Tag: technology

  • Big B posts AI version of himself to celebrate 55 years in ‘wondrous’ Hindi cinema

    Big B Posts AI Version Of Himself To Celebrate 55 Years In 'Wondrous' Hindi Cinema

    Big B Posts AI Version Of Himself To Celebrate 55 Years In ‘Wondrous’ Hindi CinemaIANS

    Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has completed a “wondrous” 55 years in the world of Hindi cinema and to celebrate it he has given himself an AI spin.

    It was in 1969, when the cine icon stepped into the world of showbiz with ‘Saat Hindustani’ and since then he has captivated the audience with his impeccable performances on screen.

    Amitabh took to X (formerly Twitter), where he dropped two AI images of himself.

    The first picture has a camera lens in place of his spectacle lens. The second photo has a colourful camera reel like streamers with faces and eyes made on it.

    “T 4924 – 55 years in the wondrous world of Cinema… and AI, gives me its interpretation… a presentation by Ef B… self made,” Big B wrote on Twitter.

    Amitabh Bachchan

    Amitabh BachchanIANS

    Even though he started his acting career with ‘Saat Hindustani, Big B had first began his journey as a voice narrator in ‘Bhuvan Shome’ starring Utpal Dutt in 1969 by Mrinal Sen.

    The octogenarian gained the spotlight in the 1970s with films such as ‘Anand’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Roti Kapada Aur Makaan’, ‘Deewaar’ and ‘Sholay’. He was even given the tag of the “angry young man”.

    Then in the 80s, he attained more stardom with his work in films such as ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘Don’, ‘Namak Halaal’, ‘Coolie’, ‘Sharaabi Abhimaan’, ‘Majboor’, ‘Mili’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Silsila’, ‘Shahenshah’ and ‘Agneepath’.

    In the 2000s, he was seen in blockbusters such as ‘Baghban’, ‘Mohabbatein’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…’, ‘Sarkar’, ‘Pink’ and Piku’.

    The star has even worked in Hollywood film ‘The Great Gatsby’ in 2013.

    Amitabh is now gearing up for the release of the sci-fi thriller ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, which also has Kamal Haasan, Prabhas and Deepika Padukone.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Sivakumar Ponnusamy: Mastering Financial Crime Prevention Through Data Modernization

    Sivakumar Ponnusamy

    Sivakumar Ponnusamy

    Rapid technological advancement has introduced both opportunities and risks to the banking and financial sector. While innovations like online banking and mobile payments enhance convenience, they also create vulnerabilities to cyber threats and financial fraud. In 2024, financial institutions face complex financial crime, requiring proactive risk management. Beyond traditional money laundering, digital methods, cyber threats, and fraud pose challenges, Financial Institutions are in urgent need of reassessing strategies to safeguard operations and the financial system’s integrity which include getting assistance or contribution from professionals who have expertise in handling such advance technological threats. Meet Sivakumar Ponnusamy with a mastery in safeguarding financial institutions from highly sophisticated financial crimes.

    Significant Contributions and Insights:

    Sivakumar Ponnusamy is an experienced data engineering professional who has nearly two decades of expertise in transforming data platforms for leading banking and financial clients in the USA. He has worked with various banking clients in the US, including a notable stint at one of the three major Credit Bureaus in the US. His contributions at credit Bureau include re-engineering the Online Batch (OLB) product, enhancing scalability and market expansion. Notably, this product is utilized by top-10 Banks in the US, showcasing Sivakumar’s impact in the industry.

    Sivakumar, an authority in data engineering and modernization, delves into the profound significance of these practices within the banking and financial sector. He emphasizes that data engineering is not merely a technical function but a strategic imperative for financial institutions. Data, he asserts, is the lifeblood of banking operations, serving as the foundation for critical functions such as risk management, customer insights, and regulatory compliance.

    In rapidly evolving financial landscape, characterized by digital transformation and increasing competition, the need for data modernization has become more pressing than ever. Sivakumar explains that outdated legacy systems impede agility and innovation, leaving institutions vulnerable to disruption and unable to meet the dynamic demands of customers and regulators alike.

    Sivakumar has set a classic example by leading a groundbreaking cloud migration initiative that proved to be a stepping stone for the banking sector. He spearheaded the first-of-its-kind transition from on-premises infrastructure to the AWS public cloud within the Banking Industry. This move not only marked a significant technological advancement but also set a precedent for other institutions to follow suit. By embracing cloud technologies, financial institutions can benefit from enhanced scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, positioning them for success in the digital age. Sivakumar’s expertise in performance tuning of data pipelines has yielded remarkable results. By fine-tuning these critical applications, he achieved unprecedented performance improvements, boosting efficiency by an impressive 70-90%.

    The proliferation of digital transactions and sophisticated cyber threats has underscored the importance of robust data modernization strategies. Sivakumar highlights that modern data platforms and technologies not only enhance operational efficiency but also strengthen security measures, safeguarding sensitive financial data from potential breaches and fraud.
    Sivakumar Ponnusamy’s leadership in developing various generic frameworks and tools has helped leading Banking client’s Analytics platform users increase productivity and expedite time-to-market.

    His collaboration with Cloud Custodian ensures adherence to cloud standards, security, and compliance, maintaining data integrity and customer trust.

    His insights shed light on the transformative potential of data engineering and modernization for financial institutions. By embracing these practices, institutions can unlock new opportunities for growth, enhance customer experiences, and ensure long-term viability in an increasingly competitive landscape. Sivakumar advocates for a proactive approach to data modernization, viewing it not as a mere option but as an essential investment in the future success of financial institutions.

    Professional Achievements:

    Sivakumar Ponnusamy has garnered significant recognition throughout his esteemed career, underscoring his exceptional professional achievements. In 2023, he received the prestigious International Achievers’ Award, a coveted accolade presented by the Indian Achievers Forum, acknowledging his outstanding contributions since the turn of the millennium.

    In early 2024, he received another prestigious award, IT-Cloud Innovator of the year at “Indian Leadership Summit and Awards 2024”, for building various data processing and migration frameworks and leading the first-of-its-kind migration from On-premises to AWS public cloud, especially in the Banking industry.

    These esteemed recognition underscore Sivakumar’s dedication and impact in the field of data engineering and modernization within the Banking and Financial sector.

    He has authored several journal articles and IEEE conference papers on Data Engineering, Modernization, and Scalable data processing in the cloud, including publications in notable Q1 Journals like IEEE Access, which underscores the quality of his work.

    Moreover, his esteemed memberships in professional organizations such as BCS and IET, along with his status as an RSA Fellow and IEEE Senior member, further solidify his standing as a respected leader in the industry. These memberships not only reflect Sivakumar’s commitment to continuous learning and professional development but also highlight his influential role in shaping the future of data engineering and modernization practices in Banking and Financial Sector.

  • This is how OpenAI’s new AI model ‘Sora’ will create videos from text

    ChatGPT maker OpenAI has unveiled Sora, a new text-to-video model that can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user's prompt.

    ChatGPT maker OpenAI has unveiled Sora, a new text-to-video model that can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt.IANS

    ChatGPT maker OpenAI has unveiled Sora, a new text-to-video model that can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt.

    Sora is a diffusion model, which generates a video by starting off with one that looks like static noise and gradually transforms it by removing the noise over many steps.

    “Sora is capable of generating entire videos all at once or extending generated videos to make them longer,” the company said.

    In addition to being able to generate a video solely from text instructions, the model is also able to take an existing still image and generate a video from it, “animating the image’s contents with accuracy and attention to small detail”.

    Similar to GPT models, Sora uses a transformer architecture, unlocking superior scaling performance.

    The company said it is making Sora available to “red teamers (domain experts) to assess critical areas for harms or risks”.

    Authors sue Microsoft, OpenAI for copyright infringement in new lawsuit

    OpenAIIANS

    “We are also granting access to a number of visual artists, designers, and filmmakers to gain feedback on how to advance the model to be most helpful for creative professionals,” OpenAI said in a statement.

    Sora will be able to generate complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details of the subject and background.

    “The model understands not only what the user has asked for in the prompt, but also how those things exist in the physical world,” according to OpenAI.

    Sora can also create multiple shots within a single generated video that accurately persist characters and visual style.

    The company, however, admitted that the current model has its own weaknesses.

    “It may struggle with accurately simulating the physics of a complex scene, and may not understand specific instances of cause and effect. For example, a person might take a bite out of a cookie, but afterward, the cookie may not have a bite mark,” explained OpenAI.

    The company further said that it will take important safety steps ahead of making Sora available in OpenAI’s products.

    “We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model. We’re also building tools to help detect misleading content such as a detection classifier that can tell when a video was generated by Sora,” the company explained.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Honor brings X smartphone series to India, launches smartwatch, earbuds

    Honor X series debuts with X9b smartphone launch in India; new watch, earbuds launched too

    Honor X series debuts with X9b smartphone launch in India; new watch, earbuds launched tooIBT

    Global technology company Honor on Thursday announced the launch of its X Series line-up with the introduction of Honor X9b smartphone in India. The company also launched a smartwatch and earbuds.

    The 6.78-inch Honor X9b 5G will be available for Rs 25,999 from February 16, with some exciting offers which brings down the effective price down to Rs 22,999, the company said in a statement.

    Additionally, the company said it is giving a complimentary charger worth Rs 699 free of cost as an introductory offer.

    “HTech takes great pride in delivering the highest-quality smartphone experiences to customers. The Honor X9b is designed from the ground up to solve user pain points and meet the high expectations of customers,” said Madhav Sheth, CEO of HTech.

    The company also announced Honor Choice Watch for Rs 6,499 with an introductory discount of Rs 500, starting February 24, along with a Choice Earbuds X5 for Rs 1,999 (starting February 16).

    The company said that all the three products will be available across Amazon.in, brand website www.explorehonor.com and retail stores.

    Honor X series debuts with X9b smartphone launch in India; new watch, earbuds launched too

    Honor X series debuts with X9b smartphone launch in India; new watch, earbuds launched tooIBT

    The Honor X9b smartphone has industry-first, ultra-bounce 360-degree anti-drop display and houses a 5800mAh battery.

    “With Amazon Pay Later, early buyers enjoy hassle-free credit within minutes, enabling 12 months of no-cost installments without the need for a credit card. We are excited to offer the HONOR X9b on India’s most preferred and trusted online marketplace, starting at Rs 2,167 per month,” said Ranjit Babu, Director, Wireless and Home Entertainment, Amazon India.

    The phone runs the latest Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2 Advanced Operating system. It comes in 2 colours – Sunrise Orange and Midnight Black.

    HONOR X9b is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, and comes with Qualcomm Kryo CPU and Qualcomm Adreno GPU, which are up to 40 per cent and 35 per cent faster than their predecessors, respectively, and delivers greater AI processing performance.

    With 16GB total storage, including 8GB RAM Turbo and an eXtra 8GB, the HONOR X9b guarantees smooth performance and extensive storage for an enhanced user experience.

    The smartphone features a triple camera system — a 108MP Lossless Capture Camera, a 5MP Ultra-Wide Camera, and a 2MP Macro Camera.

  • Abhijeet Singh Bais employing the use of A.I. to reduce supply chain risks

    Abhijeet Singh Bais

    Technology is always flipping the script, and A.I. or Artificial Intelligence is no different. There has been a massive surge of digital technology reaching down to the grassroots in present times and A.I is a game-changer that is revolutionising everything.

    Data has been king for a while now, ever since the expansion – or sophistication – of the internet. Data was found in marketing strategies, awareness campaigns, healthcare, etcetera. With the help of A.I., we will be able to unlock new levels of potential never before thought possible. And in a world dominated by data, Abhijeet Singh Bais stands out with his expertise that spans across various industries.

    One notable accomplishment is Abhijeet’s contribution to Dubai’s Palm Beach Hotel. Despite lacking experience in the construction industry, he was able to come up with tools and solutions that enhance efficiency, from developing an innovative method of crushing stone to the development of a remote automotive invoice system, he was able to contribute to the architectural marvel.

    His five-year goal is to kick cancer to the curb, and that might sound like a big dream, but to Abhijeet, “The data is right there. We can take the information given and prevent cancer with preemptive measures. I’m not looking to cure cancer, because what if we’re going about this the wrong way? Instead of tackling the problem, we should be tackling the root of the problem. What I am to do is to predict cancer before it happens.”

    As the age-old adage goes, prevention is better than cure. Over the next few years, he will be tackling this dream of his with big-name collaborations and create a more effective healthcare system.

    However, today, he’s all about reducing risks in the supply chain. It is clear that Abhijeet really lives by the notion of prevention.

    “What constitutes supply chain risk? Pandemic, political instability, natural disasters, currency fluctuations, the list is endless. If it affects the operations or the demand, it’s a risk, and all risks can be mitigated if you know how to prepare for it,” the tech-savvy entrepreneur explains, “and A.I. is key.”Abhijeet Singh Bais

    Unlocking the potential of data with A.I. has been something that Abhijeet has been working towards, “Identifying the risks and predicting them is key to enacting change. We will be able to work towards more coherent and efficient solutions if we knew what was coming. This is the power of A.I. and I am determined to harness it.”

    Proactive risk mitigation may not be an original innovation, but there aren’t many solutions readily available that take advantage of the power of A.I with such efficiency. Through his originality and ability to think outside the box, we may continue to expect great things from Abhijeet Singh Bais.

    Disclaimer: IBT does not endorse the above content

  • Becoming the talk of the town with Bhanu Prakash Gurugubelli

    Bhanu Prakash Gurugubelli

    Bhanu Prakash Gurugubelli

    AI has been sweeping across the globe and shaking up industries across multiple sectors with its game-changing features. Generative AI has been hitting the creative industry hard, but generative AI can also be leveraged into customer service.

    Bhanu Prakash Gurugubelli might not be some hotshot celebrity, but he is making waves in the insurance industry with AI automation and is tackling conversational AI to be included in insurance platforms for a more seamless experience. Currently leading the global infrastructure team for Chubb Insurance, his contributions are being felt worldwide.

    “The whole idea is to decrease processing times for claims or submissions, all the underwriting,” Bhanu explains, “we have so much potential at our fingertips with the integration of AI, it seemed almost crazy not to take advantage of it.”

    According to the AVP Intelligent Process Automation Infra Lead at Chubb Insurance, Bhanu and his team were able to process new policies as well as provide quotes to the victims of hurricane Ida in 2021. The automation processes that he had introduced were able to process over 5000 claims a day, and while on a whole, this might not affect the average Joe, to those victims who are in dire need of financial aid, it was a matter of receiving support when it was desperately needed.

    Having established an automation department for the company, Bhanu is now working on conversational AI on insurance policies and other helpful information that can assist users or policyholders with any problems or questions they may have.

    “The same questions keep getting asked, over and over again,” Bhanu says, sharing on why he is focusing on conversational automation, “if we can get those questions answered without manpower, it becomes less of a burden on the company and will be able to alleviate agents, giving them more time to focus on what’s more important. Having AI do most of the work is becoming a cost-effective solution for many run of the mill problems. Plus, we can weed out those who aren’t quite ready to commit yet and offer solutions to easy problems – a win on all sides.”

    Bhanu is trying his best to shake up the insurance industry – throwing out old and tired methods and replacing them with modern inventions that can bring new life into an ever-growing industry. With AI being the new kid in town and every industry scrambling to include it into their systems, it made perfect sense for Bhanu to recruit it for the betterment of insurance.

    “Handling insurance claims and updating policies have become a fixture of insurance but there are always better ways to drive sales and create more cohesive policies that are needed instead of policies that we think our clients need. With AI, we will be phasing out delayed responses and payouts, as well as weeding out dated policies that may have worked in the past, but are irrelevant now.” Bhanu is living in the AI revolution and is working hard to embrace the changes that come with it.

    Disclaimer: IBT does not endorse the above content.

  • From Rural India to Raytheon Technologies: The Inspiring Saga of Tech Maverick Jagdish Zagade

    Jagdish Zagade

    Jagdish Zagade

    In the annals of technological advancement, few stories resonate as profoundly as Jagdish Zagade’s. Born and raised in a small village in rural India, Jagdish’s journey to becoming a significant figure at Raytheon Technologies, a leader in aerospace and defense technologies, exhibits sheer determination, talent, and innovation.

    Raised in a village of merely 2,000 inhabitants, Jagdish’s childhood was marked by a lack of basic educational resources and electricity. These obstacles did not deter him. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and excellence saw him complete an engineering degree with distinction, publish a Computer Graphics book for engineering, and get a small economic base helped to march in the technology industry step by step by designing multiple automation products and ascending to a leadership role at Raytheon Technologies.

    From Academia to Aerospace

    Transitioning from academic brilliance to industry excellence is rarely straightforward. Jagdish, however, was consistently a top performer from primary school to college by getting the Wrangler Award for maths in the district and eventually in the industry. “My journey was never easy, but my belief in my ability and hard work kept me going,” reflects Jagdish.

    At Raytheon Technologies, Jagdish has significantly contributed to several high-profile projects. His expertise in embedded product designs and system architectures has been pivotal in developing technologies across various platforms, including GSM, GPS, flight controls, flight electric systems, aerospace display systems, and intelligent test equipment approaches using artificial intelligence and voice interface ideas. These contributions demonstrate his skills and vision for leveraging technology in aerospace and defense.

    Driving Technological Breakthroughs

    Jagdish’s work ethic and innovative spirit have led to notable industry advancements. His development of the Test Link Box resulted in substantial cost savings and operational efficiencies. “Innovation is not just about new ideas; it’s about making those ideas work efficiently,” says Jagdish. His innovative efforts in ARINC 429 Taping design and the compact RIG design for aerospace products have set dependable industry standards.

    These innovations underscore the importance of efficient solutions in aerospace and defense – sectors critical to national security and technological progress.

    Navigating the Aerospace and Defense Industry

    In 2023, the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, to which Jagdish has significantly contributed, witnessed robust growth. Employment in the American A&D sector surpassed 2019 levels, rising to 2.2 million, a testament to the sector’s resilience and the demand for advanced technological solutions. “Being part of an industry that shapes the future of defense and space exploration is both challenging and fulfilling,” Jagdish notes.

    The A&D industry reported revenues of $952 billion, up 6.7% from the previous year. This increase indicates the sector’s vital contribution to the global economy and its ongoing evolution to meet contemporary challenges. Jagdish’s work at Raytheon Technologies aligns with these industry trends, especially in digital transformation and supply chain optimization.

    The Future of Aerospace and Defense

    As the A&D industry navigates complexities such as supply chain issues and talent shortages, professionals like Jagdish Zagade play a crucial part. His achievements serve as an inspiration for aspiring engineers and innovators worldwide. “The future of aerospace and defense lies in our ability to adapt and innovate,” Jagdish asserts, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation in this dynamic field.

    Jagdish’s story of overcoming the hardships of life in a rural Indian village to leading aerospace giant Raytheon Technologies is more than just a success story. It’s a narrative of how perseverance, talent, and a forward-thinking approach can lead to remarkable achievements. His journey proves that determination and skill can transcend boundaries, even in the highly technical world of aerospace and defense.

  • First ‘designed in India’ AI-enabled education tablet launched; here’s what it offers

    1st 'designed in India' AI-enabled education tablet launched

    1st ‘designed in India’ AI-enabled education tablet launchedIANS

    Not-for-profit EPIC Foundation on Tuesday launched the first designed in India, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled, indigenously manufactured education tablet.

    Designed by VVDN Technologies in collaboration with MediaTek India and CoRover.ai, the tablets come embedded with unique features of repairability and upgradability to address the pressing concerns of the digital divide and the accumulation of electronic refuse in India.

    “It is a matter of great pride that we are launching an India-designed, India-inspired education tablet which will be of great use to a vast majority of students. It will inspire the youth to take up the mantra of design and making things in India, for India and for the world,” said S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, at the launch of the tablet.

    “Aligned with our overarching goal of elevating Indian electronics to real Atmanirbharta, we want to build products in such a way that the components are easily replaceable and upgradable,” added Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman EPIC Foundation.

    The new product will address two critical aspects of education and social empowerment: drive demand for ‘Indian, repairable, sustainable’ electronics products and brands in high impact/high-volume categories; and remove financial and logistical obstacles that prevent schools from obtaining repairable, high impact devices and increase life of the product.

    “Repair expenses surpassing the cost of purchasing a new device, the production of substandard goods and obsolescence strategies are not only pressing concerns of today but also exacerbate the escalating problem of electronic waste. Our repairable product will enable many jobs all over India for repair engineers,” Chowdhry noted.

    artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligenceIANS

    Aimed at playing an active enabler of digital learning, the education tablet is first of its kind to come integrated with the BharatGPT virtual assistant and will highlight AI/ML based inter-lingual translation for Indian languages (Voice-2-Voice, Text-2-Text etc) to support language diversity of India and inclusion of differently abled fellow citizens.

    “In the electronics sector, while we have large targets of increasing the overall exports from the country, which is undoubtedly important — when exports go up, the imports also go up simply because the value addition which happens in the country is still limited, and a significant portion is imported, assembled and then re-exported or used for domestic consumption,” Krishnan said.

    He noted that “increasing value addition in the electronics sector is key and thereby the need for increasing the share of electronic component production in India.”

    “These are MeitY’s next goals, riding on the success of the large-scale electronics PLI which is the most successful PLI programme that the Government of India has run in recent times” Krishnan said.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Elon Musk plans to shift 1 million people to Mars

    Elon Musk

    Elon MuskIANS

    Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday announced plans to shift one million people to Mars.

    “We are mapping out a game plan to get a million people to Mars,” Musk wrote in a post on X.com.

    “Civilisation only passes the single-planet Great Filter when Mars can survive even if Earth supply ships stop coming,” he added.

    He said this in response to a post which said “Starship is the largest rocket ever built and it’ll take us to Mars”.

    “One day, a trip to Mars will be like a flight across the country,” replied Musk, to users who asked about the launch of Starship to the Red Planet.

    Last week, the SpaceX founder said that the “Starship should be able to make it to the moon in less than 5 years”.

    SpaceX launches 1st batch of satellites for mobile phone connectivity anywhere on Earth

    SpaceXIANS

    He noted that the SpaceX Dragon spaceship will take astronauts the furthest they’ve been from Earth in over half a century. Musk added that a lot of work will be required to live on Mars.

    Further, in January, Musk said he hopes that SpaceX will send humans to the Moon within the next eight years.

    “What will things be like eight years from now…I think we will have landed on Mars and I think we will have sent people to the Moon,” Musk said.

    He also aims to build a base on the Moon.

    “Humanity should have a moon base, cities on Mars and be out there among the stars,” the X owner said.

    “We should have a base on the moon, like a permanently occupied human base on the moon, and then send people to Mars. Maybe there’s something beyond the space station, but we’ll see,” he had said in the past.

    Musk also hopes that the third Starship flight test this year will reach orbit and prove the spacecraft can reliably deorbit.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Paytm app is free to partner with other banks, not impacted by directives: RBI

    Reserve Bank of India.

    Reserve Bank of India.IANS

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently clarified that the Paytm app will not be impacted by the order issued against Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL). This statement was made by RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J during a press briefing following the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. The Deputy Governor emphasized that the recent actions are directed explicitly towards Paytm Payments Bank and do not impact the functionality or operations of the Paytm app.

    “Just to clarify, the action is against Paytm Payments Bank, not against the Paytm app. The app is not impacted by our action, delineating the scope of the RBI’s directive,” Swaminathan said. This clarification comes as a reassurance to millions of users who rely on Paytm for a wide range of digital payment services. The statement also opens avenues for continued and potential partnerships between Paytm Payments Bank and other banking institutions, ensuring a robust framework for offering innovative financial solutions to customers.

    Swaminathan further added that the banks’ decision to partner with Paytm Payments Bank is a business decision, indicating the banks’ autonomy in collaborating with PPBL.

    Paytm’s response

    In response to the RBI’s statement, a Paytm spokesperson reassured users and merchant partners that the Paytm app remains fully operational, and their services are unaffected. “Paytm continues to lead in mobile payments innovation, and we are accelerating our partnerships with banks to offer uninterrupted services. We assure our merchant partners that Paytm QR, Soundbox, and card machines will continue to work as always. Our dedication to providing seamless payment solutions and promoting financial inclusion across India remains as strong as ever,” the spokesperson added.

    Paytm Wallet now universally acceptable on all UPI QRs, online merchants

    Paytm WalletIANS

    This development follows a series of events that have put Paytm in the spotlight. The RBI had earlier cracked down on PPBL over irregularities in KYC (know your customer) norms, compliance issues, and related party transactions. The intervention stems from concerns about money laundering and questionable transactions involving crores of rupees. Non-KYC-compliant accounts and instances of single PANs used for multiple accounts raised red flags.

    Despite these challenges, Paytm has maintained that they operate with the highest ethical standards and have not been the subject of an investigation regarding money laundering. The company rejected reports of investigation or violation of foreign exchange rules by the company or its associate PPBL and termed the recent media reports as entirely misleading, baseless, and malicious.

    Impact on the fintech sector

    The RBI’s recent actions have sparked a debate in the fintech sector. While some industry leaders have criticized the RBI’s move as an overreach that could potentially dismantle India’s fintech sector, others argue that businesses must adhere to regulatory frameworks and laws in their pursuit of expansion.

    As the company continues to encounter challenges, people may seek alternatives in the digital payment space, yet the debate over loosening regulations for the fintech space remains a headline question. The recent developments serve as a reminder of the importance of regulatory compliance in the rapidly evolving fintech sector.

    In conclusion, the RBI’s recent directive against PPBL does not impact the Paytm app’s operations. The app continues to provide its wide range of digital payment services to millions of users across India. The recent events serve as a reminder of the importance of regulatory compliance in the rapidly evolving fintech sector. The developments also highlight the need for businesses to adhere to regulatory frameworks and laws in their pursuit of expansion, thereby ensuring the protection of consumers and the stability of the financial ecosystem.

    Highlights:

    1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clarified that the Paytm app is not impacted by the order against Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL).
    2. RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J emphasized that the actions are directed towards PPBL, not the Paytm app.
    3. Paytm reassured users and merchant partners that the app remains fully operational and their services are unaffected.
    4. The RBI had earlier cracked down on PPBL over irregularities in KYC norms, compliance issues, and related party transactions.
    5. Despite these challenges, Paytm maintains that they operate with the highest ethical standards and have not been the subject of an investigation regarding money laundering.