Latest news with #InteractiveVoiceResponse
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
LPG distributors in Andhra Pradesh protest ‘unfair' pressure to sack delivery staff
Members of Andhra Pradesh State LPG Distributors Association on Friday drew the government's attention to their issues and appealed for an immediate solution. Members of the Andhra Pradesh State LPG Distributors Association have urged the government to address what they termed unfair penalties and pressure from district authorities. In a letter to the Commissioner of Civil Supplies, they said District Collectors and Joint Collectors had recently issued show-cause notices based on Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feedback from consumers, alleging that delivery staff collected tips. The distributors maintained these tips were voluntary gestures for carrying heavy 33 kg cylinders over long distances and making repeated visits due to locked houses or pending payments. They warned that forcing termination of delivery staff amid an existing manpower shortage could cripple the home delivery system, forcing a shift to a cash-and-carry model where consumers collect cylinders from godowns. Alleging a politically motivated attempt to discredit the Deepam 2.0 scheme, they sought the department's intervention.
Mint
03-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
How long can you keep a credit card without using it? Risks and tips explained
Credit cards now come in all types and forms. Banks issue credit cards catering to specific spending categories that include groceries, food and dining, travel, utilities and entertainment. While it is advisable to have a single credit card for all your spending needs, a lot of people use multiple credit cards to avail rewards, cashbacks and other benefits. So, what happens if you get a credit card for a specific benefit—say travel—use it for a couple of months and forget all about it? If you do not use your credit card for more than one year, your bank will start the process of closing your credit card account after informing you. Here is a guide on how to keep your credit card account active and the rules governing them. If a credit card is not used for more than a year, the bank will initiate steps to close it. 'If a credit card has not been used for a period of more than one year, the process to close the card shall be initiated after intimating the cardholder. If no reply is received from the cardholder within a period of 30 days, the card account shall be closed by the card-issuer, subject to payment of all dues by the cardholder,' Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its 'Master Direction – Credit Card and Debit Card – Issuance and Conduct Directions, 2022'. 'The information regarding the closure of the card account shall also accordingly be updated with the Credit Information Company/ies within a period of 30 days,' it said. 'Subsequent to closure of credit card accounts, any credit balance available in credit card accounts shall be transferred to the cardholder's bank account. Card-issuers shall obtain the details of the cardholder's bank account, if the same is not available with them,' the apex bank said. 'Cardholders shall be provided an option to submit a request for closure of credit card account through multiple channels such as helpline, dedicated e-mail-id, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), prominently visible link on the website, internet banking, mobile-app or any other mode,' RBI stated. 'The card-issuer shall not insist on sending a closure request through post or any other means which may result in the delay of receipt of the request. Failure on the part of the card-issuers to complete the process of closure within seven working days shall result in a penalty of ₹ 500 per calendar day of delay payable to the cardholder, till the closure of the account provided there is no outstanding in the account,' the apex bank said. The simple way to keep the credit card account active is to use it at least once a year. Make at least one transaction using your credit card during the year and it will be enough to keep the account active. For instance, if you have a credit card focussed on travel benefits, you can use it during your annual vacations. This way, you will not only be able to keep the card active but also enjoy rewards and perks that come with it. Incidentally, the RBI does not consider the service charges or interest debited by the bank as valid transactions to keep a credit card account active. Card issuing banks charge a fee for account maintenance if customers leave their credit card account dormant for quite some time. The account maintenance fee is typically deducted from the savings account linked to the credit card. Unused credit cards can actually have a positive impact on your credit score as long as they remain active. This happens because an unused credit card will bring your credit utilisation ratio (CUR), a key metric in the credit score, down, as the entire credit limit will remain untapped. For instance, if you have two credit cards with a limit of ₹ 10 lakh each, the total credit available to you will total ₹ 20 lakh. Since banks consider a CUR of 30% as ideal, you can spend up to ₹ 6 lakh in a billing cycle without hurting the credit score even though all the spending happens only on one card with a limit of ₹ 10 lakh. But if you close one card, your limit will decline to ₹ 10 lakh and you can spend only up to ₹ 3 lakh in a billing cycle to keep the CUR within limits. So, a credit card closure will severely affect your spending ability. If the credit card account is closed due to lack of usage, it will have an adverse impact on your credit score in the immediate term. Please do note that you cannot reactivate your closed credit card. You should have solid reasons for closing a credit card. You can close the card if you have a large outstanding amount and find it difficult to make the payment. In such a scenario, you can take a personal loan or a secured loan with a low-interest rate and close the card account. You can also consider closing credit card accounts if you have several credit cards that you do not need anymore. Credit cards with high annual fees can also be an ideal candidate for closure. If you have multiple cards and are faced with a situation where you have to close some of them, always make sure to retain credit cards on which you have not missed payments. This is because a credit card is a measure of your financial behaviour. If you have been paying your entire bills on time on a credit card account, it does not make any sense to close it. You will be able to get a higher credit score and better loan terms on the basis of that account. It is also better to close a new credit card and continue the old one. The older credit card is not only a reflection of your income and spending patterns but also a document of your credit history showing your credibility and reliability as a borrower. If you have a long credit history with prompt payments, your credit score and chances of securing loans on favourable terms will increase significantly. Allirajan M is a journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked with several leading media organisations in the country and has been writing on mutual funds for nearly 16 years.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chennai schools come up with ways to boost admissions
Three govt schools under the Chengalpet education district have found ways to solve a common problem — getting more children into classrooms. People will enrol their kids in govt schools if unique initiatives are implemented, said C Karpagam, chief educational officer. Govt Higher Secondary School, Kovalam Is snooker a rich man's preserve? Not necessarily, thought headmaster T Nakkeeran when he brought in a snooker table worth 2 lakh in 2021, with the help of Venkatraman Memorial Trust. "It broke the stereotype that certain games are meant only for certain people," Nakkeeran told TOI. Physical education teacher Mohan, said, "Our students participated in a competition in Chennai but since they were not accustomed to playing in an air-conditioned environment, they lost. Now, we'll get ACs in our PE room to equip our students to fare better next time," he said. Besides snooker, the school has nets for cricket. M S Nanina, Class XI, who played for the Tamil Nadu U-17 cricket team, said, "Here, both acdemics and sports get the same importance. We reached the U-17 quarter-finals in Haryana and my school bore all the expenses." MPL Govt Higher Secondary School, Hastinapuram Speaking without inhibition brings out the best in students, said headmaster J Chandran whose 'Coffee With HM' is extremely popular among his students. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Though there's a space crunch in this one-acre school, it has not deterred Chandran from placing grievance boxes across the campus. One's for faculty and one for students. Every evening he visits classes to connect with his students. "We discuss everything from academics to issues at home or school. And if there is an issue, we try to resolve it," said Chandran. Hari Prasad, a Class XI student, said, "The HM is a busy man, yet he finds time to listen to us. I wanted a library in the school but I was too shy to ask him. But drop boxes and 'Coffee with HM' room help introverts like me open up. Now, we have a library." Maraimalai Adigal Govt Higher Secondary School, Pallavaram At headmaster S Ravi Kasi Venkataraman's school, 80-plus CCTVs maintain careful watch over students' movements, and no one can play truant. But how does he ensure students stay in school? Answer: The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) app. This app lets the headmaster record messages and forward them to parents. "I send messages about students' absence, exam details and pass on updates. Student details are stored in the app along with their parents' phone numbers," said Ravi. Messages are sent four times a day, spaced 30 minutes apart. "If parents miss the first message, they can listen to the next." The school also offers free coaching for competitive exams., said the parent of GP Shravesh, a former CBSE student who is set to join Class XI. Three years ago, school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi opened the Young Kalam Discovery Science Centre at this school.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
CBSE Board 10th, 12th Results 2025 Date Live Update: When CBSE Class 10, 12 board exam results be released, Check when and how to access marksheets
CBSE Board 10th, 12th Results 2025 Date Live Update : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is poised to declare the Class 10 and Class 12 board examination results for 2025 in the coming days. With over 44 lakh students having appeared for the exams held between February 15 and March 18, the results are expected to be released between May 1 and May 10, amid strong indications that they may be announced as early as May 2. No official date has been confirmed by the board as of now. The evaluation of answer sheets, which began shortly after the conclusion of the examinations, is reportedly in its final stages. According to CBSE officials, the result compilation process is on track and likely to be completed by the end of April, paving the way for timely publication. Sources familiar with the matter have indicated that the board is aiming for a streamlined result declaration in line with previous years. In 2024, the CBSE announced both Class 10 and Class 12 results on May 13. The year before that, results were published on May 12. The consistency in this schedule lends weight to speculations around a May 2 announcement this year, though students have been advised to rely strictly on official updates. Once declared, students will be able to access their CBSE results through multiple channels: and will serve as the primary portals. Students must enter their roll number, school code, and date of birth. DigiLocker: Mark sheets will be available on DigiLocker, accessible via Aadhaar-linked credentials or registered mobile numbers. UMANG App: The government-backed UMANG platform will provide mobile access to result data. SMS Service: For those with limited internet access, CBSE will offer an SMS facility. Students will be required to send their roll numbers to a specific number, to be announced shortly. IVRS Facility: In certain regions, the board will enable an Interactive Voice Response System to allow result retrieval via phone calls. It must be noted that the online results are provisional in nature. Students will be required to collect their original mark sheets from their respective schools. These physical documents are essential for all higher education admission procedures and other formal processes. Compartment Exams and Revaluation In the event of a student failing in one or two subjects, CBSE is expected to conduct compartment examinations in July 2025. Applications for the same will open shortly after the declaration of results. Additionally, students wishing to apply for rechecking or revaluation can do so within a stipulated timeframe—typically one to two weeks after results are published. Previous Year Data Provides Context In 2024, CBSE recorded a pass percentage of 93.60% in Class 10 and 87.98% in Class 12. In 2023, the figures were 93.12% and 87.33%, respectively. With digitisation and centralised evaluation mechanisms in place, CBSE is expected to maintain comparable timelines and transparency for the 2025 cycle.
