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Indian News

PayTM sees surge in the use of its payment platforms, could turn profitable in 2021

Speaking at a panel on how technology can help tackle financial exclusion, Vijay Shekhar Sharma said the crisis had forced more merchants to use PayTM’s platforms as businesses were forced to accept digital payments.
PayTM, which began as a service for people to top up their mobile phones, offers a digital payment platform for merchants, money transfers and bill payments across India. Its lending businesses include credit cards, personal loans and merchant cash loans in partnership with other lenders.

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RBI forms panel to look into digital lending practices

The regulator said on Wednesday, it was setting up a six-member working group to evaluate digital lending activities and identify risks posed by unregulated digital lending to financial stability, regulated entities and consumers.
In December, the RBI had issued a notice about lending apps, warning that some engaged in “unscrupulous activities”, such as charging excessive interest rates and fees.

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India records 12,584 new cases, lowest in seven months

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,01,11,294 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.49 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent.

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh.

There are 2,16,558 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprises 2.07 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

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Some lending apps thrive on India’s Google Play despite policy violations

The rise of smartphones and affordable mobile internet in India has seen a proliferation of hundreds of personal lending apps in recent years. Campaign groups say rapid advances in technology have outpaced authorities and are calling for regulations to be introduced regarding loan tenures and fees.

“There are no clear norms on lending apps in India. Right now they fall in a grey zone,” said Nikhil Pahwa, a digital rights activist and editor of MediaNama, a Delhi-based publication on technology policy.

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