
CarePay launches AI-enabled platform for instant healthcare EMIs
CarePay
has announced the launch of its instant
healthcare EMI platform
, integrated with an
AI-powered virtual assistant
, Careena (CARE ENgagement Assistant).
It is indicated that the platform enables quick, no-cost EMI approvals for medical treatments up to INR 10 lakh, aiming to address key gaps in
healthcare financing in India
.
According to the company, the solution streamlines loan approvals using AI-based risk assessment and real-time processing, reducing approval timelines from several days to just minutes.
It offers
zero-interest EMI options
, where partner hospitals cover the interest costs as part of their patient acquisition strategies, allowing patients to pay only the principal amount. The platform covers a broad range of medical needs including planned surgeries, diagnostic testing, chronic disease management, and preventive care.
It is stated that CarePay's offering is designed to help address the burden of
out-of-pocket medical expenses
, which, as per various estimates, push over 55 million Indians into poverty annually. The company states that only 36 per cent of the population has adequate health insurance, making financing solutions critical for access to care.
According to the company Careena, the platform's AI assistant, provides real-time eligibility checks based on employment status, marital status, and educational background. It also guides patients through the application process, collects relevant data such as treatment costs and income, and delivers financing decisions within minutes.
The platform includes data encryption and adheres to regulatory standards to ensure privacy and security. Its mobile-first interface is accessible across devices and integrates with hospital management systems to provide a seamless experience for both patients and providers.

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Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: India Energy Stack and 10 years of Digital India — All you need to know for UPSC Prelims and Mains
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on 10 years of Digital India and India Energy Stack. (Relevance: Government policies and schemes are an important part of the UPSC CSE exam, and previous years' questions highlight their significance. In this regard, knowing about the schemes that are in the news is important for the UPSC exam prep. Digital India is an important topic for both prelims and mains, and understanding it in a broader context is highly relevant.) As the government's flagship 'Digital India' programme completed ten years on July 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it has not remained a mere governance scheme, but has become a 'people's movement'. 'In 2014, internet penetration was limited, digital literacy was low, and online access to government services was scarce. Many doubted whether a country as vast and diverse as India could truly go digital. Today, that question has been answered not just in data and dashboards, but in the lives of 140 crore Indians. From how we govern, to how we learn, transact, and build, Digital India is everywhere,' the Prime Minister wrote in a blog post on LinkedIn Tuesday. In this context, let's know about the Digital India initiative and understand various Digital India initiatives taken under it. 1. Launched on July 1, 2015, by the Union Government with the vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India. 2. Digital India comprises various initiatives under a single programme, each targeted to prepare India for becoming a knowledge economy and for bringing good governance to citizens through synchronised and coordinated engagement of the entire government. 3. The Digital India Initiative is built upon 9 key pillars, each focusing on a specific aspect of transforming India into a digitally empowered nation. These pillars are: (i) Broadband Highways (ii) Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity (iii) Public Internet Access Programme (iv) e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology (v) e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services (vi) Information for All (vii) Electronics Manufacturing (viii) IT for Jobs (ix) Early Harvest Programmes 4. The Digital India Mission has played a key role in enhancing digital infrastructure for governance and empowerment. Several flagship initiatives under this mission have shaped the e-governance scenario in India. According to the State of India's Digital Economy Report, 2024, unveiled by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), India comes in third place in terms of the digitalisation of the economy. India's digital infrastructure has been a key driver of its third-place ranking. 📍Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) App: Launched on 30 December 2016, BHIM is an Indian mobile payment app developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 📍Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN): The GST portal was launched on 1 July 2017. According to Digital India's official site, 'Significant achievement has been made by doubling the number of registered taxpayers to 1.23 crores, more than 44 crore returns filed on this portal in first 34 months with more than 23.84 lakh crores tax having been paid on this portal during this period.' 📍Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA): Launched in 2018, it seeks to usher digital literacy in rural India for covering six crore rural households (one person per household). 📍Aarogya Setu app: In 2020, the Government of India launched ArogyaSetu mobile app developed in a public-private partnership to bring the people of India together in a resolute fight against COVID-19. The App joins Digital India for the health and well-being of every Indian. 📍Digital India BHASHINI: Launched in 2022, it seeks to enable easy access to the internet and digital services in Indian languages, including voice-based access, and help the creation of content in Indian languages. 📍Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC): It is a government-backed initiative to create a national e-commerce network. After knowing about the Digital India Mission and its milestones, let's know about the newly proposed India Energy Stack (IES), which hopes to replicate UPI's success in India's power sector through digital integration. 1. The Ministry of Power on June 27 constituted 17-member task force led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani for designing and charting a roadmap for the nationwide rollout of the India Energy Stack (IES)— a process expected to take several years. 2. The proposed IES aims to do for the power sector what Aadhaar did for identity, and UPI for finance. By digitally integrating India's fragmented power ecosystem — from producers and grid operators to consumers, exchanges, and regulators — the IES will enable peer-to-peer energy trading, support aggregated demand-response programmes amid rising renewable integration, and facilitate smoother compliance with carbon offsetting. 3. Notably, In India, electricity is a concurrent subject, meaning both the Union and state governments share responsibility for its governance, which has contributed to a highly fragmented sector, leading to 'isolated digital islands rather than an integrated national platform'. 4. The four key challenges facing the power sector are: 📌First, there is no unique identifier for consumers, assets, or stakeholders. 📌Second, decision-making is hampered by the lack of access to harmonised, real-time data. 📌Third, those seeking to offer solutions in this space struggle to scale, as they depend on various proprietary digital platforms. 📌Fourth, there is no interoperability between these digital systems, which prevents cross-regional data sharing and cross-discom transactions. 5. The government is positioning the IES as a natural extension of its successful DPI projects like Aadhaar and UPI. 1. The Centre in September 2024 approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission for the creation of digital public infrastructure in the farm sector. 2. The Digital Agriculture Mission envisions three primary DPI components: AgriStack, the Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), and soil profile maps. Each of these DPI components will give solutions to help farmers access and use a variety of services. 3. The program also seeks to establish a technology-based ecosystem, the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), to give accurate agricultural production estimates. 4. AgriStack: The farmer-centric DPI AgriStack is made up of three core agri-sector registries or databases: Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry, all of which will be developed and managed by state/UT governments. — Farmers will be assigned a digital identification ('Farmer ID'), similar to Aadhaar, that will be dynamically connected to records of land, animal ownership, crops sown, demographic details, family details, schemes and benefits received, and so on. — The Crop Sown Registry will offer information about crops grown by farmers. In each crop season, the data will be collected via Digital Crop Surveys, which are mobile-based ground surveys. — The maps will connect geographic information from land records to their actual locations. 5. Krishi DSS: The Krishi Decision Support System will develop a complete geospatial system that will integrate remote sensing-based information on crops, soil, weather, and water resources, among other things. — This data will be used to generate crop maps for identifying crop planted patterns, monitor droughts and floods, and analyse yields using technology or models to settle crop insurance claims for farmers. 6. Soil Profile Maps: Under the Mission, comprehensive Soil Profile Maps (on a 1:10,000 scale) of about 142 million hectares of agricultural land are expected to be generated. According to reports, a full soil profile inventory covering around 29 million acres has already been completed. (1) Consider the following: (UPSC CSE 2022) 1. Aarogya Setu 2. CoWIN 3. DigiLocker 4. DIKSHA Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (2) Which of the following is/are major components of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that are envisaged under the Digital Agriculture Mission? 1. AgriStack 2. Krishi Decision Support System (DSS) 3. Kisan Credit Cards 4. Soil Profile Maps Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 4 only (Sources: PM Modi on 10 years of Digital India: 'It has become a people's movement', Union Cabinet has approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission, India Energy Stack) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More


Business Standard
30 minutes ago
- Business Standard
INR slips in early moves
Indian Rupee eased in early moves today amid stability in global crude oil prices and mild weakness in local equities. INR had appreciated yesterday, recovering after recent losses amid a feeble undertone in the US dollar. INR currently quotes at 85.66 per US dollar, down 7 paise on the day. Powered by Capital Market - Live News


Mint
41 minutes ago
- Mint
Things you must know if you are thinking of getting a bank locker.
MUMBAI : For many Indians, bank lockers, once the silent sentinels of family gold and property documents, represent not just a place to store valuables but also peace of mind. However, the process of getting one—and what happens afterwards—isn't always as straightforward as it seems. 'Jewellery is the obvious item people think of," said Adhil Shetty, chief executive of BankBazaar. 'But more people are now storing important documents, especially after facing losses in floods or house fires." Bank lockers are designed to provide protection against theft and environmental damage. But in metro cities, demand far exceeds supply, making lockers a scarce and highly coveted service. Also Read: Cracking the IPO code: Tips to secure allotments amid heavy oversubscription To rent a locker, a customer must complete full KYC (know your customer) documentation—the same as opening a bank account. Existing customers may have a faster process, while new customers must undergo more comprehensive checks. Locker allotment isn't automatic; banks are required to maintain a transparent waitlist and provide an acknowledgement with a reference number. Locker rentals are annual, and charges vary depending on the size and location of a locker. 'In most banks, small lockers can cost between ₹1,500 and ₹3,000 annually, while larger ones can go up to ₹10,000 or more," said Shetty. Some banks may require customers to open a fixed deposit as security, capped by the Reserve Bank of India at no more than three years' rent plus break-open charges. 'Even if you want to use the locker for a few months, you still pay the full annual fee," noted Abhijit Nair, a cost engineer from Nashik, who recently went through the process. The RBI mandates that banks execute a formal locker agreement on stamped paper. However, customers often face confusion over stamp duty and who pays it. In practice, different banks (and even branches) follow varying rules, leaving customers to navigate inconsistent and opaque processes. For example, Nair was first asked to get a ₹100 stamp paper and then a ₹500 stamp paper. Once assigned, access is granted only to the locker holder or a pre-authorized person. Each visit is logged with signatures and timestamps. 'At my bank, only one customer can be in the locker room at a time," Abhijit added. 'It's secure, but it can cause delays." Also Read: Groww's switch to demat MFs: What investors gain—and what they could lose Banks don't know what's inside your locker—and they're not supposed to. As per RBI rules, banks cannot be held responsible for the actual contents unless the loss occurs due to theft, burglary, fire, or staff negligence. Even then, the liability is capped at 100 times the annual locker rent. So, if your locker rent is ₹5,000, the compensation maxes out at ₹5 lakh. 'Since the bank doesn't know what you've stored, it's on you to get your valuables insured," explained Shetty. What are the requirements? When Nair tried to secure a locker closer to his parents' home in Nashik, he was asked to make a fixed deposit, even though he was already a preferred customer. Later in Bengaluru, things escalated. 'A private bank offered me a locker only if I bought a ₹2 lakh-a-year insurance product," he said. 'When I refused, they followed up multiple times, even reducing the premium to ₹1 lakh." Kapil Marwah, a business analyst from Noida, had a similar experience. After being denied lockers repeatedly by private banks unless he bought high-premium insurance, he finally opted for a public sector bank. 'A state-run bank finally agreed to give me a locker after I bought a one-time insurance policy of ₹1.5 lakh for my wife," he said. 'It wasn't ideal, but after being stonewalled by six other banks, I was desperate." Pune-based software professional Bhavik Shah never expected that getting a bank locker—something that should be a routine banking service—would turn into a year-long ordeal involving three branches and multiple follow-ups. Despite this, most banks either cited 'long waiting lists" or promised to call back but never did, Shah recalled. When Shah visited a newly opened branch on its opening day, he was still told that lockers were already allotted. 'I was told that if I deposited ₹5-10 lakh, my waiting status could be bypassed. The more you deposit, the faster things move," he said. 'Banks are clearly using locker scarcity as a pressure tactic. It's become a sales funnel disguised as customer service," he claimed. 'Any such practice can be reported directly to the bank's grievance cell or escalated to the RBI's Banking Ombudsman," said Shetty. 'Customers have a right to a locker without being coerced into buying products. Banks are required to maintain a public list of available lockers and share waitlist numbers transparently," he added. From a physical security perspective, bank lockers are robust. The RBI mandates CCTV surveillance—footage must be kept for 180 days—secure access control, fire-resistant vaults, and natural disaster readiness. But that doesn't mean lockers are invincible. Also Read: The silent tax: How inflation erodes , and what investors can do about it 'Losing the key is a nightmare," said Nair. 'You have to pay break-open charges, and you must be physically present during the process." If a locker is unused or uncontactable for seven years, the bank has the right to break it open and dispose of the contents after following strict procedures. Customers are encouraged to nominate someone for easier succession. In case of the holder's death, lockers are released to the nominee or legal heirs within 15 days, assuming proper documents are submitted.