Private banks grapple with rising IT expenses amid surge in transactions

Private banks are experiencing a significant increase in information technology expenses as most transactions are now conducted digitally. Unlike the one-time capital expenses incurred when they migrated to core banking, IT is now becoming a recurring cost accounting for up to 10% of operating expenses. Bankers have responded to queries about their level of IT capabilities in light of the RBI action on Kotak Mahindra Bank freezing digital onboarding and issuing credit cards.

Kota: Missing NEET Aspirant Yet To Be Traced

On April 21, Tripti did not return to the PG room after leaving her coaching centre

Two bodies recovered from Chambal river in Kota, police suspect suicide

In a suspected case of suicide, the bodies of a man and a woman were reportedly recovered from Chambal river near a jetty in Kota of Rajasthan

Medical Aspirant, 20, Missing For Over A Week In Coaching Hub Kota

A 20-year-old NEET aspirant has been missing for over a week in the coaching capital Kota, spotlighting the exacting culture of intensive exam coaching and the heavy burden placed on students in this Rajasthan city.

JEE Main Rank 4 Aditya Kumar speaks on mental health for students in Kota

JEE Main Rank Aditya Kumar speaks on mental health for students in Kota

Q4 results this week: Adani group to lead as 211 companies will declare earnings

With 211 companies announcing quarterly results this week, investors are particularly watching out for major names like Kotak Mahindra Bank, DMart, Ultratech Cement, Indian Oil, and many others across various industries.

Kristi Noem dogged by poor polling amid fallout from tale of killing puppy

Public disapproval mounts for South Dakota governor and vice-presidential hopeful whose book contains gruesome account Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor and Republican vice-presidential hopeful, saw polling numbers plummet after the Guardian revealed that she writes in a new book about the day she shot dead a hunting dog and an un-castrated goat, a revelation that ignited a political storm . Announcing what it called its Noem Puppy Murder Poll Findings, New River Strategies, a Democratic firm, said 81% of Americans disapproved of Noems decision to shoot Cricket, a 14-month-old wire-haired pointer who Noem says ruined a pheasant hunt and killed a neighbours chickens, thereby earning a trip to a gravel pit to die. Continue reading...

Forest Fires Subside in Most of Uttarakhand, Rain Provides Relief in Dehradun

Dehradun: Forest fires, which have been raging through most parts of Uttarakhand, showed signs of abating on Sunday as rain helped bring down the flames in many regions, including Dehradun. However, the fires continued to rage in Kumaon and Garhwal districts of the hill state. Forest and fire department officials remain on high alert, working tirelessly to control the flames in Nainital, Bhimtal, Ranibagh, Jyolikot, Kotabag, and Betalghat regions.Yesterday, the fires reached Nainital, enveloping the hill town in smoke. The efforts to fight the fires were aided by Army helicopters that were pressed into service. The rain on Saturday evening brought relief by extinguishing the fires in most regions of Uttarakhand, including Dehradun.However, the firefighting operations are still ongoing in Nainital, Bhimtal, Ranibagh, Jyolikot, Kotabag, and Betalghat regions.Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a review meeting on Saturday to discuss the forest fire situation in Nainital. He cancelled leaves of concerned officials and urged them to remain vigilant while efforts were underway to tackle the forest fires. To aid in relief and rescue operations, two government vehicles were provided to each of the Nainital, Haldwani, and Ramnagar forest divisions.District officials have imposed a ban on the construction of houses and car washing until the situation is brought under control. Additionally, they are working to create awareness and educate people about the dangers of lighting garbage on fire. Tragic Electrocution Incident Claims Lives of Three Children in Nalanda Speeding Vehicle Kills Two Friends Riding a Motorcycle in Begusarai, Bihar Tragic Incident in Dhiraimajuli: Wild Elephant Attack Claims Four Lives

NEET aspirant goes missing from Kota, 4th such case since January

NEET aspirant goes missing from Kota th such case since January

Mumbai North Central voters have embraced me as their family: Poonam Mahajan

Mumbai North Central voters have embraced me as their family: Poonam Mahajan Mumbai North Central MP Poonam Mahajan, who has been denied renomination by the BJP this time, has said people from the constituency treated her like a family for 10 years and she hopes the relationship would always continue. In a post on X on Saturday, Mahajan, who has been replaced by prominent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, also thanked the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving her an opportunity to serve the people of Mumbai North Central constituency for 10 years. ''I wish to continue on the path of 'nation first' shown by my late father Pramod Mahajan. I hope to walk on that path always,'' she said. The BJP on Saturday denied ticket to Mahajan and instead picked Nikam, who was the special public prosecutor in Mumbai terror attack and 1993 serial blasts cases, as its nominee from the Mumbai North Central seat. Nikam is pitted against Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad. In the post on X, Mahajan said, ''I will be indebted to the family-like people from Mumbai North Central who treated me not just as an MP but gave me affection like a daughter.'' Mahajan said she will dedicate each and every moment of her life to the service of the nation. The BJP has this time dropped all its three sitting MPs in Mumbai. It has replaced Gopal Shetty with Piyush Goyal in Mumbai North seat and Manoj Kotak with Mihir Kotecha in Mumbai North East constituency. In 2019, the BJP and its then ally Shiv Sena (undivided) won three seats each out of the total six in Mumbai. The Sena had won Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central and Mumbai North West. After a split in the party, Mumbai South Central MP Rahul Shewale and Mumbai North West parliamentarian Gajanan Kirtikar switched over to the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Only Shewale had been renominated by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) has renominated Arvind Sawant from Mumbai South. The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the state is yet to announce its candidates for the Mumbai South and Mumbai North West seats. The opposition Congress is yet to announce its candidate in the Mumbai North seat. Polling in all the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai will be held on May 20.

RBI-Kotak Mahindra Bank effect: ICICI Bank spotlights increased spending on IT, cybersecurity

ICICI Bank faced a recent technical glitch that exposed the credit card details of thousands of its customers .Executive director Sandeep Batra said while instances of outages and errors could occur in any bank, ICICI Bank had the ability to take quick recovery and corrective action

Use the dips to buy into Kotak Bank and Bajaj Finance; recovery will be as sharp on next trigger: Deven Choksey

Deven Choksey discusses market opportunities during corrections, stock-specific triggers for recovery like in Kotak Bank and Bajaj Finance. Real estate and consumer durables sectors show growth potential, with Reliance Retail's entry expected to disrupt the market.

Bengaluru records 38 degrees Celsius, highest this year

BENGALURU: Bengaluru recorded the highest temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, so far this year, on Saturday.The temperatures are on the rise not just in Bengaluru but also in other districts of the state. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Raichur recorded the highest temperature of 42 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Bagalkot recorded 41.7 degrees Celsius, Koppal 41.5 and Chikkanahalli 41.4. The highest temperature Bengaluru recorded was 39.2 degrees Celsius on April 25, 2016. The temperature recorded on Saturday is the second highest for April, so far. It is also the first time that the city recorded not even 1mm rain for April. These apart, the IMD has issued a heat wave alert till May 5 for most parts of the state. It has also issued an alert that the maximum temperatures will rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across the state in the next five days. Hot and humid weather conditions will prevail over Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts for the next three days. IMD forecasts light rain in parts of Ktaka from Apr 30 The IMD has forecast light rain in parts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Mysuru, Belagavi, Bagalkotand Raichur districts from April 30 to May 3, and light rain in parts of Bengaluru on May 2 and 3.The IMD has issued a heat wave warning and alert for Bidar, Gulbarga, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Raichur, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Gadag, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts from April 27 to May 1.

Bodies of man, woman found in Kota

Choose trending cotton sarees to wear in summers

Cotton sarees are a timeless choice, especially during the scorching summer months. Their breathability, comfort, and versatility make them a staple in every woman's wardrobe. 1. Lightweight Cotton Sarees: Perfect for Everyday Wear Lightweight cotton sarees are ideal for daily wear during the summer. Opt for soft pastel shades or vibrant prints to stay cool and stylish throughout the day. 2. Handloom Cotton Sarees: Embrace Tradition with Elegance Handloom cotton sarees showcase exquisite craftsmanship and are perfect for both casual and formal occasions. Choose from a wide range of handloom varieties like Chanderi, Kota, or Jamdani for a touch of sophistication. 3. Block Printed Cotton Sarees: Add a Splash of Color Block printed cotton sarees are known for their vibrant colors and intricate designs. Whether you prefer floral motifs or geometric patterns, these sarees are sure to make a statement wherever you go. 4. Linen Cotton Sarees: Blend of Comfort and Style Linen cotton sarees offer the perfect blend of comfort and style. Their lightweight fabric and breathable texture make them an excellent choice for outdoor events or daytime gatherings. 5. Chikankari Cotton Sarees: Timeless Elegance Chikankari cotton sarees exude timeless elegance with their delicate embroidery and sheer fabric. These sarees are perfect for special occasions or evening parties, adding a touch of grace to your ensemble. 6. Khadi Cotton Sarees: Sustainable Fashion Khadi cotton sarees are not only fashionable but also environmentally friendly. Embrace sustainable fashion with these hand-spun and handwoven sarees that reflect India's rich heritage. 7. Ikat Cotton Sarees: Boho-Chic Vibes Ikat cotton sarees are known for their unique patterns and vibrant colors. Embrace the bohemian-chic trend with these sarees, perfect for casual outings or beach vacations. 8. Plain Cotton Sarees: Classic and Versatile Plain cotton sarees are a classic choice that never goes out of style. Pair them with contrasting blouses and statement jewelry for a timeless yet elegant look. 9. Kerala Cotton Sarees: Graceful Drapes Kerala cotton sarees, also known as Kasavu sarees, feature traditional gold borders and are synonymous with grace and elegance. These sarees are perfect for festive occasions or cultural events. 10. Shibori Cotton Sarees: Artistic Appeal Shibori cotton sarees are characterized by their tie-and-dye technique, creating beautiful patterns and textures. Add an artistic flair to your summer wardrobe with these unique sarees. Conclusion: Elevate Your Summer Style with Cotton Sarees When it comes to beating the summer heat in style, cotton sarees are the ultimate choice. From lightweight everyday wear to elegant handloom creations, there's a cotton saree for every occasion. Embrace comfort, tradition, and sustainability with these trending cotton sarees that promise both style and sophistication. Maruti's new micro SUV is coming to spoil the game of Tata Punch, know what is the company's planning Skoda preparing to launch 3 new SUVs in India, an electric model will also be included Renault-Nissan will bring 6 new cars in the Indian market, 2 electric models will also be included

Democrats, political figures dogpile onto Trump VP hopeful after story of animal killings

Tongues were wagging on social media after news spread that Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor and Trump V.P. hopeful, described how she shot and killed her dog and farm goat.

BJP fields 26/11 prosecutor from Mumbai seat, appeals for his unopposed election

Mumbai : In a surprising move, the BJP has announced candidature of renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikal from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency. The party has dropped two-term sitting MP Poonam Mahajan. With this the BJP has replaced all its Lok Sabha MPs in Mumbai. Nikam has always represented the state in all cases and never appeared as a defence lawyer. He was the special public prosecutor in several high profile cases, including 1992 Mumbai serial blast, Gulshan Kumar murder case and 26/11 terror attack case. BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said Nikam is a strong candidate and will win easily. People know about his exemplary work as a public prosecutor. He has ensured conviction of several dreaded terrorists and gangsters. He will not only work for his constituency, but his legal knowledge will also benefit the Parliament, he said. Welcoming Nikams candidature, senior BJP leader Ashish Shelar appealed to all parties to make his election unopposed. Advocate Nikam has fought against the terrorists who attacked Mumbai and the country. Let us put aside our political differences and give a message by electing Mumbais warrior unopposed, Shelar said. Poonam Mahajanhad won the seat in 2014 and 2019 defeating Congresss Priya Dutt, who was the MP from 2009 to 2014, by the margin of over one lakh votes. However, sources informed that the BJP dropped the daughter of late Pramod Mahajan because of negative feedback regarding her work in the Parliament and inaccessibility in the constituency. The party had explored several other options including some film personalities like Raveena Tandon and Madhuri Dixit. The BJP leadership had even told Shelar to contest, but he wanted to remain in Maharashtra. The Congress has fielded its city unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central. Voting in Mumbai is scheduled to be held on May 20 in the fifth phase of the polls. Earlier, the BJP has announced candidatures of Union minister Piyush Goyal in place of Gopal Shetty from the Mumbai North seat and Mihir Kotecha in place of Manoj Kotak from the Mumbai North East seat. Shiv Sena had contested and won the remaining three Mumbai seats in 2019. The Eknath Shinde-led party is expected to contest all three of them this time.

Possible Trump VP pick defends killing her dog

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem recalls shooting a dog and a goat in a soon-to-be released memoir.

Kotak crackdown: Is your data in other banks safe?

Telangana: 17 held for mobile theft; accused sold them in Sudan

HYDERABAD: In a joint operation, the South Zone Task Force police and the Central Zone DCP team apprehended 17 individuals, including five Sudanese nationals and a local mobile shop owner from Jagdish market and seized 700 mobile phones worth Rs 1.75 crore, including more than 30 recent version iPhones. The accused have been identified as Mohammad Muzammil, Syed Abrar, Syed Saleem, Pathan Rabbani, Mohammad Athar, Mohammad Zakir, Shaik Azhar, Mohamad Khaja Nizamuddin, Syed Layeeq, Shaik Azhar Moinuddin, Mohammad Shafi Babu, and J Yelamanda Reddy. The other accused Khalid Abdelibagii Mohamed Albadwi, Abdalelah Ahmed Osman Babiker, Aymn Mohammaed Salih Abdalla, Anas Siddig Abdelgader Ahmed, Omer Abdalla Eltayeb Mohamed are Sudan nationals. Hyderabad CP Kothakota Sreenivasa Reddy said, Recently, an alarming rise in mobile phone thefts has been witnessed. People returning home from a restaurant or movie or from metro stations to their houses are the prime targets of such thieves. Sometimes, the offenders also approach people in the pretext of asking for time or address. One must be alert and dial 100 if they notice something is suspicious. According to the police, J Yelamanda Reddy, the shop owner, is the middleman between the accused thieves and the Sudan national Khalid who receives the stolen phones and sells them in Sudan with the help of four other Sudan nationals. The CP added, All the stolen phones were collected by the final receiver - Mohammad Sahfi (Accused no. 11) - from his partners and were being sent to Reddys shop in Jagdish market. Reddy, who offers repair services in his shop, uses parts from the stolen phones to repair phones in his shop. The leftover phones would be handed over to Khalid to sell them in Sudan. The accused chose to illegally transport the phones through sea, by concealing them in frozen food packages. Khalid would further sell them at higher prices in Sudan. When asked if any cases of data theft linked to the phone theft have come to light, Task Force DCP S Rashmi Perumal said that the case is solely about cell phone thefts and so far, no such incidents have come to light. Meanwhile, the CP said that there is a similar gang in the city where young boys are being paid like regular employees for committing such thefts.

Conservatives condemn Kristi Noem for twisted admission of killing dog

Revelation in new book that possible Trump running mate killed untrainable hunting dog prompts widespread revulsion Conservative pundits have condemned the South Dakota governor and possible Trump running mate Kristi Noem, amid widespread horror over her admission in a new book that she killed both an untrainable dog and an unruly goat during a single day in hunting season. Alyssa Farah Griffin, a Trump White House staffer turned critic, said : Im a dog lover and I am honestly horrified by the Kristi Noem excerpt. I wish I hadnt even read it. A 14-month-old dog is still a puppy and can be trained. A large part of bad behaviour in dogs is not having proper training from humans. Continue reading...

Block deals worth over Rs 12,045 crore this week. Kotak Bank, Vodafone Idea among stocks with major action

In the large cap segment, 15 companies witnessed significant block deals on the screen which were worth Rs 6,046 crore led by Kotak Mahindra Bank with 29 block counts, totalling to Rs 1,310 crore.

Engine Protect: An Essential Car Insurance Add-On for Enhanced Protection

Engine Protect: An Essential Car Insurance Add-On for Enhanced Protection Mumbai, Maharashtra, India: Kotak General Insurance, an insurance provider in India aims to provide car owners with enhanced protection, ensuring that their vehicles remain in optimal condition, even in the face of unforeseen challenges. Understanding the importance of engine protect The engine is the heart of any vehicle, powering its performance and ensuring smooth operation on the road. However, it is also one of the most vulnerable components, susceptible to damage from various sources such as water ingress, lubricant leakage and mechanical failures. Repairs to the engine can be costly and time-consuming, often resulting in significant financial strain for car owners. The need for an engine protect add-on cover Kotak General Insurance aims to provide comprehensive protection for the engine, covering repair or replacement costs of the engine. Car owners can protect their engines against unforeseen risks and avoid the financial burden of unexpected repairs by adding engine protect add-on cover to their car insurance. Key features of engine protect add-on cover The engine protect add-on cover offers comprehensive car insurance coverage for the engine, including damage caused by water ingression and leakage of lubricant oil. This ensures that car owners are fully protected against a wide range of risks that could compromise engine performance. The engine protect add-on cover is an affordable solution that offers exceptional value for money. Car owners can avoid out-of-pocket expenses and enjoy long-term savings by reducing the financial impact of engine damage. At Kotak General Insurance, we understand that dealing with engine issues can be stressful. That's why Kotak General Insurance claims process is designed to be simple, transparent and hassle-free and committed to providing prompt and efficient service, ensuring that car owners can get the support they need when they need it most. About Kotak General Insurance At Kotak General Insurance, we believe in being a partner in our customer's journey, ensuring that they have the right coverage for their unique needs. We are committed to delivering innovative solutions that protect what matters the most to them. Kotak General Insurance was established to service the growing non-life insurance segment in India. The company aims to cater to a wide range of customer segments & geographies offering an array of non-life insurance products like Motor, Health, Home, etc. As a practice, the company seeks to provide a differentiated value proposition through customised products and services leveraging state-of-the-art technology and digital infrastructure. (Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.).

Lok Sabha elections: 65% turnout in 2nd phase

NEW DELHI: In a relatively improved showing, the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections recorded over 65% voter turnout covering 88 seats across 13 states. The highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura at 78.53% while the lowest was in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85%. Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan accounted for more than half the seats. Elections to 14 seats were held in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. All eyes are on the high stakes battle in Kerala, where the BJP has been aggressively working to open its account. The contests in Wayanad, where former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is contesting, and Thiruvananthapuram where Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar is pitted against sitting MP Shashi Tharoor, are keenly watched. Other top guns in the fray include actor-turned-politician Arun Govil in Meerut, Karnataka deputy CM D K Shivakumars brother D K Suresh in Bangalore Rural, and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy (JDS) in Mandya. BJPs Hema Malini, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are seeking a hat-trick of wins from Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Kota and Jodhpur, respectively. With the conclusion of the second phase, voting has been completed in 14 states/UTs.

Karnataka: High voter turnout will keep contest tight

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituencies have maintained high polling percentage in this election too. Dakshina Kannada, where newbies Capt. Brijesh Chowta (BJP) and R Padmaraj Poojary (Congress) are contesting, saw a voter turnout of 77.43 per cent (77.90 per cent in 2019). Udupi-Chikkamagaluru witnessed a clash between veterans Kota Srinivas Poojary (BJP) and Jayaprakash Hegde (Congress) and recorded a voter turnout of 76.06 per cent (75.74 in 2019) until 6pm. The marginal rise in voter turnout in these two segments is attributed to the stakes being very high this time for both the BJP and Congress, compared to the past elections. While BJP wants to keep its hold on this coastal-Malnad region, the grand old party had left no stone unturned to breach the saffron fortress. Calculations have already begun to understand which party will gain by the high voter turnout. According to political pundits, both these segments are likely to witness a touch-and-go contest, even as they give the benefit of doubt to the BJP. Last time, we won by 2.73 lakh votes in Dakshina Kannada and 3.49 lakh votes in Udupi-Chikkamagalur. This time, we cant expect such a huge margin. It will be around 50,000 in both seats, said a BJP leader and former MLA. Expressing a similar opinion, a Congress leader said the party has not counted both these seats among the 14 seats it is hoping to win in the state. However, he said it is difficult to predict the outcome at this stage, given the high voter turnout. People could have come out to vote in large numbers to support Prime Minister Modi, or because of the five guarantees of the Congress and the Billava factor. We have to wait for the results to know how it worked, he said. The thinking in the Congress is that even if they lose by over 50,000 votes, its a victory of sorts for them as it will be seen as a setback to the BJPs communal politics. The party hopes the Billava factor, NOTA campaign over Soujanya murder case, SDPI not being in the contest and a perceived discontent in local BJP units will significantly reduce the winning margin. Despite all these factors working in our favour, we see a deficit of around 60,000 votes. The gap can be covered only if Billavas and women back us in large numbers, said another Congress leader.

Modi factor very much in play in mini-India Malkajgiri

HYDERABAD: The three-cornered contest in Telanganas Malkajgiri constituency, which elected the states current Chief Minister Revanth Reddy as a Congress MP in 2019, may be a foregone conclusion. The Congress has fielded a recent entrant from BRS, Patnam Suneetha Mahender Reddy, while the BRS candidate is a turncoat from the Congress, Ragidi Laxma Reddy. The BJP candidate Eatala Rajender was a minister in the KCR government and switched over from the BRS in 2021. Who is the front-runner? A 45-year-old businessman from Kukatpally, Mahesh, who identified himself as a member of the Congress, did not hesitate for a moment when asked who he would support this time. Its Modi at the Centre. I believe in Modi and would vote for the BJP, he said. Mahesh is not alone in rooting for the saffron party. Several voters from Malkajgiri constituency said they would vote for the BJP. Dhanalakota Shravan Kumar, a traditional artiste from Quthbullapur one of the seven suburban Assembly segments making up the Malkajgiri LS seat reasoned: If I vote for Congress, my vote would be wasted as the party might not come to power at the Centre. As for the BRS, they have lost power in Telangana. Most of Shravans neighbours shared similar views. Though all seven segments of the Malkajgiri constituency voted for the BRS in the November 2023 Assembly elections, it appears that the saffron party has an edge in the LS polls.Eatala Rajender claims people are with PM Narendra Modi, whose 1.3-km roadshow in Malkajgiri on March 15 saw a massive response. Rajendar, who quit BRS after an acrimonious fallout with former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, told this paper recently during Hyderabad Dialogues that the party can win 12 out of the 17 seats in the state, including Malkajgiri. The constituency, established in 2009 following delimitation, has 37.47 lakh voters, with over 90% belonging to urban and suburban areas. With a sizable population of migrant settlers from other states including Tamil Nadu due to the presence of Central government institutions, Malkajgiri is deemed Mini India. Since the seat came into being in 2009, the Congress has won twice and the TDP once in 2014, when it was in alliance with the BJP. Marwaris in Malkajgiri inclined to BJP: Sources Revanth Reddy was elected in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, months after losing in the 2018 Assembly polls. While Revanth won with 38.63% of votes, Marri Rajashekhar Reddy of the BRS stood a close second with 37.93% while the BJP candidate was a distant third with 19.47%. This time, the Congress candidate is Suneetha Reddy. She is Ranga Reddy Zilla Parishad chairperson and wife of former minister P Mahender Reddy. The BRS candidate, Ragidi Laxma Reddy, who quit the Congress last year after he was denied an Assembly ticket, was a close aide of Revanth and worked for him when he contested from Malkajgiri in 2019. When asked about their preference, voters who favoured the BJP mostly had only two responses: I want to vote for Modi or I know Eatala but Im not very familiar with the other two candidates. Political analysts also point out that while Suneetha Reddy is known in political circles, she is relatively new to the voters. As for Laxma Reddy, Rasoolpura resident Rahim said: I heard he was the assembly in-charge in Uppal. But I saw him only during an iftar party recently, when KTR introduced him to us. He did not hold a rally or a meeting with us after that. Laxma Reddy, a native of Hyderabad, has repeatedly stressed in his election campaigns that the BJP and Congress candidates are non-locals and that the people would support a local leader like him. (Eatala is from erstwhile Karimnagar district and Suneetha is from Tandur of Vikarabad district.) However, political analysts say this is not a major issue. In the 2019 elections, though the BRS and BJP fielded local candidates, people voted for Revanth, who hails from erstwhile Mahbubnagar district. There is a significant presence of migrant settlers from Tamil Nadu and other states in Malkajgiri. In the previous elections, the BRS made a lot of promises in favour of the Tamil community but they did not follow through. So, most of our community members are looking to vote for the Congress or the BJP, said Rajkumar, a settler from Tamil Nadu. Some of the Tamils in the constituency say they would vote for the BJP as Modi recently extended his support to the Tamil language, he added. Political sources say the Marwaris in the constituency are inclined towards the BJP. There are also a lot of people who migrated from districts within the state, mostly from north Telangana. So, all parties are crafting strategies to get the votes of settlers.

Polling momentum remains high during first half of the day in Kota

US tests show pasteurized milk safe as bird flu spreads to Colorado

US tests show pasteurized milk safe as bird flu spreads to Colorado Additional tests of milk showed that pasteurization killed the bird flu virus, federal health officials said on Friday, as Colorado became the ninth U.S. state to report an infected dairy herd. Federal lawmakers urged the Biden administration to further contain the virus' spread as tests showed one in five U.S. commercial milk samples contained remnants of the virus, suggesting the outbreak is more widespread than previously thought. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) late on Friday said preliminary results from gold-standard PCR testing showed pasteurization killed the virus in milk and baby formula. It did not say how many milk products it had tested but added that it plans to do more testing on 297 products from 38 states. One person, a Texas farm worker, has been confirmed to have bird flu and suffered conjunctivitis in the current outbreak following exposure to dairy cows. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization said on Friday the current overall public health risk is low, but is higher for those with exposure to infected animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed milking cows in Colorado tested positive, following earlier infections in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina and South Dakota. Congress members' push for a stronger response added pressure on federal agriculture and health authorities still seeking to confirm how the H5N1 virus is spreading and its potential risks to people, one month after the first detection in a Texas dairy herd. An analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data by a University of Arizona scientist offers new evidence that the first known H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle is more far-reaching than the 34 herds in nine states that have officially tested positive. Containing this before it spreads among humans is critical. Given lessons learned from COVID, this federal response is insufficient, Republican U.S. Senator Mitt Romney said in a post on X. Some lawmakers, including Romney, have made a bipartisan push to reauthorize legislation known as the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act that lapsed last year and is aimed at bolstering the nation's response to pandemics and other public health threats. The recent spread of bird flu and the detection of H5N1 genetic materials in milk have increased some calls for action. The virus in the human case is significantly different from the bird flu virus samples taken from infected cattle that were made public by government officials last weekend, said Dr. Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Arizona. The difference between the genetic sequences of the worker's virus and the 239 other samples provided indicate that his was a very longstanding, widespread epidemic, he told Reuters. The Texas Animal Health Commission said it did not receive the location of the worker's farm or obtain samples of that herd to test because of the person's confidentiality. I think the sequences out there probably aren't representative of everything that's circulating, said Dr. Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. A CDC spokesperson said in an email here are always some subtle changes in genetic sequences when flu viruses move from host-to-host, but said data points to the virus emerging from birds to infect cows and then transmission to the human. BIRD FLU TRACES FOUND IN US MILK One in five commercial milk samples tested in a nationwide survey contained particles of the H5N1 virus, the FDA said late on Thursday. The agency said there is no reason to believe the virus found in milk poses a risk to human health and on Friday described results of the new tests. This says this virus has largely saturated dairy cattle throughout the country, said Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota. Many infectious disease experts and government officials have said they believe the pasteurization process will inactivate the virus, also known as avian influenza. I'm not worried about the milk itself, said Samuel Alcaine, associate professor, of food science at Cornell University. It does indicate that the virus is more widespread among dairies than we had previously thought. Osterholm said the U.S. should be doing much more sampling, in both dairy and beef cattle, as well as pigs. Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, a significant dairy state with no reported cases, has urged the USDA to quickly deploy additional resources in states that have the opportunity to prevent the disease from entering herds. The White House has said that it is monitoring the avian flu situation, launching an immediate response team to ensure the safety of the nations food supply, monitor trends to mitigate risk and prevent the virus' spread. Starting on Monday, the USDA will require dairy cows to test negative for bird flu before they are moved across state lines. In Indiana, officials are weighing their own potential restrictions, such as testing within the state, though it has no confirmed cases, said Bret Marsh, the state veterinarian. We're taking a look here at the state level to see what we may need to do, he said on a conference call.

Kristi Noem, a Trump VP contender, defends killing dog on family farm

Kristi Noem, a Trump VP contender, defends killing dog on family farm Kristi Noem, a contender to become Republican Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, defended herself on Friday against Democratic attacks over her account of shooting a dog on her family farm. Noem, the governor of South Dakota, describes killing an untrainable dog called Cricket which she hated in an upcoming memoir, excerpts of which were first published by The Guardian on Friday. She also said she shot to death a goat. Noem said the dog ruined a hunt and later attacked chickens owned by a local family, behaved like a rained assassin, and was dangerous to anyone she came in contact with. I realized I had to put her down, Noem writes. The Democratic National Committee seized on the excerpts, calling them horrifying and disturbing and tried to make a 2024 election argument about the shooting of the animals. If you want elected officials who don't brag about brutally killing their pets as part of their self-promotional book tour, then listen to our owners and vote Democrat, the DNC said in a statement, giving voice to the dogs. Responding on X, Noem said, We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years. Noem is on a list of candidates being considered by Trump to be his vice presidential running mate, friends and allies of Trump have told Reuters. Trump faces a general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden on Nov. 5.

South Dakota governor, a potential Trump running mate, writes in new book about killing her dog

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem a potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is getting attention again

RBI Directs Kotak Mahindra Bank to Halt Onboarding of New Customers

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Kotak Mahindra Bank to halt the onboarding of new customers online and through mobile banking platforms immediately. The bank has also been prohibited from issuing new credit cards. As of the end of March, Kotak Mahindra Bank had issued 59.54 lakh credit cards. The directive comes due to data security concerns and deficiencies in the bank's IT infrastructure during 2022 and 2023. The RBI found serious deficiencies and non-compliance in various areas, including IT inventory management, patch and change management, user access management, vendor risk management, data security, business continuity, and disaster recovery strategies. Despite being given specific plans to follow, the bank failed to address these issues. Kotak Mahindra Bank faced significant outages in its core banking system and online services over the last two years, with a major breakdown on April 15. The RBI noted a sharp increase in the bank's digital transactions, including credit cards, which strained its IT system. The central bank's action is aimed at safeguarding customers and preventing possible long-term outages that could impact the digital banking and payment systems. Existing Kotak Mahindra Bank customers will continue to receive uninterrupted services, though new customers will not be onboarded. If you have bought a new house then know how to make your house a dream house in a low budget Jio users will get unlimited benefits in just Rs 12 per day, know the plan here Jio creates history, surpasses China Mobile to become world's number 1 company

RBI restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank: What it means for customer, banking and credit card services - FAQs answered

RBI's restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank impact new customer onboarding and credit card issuance, with uncertainties for existing customers. The ban's duration depends on an external audit and corrective measures satisfaction, potentially lasting six to twelve months.

Kotak increases target prices of Hindalco, Vedanta & NACL

Given reasonable valuations and the improvement in end-market demand outlook at Novelis, the new fair value for the stock has been determined at Rs 675, a 26.2% increase from earlier Rs 535.

What Went Wrong At Kotak Mahindra Bank? | NDTV Profit

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Kotak Mahindra Bank faces setback in credit card growth, profitability due to RBIs curbs: S&P Global

The global ratings agency said the curb will not materially affect Kotak Banks ratings (BBB-/Stable/A-3) as credit cards make up a small (4 per cent of total loans) portion of the portfolio.

Rajasthan: 13 Lok Sabha Seats See Over 50% Polling Till 3 pm

Rajasthan: 13 Lok Sabha Seats See Over 50% Polling Till 3 pm After low turnout in the first phase of polling on April 19, the polling turnout showed a significant upward trend in the second phase in Rajasthan where more than 50 per cent voting took place in 13 Lok Sabha seats by 3 pm, which was 41.51 per cent on 12 seats in the first phase. 50.27 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm across the 13 parliamentary constituencies. At the same time, 66.52 per cent of voting took place in the Bagidora assembly constituency, according to official data. The polling percentage in 12 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls in the first phase on April 19 was 41.51 per cent by this time. Around 2.8 crore voters are eligible to vote in the second phase of the polls. This is the final phase of polling in Rajasthan. Voting is underway in Barmer-Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota-Bundi, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran, along with the Bagidora Assembly constituency where a by-poll is underway. The highest voter turnout of 60.01 per cent was recorded in the tribal-dominated Banswara-Dungarpur seat in South Rajasthan by 3 pm while the Barmer-Jaisalmer seat located along the Indo-Pak border recorded 59.71 per cent voting. Tonk-Sawai Madhopur recorded the lowest turnout of 42.61 per cent till 3 pm, according to official data. Voting percentage in other constituencies till 3 pm stood at 43.28 in Ajmer, 45.39 in Bhilwara, 51.71 in Chittorgarh, 49.85 in Jalore, 56.12 in Jhalawar, 50 in Jodhpur, 54.78 in Kota, 44.27 in Pali, 43.94 in Rajsamand and 51.60 in Udaipur. Enthusiasm was seen among the people who lined up at the polling booths to cast votes. However, in Banswara, no voter reached the Adibheet polling booth during the initial hours. The locals have certain demands regarding compensation against land acquired for a power plant and have declared to boycott the elections. The officials said that they are trying to convince the voters to exercise their franchise. In the first two hours of the voting, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is contesting from Kota-Bundi, BJP state president CP Joshi, BJP candidate from Chittorgarh, Union minister and BJP candidate from Jodhpur Gajendra Singh Shekhawat cast their votes. Assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani cast his vote in Ajmer while former chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Ashok Gehlot exercised their franchise in Jhalawar and Jodhpur respectively. 108-year-old Bhuri Bai cast her vote at the Gunjara polling booth in the Kota-Bundi LS constituency. She was brought to the polling booth in a wheelchair by the family members. A man, his son and granddaughters, representing three generations, reached a polling station at Sankand in Jalore to cast votes. They also took pictures at the selfie point in the booth. A groom, Radhe Suthar, cast his vote at Bhadsoda in Chittorgarh before going for his wedding procession. Suthar told reporters that it is important to exercise franchise in democracy, so he spared time to cast a vote before his marriage function. Voting for 12 seats in the desert state was held in the first phase on April 19. The Bagidora Assembly seat in Banswara fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya switched over to the BJP. Malviya is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Banswara as a BJP candidate. Rajasthan has a total of 25 Lok Sabha seats. 12 went to poll in the first phase on April 19 and polling in the 13 seats is underway on Friday.

Who is Uday Kotak? How He Lost More than 10 Thousand Crores in A day!?

Uday Kotak, the renowned Indian banker and billionaire, has long been a stalwart in the financial world. As the founder and former CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, his name has been synonymous with success and innovation. However, recent events have taken a drastic toll on his fortune, with more than Rs 10,000 crore wiped out [] The post Who is Uday Kotak? How He Lost More than 10 Thousand Crores in A day!? appeared first on Tfipost.com .

Kotak Mahindra Bank faces setback in credit card growth and profitability due to RBIs regulatory action: S&P Global

While the banks credit card portfolio has been a key growth segment, accounting for 52% of growth in Dec 2023, total loan growth was at 19%

RBI Action On Kotak Mahindra Bank To Hinder Credit Growth, Profitability: S&P Global

It will take time for the bank to implement changes and conduct a comprehensive external audit to address the RBI's concerns, the agency said.

RBI Action on Kotak Mahindra Bank May Restrain Credit Growth, Profitability: S&P

S&P Global Ratings on Friday said RBI's regulatory action on Kotak Mahindra Bank could restrain the lender's credit growth and profitability

RBI action on Kotak may restrain profitability: S&P

Rs 1,000 Turned To Rs 20 Lakh In A Day? Trader's Big Claim On Kotak Bank

The 21 din me paisa double dialogue from 'Phir Hera Pheri' has become a quintessential meme template. But a trader's move in the share market two days ago has likely topped it by a multifold.

Trump VP contender Kristi Noem writes of killing dog and goat in new book

South Dakota governor includes bloody tale in campaign volume and admits a better politician wouldnt tell the story here In 1952, as a Republican candidate for vice-president, Richard Nixon famously stirred criticism by admitting receiving a dog, Checkers , as a political gift. In 2012, as the Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney was pilloried for tying a dog, Seamus, to the roof of the family car for a cross-country trip. Continue reading...

Kotak Bank's loan, deposit growth may be hit

Kotak Mahindra Bank's loan and deposit growth are likely to be affected after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked the private-sector lender not to take on board new customers through the bank's online and mobile banking channels and not to issue any new credit cards, according to analysts. The bank's share price fell 10.85 per cent on Thursday to close the day at Rs 1,643 on the BSE. The RBI's action came after market hours on Wednesday.

LS polls: Rajasthan records over 40% voter turnout in 13 constituencies till 1 pm

LS polls: Rajasthan records over 40% voter turnout in 13 constituencies till 1 pm Over 40 percent voting was recorded till 1 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan where elections are being held in the second phase on Friday. 40.39 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm across the 13 parliamentary constituencies. At the same time, 51.50 percent voting took place in Bagidora assembly constituency, according to official data. The voting percentage in the first four hours in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls is above that of the first phase. The polling percentage in 12 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls on April 19 was 33.73 per cent by this time. Around 2.8 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the polls. This is the final phase of polling in Rajasthan. Voting is underway in Barmer-Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota-Bundi, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran, along with the Bagidora Assembly constituency where a bypoll is underway. The highest voter turnout of 48.48 percent was recorded in Barmer-Jaisalmer located along the Indo-Pak border, followed by the tribal dominated Banswara-Dungarpur seat in South Rajasthan where 46.53 per cent electors cast votes by 1 pm. Tonk-Sawai Madhopur recorded the lowest turnout of 34.64 per cent till 1 pm, according to official data. Voting percentage in other constituencies till 1 am stood at 35.77 in Ajmer, 37.01 in Bhilwara, 40.50 in Chittorgarh, 41.47 in Jalore, 44.20 in Jhalawar, 39.90 in Jodhpur, 42.51 in Kota, 36.59 in Pali, 36.88 in Rajsamand and 41.32 in Udaipur. Enthusiasm was seen among the people who lined up at the polling booths to cast votes. However, in Banswara, no voter reached the Adibheet polling booth during the initial hours. The locals have certain demands regarding compensation against land acquired for a power plant and have declared to boycott the elections. The officials said that they are trying to convince the voters to exercise their franchise. In the first two hours of the voting, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is contesting from Kota-Bundi, BJP state president CP Joshi, BJP candidate from Chittorgarh, Union minister and BJP candidate from Jodhpur Gajendra Singh Shekhawat cast their votes. Assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani cast his vote in Ajmer while former chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Ashok Gehlot exercised their franchise in Jhalawar and Jodhpur respectively. 108-year-old Bhuri Bai cast her vote at Gunjara polling booth in Kota-Bundi LS constituency. She was brought to the polling booth in a wheelchair by the family members. A man, his son and granddaughters, representing three generations, reached a polling station at Sankand in Jalore to cast votes. They also took pictures at the selfie point in the booth. A groom, Radhe Suthar, cast his vote at Bhadsoda in Chittorgarh before going for his wedding procession. Suthar told reporters that it is important to exercise franchise in democracy, so he spared time to cast vote before his marriage function. Voting for 12 seats in the desert state was held in the first phase on April 19. The Bagidora Assembly seat in Banswara fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya switched over to the BJP. Malviya is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Banswara as a BJP candidate.

YES Bank shares rise ahead of Q4 results; here's what Kotak, other brokerages expect

YES Bank shares rose about 1.89 per cent to Rs 26.44, during the trading session on Friday, commanding a total market capitalization of around Rs 76,000 crore.

Rajasthan Registers 26% Voter Turnout in 13 Constituencies for Lok Sabha Polls by 11 AM

Rajasthan Registers 26% Voter Turnout in 13 Constituencies for Lok Sabha Polls by 11 AM Polling picked up in the initial hours in the 13 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan where elections are being held in the second phase on Friday. Nearly 27 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling across the 13 parliamentary constituencies and one assembly seat in Rajasthan where a bypoll is underway. 26.84 percent voter turnout was recorded in the Lok Sabha seats and 31 per cent in the Bagidora assembly constituency by 11 am, according to official data. The voting percentage in the first four hours in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls is above that of the first phase. The polling percentage in 12 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls on April 19 was 22.51 per cent by this time. Around 2.8 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the polls. This is the final phase of polling in Rajasthan. Voting is underway in Barmer-Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota-Bundi, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran, along with the Bagidora Assembly constituency where a bypoll is underway. The highest voter turnout of 30.04 percent was recorded in the tribal dominated Banswara-Dungarpur seat, followed by Barmer where 29.58 per cent electors cast votes by 11 am. Tonk-Sawai Madhopur recorded the lowest turnout of 24 per cent in the first four hours, according to official data. Voting percentage in other constituencies till 11 am stood at 24.43 in Ajmer, 25.15 in Bhilwara, 26.48 in Chittorgarh, 28.50 in Jalore, 28.88 in Jhalawar, 25.75 in Jodhpur, 28.30 in Kota, 24.62 in Pali, 25.58 in Rajsamand and 27.46 in Udaipur. Enthusiasm was seen among the people who lined up at the polling booths to cast votes. However, in Banswara, no voter reached the Adibheet polling booth by 11 am. The locals have certain demands regarding compensation against land acquired for a power plant and have declared to boycott the elections. The officials said are trying to convince the voters to exercise their franchise. In the first two hours of the voting, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is contesting from Kota-Bundi, BJP state president CP Joshi, BJP candidate from Chittorgarh, Union minister and BJP candidate from Jodhpur Gajendra Singh Shekhawat cast their votes. Assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani cast his vote in Ajmer while former chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Ashok Gehlot exercised their franchise in Jhalawar and Jodhpur respectively. 108-year-old Bhuri Bai cast her vote at Gunjara polling booth in Kota-Bundi LS constituency. She was brought to the polling booth in a wheelchair by the family members. A man, his son and granddaughters, representing three generations, reached a polling station at Sankand in Jalore to cast votes. They also took pictures at the selfie point in the booth. A groom, Radhe Suthar, cast his vote at Bhadsoda in Chittorgarh before going for his wedding procession. Suthar told reporters that it is important to exercise franchise in democracy, so he spared time to cast vote before his marriage function. Voting for 12 seats in the desert state was held in the first phase on April 19. The Bagidora Assembly seat in Banswara fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya switched over to the BJP. Malviya is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Banswara as a BJP candidate.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's Stumbles Show Pitfalls Of Indias Tech Ambition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to export Indias digital payments system to the world. That plan now risks stumbling as clunky technology used by Indian lenders fails to keep up with his ambitions.

Former RBI ED Explains RBI's Action Against Kotak Mahindra Bank | NDTV Profit

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FAQs: Will RBI's Action on Kotak Bank Impact Existing Customers? Can New Accounts Still Be Opened?

The RBI's action against Kotak Mahindra Bank has raised concerns and uncertainties among the bank's existing customers; here are the answers to all your frequently asked questions

Rohit Bhasin of Kotak Mahindra Bank on bringing consumer-centricity from FMCG to BFSI

Picture this: You are a bank competing with some of the largest public-sector banks in the country. You witness a trend: Even though the market interest rates are at an all-time high, a massive one-third part of the total deposits in banks is in low-yielding savings accounts rather than high-yielding fixed deposits. You wonder why is that the case. The answer seems to be the attitude Indians have when it comes to saving money. India has always been a land of savers due to the uncertainty of emergencies. Now that you know the situation, what do you do about it? Your CMOwho has an experience working in FMCGalong with the marketing comes up with an idea for an account which could provide the liquidity of a savings account while also offering the interest of a fixed deposit. Such is the perspective one brings when coming from an industry that sells tangible household products into one that offers financial services. Understanding your consumers needs becomes indispensable when trying to tailor your products accordingly. Rohit Bhasin , President - Retail Liabilities & Chief Marketing Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank joined the bank a year ago, switching from an illustrious career in the FMCG sector. Bhasins addition to the banks leadership team was driven by the intention of bringing consumer-centricity to the banking sector. Rohit Bhasin has had a diverse career journey, starting in sales and marketing at Unilever before moving to various roles across different regions and brands. His notable experiences include leading initiatives in sales and marketing, such as promoting handwashing with soap to reduce child mortality rates and rejuvenating the image of Ponds. His approach involves understanding consumer needs, creating tailored products, and utilising marketing strategies to meet those needs effectively. In this interview with Social Samosa, he discusses Kotak's marketing strategy, key campaigns, and adaptation to industry trends like digitalisation and premiumisation. Additionally, he highlights the role of AI in marketing and the essential skills for a CMO, emphasising a consumer-first approach and understanding digital channels. Edited excerpts: Can you walk us through your journey in the industry, from your beginnings to your current role as CMO at Kotak? I started my journey in the corporate world back in 1998 after graduating from B-school. I joined Unilever as a management leader and took on various roles across sales and marketing. One memorable experience was as a young sales manager in East Uttar Pradesh, where I led a team older than me. Building rapport and driving thought leadership among them was a significant leadership challenge, but it forged lasting friendships. Transitioning to marketing, I began in brand management, focusing on the laundry sector. I led the brand Rin during a pivotal period when Tide and Ariel entered the Indian market. Crafting a winning portfolio against this competition was a highlight. Later, I moved to the UK to establish a Global Innovation Center for one of our brands, emphasising a global-local approach to product development. Subsequently, I headed the skin business for Unilever in Africa. Recognising the unique needs of African consumers, we tailored products accordingly, leading to a successful venture. Returning to India in 2011, I worked with Lifebuoy on promoting handwashing with soap to reduce child mortality rates. This initiative was personally rewarding, knowing it could save lives. We did the campaign Gondappa, which was one of the first campaigns from India to win at Cannes. Afterwards, I led the Glow and Lovely brand, then known as Fair and Lovely, empowering women through education initiatives. Witnessing the impact of scholarships on rural girls was particularly gratifying. As the global head of Ponds, I faced the challenge of rejuvenating its image among younger consumers. By embracing digital strategies and creating relatable content, we successfully repositioned the brand, achieving strong growth. I had been doing that for 25 years and wanted to do something different. Incidentally, there was a calling from Kotak wherein they wanted someone from the FMCG background to bring consumer-centricity to the banking sector. Drawing from my FMCG background, I aim to shift the bank towards a more demand-driven approach, focusing on consumer needs and tailored products. What prompted your transition from the FMCG sector to BFSI, and how has your experience in FMCG influenced your approach to marketing in the banking sector? The opportunity was wonderful, it was the vision of Uday Kotak, KVS Manian, and Shanti Ekambaram. When we had this conversation a year and a half back about how to build consumer-centricity in the bank, we were moving from more of a supply-side thinking to a demand-side perspective. That was really the trigger for me. I've always been interested in the world of finance and have experience in consumer understanding and marketing. So, am I getting an opportunity to combine the two and apply what I've learned over the last 25 years on household brands to the banking industry? Can we build differentiation and create products and propositions that genuinely meet consumers' needs? That could be very relevant in the industry. The journey has been very interesting; challenging, yet very interesting. It's a cultural and mindset change; Rome was not built in a day. Therefore, we will take time to change culture and mindset. But we've already started on that journey. If you see the last few campaigns we've run since I started, we took a different approach. Instead of starting with our product's features, we began by understanding the consumer's needs. We realised that even though market interest rates were at an all-time high, a significant portion of deposits i.e. INR 65 lakh crores, around one-third of the total, were in low-yielding savings accounts rather than high-yielding fixed deposits. We wondered why people weren't moving their money. When we did more consumer research, we found that India has always been a land of savers due to the uncertainty of emergencies. People were hesitant to lock their money into fixed products. We asked ourselves, What if we could provide the liquidity of a savings account while also offering the interest of a fixed deposit? So, we created ActivMoney as a product that provides higher returns than a fixed deposit while maintaining the liquidity of a savings account. We built a campaign around that, and consumers responded positively by purchasing it in large quantities. We substantially increased our active money in one year, something we hadn't achieved in 20 years, by genuinely addressing consumer needs and raising awareness through the right messaging and channels. Another lesson I learned is that banking is very push-based. So, my current endeavour is to create products based on consumer needs rather than banking activities. If we can do that, consumers will want to buy those products, and they will be successful. The journey involves understanding consumer needs, creating differentiated products and propositions, testing them until they're truly unique, investing in marketing to raise awareness, and using distribution channels to fulfil the demand created by marketing. What does Kotak's overall marketing strategy look like? What is the larger objective behind each marketing activity? What is the tonality that the brand has taken in its communication and the reason behind it? As a financial conglomerate and a bank, we address five fundamental consumer needs. Firstly, we cater to savings requirements. Secondly, we provide solutions for obtaining loans. Thirdly, we facilitate various forms of payments including UPI, credit cards, and debit cards. Fourthly, we offer investment opportunities for those looking to grow their funds. Lastly, we provide insurance for protection against life's uncertainties such as accidents. Now, let's shift our perspective to that of the consumer. Consider this scenario: A young professional has just entered the workforce. Initially, they may not have a strong inclination towards saving, as they are focused on immediate spending. For instance, an early jobber might receive a monthly stipend during college, which they promptly share with family upon starting work. As their income grows, they face the dilemma of wanting to both spend and save. With a monthly salary of INR 50,000, but a desire to purchase a INR 70,000 iPhone, they seek ways to manage their finances responsibly. This might involve seeking discounts or cashback offers to bridge the gap between income and expenditure. To avoid falling into debt, that person may also require access to credit, such as through a credit card or payday loan, to smooth out fluctuations in their cash flow. Eventually, they would aspire to invest in stocks and mutual funds, aiming for long-term financial growth. However, they would need guidance and support to navigate this new territory, preferring an easy and accessible investment platform. Our task is to tailor our offerings to meet these evolving consumer needs. By bundling products and services such as investment options, payment solutions, credit facilities, and savings accounts, we can create a compelling proposition for individuals. Our marketing efforts will play a crucial role in communicating these tailored solutions and driving demand among our target audience. In essence, our strategy revolves around identifying key consumer segments and crafting bundled propositions that address their specific needs. Through targeted marketing campaigns, we aim to position ourselves as the go-to financial partner for individuals at every stage of their financial journey. Could you highlight some of Kotaks key campaigns that have resonated with consumers and contributed to the brand's success? There are a few that come to mind. Kotak is relatively young with a 20-year history as a brand. We began with an iconic campaign focused on investments, leveraging our background vis-a-vis Kotak Securities. Our initial campaign emphasised investment thinking, and as we transitioned into banking, we recognized the primary consumer need: depositing and withdrawing funds. Our next significant campaign addressed the deregulation of interest rates, where we distinguished ourselves by being the first bank to raise rates to 6%. This was accompanied by a series of communications emphasising the benefits of a 6% rate over 4%. We developed the character of Subbu, representing a streetsmart neighbour who is a knowledgeable advisor on financial matters, which became central to our branding for the next decade. Following a major merger, doubling our distribution network, we launched the 'Kona Kona Kotak' campaign to assert our expanded presence across the country. During the demonetisation period, we innovated by enabling customers to open accounts in just three minutes via online processes and video KYC, in alignment with government initiatives. Our 'India Invited' campaign reinforced our inclusive stance, emphasising that all Indians were welcome, regardless of background. Subsequently, we introduced the ActivMoney campaign as well as the senior citizens campaign. Currently, we're developing a new brand positioning campaign, slated for release in the coming months. Kotak 811 has been a game-changer in the digital banking space. How has the bank leveraged social media to drive awareness and adoption of this product? Kotak811 is a digital-only product. You can't open an 811 account by going to the bank. From building awareness at the top of the funnel about the line, as well as digital, we leverage our performance marketing and social marketing to offer an economic proposition. We provide consumers with a link to open the account digitally. We engage extensively in performance marketing; we open close to six lakh accounts a month. We understand the importance of performance marketing in driving the user journey to open the account. Additionally, we are active on social media and digital channels to raise awareness of our propositions, including account opening and other products like credit cards, to drive digital acquisition. When it comes to consumer segmentation, what factors does Kotak consider, and how do you decide on the most effective media channels to reach each segment? Imagine you're my target audience, and I need to map-out how you spend your day. Let's break it down. In the morning, perhaps you start by reading a physical newspaper. That's a challenge for me as more people are shifting to digital. Then you move on to social media, checking out Instagram, following influencers, scrolling through reels. Advertisements on social media become significant here. Later in the day, you might watch TV, say, streaming IPL on a connected device. Maybe on weekends, you go to the cinema. Once I know who my target audience is and their daily routine, I can choose the right channels to engage them. It's about crafting messages tailored to each channel. Remember, scaling from one consumer to millions isn't straightforward. It's a science. We need to carefully plan our approach, ensuring we reach the right people with the right frequency. Understanding media habits helps us drive message delivery and action. What are some recent trends you've observed in the BFSI sector, particularly in terms of consumer behaviour and preferences, and how is Kotak adapting to these changes? One trend that I have noticed is that consumers are moving a lot more towards digital. Its not just happening in BFSI, its a trend that is evident in all sectors be it FMCG, entertainment, shopping, food delivery, etc. In BFSI, consumers are gravitating towards digital. They dont want to visit the bank to take out a loan, get a credit card, etc. And we are tackling that by simplifying consumer journeys. The banking app has thus become our biggest branch. The other trend I am seeing is the disruption of banks by fintechs or other unique-product categories like the platforms Groww and Zerodha. Insurance has been disrupted by the emergence of the likes of ACKO and PhonePe. More lending is being done by fintechs than banks today. Essentially, were seeing people coming up with single-product use cases and building a simplified end-to-end acquisition-to-servicing digital experience on those. And that is where we have been left behind a bit and have some catching up to do so that we can provide all journeys end-to-end digitally to consumers. Banks have the advantage of having all the services in one place but they have not been able to leverage that because they havent been fast enough to move from the physical to digital space. There has been an ongoing trend of premiumisation in FMCG. Do you think that the BFSI industry can move into that direction? A lot of categories are getting premiumised, the same applies to BFSI. The idea of moving up the ladder on premium banking, usage of more premium cards, and upgrading from a zero-balance public-sector bank to a bank that asks you to keep a balance but provides services against that balance are trends we are witnessing. People are willing to pay more premium in order to get better services and experiences. There is a faster growth in wealth management premium banking than at the mass level. What can BFSI learn from FMCG in terms of marketing? One is moving from a supply-side thinking to a demand-side thinking. Dont start from creating a product and finding the right consumer for it but rather identify the needs that the consumer has and build your product accordingly. Second is always search for differentiation, dont build a me-too product. The next thing is to use marketing dollars to build awareness about that differentiated product. A key element is building trust as this category has a deficit of trust. How has AI impacted marketing? How is Kotak adopting it in its marketing strategies? The first best use case of AI is being able to provide better algorithms to build better credit rules and principles. AI can be used to build data algorithms to define the optimal level of credit that you can give to someone. If you can build that optimum level, you can maximise the amount of credit you can give without increasing the risk of delinquency. The other use of AI can be to analyse the past spending habits of a consumer and you could define the right propensity of the consumer for the future. Thus, you can provide the right product to that consumer rather than having a one-product-fits-all approach. Once you have that, one key use of AI could be to design the apt communication strategy for that consumer. Thus it can be used to better understand the psyche of the consumer and tailor customised messaging. How is the role of a CMO changing on an industry level? What do think you are the must-have skills for a CMO? What skills do you believe are timeless? I think the role of a CMO remains the same. It is essentially to use marketing to drive business growth. If you cannot build effective campaigns that do not translate into growth, it is not of any use. Any creativity that does not translate into growth becomes inessential. The CMO is the voice of the consumer in the organisation. Their job is to help the product team to build better products as per the consumer needs. And then build campaigns to drive awareness about those products in the language and personality of the brand. That role does not change. What is changing is the understating of the news channels. Digital is emerging as a new channel. A CMO who does not understand digital, is living in a lost era. It really boils down to how you use digital as a channel to drive awareness and to drive acquisition. Understanding the science of performance marketing is key as it proves to be a cost-effective way of converting people to buy your product. At the same time, it is important to to not lose sight of the top of the funnel awarenessif you do not do that, you will not have a big enough pool to convert from. As both the President of Retail Liabilities - Product and Chief Marketing Officer, what key skills do you believe are essential for success in your dual role? How do you balance the strategic aspects of product development with the creative demands of marketing? I am a marketer who thinks consumer-first. If you keep the consumer at the heart of it, you can do a marketing or a product role quite easily. Always start with the consumer, always be a consumer evangelist, make sure you understand the needs of the consumer and then work with the product team to build the most simplified and delightful product. How has the agency client relationship changed from the time you started? What is a good client brief according to you? A lot of times what happens is that agencies think their job is to do creativity but what they need to understand is that their job is to help me drive business growth. Every penny I spend on creating campaigns, I could have used it somewhere else. So, if Im spending that money on campaigns, it should translate into tangible growth. Successful agencies are those who keep business growth as the output of their creativity and unsuccessful ones those who focus solely on creativity without linking it to business growth. In essence, the agency-client relationship has not changed, it remains the same. Could you share Kotak's long-term and short-term goals in terms of marketing? How do you plan to achieve these goals amidst the evolving landscape of the banking industry? The long term goal is to be the most loved financial brand in the industry and well do that by understating the consumers needs and building relevant products and campaigns. Building optimal user experience across all touchpoints remains the key goal. We want to fulfil the aspirations of the consumers.

Kotak Mahindra Bank: Shedding the underperformer tag may be a tough task

For the first time in about a decade, Kotak Mahindra Bank stock witnessed the sharpest single day fall after RBIs diktat

Kotak Bank reveals how Indian banks fail to keep up with Modi's ambitions

Kotak Mahindra Bank Credit Card & Mobile Banking Curbs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to export India's digital payments system worldwide, but faces obstacles as Indian banks struggle with outdated technology. Despite massive investments in tech to boost financial inclusion, banks are grappling with system glitches and cyber threats. The government urges modernization to safeguard the financial system and customer data.

Vote for strong leader and decisive government: Om Birla after casting vote in Kota

The News Mill

Rahul to campaign in Karnataka's Vijayapura on April 26

VIJAYAPURA: Former Congress president and MP, Rahul Gandhi, will campaign for partys Vijayapura candidate Raju Algur on April 26. The event will be held on the new BLDE College premises on Solapur Road on the outskirts of Vijayapura. Rahul will be the first national level leader of any party to visit the district to campaign this elections. He is expected to be joined by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala and other prominent leaders. While the Congress has succeeded in bringing their national leader for the campaign, the BJP is yet to bring any of their national level leaders. Though PM Narendra Modi will be arriving in Bagalkot on April 28, but so far, there is no information about him coming to Vijayapura. In the last 11 years, this will be the fourth visit of Rahul to the district. He had come to the city to campaign for the 2013 Assembly polls. He had also participated in a mega womens convention held at Tikota taluk in 2018. Rahuls last visit to the district was in April 2023 when he had come to participate in a roadshow to campaign for the Assembly elections. Rahul will address a large gathering after arriving in a chopper from Kalaburagi at around 1 pm. Sources in the district Congress unit said party leaders, mainly six MLAs, have also been given the responsibility of mobilising crowd for the event.

Indian market facing pressure with FPI consistently selling in secondary market

Indian market facing pressure with FPI consistently selling in secondary market Indian benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex commence Friday's trading session with a muted stance by influencing from the global market cues. Nifty 50 opened with marginal gain of 20 points at 22,590.45 while the BSE Sensex opened with 68 points lead at 74,408.11. In the Nifty 50 index at the time of filing this report 36 shares were trading in advance while the 13 declined and 1 remain unchanged. Emerging markets and their currencies are under pressure with the US inflation rising again and the increase in commodity prices, especially oil. India is facing these pressures with foreign portfolio investors consistently selling in the secondary markets. Sideways markets going into the weekend is the best bet today said Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market expert. Nifty Bank and Nifty financial service index opened in red with a marginal dip of 16 and 74 points. The Bajaj Finance share price also declined by more than 6 per cent to Rs 6,827 after the company announced the results for the fourth quarter. The Kotak Mahindra Bank share opened with a very marginal gain of Rs 5 at Rs 1647 after declining more than 10 per cent on the Thursday's trading session. In the Nifty 50 index Tech Mahindra, LTIMindtree Ltd, Divi's Lab and Wipro made into the list of Top gainers while the Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserve and Apollo Hospital made into the list of top losers. Positive development is indicative of potential further upside for the market, projecting a resumption of the short-term uptrend. With a new higher bottom formed at 21,777, expectations lean towards the Nifty ascending to form a new higher top around 22,800 levels said Varun Aggarwal, MD, Profit Idea. The Asian tech sector witnessed gains following robust earnings reports from US giants Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. Meanwhile, anticipation surrounded the Bank of Japan's policy decision, with expectations leaning towards measures to reduce government bond purchases amidst rising yields. (ANI)

Best dynamic bond funds to invest in April 2024

Kotak Dynamic Bond Fund, one of the recommended schemes, has been in the third quartile in the last month. ICICI Prudential All Seasons Bond Fund has been in the second quartile in the last month.

17K credit cards issued to wrong customers: ICICI

MUMBAI: A day after the Reserve Bank had banned Kotak Mahindra Bank from issuing new credit cards and also all other online services to onboard new customers citing its poor risk management systems, larger rival ICICI Bank on Thursday voluntarily admitted that as many as 17,000 new credit cards issued in the past few days were erroneously mapped to wrong customers. In a late evening statement to The New Indian Express, the second-largest private sector lender, which is also the third-largest credit card issuer, controlling about 17.6% of the 100-million active credit card market, said: It has come to our notice that about 17,000 new credit cards were issued in the past few days were erroneously mapped in our digital channels to wrong users. They constitute about 0.1% of our credit card portfolio.

RBI ban cripples Kotak Banks key functions as 95% sales done online

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank has delivered body-blow to Kotak Mahindra Bank on Wednesday and it is so hard that it nearly fully cripples the fourth-largest private sector lender as it has of late been selling loans and cards and other products and all services online or through the mobile app. Following the action, wherein the RBI ordered Kotak Bank to to cease and desist, with immediate effect, from on-boarding new customers through its online and mobile banking channels as well as from issuing fresh credit cards, for its continued failure to improve its IT risk mechanism for the past two years, the bank stock which commands a high premium over peers, tanked over 17 percent to hit an intra-day low of Rs 1,602, and closed at still nearly 11% down from the previous close. According to an analysis by Yes Securities, the ban will cripple the bank as almost all its key functions have been digital of late. Look at the share of digital sourcing for various product lines is as provided below: as much as 99% of new credit cards sales are done online, and 95% of new personal loans by volume are sold online; nine out of 10 or 90% of new investment accounts opened are online; and 79% of all new business loans are disbursed, Shivaji Thapliyal, head of equity research at Yes Securities said in a note on Thursday evening. It can be noted that Kotak is the fifth largest credit card issuer with 5.8% market in the 100 million cards market and its management has been pushing this product aggressively for long saying the higher pricing and the resultant yield it fetches are worth pursuing. Similar has been the management view when founder Uday Kotak was leading the bank when it comes to unsecured books like personal loans again going by the higher margins such loans to the bank. For the medium term, the bank has a target of pushing the share of its unsecured retail book to the higher teens from about 10% in the recent quarters. Commenting on the sternest action on a large lender in recent years, (as punitive action on HDFC in Dec 2020 was only on credit cards) Thapliyal of Yes Securities said the action entails a ban on on-boarding new customers via any and all online channels.

May consider cement pack after a few months; Axis Bank a candidate for rerating: Sandip Sabharwal

Sandip Sabharwal highlights Axis Bank's undervaluation, potential for re-rating. Discusses RBI's ban on Kotak credit cards, online accounts. Aditya Birla Group's impact on stock prices and the caution advised in the cement sector due to pricing pressures.

Voting underway for 13 LS seats in Rajasthan, long queues at polling booths

Voting underway for 13 LS seats in Rajasthan, long queues at polling booths Jaipur: Voting was underway for 13 seats in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan on Friday. Voting was being held in Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali, Jalore, Rajsamand, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Banswara, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Jhalawar-Baran. A total of [] The post Voting underway for 13 LS seats in Rajasthan, long queues at polling booths appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Issues galore in Machilipatnam, development of port vital

VIJAYAWADA: Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency has a plethora of issues that need the attention of policy makers for years, but have been totally ignored. Bandar or Machilipatnam port has been a long-burning issue. Finally, the works of the port project had commenced in May, 2023. The port is expected to be a pivot of change for the entire Krishna district, and emerge as an important sea port on the East Coast. After several agitations, the port was sanctioned by the YSRC government, but it hit a roadblock with the contracting agency backing away due to some issues. After the State bifurcation, the project was given to Navayuga Engineering Company Limited, but the project got embroiled in land issues. After the YSRC came to power, the project tender was cancelled, and a new DPR was prepared. Later, the project was handed over to MEIL, which is expected to complete it in two years. Speaking to TNIE, Vinay of Machilipatnam town said, The development of the port would bring the much-needed growth to the region, and could create more employment. For several years, the people of Nagayalanka and Edurumondi have been using punts to travel between the two islands risking their lives. The demand for a bridge for years remains a dream. In Gudivada, the long pending demand for Road Over Bridge (ROB) is yet to be met, though several assurances were given in this regard. In Gannavaram Assembly segment, the issue of compensation to farmers for the land acquired for airport expansion is yet to be resolved. Machilipatnam also known as Bandar parliamentary constituency consists of seven Assembly segments, including Bandar, Pedana, Avanigadda, Gudivada, Gannavaram, Pamarru (SC reserved) and Penamaluru. The constituency has a total population of 17,35,079. The total electorate in Machilipatnam is 15,18,826. The parliamentary constituency, which retained the name Krishna District after the district reorganisation, has rural and semi-urban character, and compared to NTR District, it has more agriculture and aquaculture fields. Irrigation and drinking water is an issue in the constituency though the perennial Krishna River flows through it. The proposed barrages downstream of Prakasam Barrage have remained a distant dream. Bandar town gets drinking water once in two or three days now. Tail-end lands under Bandar Canal do not get water for irrigation, pointed out a senior CPM leader of the region. The demand for rail connectivity between Repalle and Machilipatnam remains unfulfilled. The region will witness a sea change if the rail connectivity is provided, he opined. The constituency was represented by Communists after it was formed in 1952. Sanaka Buchikotaiah was the first MP. He was succeeded by Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao of Congress, followed by Mandala Venkataswamy Naidu, Y Ankineedu Prasad, Nageswara Rao Meduri, Maganti Ankineedu, K Sambasiva Rao, Kolusu Pedda Reddaiah Yadav, K Satyanarayana, K Sambasiva Rao, Ambati Brahmanaiah and Badiga Ramakrishna. Konakalla Narayana of TDP represented the Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014. In 2019, Vallabhaneni Balasouri of YSRC was elected. The sitting MP has shifted his loyalties to the Jana Sena Party, and is contesting the Lok Sabha seat as an NDA candidate. Facing him is Dr Simhadri Chandrasekhar, a noted oncologist, contesting the election for the first time.

Indonesia and Japan Advance to Next Stage of AFC U23 Asian Cup, South Korea's Olympic Hopes Dashed

Indonesia and Japan Advance to Next Stage of AFC U23 Asian Cup, South Korea's Olympic Hopes Dashed South Korea will miss the men's soccer tournament at the Olympics for the first time since 1984 after losing a penalty shootout to Indonesia at the Under-23 Asian Cup quarterfinals on Thursday. The top three teams will qualify for the Paris Games, and Indonesia reached the last four by winning the shootout 11-10 after the score remained tied 2-2 through extra time. Rafael Struick put Indonesia ahead after 15 minutes only for Komang Teguh's own goal to level the scoreline after 45 minutes. There was still time before the break, however, for Struick to score again. Jeong Sang-bin equalized with 14 minutes remaining despite Korea being reduced to 10 men minutes earlier when Lee Young-jun was shown a red card. Lee Kang-hee missed in the shootout, leaving Pratama Arhan to score the winner. Earlier, Japan knocked out host Qatar 4-2 after extra time to stay on course for an eighth straight Olympic appearance. Fuki Yamada scored early for Japan but Ahmed Al-Rawi and Jassem Gaber netted to put Qatar ahead. Seiji Kimura made it 2-2 midway through the second half and after the tie went into extra-time, Mao Hosoya put Japan ahead once more and Kotaro Uchino scored after 113 minutes to secure the win for Japan. On Friday, defending champion Saudi Arabia faces Uzbekistan, while Iraq meets Vietnam. The team that finishes fourth will face Guinea in a playoff in May with a place in Paris at stake.

TDP irons out dissidence in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram

SRIKAKULAM/VIZIANAGARAM : Uttarandhra is set to witness a tough fight between the YSRC and the TDP-JSP-BJP combine as TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu seems to have pacified the disgruntled aspirants, who failed to get tickets due to the tripartite alliance, during his three-day visit to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts as part of Praja Galam. The TDP chief is said to have succeeded in bringing a truce between the alliance nominees and dissidents to ensure that there is no rebel threat to the official candidates. With the assurance given by the TDP chief that those who failed to get tickets will be given party or nominated posts, several dissidents have started taking part in the election campaign with the official candidates, giving up their non-cooperation attitude. The three-day visit of Naidu has rejuvenated TDP cadres to strive for the victory of the tripartite alliance candidates in the elections. Especially, the uncertainty among the second-rung cadre has been cleared in Srungavarapukota, Gajapathinagaram, Cheepurupalli, Vizianagaram, Pathapatnam and Srikakulam Assembly segments. Gompa Krishna of Srungavarapukota, Kondapalli Appalanaidu of Gajapathinagaram, Kimidi Nagarjuna of Cheepurupalli and Kalamata Venkata Ramana of Pathapatnam and other disgruntled leaders have agreed to coordinate with the TDP official candidates, and strive for the victory of the party in the elections. If the tripartite alliance cadres work in a coordinated manner, the ruling YSRC may face a tough fight in the elections as Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts have been bastions of the TDP since its inception, observed a political analyst.

Uday Kotak Loses Rs 10,800 Crore In A Day After RBI Action

Uday Kotak built his Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. over decades to become Asia's richest banker. After India's regulator slapped his bank with a surprise ban, he's facing one of his biggest tests yet - and a dip in wealth.

Lok Sabha Elections: Nine reasons why BJP may not achieve a hat-trick of 25/25 seats in Rajasthan this time

The BJP in Rajasthan is facing obstacles ahead of the upcoming elections due to intra-party challenges, defections, inadequate development, anger over Agnipath, and farmer protests. Local factors are making it challenging for the saffron party in nine seats, including Churu, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dausa, Kota, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Banswara.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Share Price Live Updates: Kotak Mahindra Bank Closes at Rs 1642.45 with 2.8% Weekly Return

Big Movers on D-Street: What should investors do with Nestle, Hitachi Energy?

Thursday's session saw Kotak Mahindra Bank shares ending 11% lower at Rs 1,643 on NSE while Hitachi Energy India shares ended nearly 14% up at Rs 9,342 on BSE.

Nilgiris road rage: Youth undergoing treatment dies

COIMBATORE: One more youth, who sustained injuries after a gang knocked down a scooter on which he was travelling with his friends at Mettupalayam-Kotagiri ghat road, died on Thursday. Police have already arrested six migrant workers, including a 17-year-old boy, for allegedly chasing and knocking down the scooter using a car in the wee hours of Tuesday. While, one of the victims, Arul Pandian (28), a carpenter from Muthuraja Street in Kasturipalayam, was killed on the spot, his friend Vasanthakumar(24), died at the hospital without responding to treatment on Thursday, said police. Another injured person, M Arunkumar (24) of Periyanaickenpalayam is undergoing treatment. Both gangs allegedly had a wordy quarrel under the influence of alcohol at Kotagiri while visiting the tourist spot, which ended up in the murder of two. Six arrested Six migrant workers, including a 17-year-old boy, were arrested for allegedly chasing and knocking down the scooter using a car in the wee hours of Tuesday. The incident was the fallout of a quarrel between two gangs allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

To improve weather forecast, new radars likely in Ramanathapuram, Yercaud

CHENNAI: In a significant development, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Tamil Nadu government have decided to set up additional Doppler X-band radars in two or three new locations in southern and interior districts of the state to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting. IMD will also soon replace the old S-band radars in Chennai and Sriharikota for which tenders have already been issued. M Ravichandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, said this during a press conference in Chennai while replying to a query from TNIE. Site studies in Ramanathapuram and Yercaud are currently on. S Balachandran, head, Regional Meteorological Centre, said, We are checking for locations that dont have electromagnetic interference. Tamil Nadu has been witnessing a series of extreme weather events during monsoon seasons, and forecast has become a challenge because of lack of good radar coverage across the state. Also, there were instances in the past, especially during 2022 rains, when Chennais S-band radar went defunct, X-band radar in National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) was not fully calibrated, and Sriharikota radar was stretched to its full capacity making it difficult for the meteorologists to pick up rain bands that hit Chennai by surprise. The city had received a record rainfall of 21cm in 24 hours from November 6 to November 7, 2022. TN govt sets rainfall stations in more than 1,000 places Later, Chief Minister M K Stalin took a decision to augment the weather forecasting system by setting up additional radars across the state. IMD chief Mohapatra said the state government is also installing ground observatories (rainfall stations) in more than 1,000 places whose data will also be used for forecast modelling. Currently, six radars --- two in Chennai, and one each in Karaikal, Sriharikota, Trivandrum, and Kochi --- are providing coverage for Tamil Nadu. Within a year, C-band radar will be installed in Bengaluru which will cover some parts of the state. With the help of these radars, we can go for panchayat-level weather forecasting, he said. To a query, Ravichandran said tenders for replacing the aging radars in Chennai and Sriharikota have been issued. Totally, four new S-band radars will be installed on the east coast. In another four to five months, IMD will be augmenting 20 petaflops computers from current four petaflops, which will improve the resolution from 10 km to 6km and will enable the Met office to predict more localised weather events, he said Mohapatra said IMD has extended the heat action plan to Tamil Nadu and introduced terminology like hot and humid weather as the water holding capacity of air is increasing with rising temperature. S K Prabhakar, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, also requested the meteorologists to use the data from the states 1,400 rain stations that are being installed for giving more localised (firka-level) forecast which will help disaster managers in handling the situation better.

Kotak Mahindra's Shares Fall After Ban On Cards And New Online Clients

Uday Kotak built his Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. over decades to become Asia's richest banker. After India's regulator slapped his bank with a surprise ban, he's facing one of his biggest tests yet - and a dip in wealth.

Share Market Highlights 26 April 2024: Sensex, Nifty slip on financial drag, still close week with gains

Sensex, Nifty updates on 26 April 2024: Indias benchmark indexes, the Sensex and Nifty, closed lower on Friday, primarily dragged down by financial stocks. However, these losses did not offset the gains made earlier in the week, driven by a post-results rally in key index constituents and reduced concerns over the Middle East situation. The Nifty 50 fell by 0.67% to 22,419.95, while the Sensex dropped by 0.82% to 73,730.16, breaking a five-day winning streak. For the week, the Nifty 50 and Sensex posted gains of about 1.25% and 1%, respectively. Axis Bank was the top weekly gainer on the Nifty 50, surging 9.83%, followed by Divis Laboratories, which gained 9.39%, and Tech Mahindra, up by 7.13% for the week. On the flip side, Kotak Mahindra Bank had its worst week in nearly four years, tumbling by 10.27% after being barred by the RBI from taking new digital clients and issuing credit cards. Bajaj Finance also dropped by 7.73% for the week, forecasting slower asset growth and weaker margins.

Upside capped for Kotak Bank stock in near term, but downside's limited, too

The digital acquisition of customers will be adversely impacted but the reputational impact is surprising since Kotak is considered to be a conservative bank with good processes and systems in place, said Kaitav Shah, banking analyst, Anand Rathi Brokerage.

One more victim of Kotagiri road rage dies

Demand for Kota airport takes flight, candidates spar over delay

Recreational marijuana backers can gather signatures for North Dakota ballot initiative

A North Dakota ballot initiative group can gather signatures to put a proposal legalizing recreational marijuana to a statewide vote in the fall

Colombia becomes first country to restrict US beef due to bird flu in dairy cows

Colombia becomes first country to restrict US beef due to bird flu in dairy cows Colombia has restricted the import of beef and beef products coming from U.S. states where dairy cows have tested positive for avian influenza as of April 15, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is the first country to officially limit trade in beef due to bird flu in cows, in a sign of a broadening economic impact of the virus that has restricted poultry trade globally. Colombia imports a small amount of beef from the U.S. annually, according to government data and market analysts. In a notice this week on the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service website, which was last updated on April 22, the agency said the ban includes beef products derived from cattle slaughtered in Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas. Colombia imposed temporary restrictions on raw bovine meat products, the notice said. If exporters have a valid import permit, shipments may still be held at the port. The restrictions come as the U.S. government said it will require dairy cattle moving between states to be tested for bird flu starting on Monday, as federal officials ramp up their response to an outbreak that has bled over into the U.S. milk supply. The measures aim to contain the spread of bird flu, which has been reported in eight states and 33 dairy herds since it was first detected in late March in Texas. A person exposed to cattle tested positive for the disease and suffered conjunctivitis. To date, no U.S. beef cattle have tested positive for bird flu, government officials said. Colombia is the only country that has officially imposed restrictions on U.S. beef exports over the H5N1 outbreak, said Joe Schuele, spokesman for the U.S. Meat Export Federation, an industry group. We don't feel that import restrictions related to the avian flu outbreak have any scientific basis, he said, adding: It's certainly a big deal for exporters who are doing business in Colombia and for their customers. USDA officials are talking with Colombia about the issue, Schuele said. Trading partners have requested additional information on the government's epidemiology, Rosemary Sifford, USDA's chief veterinary officer, said in a webinar on Thursday. We are responding to their requests for information as we receive them, to provide information that assists them in mitigating any trade impacts, Sifford said. USDA officials did not say which trading partners asked for such information.

Wild horses to remain in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park, lawmaker says

North Dakota U.S. John Hoeven has announced that the National Park Service will abandon plans that could have removed the 200 or so wild horses that roam Theodore Roosevelt National Park

RBI bars Kotak Mahindra Bank from onboarding new customers online, issuing fresh credit cards

BJP and Congress Vie for Dominance in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts

Elections to the two-member constituency of Vijayapur and Bagalkot to the legislative council from local bodies is expected to see an interesting clash between Congress and BJP Elections to the two-member constituency of Vijayapur and Bagalkot to the legislative council from local bodies is expected to see an interesting clash between Congress and BJP MANGALURU: As 14 constituencies in Karnataka prepare for elections on Friday, all eyes are on the political landscape in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, traditionally regarded as strongholds of saffron outfits. Formerly bastions of the Congress, the political dynamics shifted after 1990 when the BJP began recording victories in the assembly as well as parliamentary elections. Since the 1991 elections, the BJP has consistently secured victory in the Mangalore constituency, which later evolved into Dakshina Kannada after the 2008 delimitation. While the constituency lost Kodagu, it now comprises all eight assembly segments of Dakshina Kannada district post-delimitation. Over the years, leaders like Dhananjay Kumar and DV Sadananda Gowda represented Mangalore for the BJP, with Nalin Kumar Kateel continuing the streak in Dakshina Kannada from 2009 onwards. In the current election, both Congress and BJP have introduced new contenders. BJP's Capt Brijesh Chowta faces off against Congress' Padmaraj R Poojary. While the BJP exudes confidence in maintaining its electoral dominance, Congress anticipates a resurgence, citing shifting political tides. In a similar vein, Udupi also witnessed a saffron surge in the 1990s, with IM Jayaram Shetty clinching victory for the BJP in 1998. However, Congress made inroads in the subsequent year's election in 1999 through Vinay Kumar Sorake. Manorama Madhwaraj won Udupi for BJP in 2004. Post-delimitation, Udupi merged with parts of Chikkamagaluru to form the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency. While DV Sadananda Gowda won it for the BJP in 2008, Congress candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde won the seat for a short term of two years in 2012 when the constituency faced a by-election after Gowda resigned from the MP post to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Shobha Karandlaje grabbed the constituency back to BJP and won the 2014 and 2019 elections. In the current electoral battle, BJP has named MLC and former Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary to challenge Congress' former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde. We are confident of another victory this time. The region has always supported us, appreciating our work and the leadership of Modi, asserted Uday Kumar Shetty, BJP's Mangaluru Division in-charge. However, Congress remains undeterred, banking on its welfare schemes and developmental initiatives, while also counting on anti-incumbency sentiments to sway voters in their favor.

DNA TV Show: Will RBI action on Kotak Mahindra Bank impact customers?

RBI has banned some services of Kotak Mahindra Bank and directed it to stop issuing new credit cards with immediate effect.

Kotak Bank MD says in discussions with RBI, working to address concerns

RBI also highlighted that the rapid growth in the banks digital transaction volumes, including transactions pertaining to credit cards, adding that the restrictions will be reviewed upon completion of a comprehensive external audit

Dad beat 3-year-old daughter with wooden backscratcher before she died, feds say

Ariana was a happy baby girl, who always had a smile, the North Dakota girls obituary said.

Kotak Mahindra Bank: Is the bank past its acche din?

Marking its first largest single day fall in over a decade, Kotak Bank stock plunged around 11 per cent reacting to RBIs diktat

Kotak CEO calls for major tech infra upgrade in message to employees

Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO said the lender will resolve all the issues raised by the RBI in short order and will continue to onboard new customers across all products, barring credit cards, through non-digital channels

Kota Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Voting on April 26; Check key candidates, result schedule and other important details

The upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Kota, Rajasthan, will witness a fierce battle between BJP's Om Birla and Congress' Prahlad Gunjal. Birla, seeking re-election for the third consecutive term, faces competition from Gunjal, a former BJP leader. Kota, known for its significant BJP presence, has been a pivotal constituency in Rajasthan. As the elections approach, all eyes are on the outcome of this high-stakes contest for the Kota Lok Sabha seat.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Chief Reassures Customers After RBI Whip On Key Services

Operations continue to be uninterrupted for all existing customers on all of the bank's channels, MD and CEO Ashok Vaswani said.

Operations continue uninterrupted: Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO Ashok Vaswani writes to customers amid RBI action

Kotak Mahindra Bank has reassured customers that all operations are continuing, despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) halting new customer sign-ups due to IT system failure. The bank's CEO, Ashok Vaswani, stated that customers can continue accessing existing banking services, but the issuance of new credit cards has been temporarily halted. Kotak Mahindra Bank is in constant communication with the regulator to resolve any issues.

Nifty Bank Can Extend Rally Despite Kotak Mahindra Jitters. Here's Why

The benchmark equity indices extended gains for the fifth consecutive session on Thursday.

Man injured in hit-and-run on Mettupalayam - Kotagiri Road dies; toll increases to two