Moneycontrol PRO
HomeAuthorDinesh unnikrishnan

Dinesh Unnikrishnan

Editor-Banking & Finance

Moneycontrol

Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday.

Shaktikanta Das era ends at Mint Road — RBI governor for all seasons

BUSINESS

Shaktikanta Das era ends at Mint Road — RBI governor for all seasons

Das’s six years in office saw him steering monetary policy through a pandemic bringing the world down to its knees, a banking crisis roiling the world's largest economy, two major wars and raging inflation.

Banking Central | If RBI survey holds a clue, MPC is in for a long battle against inflation

BUSINESS

Banking Central | If RBI survey holds a clue, MPC is in for a long battle against inflation

Compared to September 2024 round of the survey, somewhat larger share of respondents expects the year ahead price and inflation to increase, mainly due to higher pressures from food items and housing related expenses

How the MPC just dodged a curve ball on a sticky wicket

BUSINESS

How the MPC just dodged a curve ball on a sticky wicket

A 50 bps CRR cut, and rates on hold is a safe play for the MPC, caught in a growth-inflation conundrum, at this point.

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama| Rising rate cut calls & winds of reform in India’s financial sector

BUSINESS

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama| Rising rate cut calls & winds of reform in India’s financial sector

For December 4 edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: A crucial Banking Law Amendment Bill was passed yesterday, the MPC is starting a critical policy review meeting today, and just a few days ago the insurance sector got a proposal from the government to get more foreign funds.

Chart of the Day: How GDP, inflation numbers responded to RBI rate actions over years

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day: How GDP, inflation numbers responded to RBI rate actions over years

RBI has been struggling to find the right balance in terms of rate actions. Data suggests growth has taken a hit whenever RBI held rates high for too long

A CRR cut is more probable this week than a rate cut

BUSINESS

A CRR cut is more probable this week than a rate cut

The RBI now has a ‘growth’ problem rather than an ‘inflation problem’. It cannot ignore the growth slowdown. At the same time, the MPC needs to time the rate cut carefully

Banking Central | Microlenders, grow slow, grow steady!

BUSINESS

Banking Central | Microlenders, grow slow, grow steady!

The microfinance industry is likely to face a tough phase in terms of growth and recoveries in 2025 but that is still better compared with a repeat of 2010 crisis triggered by bad lending practices

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | The many worries of Shaktikanta Das ahead of MPC December meet

BUSINESS

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | The many worries of Shaktikanta Das ahead of MPC December meet

In this November 28 edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: WTO turns to AI to regains its lost glory, Chrome's dominance is unchallenged, fake note trends revealled by RBI data, Sambhal-like incidents put India's security at risk, and more

Chart of the Day | What RBI data tell us on trend in fake notes over last 5 years

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | What RBI data tell us on trend in fake notes over last 5 years

The sharp jump in fake 500-rupee currency notes came in the year 2021-2022 when the number doubled to 79669 mpcs from 39453 mpcs in the previous fiscal year

What the latest IBC data tell us on recovery rates

BUSINESS

What the latest IBC data tell us on recovery rates

Recovery rate from IBC deals kept falling as delayed resolutions proved costly.

A central banker's dilemma: To talk or nor not to talk!

BUSINESS

A central banker's dilemma: To talk or nor not to talk!

Patra’s speech, in a way, reflected the ongoing dilemma within the RBI top brass on how to manage the communication part of the monetary policy at a time when the policymakers themselves aren’t sure of the point of a rate pivot

Banking Central | Will rate-setters blink in monetary policy meet next month?

ECONOMY

Banking Central | Will rate-setters blink in monetary policy meet next month?

The clamour for a rate cut is rising. Will the MPC blink as the rate-setting panel gears up for the next review of the monetary policy from December 4 to 6?

Is RBI turning too conservative on credit risk amid growth worries?

BUSINESS

Is RBI turning too conservative on credit risk amid growth worries?

Stifling credit growth in the name of risk management is akin to throwing the baby with the bathwater. Government has sent the right message.

PSBs are doing fine on efficiency, but need to improve customer experience

BUSINESS

PSBs are doing fine on efficiency, but need to improve customer experience

PSBs have improved efficiency but often lack in providing good customer experience. A big reason is inadequate number of employees to manage the huge customer base.

Banking Central | And, MPC has a perfect case to defer rate cuts beyond December  

ECONOMY-2

Banking Central | And, MPC has a perfect case to defer rate cuts beyond December  

The latest inflation numbers cast doubt on the MPC’s rate-cutting plans. The committee may have to wait longer to lower the rates 

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Time for MPC to move on from inflation obsession?

BUSINESS

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Time for MPC to move on from inflation obsession?

In this November 13 Moneycontrol Pro Panorama edition: Trump policy may hurt India's interest rate outlook, what G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro holds, markets under pressure as yields rise and earnings slowdown, climate threat to Kashmir’s cash crops, and more

Chart of the Day | SBI's asset quality has improved despite a tricky loan market

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | SBI's asset quality has improved despite a tricky loan market

SBI is often seen as a proxy of India’s banking sector and broader economy. Hence, the trends seen in SBI’s balance sheet are a reflection of the overall health of the economy

Bank NPAs are down, but watch the SMA-2 loans closely

BUSINESS

Bank NPAs are down, but watch the SMA-2 loans closely

A look at the second quarter results of banks suggests that there has been a rise in the special mention category-2 loans (SMA) of some large banks. These can be tricky for the lenders if things don’t go according to plan.

Banking Central | Pushing credit to borrowers beyond capacity sets off stress alarm on small loans

BUSINESS

Banking Central | Pushing credit to borrowers beyond capacity sets off stress alarm on small loans

There are signs of a large-scale borrower distress at the small borrower levels. This could have a spillover effect in the overall banking system if the trend persists

What do SBI’s July-September numbers tell us?

BUSINESS

What do SBI’s July-September numbers tell us?

SBI numbers suggest an overall improvement in performance, rebalancing of loan growth from retail to corporate/SME and improvement in asset quality

Banking Central | How tough is the life of a banker in India?

BUSINESS

Banking Central | How tough is the life of a banker in India?

As a bank executive, you need to deal with money every single day, the targets set by superiors and, lastly, the wrath of angry customers. It’s a tough life.

Moneycontrol Pro Interview | Keertana Finserv MD Padmaja Reddy points to a crisis brewing in microfinance

BUSINESS

Moneycontrol Pro Interview | Keertana Finserv MD Padmaja Reddy points to a crisis brewing in microfinance

Reddy, who previously founded Spandana Sphoorty Financial Ltd warns that borrowers are severely over-leveraged, with more than 50 percent of borrowers having between 6 to 15 loans, with their EMIs far exceeding their household incomes

What do cash usage data from the past 12 years tell us?

BUSINESS

What do cash usage data from the past 12 years tell us?

Indians are gradually letting go of cash for transactions, but cash is still king. The Cash Usage Indicator data shows a gradual decline in cash usage, but even then cash remains significant in the lives of Indians.

Chart of the Day | Here’s how the major source of financing for Indian MSMEs changed, post pandemic

BUSINESS

Chart of the Day | Here’s how the major source of financing for Indian MSMEs changed, post pandemic

Covid presented one of the biggest challenges to small firms as funding from institutional sources dried up. However, the timely actions by the Government and the RBI by way of funding support and moratoriums on loan repayments helped these firms tide over the crisis.

Advisory Alert: It has come to our attention that certain individuals are representing themselves as affiliates of Moneycontrol and soliciting funds on the false promise of assured returns on their investments. We wish to reiterate that Moneycontrol does not solicit funds from investors and neither does it promise any assured returns. In case you are approached by anyone making such claims, please write to us at grievanceofficer@nw18.com or call on 02268882347