurture. WorkLife with Adam Grant. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant explores how to make work not just bearable, but meaningful. Topics such as harnessing the power of frustration or learning from your rivals- lend a creative spin on handling daily challenges in thought-provoking and practical ways. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. Vulnerability, courage, and values-based leadership—this podcast dives into the human side of being in charge. We learn anew that emotional intelligence is not just a soft skill to read and discuss but essential for succeeding today. HBR IdeaCast. When I want no-frills, high-level strategy, I turn here. Each episode offers insights from world-class thinkers on business, tech, and the future of leadership. This podcast is tailored for time-crunched executives providing crisp high-level strategy advice on how to do their job well. We know that one-size-fits-all leadership style is a myth. Each of these podcasts, highlight what is needed to unleash innovation and creativity in leaders and those they lead in their own unique way. Georg Hegel, a German philosopher, famously said, 'The only thing that we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history'. May be, maybe not. But the true value of history is gaining perspective, sorely needed in times of great upheaval- a realization that this too shall pass. Two podcasts that offer a keen historical lens to understand present-day events are Empire and the Rest is History. Both shows, British and hosted by historians, deliver incisive and engaging stories of people who built and lost and sometimes rebuild empires. Each of their episodes brings to life power struggles and territorial conquests, that continue to affect the world today. A recent episode on the Roman Empire reminded me how leadership often crumbles not from invasion, but from arrogance, groupthink, or ignoring early warning signs. Through their compelling storytelling, today's leaders can gain valuable insights into the complexities of human behavior and take solace in the enduring challenges of leadership. Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke, according to Mayo Clinic. Humor alleviates stress, and serves as a valuable coping mechanism, helping individuals to reframe challenges & foster resilience. Laughter may truly be the best medicine for today's overworked and stressed out executive. NPR's weekly news quiz podcast, Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! is by far the best antidote that offers laugh-out loud humor mixed with current news bits. This NPR game show is part news, part improv comedy. It's also a sanity-saver. Stressed out leaders will find themselves entertained and educated. A good podcast, in short, powerful dose, can help spark curiosity, sharpen strategic thinking, soothe stress, or broaden one's worldview. A well-chosen podcast whether from my curated list of best podcasts for leaders or one's own favorite, can help show up smarter and saner at the workplace. Building smart listening habit will be important. Set time aside to reflect on how can I apply this and grow? How can I bring my learning to support my team? Some podcasts such as Radiolab, Empire, while insightful and interesting are less directly actionable and therefore, pairing them with tactical shows such as HBR Ideacast might be best. Consider also rotating episodes so that those hefty with strategy and advice can be followed by those with a light dose of humor. Leaders cannot control volatility, but by curating their listening, smart leaders can tune in for clarity, connection, and calm and tune out disruption and chaos.
