Baskaran. R

  Book Review: Personal Finance and Insurance by Prakash Phararaj Title: Personal Finance and Insurance Author: Prakash Phararaj Introduction Personal Finance and Insurance by Prakash Phararaj is a comprehensive guide designed to help readers understand the foundational concepts of financial planning and risk management. Written with clarity and structured for students, professionals, and individuals aiming to make informed financial decisions, the book integrates the principles of personal finance with practical insights into the insurance sector. Summary The book covers a wide range of topics essential for personal financial literacy. It begins with the basics of budgeting, saving, and investment planning. Phararaj explains different financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and fixed deposits, offering a balanced view of their risk-return trade-offs. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to insurance life, health, property, and general insurance. The au...

 The United States has announced a reduction in the planned remittance tax, lowering it from 5% to 3.5%. This move is expected to ease the financial burden on individuals sending money abroad, particularly benefiting migrant workers and foreign residents who regularly remit funds to their home countries.  The decision reflects the U.S. government's effort to support international families and promote smoother cross-border financial flows. It may also help maintain strong economic ties with countries that rely significantly on remittance inflows.

 In a significant development towards resolving the prolonged National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) crisis, approximately 92% of affected traders have approved a one-time settlement scheme. This scheme, proposed by the NSEL Investors Forum (NIF) and backed by 63 Moons Technologies—the parent company of NSEL—entails a payout of ₹1,950 crore to around 5,700 investors. The settlement offers about 42% of the outstanding dues, providing a long-awaited resolution for traders who have been awaiting reimbursement since the exchange's collapse in 2013 due to payment defaults by 24 entities . Under the terms of the agreement, investors will assign their claims against defaulters to 63 Moons, which will oversee the recovery process. To ensure transparency, an escrow agent and monitoring authority will be appointed to supervise the disbursement of funds. The settlement plan has been submitted to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for approval, marking a pivotal step towards concluding one o...

 On May 19, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released revised draft guidelines concerning investments by regulated entities (REs) including banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). The proposed norms aim to enhance oversight and mitigate risks associated with such investments. Key provisions include capping a single RE's contribution to any AIF scheme at 10% of its corpus, with a collective ceiling of 15% for all REs combined. Investments up to 5% of an AIF's corpus by an RE will not face additional restrictions.  However, if an RE's investment exceeds 5% and the AIF has downstream debt exposure to a borrower linked to the RE (excluding equity shares and certain convertible instruments), the RE must make a 100% provision for its proportionate exposure. These guidelines are designed to prevent potential misuse of the investment route and ensure prudent investment practices. The RBI has invited public feedback on these dra...

  The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has scheduled a hearing for June 3, 2025, regarding an insolvency petition filed by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) against Gensol Engineering. IREDA, a state-owned financial institution, filed the petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, citing a loan default of ₹510 crore by Gensol. The tribunal has issued a notice to Gensol, directing the company to respond to the allegations. This legal action follows a series of regulatory challenges for Gensol Engineering. In April 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued an interim order barring Gensol and its promoters, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, from accessing the securities markets due to alleged fund diversion and governance lapses. Subsequently, both promoters resigned from their positions within the company

  Tata Power has reported a significant 25% year-on-year increase in its consolidated net profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, reaching ₹1,306 crore, up from ₹1,046 crore in the same period last year. This growth is attributed to strong performance across its key business segments, including power generation, transmission, distribution, and renewable energy.   The company's revenue from operations also saw an 8% rise, totaling ₹17,096 crore for the quarter, compared to ₹15,847 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. In light of these robust financial results, Tata Power's board has proposed a final dividend of ₹2.25 per equity share for the financial year ending March 31, 2025. This proposal is subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for July 4, 2025.

 Bharti Airtel reported a significant 77% year-on-year surge in its net profit for the fourth quarter, reaching Rs. 5,223 crore. This strong performance was driven by increased data consumption, a rise in average revenue per user (ARPU), and continued growth in its subscriber base.  The company’s revenue also saw healthy growth, reflecting robust operational efficiency and strategic investments in its network and services. Bharti Airtel's strong Q4 results highlight its competitive positioning in the telecom sector and its ability to capitalize on the growing demand for digital connectivity across India.