Digital Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Mumbai/Bengaluru: A ₹6,700-crore windfall from the listing of Tata Capital last October will help Tata Sons offset an over 10% decline in dividend income from its listed companies, helping the holding company end FY26 with its overall revenue higher than the previous year. The one-off boost comes as Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, the majority shareholder in Tata Sons, raised concern over mounting losses in newer businesses that continue to consume significant funding.Tata Trusts, worried over ballooning losses, has sought clarity on Tata Sons chairman N.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Homegrown advertising group RK Swamy Ltd is betting on its integrated marketing model to drive growth over the next few years, combining media, creative and other advertising services even as the ‘Big Four’ agency networks increasingly separate those businesses.“We never did disaggregated media and creative [although] that was an option 20 years ago,” Shekhar Swamy, MD and group CEO of RK Swamy Ltd told Mint in an interview.“How can you disaggregate the two? The media function holds a lot of data, and then when media and creative walk separately, it creates a lot of tension. This is not a sensible model for a client.”RK Swamy’s clients include Magicbricks, Polycab, and several government institutions and PSUs such as LIC.The company reported a 15% jump in annual revenue for FY26 to ₹351.73 crore, while profit before tax and exceptional items rose 30% year-on-year to ₹32.2 crore.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Most of us grew up seeing conservation at home—saving water, switching off what we did not need, repairing rather than discarding things and treating resources with quiet respect. We never called it ‘sustainability.’ It was common sense, passed down by elders, absorbed without effort and practised without announcement.In today’s global environment, that common sense is not just a virtue but a practical national strength. That is why I read the Prime Minister’s recent seven-point appeal as a timely reminder and not as a signal of panic.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Urban India appears to be going through a parenting revolution. Only one in five persons interviewed in a recent Mint survey said they believe in raising their kids similar to how their own parents raised them.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: More than half of IPO-linked capital expenditure in India in the first quarter of 2026 went into technology, cloud and network infrastructure, reflecting a broader shift in how newly listed companies are deploying capital.The trend was visible in the composition of initial public offering (IPO) spending patterns. Data from Uniqus Consultech shows capex accounted for about 30% of the ₹18,778 crore raised across 18 mainboard IPOs in the quarter.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Muthoot FinCorp Ltd, one of India's largest gold loan non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), is seeking to raise up to ₹4,000 crore through an initial public offering, even as it attempts to convince investors that it is more than just the business it has spent decades building.Muthoot wants to be read as a diversified, technology-enabled financial services company that can grow through its branch network, app, and a wider product set.That is the tension at the heart of the company’s initial public offering (IPO) pitch. In an interview with Mint, chief executive Shaji Varghese said the company is moving “from a single-product company to a company of a social segment with multiple products".The NBFC, with 3,800 branches, ₹56,185 crore in assets under management (AUM) and over ₹1,640 crore in net profit for FY26, approved the IPO on Saturday, subject to shareholder and regulatory clearances.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.High up in the mountains or deep in the jungles, your smartphone may still stay connected, thanks to direct-to-device (D2D) satellite technology making its way to India. However, the technology has opened up divisions, as telecom operators, satellite service providers and broadband firms spar over customer control, spectrum, and launch timelines.The department of telecommunications (DoT) has proposed a 'wholesale' model for satellite communications like D2D, which is currently under the telecom regulator's consultation process.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.To have a coffee delivered to an office in Shanghai, simply ask one of China’s artificial-intelligence super-apps to choose a brew on your behalf, press “confirm” and the beverage will be on its way. Delegating such important decisions brings risks, of course.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Despite being infamous for box office volatility, the theatrical business is fast drawing digital-first players seeking scale beyond streaming.Kuku, the digital entertainment company behind platforms like Kuku FM and Kuku TV, has announced its expansion into theatrical-led cinema with its first Hindi feature film, Indian Institute of Zombies.Firms like Collective Media Network and TVF (The Viral Fever), known for OTT and digital projects, also have theatrical releases scheduled.Industry experts say that while cinema remains unpredictable in the short term, films continue to be one of the most powerful formats for building large-scale intellectual property and cultural relevance.Digital-first companies are not looking at films only through the lens of theatrical box office—they see them as long-term content assets that can travel across streaming, satellite, music, and international platforms. For many, film production is a natural extension of an ecosystem already built around audience data, creators, and cross-platform storytelling.“Digital platforms have spent years building audience trust, understanding consumption patterns, and identifying what truly resonates.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: The government has digitised the compliance process for environmental clearances linked to industrial expansion, in a move aimed at easing regulatory burdens and accelerating project approvals, said two officials aware of the development.The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) has made the process of obtaining certified compliance reports (CCR) for industrial expansion proposals digital through the existing PARIVESH portal, aiming to ease procedures for businesses seeking environmental clearance (ECs). Launched in August 2018, PARIVESH (Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous, and Environmental Single-window Hub) is a central government digital platform, which automates and streamlines the process for businesses and developers to apply for and track mandatory environmental and ecological clearances.The online system will enable industries to file compliance reports pertaining to projects where environmental clearance is needed, upload mandatory documents and track approval status through a single digital platform, reducing paperwork and procedural delays, the officials said, requesting anonymity."It will be useful for those projects which require environmental clearance.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.While Y2K has dominated the conversation for seasons, the defining footwear of 2026 requires turning the clock back even further. This summer, we are stepping away from the heavy, chunky silhouettes of the recent past in favour of the refined minimalism of the 1990s. The look is decidedly editorial, sleek, intentional, and balanced by a playful sense of kitsch.The kitten heel has made its triumphant return, offering a sharp but sensible elevation, while mules and satin ballerinas have reclaimed their status as it-girl staples.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Over the last few days, market intermediaries have launched regulated versions of digital gold that also allow individuals to take physical deliveries. On paper, these products promise the best of both worlds: access to high-purity gold at transparent prices without the hassle of storage.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Bitcoin die-hards think they’ve found the hot new thing.Some longtime crypto enthusiasts are souring on bitcoin as it goes mainstream, frustrated that it no longer provides the privacy they value. Others are disenchanted with how politicians and celebrities are suddenly embracing bitcoin—or they’re just fed up with the token’s slumping price.Now, bitcoin’s early evangelists are getting behind another digital token: Zcash.Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss are among the bitcoin pioneers betting big on the so-called privacy token, which lets users shield their transaction details.Zcash’s emphasis on anonymity reminds some of crypto’s early days, when privacy was championed as a ticket to personal freedom.“It feels like bitcoin circa 2013,” said Barry Silbert, founder of Digital Currency Group and Grayscale Investments, which set up the first publicly traded bitcoin fund.Catch all the Technology News and Updates on Live Mint.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Some consolidation efforts are underway in the streaming content space as smaller platforms struggle with rising costs and programming clutter in what has so far largely been a fragmented industry.Shemaroo Entertainment has acquired the library of regional platform OHO Gujarati, while Vibhu Agarwal-owned Atrangii OTT has tied up with Amazon MX Player for distribution. Saregama India acquired a majority stake in digital entertainment company Pocket Aces Pictures in 2023.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Ahead of its initial public offering (IPO), Jio Platforms Limited has appointed Akash M. Ambani as its managing director for five years, effective 9 April, according to disclosures seen by Mint.The leadership reshuffle comes as the company prepares to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to seek approval for listing.“...subject to the approval of the members of the company, Mr Akash M.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.As artificial intelligence (AI) makes resumes increasingly polished and tailored for automated hiring systems, recruiters are rethinking how much a traditional curriculum vitae (CV) really reveals about a candidate. Hiring teams are now leaning more on assessments, video introductions and digital footprints to judge skills, communication and workplace fit, reflecting a wider shift in hiring.The discussion is being shaped by a simple concern: If AI tools can make every resume look polished and application tracking system (ATS) friendly, do they still tell recruiters anything meaningful about the candidate? For many hiring teams, the answer is now no.“AI is making CVs look almost identical, which puts more pressure on hiring managers and reduces the value of the resume as a standalone hiring tool,” said Kamal Karanth, cofounder of specialist staffing firm Xpheno.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.At the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai last year, the governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the launch of a “next-generation financial market infrastructure,” designed to “tokenize financial assets and settlements.” While it received no more than a passing mention in his speech, the Unified Markets Interface he mentioned appears to be an early signpost of the direction in which the digitization of India’s financial sector is likely to progress. To understand the significance of this announcement, it is important to be clear about what a tokenized asset is and how it works.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.New Delhi: The apex drug regulator has directed all licensed blood centres to enrol in a national digital portal, as part of a crackdown after cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in children due to contaminated transfusions across multiple states, according to two government officials and a document reviewed by Mint.The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issued a directive ordering all 4,153 licensed blood banks to complete registration on the Online National Drug Licensing System portal by 13 May, a single-window platform that centralizes licensing, tracks donor histories, and provides hospitals and patients visibility into verified blood supplies.“In order to strengthen regulatory oversight, enhance transparency in blood services, and ensure easy public access to blood and its components across the country, it has been decided to generate a database of all Blood Centres on the Online National Drug Licensing System (ONDLS) portal www.Statedrugs.gov.in,” the CDSCO directive to all State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) said.CDSCO has categorized this mission as a ‘priority’.“...all State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) are requested to direct all Blood Centres within their respective jurisdictions to complete this registration latest by 13.05.2026. Action taken may be informed to this directorate for submitting to the MoHFW (ministry of health and family welfare),” the letter said.The e-RaktKosh digital backbone for blood services and National Informatics Centre (NIC) teams are involved in the information flow to manage the technical rollout.The move, authorized by drugs controller general Dr.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Fintech unicorn-turned-bank Slice is preparing to enter wealth management with an AI-powered “personal CFO” embedded in its banking app, according to twopeople familiar with the matter.The company has begun beta-testing the tool, which can track balances, flag idle funds, monitor maturing deposits, build savings prompts around user goals and warn users about potential cash crunches before they happen, the people said.Slice plans to eventually add investment offerings to the platform, though it could not be ascertained when those products would be launched.Many Indians still find investing intimidating because they are overwhelmed by product choices and are unaware of how to build their wealth and assess their risk appetite, the people said. The company believes the move could help it better understand customer behaviour and eventually sharpen the design and distribution of wealth products within the app, according to one of the people cited above.The move signals Slice’s aim to evolve beyond banking, payments and credit into full-stack financial distribution at a time when wealth-tech remains one of the few fintech segments continuing to attract investor interest.The company is pitching the tool as more than a generic chatbot for personal finance, the first person close to the project said.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: The few seconds of music you hear while waiting for someone to answer a phone call is copyrighted intellectual property, and telecom operators offering caller tunes may now need separate licences and royalty payments to lyricists and composers after a recent Calcutta High Court ruling.On 8 May, the Calcutta High Court ruled against Vodafone Idea in its long-running dispute with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), holding that telecom operators cannot offer caller tunes and ringtones solely on the basis of licences obtained from music labels.Mint explains the ruling and what it could mean for telecom operators and digital platforms.The dispute centres on whether telecom operators offering caller tunes and ringtones require separate licences from lyricists and composers, apart from licences obtained from music labels such as Saregama.Telecom companies treat caller tunes as a value-added service, a paid add-on beyond regular calling and SMS facilities that generates additional revenue and improves user engagement.Vodafone Idea signed agreements with Saregama in 2014 to use songs for caller tune services. However, IPRS argued that while music labels may own sound recordings, lyricists and composers retain separate rights over the underlying literary and musical works under the Copyright Act, particularly after the 2012 amendments that strengthened creators’ royalty rights.In 2018, Vodafone Idea approached the Calcutta High Court challenging IPRS’s claim that telecom operators required separate licences and royalty payments for using songs as caller tunes and ringtones.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The democratization of programming has arrived—as an artificial intelligence (AI) model prompt. The ability to command a machine was a specialized art, restricted to a class of engineers fluent in cryptic computer languages. No longer.