SBI launches exclusive 0 million loan facility for women empowerment

SBI launches exclusive $500 million loan facility for women empowerment


State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty

State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday said it has launched a $500 million syndicated Social Term Loan facility, focused exclusively on women empowerment, with a greenshoe option.

The syndicated transaction, first of its kind by SBI, is aimed at supporting gender equality and inclusive economic growth, and is expected to be the largest gender-themed loan globally, India’s largest bank said in a statement.

This transaction, which is dedicated to advancing women empowerment initiatives across India, is a milestone for SBI and the global ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) financing landscape, per the statement. It is focused on accelerating social impact and demonstrates SBI’s commitment to reduce “the gender gap”.

The bank said the financing also contributes meaningfully to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5- ‘Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls’.

C S Setty, Chairman, SBI said, “On this women’s day… This landmark social loan embodies our dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with a sharp focus on creating opportunities for women. We believe that true progress depends not only on economic growth but also on our ability to drive positive social change, empower women and build an inclusive society for all stakeholders.”

MUFG is acting as the original Mandated Lead Arranger, Underwriter and Bookrunner and sole social loan coordinator for the transaction, the bank said.

Published on March 7, 2026



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पर्सनल लोन या गोल्ड लोन? पैसों की जरूरत में कौन सा विकल्प रहेगा बेहतर, जानिए पूरी डिटेल

पर्सनल लोन या गोल्ड लोन? पैसों की जरूरत में कौन सा विकल्प रहेगा बेहतर, जानिए पूरी डिटेल


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Gold Loan vs Personal Loan: कई बार अचानक ऐसी स्थिति बन जाती है जब पैसों की तुरंत जरूरत होती है. अगर उस समय न तो इमरजेंसी फंड हो और न ही कोई बचत, तो लोगों के सामने लोन लेना ही एक विकल्प बचता है.

ऐसे में कुछ लोग पर्सनल लोन का सहारा लेते हैं. जबकि कई लोग अपने पास मौजूद सोने के बदले गोल्ड लोन लेने का विचार करते हैं. हालांकि किसी भी फैसले से पहले यह समझना जरूरी होता है कि गोल्ड लोन आपके लिए सही रहेगा या नहीं.

वित्तीय जानकार हर व्यक्ति को इमरजेंसी फंड और निवेश की सलाह देते हैं. अगर इसके बावजूद आपको पैसों की जरूरत पड़ रही है और आप गोल्ड लोन लेने का सोच रहे हैं, तो पहले इससे जुड़ी जरूरी बातों को समझ लेना बेहतर होता है. जिससे बाद में किसी तरह की परेशानी न हो…

क्रेडिट स्कोर कम होने पर भी मिल सकता है गोल्ड लोन

अगर किसी व्यक्ति का क्रेडिट स्कोर कम है. इसी वजह से उसे बैंक से पर्सनल लोन मिलने में दिक्कत आ रही है या बहुत ज्यादा ब्याज दर पर लोन ऑफर हो रहा है. तो ऐसे में गोल्ड लोन एक विकल्प हो सकता है.

आमतौर पर गोल्ड लोन में सोना गिरवी रखा जाता है, इसलिए लोन देने वाली संस्थाएं क्रेडिट स्कोर पर उतना ज्यादा निर्भर नहीं रहती है. इसी कारण कम क्रेडिट स्कोर वाले लोग भी इस विकल्प पर विचार कर सकते हैं

लंबे समय के लिए लोन विकल्प

अगर किसी व्यक्ति को लंबे अवधि के लिए लोन की जरूरत हैं तो, ऐसी स्थिति में पर्सनल लोन लेने की सलाह दी जाती है. वहीं, 3 से 6 महीने के समय के लिए आपको लोन चाहिए तो गोल्ड लोन एक अच्छा विकल्प हो सकता है. 

जल्दी पैसों की जरूरत हो तो गोल्ड लोन एक विकल्प

अगर किसी व्यक्ति को कम समय में ज्यादा पैसों की जरूरत पड़ जाती है, तो ऐसी स्थिति में गोल्ड लोन एक विकल्प बन सकता है. कई बार पर्सनल लोन की प्रक्रिया पूरी होने में ज्यादा समय लग जाता है, जबकि गोल्ड लोन आमतौर पर जल्दी मिल जाता है.

यही वजह है कि इमरजेंसी स्थिति में लोग अपने सोने के बदले लोन लेने का फैसला करते हैं, ताकि उनकी पैसों की जरूरत तुरंत पूरी हो सके.  

यह भी पढ़ें: 695 करोड़ की ब्लॉक डील से चर्चा में यह कंपनी, गोल्डमैन सैक्स और टाटा म्यूचुअल फंड ने खरीदे शेयर; क्या आपके पोर्टफोलियो में है?



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Barring eight days, Andhra relied on borrowings from RBI during 2024-25, says CAG report

Barring eight days, Andhra relied on borrowings from RBI during 2024-25, says CAG report


The Andhra Pradesh government spent only 24% of the borrowings of the current year (₹87,773 crore) on capital expenditure (₹21,173 crore).

The Andhra Pradesh government availed ₹1.72 lakh crore through special drawing facility, ways and means advances and overdraft during 2024-25, ending up paying ₹303 crore towards interest, according to a CAG report.

The Comptroller and Auditor General report, which was tabled in the Assembly, on Friday said the state government maintained the minimum cash balance with the Reserve Bank of India for only eight days without availing any WMA from RBI.

The report further stated that the government’s revenue deficit exceeded the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) target of 2.7 per cent of GSDP, remaining at 3.75 per cent even in 2024-25. This forced the state to borrow for day-to-day expenses and significantly increased its interest burden.

The fiscal deficit remained at 5.05 per cent against the mandated 4 per cent ceiling, driving total borrowings to ₹81,071 crore, crowding out capital expenditure, worsening debt sustainability and severely restricting fiscal space for future growth.

“During 2024-25, the Government of Andhra Pradesh availed ₹42,004 crore Special Drawing Facility for 71 days and paid ₹188.82 crore as interest, ₹73,897 crore Ways and Means Advances for 179 days and paid ₹82.30 crore as interest and ₹56,631 crore Overdraft for 107 days and paid ₹32 crore as interest,” it said.

When contacted, TDP spokesperson Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar said when the NDA government took over administration in Andhra Pradesh on June 10, 2024, the previous YSRCP regime had already borrowed ₹38,000 crore.

“During the remaining year, the NDA government in the state borrowed ₹42,000 crore, leading to a high debt,” the TDP leader told PTI.

He further said that the dependence on RBI loans was due to legacy issues left by the previous government, such as unpaid bills to contractors and employees, among others.

“The minimum cash balance was maintained by the Government of Andhra Pradesh with the RBI for only eight (08) days without availing any WMA from RBI,” the CAG said.

Though it is essential that borrowed funds are fully utilised to finance productive capital assets, while revenue receipts should be reserved for servicing debt interest and principal repayments, the state government spent only 24 per cent of the borrowings of the current year (₹87,773 crore) on capital expenditure (₹21,173 crore).

The state government had not disclosed the quantum or source of proposed off-budget borrowings (OBBs) in its Budget of 2024-25 and informed the Ministry of Finance that no off-budget liabilities were availed during 2024-25.

However, there was an outstanding amount of ₹27,241.99 crore by the end of 31 March 2025, the CAG said.

Published on March 7, 2026



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US draws up strict AI guidelines amid Anthropic clash, FT reports

US draws up strict AI guidelines amid Anthropic clash, FT reports


The Trump administration has drawn up strict rules for ​civilian artificial-intelligence contracts requiring companies to allow “any lawful” use ‌of their models amid a stand-off between the ​Pentagon and Anthropic, the Financial Times reported ⁠on Friday.

The Pentagon designated Anthropic a “supply-chain risk” on Thursday, barring government contractors from using the AI firm’s technology in work ‌for the US military. That followed a months-long dispute over the company’s insistence on ‌safeguards that the Defense Department says went too ‌far.

A ⁠draft of the guidelines reviewed by ⁠the FT says AI groups seeking business with the government must grant the US an irrevocable license to use their systems ​for all legal purposes.

The guidance ‌from the General Services Administration would apply to civilian contracts and is part of a broader government-wide effort to strengthen AI services procurement, the newspaper ‌reported, adding that it mirrors measures the Pentagon ​is considering for military contracts.

“It would be irresponsible to the American people and dangerous ⁠to our nation for GSA to maintain a business relationship with Anthropic,” Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal ‌Acquisition Service, a GSA subsidiary that helps procure software for the federal government, told Reuters by email.

“As directed by the President, GSA has terminated Anthropic’s OneGov deal – ending their availability to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches through GSA’s pre-negotiated contracts,” Gruenbaum ‌said.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests ​for comment from Reuters.

The GSA draft mandates that contractors “must not intentionally encode partisan or ideological judgments ⁠into the AI systems data outputs,” the FT reported.

It ⁠requires companies to disclose whether their models have been “modified or configured to comply with any ‌non-US federal government or commercial compliance or regulatory framework,” the newspaper said.

Published on March 7, 2026



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Oil prices cross /barrel on signs West Asia war may drag on

Oil prices cross $90/barrel on signs West Asia war may drag on


Escalating tensions in Iran and the wider West Asia region have intensified concerns over global crude oil supplies.

Crude oil prices shot up sharply, reportedly after the US President Donald Trump sought what he called “unconditional surrender” from Iran, intensifying worries about a prolonged conflict that could disrupt global energy supplies.

Crude Oil WTI Futures were 12.2 per cent up at $90.90 at the time of filing this report. It has seen its biggest weekly gain since April 2020, as per reports.

Escalating tensions in Iran and the wider West Asia region have intensified concerns over global crude oil supplies, with experts warning of sustained volatility that could potentially impact global energy sector, including India.

Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities said it seems that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran is likely to keep the prices elevated.

“The war has significantly disrupted energy markets and heightened concerns about supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. Approximately 20 per cent of global oil supply passes through this chokepoint, making it highly sensitive to geopolitical disruptions,” Sheth said.

The war between the United States and Israel against Iran has the potential to be the largest oil supply disruption in history if oil flows via the narrow Strait of Hormuz remain low or come to a halt, said Jim Burkhard, Global Head of Crude Oil Research at S&P Global Energy.

“Initially, energy infrastructure had not been targeted by Iran, but that has changed with attacks on facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This adds a critical further dimension to the shock wave hitting oil and gas markets, according to a new S&P Global Energy analysis,” Jim Burkhard said.

S&P Global Energy Commodities at Sea data shows that on March 1 only 5 oil tankers transited the Strait compared with around 60 tankers per day recently.

Published on March 7, 2026



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LPG cylinder rates rise: ₹60 domestic, ₹115 commercial from March 7

LPG cylinder rates rise: ₹60 domestic, ₹115 commercial from March 7


Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that India’s crude and LPG stocks are sufficient, with imports from diversified sources, including the US and Russia, ensuring uninterrupted supply.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

The price of domestic LPG cylinders has been increased with effect from Saturday, March 7, with the cost of a 14.2-kg household cooking gas cylinder rising by Rs 60 across the country, according to sources.

Similarly, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has also been increased by Rs 115 from the same date, impacting businesses such as hotels, restaurants and small commercial establishments.

City-wise rate hike

As per the source, the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi has increased from Rs 853 to Rs 913. In Mumbai, the new rate of a domestic LPG cylinder now stands at Rs 912.50, up from Rs 852.50 earlier. In Kolkata, the price has risen from Rs 879 to Rs 030, while in Chennai it has increased from Rs 868.50 to Rs 928.50. The revised rates will come into effect immediately from today.

Commercial users burdened

The hike also applies to commercial LPG cylinders used by businesses. In Delhi, the price of a 19-kg commercial cylinder has increased from Rs 1768.50 to Rs 1883. In Mumbai, the price has risen from Rs 1720.50 to Rs 1835. Similarly, in Kolkata, the price has gone up from Rs 1875.50 to Rs 1990, while in Chennai it has increased from Rs 1929 to Rs 2043.50.

Long-awaited price revision

Earlier, the price of a domestic LPG cylinder had remained unchanged since April 2025, when the non-subsidised rate in Delhi stood at Rs 853. The latest revision marks a significant increase for household consumers as well as commercial users who rely on LPG for daily operations.

Government reassures citizens

The increase comes amid discussions around India’s energy supply and fuel availability. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri earlier assured that there is no shortage of energy in the country and that consumers need not worry about supply disruptions.

“Our priority is to ensure the availability of affordable and sustainable fuel for our citizens, and we are doing it comfortably. There is no shortage of energy in India, and there is no cause of worry for our energy consumers,” the minister said in a post on X.

Oil company clarifies situation

Meanwhile, Indian Oil Corporation also dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting a shortage of petrol and diesel in the country, terming them baseless.

“India has sufficient fuel stocks, and supply and distribution networks are functioning normally. IndianOil is committed to maintaining uninterrupted fuel supply across the country. Citizens are requested not to panic or crowd fuel stations and to rely only on official sources for accurate information,” the company said in a statement on X.

Energy security assured

Earlier on Friday, government sources said India is in a “very comfortable position” regarding crude oil, petroleum products and LPG supplies despite concerns over disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the sources, the country currently has access to more energy supplies from diversified sources than the volume that could potentially be impacted through the Strait of Hormuz. India’s existing stock of crude oil and petroleum products is also adequate to meet domestic demand.

Monitoring supply closely

Sources said the government is closely monitoring the situation and plans to ramp up supplies from alternative geographies to offset any potential supply constraints linked to the Strait of Hormuz. They highlighted that India has significantly diversified its crude import basket over the past few years.

Rising Russian imports

Since 2022, India has been importing crude oil from Russia. While Russia accounted for only 0.2 per cent of India’s total crude imports in 2022, the share has risen substantially in the following years. “In February, India imported about 20 per cent of its total crude oil imports from Russia, amounting to around 1.04 million barrels per day,” government sources said.

LPG production boosted

On the LPG front, the government has directed all LPG refineries to increase production to ensure adequate availability across the country. Officials said India currently remains in a comfortable position regarding LPG stocks.

US LPG imports start

LPG from the US has started coming to India since January, the sources said. Indian PSU Oil companies in November 2025 has signed a one-year contract to import around 2.2 MTPA of LPG from the US Gulf Coast for the contract year 2026.

Published on March 7, 2026



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