ELECTRONIC WALLET
Diwali 2026 Gift Ideas: What India Is Actually Buying This Year — From Gourmet Hampers to Smart Gadgets
In 2026, Diwali gifting trends are shifting towards practical and personalized choices, moving away from the classic sweets. Gifts in demand now include gourmet food, home décor, electronics, and items reflecting personal style. Additionally, many are opting for wellness products and experiential gifts. It’s important to align gifts with the recipient's tastes and budget, as meaningful selections carry more weight than opulent choices.
These mid-caps have ‘strong buy’ & ‘buy’ recos and an upside potential of over 25%, according to analysts
When a market is as jittery as it is right now, poor numbers are treated harshly. A new-age company in the business of buying and selling used cars reported numbers that fell short, and the street punished the stock severely. But it is not just the clear misses. Anything that is well-owned and presents disappointing numbers is seeing double-digit cuts.
Branch managers, 37 mule accounts & Rs 7.3 crore racket: How labourers were lured with loan promises only to have their documents misused. Police probe Chinese link
Two branch managers of a private bank are under investigation for their alleged role in a Rs 7.3-crore mule-account racket linked to 99 cybercrime complaints across India. Six people, including one branch manager, have been arrested, while another manager remains absconding. Police are probing alleged forged KYC documents, suspected cryptocurrency transactions and a possible link to a Chinese national.
India braces for first Diwali after Gulf war with tighter budgets
As households prepare for Diwali, rising food prices and travel expenses are impacting festive budgets significantly. Increased costs for essential items like vegetables and sweets are leading to reduced discretionary spending. E-commerce platforms have seen lower sales compared to last year, indicating a shift in consumer behaviour.
Hidden recorder, chatbot prompts and an FBI arrest: Inside the OpenAI spying case
Abdulrahman Alfozan, an engineer at OpenAI, was arrested for allegedly planting a recording device in an executive meeting room. The device, discovered on September 30, was found concealed in toilet paper and connected to a USB port. CCTV footage showed Alfozan near the room prior to the device’s discovery, despite lacking authorisation.
FBI arrests OpenAI engineer over hidden recording device in executive conference room
OpenAI reported the discovery of a sophisticated recording device hidden in a conference room. The employee, Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested after evidence linked him to the installation of the device. Authorities confirmed that no sensitive company data had been compromised during this incident. Alfozan had made multiple attempts to access restricted areas within the company's building. He is scheduled to appear in court again on October 19 for further proceedings.
Fee on UPI P2M payments: How this “small” 0.4% fee can take a bigger bite out of your money
Starting from October 15, 2026, a new 0.4% transaction fee will be applied to UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000, while lower amounts and peer-to-peer transfers will still be free. As some merchants may choose to adjust prices accordingly, customers should stay vigilant, checking for any surcharges at checkout to ensure they understand all costs involved. Transparency and quality of service will be vital as these changes are implemented.
New indicator for New India: 25 stocks whose numbers can reveal what is in store for the economy and the stock market
For decades, there was a familiar way to understand the Indian consumer. Economists waited for GDP, industrial production, inflation, credit growth and other official numbers, and then used them to work out whether households were spending more or pulling back. Those indicators still matter. But the Indian consumer has changed faster than the dashboard used to track consumption and spending patterns. Check out Stock Reports Plus, powered by Refinitiv, for price targets of over 4,000 listed stocks along with detailed company analysis focusing on five key components – earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk, and price momentum – to generate standardised scores. SR+ Reports is a complimentary offering to ETPrime members.
OneTag launched for FASTag users: You can now change issuer bank without replacing your FASTag; what will happen to your existing wallet?
In a game-changing move for FASTag users, the newly launched 'OneTag' portability feature enables individuals to transition their issuer bank without losing their current physical tag. This innovative service mandates a fresh Know Your Customer verification to initiate the portability. Subsequent to the successful switch, the initial bank will deactivate the old wallet and refund any remaining balance.
Pass the buck to RBI, banks: Let the savings from digital payments fund UPI costs, not consumers
The RBI's MDR introduction on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 faces criticism. This move may discourage digital payments and encourage a return to cash. Savings from reduced currency printing should cover fintech expenses instead. Digital payments have significantly reduced RBI's currency printing expenditure. Incentivizing digital payments is crucial for curbing the parallel economy.
Demat 2.0 explained: Why it matters for bond market investors
In an innovative move, Sebi has rolled out Demat 2.0, a pilot scheme aimed at tokenising corporate bonds. This initiative facilitates rapid settlement and instant fund retrieval for investors. It automates interest and redemption payments through smart contracts, while atomic settlement mitigates risks by coordinating the release of bonds and payments seamlessly. Future developments will broaden this system's reach to secondary markets and individual investors.
FASTag users can now switch banks without changing tag as Nitin Gadkari launches OneTag
In a significant move for drivers, the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled the OneTag system that allows motorists to conveniently change their FASTag issuing banks without needing new physical tags. Users can maintain their current tag and vehicle registration during this transition, which will be managed through the Rajmargyatra mobile application. This initiative aims to make the process more user-friendly and cut down on the production of new tags.
Crypto's shopping hack; Centre eyes Meta child safeguards
Indians are buying groceries, fuel, food and gold via gift cards on overseas crypto platforms. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Govt left with a losing hand as offshore RMG sites find a cheat code
Multiple users on social media platforms like X continue to complain that their money is stuck on offshore platforms such as Parimatch, 1Xbet and other sites that are beyond the direct reach of Indian regulators, even as these sites continue to attract users and their funds.
The receipt in your hand looks harmless, but its heat-sensitive coating can contain chemicals that transfer to skin, raising fresh questions about repeated everyday exposure
Many receipts are printed on heat-sensitive thermal paper, which contains chemicals like BPA and BPS. This poses a risk as exposure can occur through skin contact, particularly for cashiers handling these receipts regularly. Additionally, recycling these thermal receipts spreads these chemicals further, leading to greater contamination in paper products.
India plans first tokenised bond issue in September: Report
India is set to roll out tokenised corporate bonds next month, utilizing blockchain technology to facilitate immediate transaction settlements. The state-owned REC will be at the forefront of issuing these innovative bonds, which will require investors to possess both digital currency and securities wallets. This initial phase is designed for a limited number of selected investors, showcasing the potential of modern financial practices.
India's digital currency to debut by early 2023
A top government source said the digital currency issued by the RBI would be numbered in units, just like every fiat currency has an unique number.
New transfer protocol to simplify transactions for online wallet companies
“UPI will bring easier and cost effective methods to load money in Paytm,” said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO, Paytm.
Transactions by digital wallets up three times between February and April
Digital wallets allow users to make purchases electronically using a device - most often a smartphone -to reduce the burden of carrying cash.
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