Moneylife News Bites

For over two decades, bank mis-selling in India has thrived under weak enforcement, empty warnings and regulatory hesitation. From toxic ULIPs and forced insurance bundling to aggressive fee-income targets, countless savers have seen their wealth quietly eroded.Now, after blistering observations by the Supreme Court in the ₹58,000 crore ‘digital arrest’ fraud cases, the Reserve Bank of India has issued draft Responsible Business Conduct Amendment Directions that could finally dismantle the mis-selling machine.Are these new mandates a genuine turning point — with bans on incentives, dark patterns, forced bundling and 100% refunds for mis-selling? Or will this become another case of strong words, weak enforcement?In this episode, Sucheta Dalal examines whether RBI’s 2026 draft rules mark real accountability for banks — or just more regulatory tinkering after years of damage.

India’s trade deals with the US and the EU have lifted a major overhang on the stock market — and foreign money may slowly return. But is this the turning point for a new bull run, especially in small caps? In this sharp analysis, Debashis Basu explains why trade relief reduces risk but does not automatically create growth. With weak domestic demand, cautious private capex and stretched valuations, markets may see tactical rallies — but sustained gains will depend on earnings revival, not optimism alone.

India once had a powerful consumer movement that shaped landmark laws like the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. But over the years, judicial delays, regulatory capture and weakening class action mechanisms have diluted its impact.Now, Artificial Intelligence is being positioned as the next big hope — from AI-powered helplines and chatbots like Grahak-Nyay, to fraud detection systems and fake review clean-ups. Refunds are rising. Complaints are easier to file. Technology is improving access.But is AI truly empowering consumers — or simply making systems more efficient without delivering justice?In this incisive analysis, Sucheta Dalal examines whether AI can revive consumer protection in India — or whether without judicial reform, enforceable regulation and empowered consumer organisations, technology will end up serving corporations more than citizens.

India has everything going for it — history, culture, landscapes and medical expertise. Yet, global tourists are staying away, while Indians increasingly choose Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore for holidays and even medical care.In this hard-hitting analysis, Sucheta Dalal examines India’s tourism paradox: grand announcements in Budget 2026 versus the grim reality on the ground. From failed flagship schemes like Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD, to safety concerns, poor hygiene, broken infrastructure, local mafias and ecological disasters, the gap between promise and performance keeps widening.Despite decades of slogans, schemes and spending, inbound tourism remains stagnant, medical tourism underperforms, and iconic destinations like Goa and Varanasi tell a story of mismanagement and neglect.

Can India really triple its merchandise exports by 2035? What would it take to sustain export growth of 13% a year for nearly a decade?In this audio, Debashis Basu examines India’s export ambitions through the lens of history—drawing lessons from export champions such as South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. These countries achieved extraordinary export growth under very specific conditions: cheap currencies, disciplined policy execution, low wages, deep global integration and strong state coordination.India, by contrast, faces rising global protectionism, aggressive dumping by China, a weak manufacturing base and an overwhelming burden of red tape. With over 69,000 compliances and thousands of annual filings, regulatory friction continues to choke competitiveness.Using hard data and international comparisons, this video explains why incremental reforms may not be enough—and why India’s export dreams risk remaining aspirational without fundamental structural change.

For years, CAG reports have exposed massive fraud, mismanagement and leakage in India’s biggest welfare schemes—from GST and DBT to housing, healthcare, skills training and drinking water projects. Yet, unlike the past, these revelations barely trigger outrage or accountability.In this hard-hitting audio, Sucheta Dalal explains how digital systems meant to prevent corruption are increasingly enabling ghost beneficiaries, fake records, cyber fraud and misreporting involving thousands of crores of rupees. From pensions paid to the dead and fake skill certificates to housing scams, contaminated water and healthcare rackets, the evidence is overwhelming—and largely ignored.Why have constitutional audit warnings lost their impact? And what does this silence mean for governance, public money and citizens who are denied basic services?

India appears stable on the surface—record-high markets, busy malls, rising asset prices. But beneath this calm lies a convergence of risks that could redefine the country’s growth story.In this audio, Debashis Basu breaks down five powerful forces shaping India’s economic future: rising government debt, slowing revenues, falling household savings, geopolitical pressure, and the return of domestic populism. Individually, India has dealt with each before. Together, they sharply reduce the margin for error.This is not a story of crisis—yet. It is a warning about complacency, structural constraints, and why headline numbers can mislead investors, policymakers, and households alike.Watch to understand what the data isn’t screaming yet—but soon might.

Despite official claims that 89% of NH66 is complete, the reality on the ground tells a far more disturbing story.In this audio, Sucheta Dalal examines the decades-long failure of NH66, the crucial Mumbai–Goa highway that has remained a deadly work-in-progress for nearly 20 years. Through the extraordinary Rasta Satyagraha undertaken by Chaitanya Patil, the video exposes construction lapses, dangerous design flaws, missing safety infrastructure, poor drainage, and ecological damage—all backed by geo-tagged photographic evidence.RTI data reveals over 2,000 deaths in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts alone since 2011, raising uncomfortable questions about accountability, corruption, and governance. While mega-projects elsewhere have been fast-tracked, NH66 continues to endanger lives daily.This is not just a story about a highway—it is about systemic failure, bureaucratic indifference, and how meticulous citizen-led documentation is forcing authorities like Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and National Highways Authority of India to respond.A must-watch for anyone who believes infrastructure should serve people—not propaganda.