Business
India Lost ₹22,842 Crore To Cybercriminals & Fraudsters In 2024: DataLEADS
India lost Rs 22,842 crore to cybercriminals and fraudsters in 2024, DataLEADS, a Delhi-based media and tech company, said in its report on widespread digital financial frauds in the country. The amount stolen by digital criminals and fraudsters last year was nearly three times more than the Rs 7,465 crore in 2023 and almost 10 times more than the Rs 2,306 in 2022, DataLEADS said in ‘Contours of Cybercrime: Persistent and Emerging Risk of Online Financial Frauds and Deepfakes in India.
Prediction For Cyber-Crime Frauds
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, I4C, a federal agency that liaises between state and central law enforcement, predicts Indians will lose over Rs 1.2 lakh crore this year. The number of cybercrime complaints has spiked similarly; nearly twenty lakh were reported in 2024, up from around 15.6 lakh the year before and ten times more than were logged in 2019.
The surge in the number of cybercrime complaints and the volume of money lost points to one inescapable conclusion – India’s digital crooks are getting smarter and more efficient, and, in a country with a staggering nearly 290 lakh unemployed people, their ranks are increasing.
Bank-related frauds have increased dramatically; the Reserve Bank of India reported a nearly eightfold jump in the first half of FY 2025/26 compared to the same period last year. And the amount of money lost was staggering – Rs 2,623 crore to Rs 21,367 crore. Private sector banks accounted for nearly 60 per cent of all such incidents. But it was customers in public sector banks who were worst-hit; they lost Rs 25,667 crore in all.
Why have these numbers jumped so much over the past three years?
Because of the increased use of digital payment modes – i.e., smartphone-enabled services like Paytm and PhonePe – and the sharing and processing of financial details online – via (what many believe are encrypted and fail-safe) messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Federal data says there were over 190 lakh UPI, or unified payment interface, transactions in June 2025 alone, and these were worth a combined Rs 24.03 lakh crore. Digital payments’ value has grown from roughly Rs 162 crore in 2013 to Rs 18,120.82 crore in January 2025, and India accounts for nearly half of all such payments worldwide.
COVID-19
Much of this increase can be attributed to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns.
During COVID-19, the government pushed for a switch to UPI apps like Paytm to ensure social distancing and minimise contact with currency notes, via which the virus could be transmitted.
Digital Payment Tools In Rural Areas
The government also reasoned that digital payment tools would ensure greater penetration of financial services, particularly in rural areas. By 2019, India already had 440 million smartphone users and data rates were among the cheapest in the world – 1 GB cost Rs 200, or less than $3.
Insurance sector scams were also common. These included life, health, vehicle, and general, and are becoming an increasingly lucrative option for cybercriminals, particularly as insurance companies urge customers to opt for app-based services.
Business
Sensex, Nifty open on positive note as geopolitical tensions ease

Mumbai, Jan 23: The Indian stock market opened higher on Friday, extending gains for the second consecutive trading session while tracking positive global cues.
As of 9.30 am, the Sensex added 132 points, or 0.16 per cent to reach 82,440 and the Nifty advanced 52 points, or 0.21 per cent to 25,342.
Main broad-cap indices performed in line with benchmark indices, as Nifty Midcap 100 added 0.32 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 advanced 0.24 per cent.
All sectoral indices were trading in the green except Nifty media, PSU bank, realty as well as oil and gas.The top gainer was Nifty metal, up over 0.9 per cent. Nifty Media was the notable loser, down 0.74 per cent.
Immediate support for Nifty is placed at 25,100-25,150 zone, while key support is seen at 25,400–25,450 zone, market watchers said.
Asia-Pacific markets rose in the morning session, tracking Wall Street gains as geopolitical concerns moderated. Investor optimism rose as the Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady.
The pattern of sustained FII selling and DII buying, which dominated the market trend in 2025, have continued in 2026 so far. Investors look for a change in this pattern from cues in Budget 2026.
The FII’s stance on India depends on growth in India’s corporate earnings as they can invest in other markets with cheaper valuations and better earnings, analysts said.
Since earnings growth may take some time, FII selling is expected to continue, pre-empting any healthy rally. FIIs are adding to the short positions on every rally triggered by some positive news, they added.
In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index added 0.27 per cent, and Shenzhen gained 0.24 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei added 0.5 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 0.29 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.92 per cent.
The US markets ended in the green overnight as Nasdaq advanced 0.91 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 0.55 per cent, and the Dow added 0.63 per cent.
On January 22, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold net equities worth Rs 2,550 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 4,223 crore.
Business
WEF Davos 2026: From Innovation City In Mumbai To ₹14.5 Lakh Crore Deals, Devendra Fadnavis’ Mega Maharashtra Development Plan

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis used the global platform of the World Economic Forum Annual Summit 2026 to outline a sharp and expansive roadmap aimed at accelerating the state’s transformation into a technology driven, infrastructure led and sustainability-focused economic powerhouse. Over multiple sessions and investor interactions, the Chief Minister positioned Maharashtra as a preferred global investment destination with long term policy clarity.
One of the most prominent announcements was the plan to develop a state of the art Innovation City near the Mumbai airport. Envisioned as a plug and play ecosystem, the project is designed to attract startups, global technology firms, research institutions and innovation driven enterprises. The proposed city will focus on artificial intelligence, fintech, deep tech and digital infrastructure, offering seamless business readiness and world class connectivity.
Backing the Innovation City project, Tata Sons committed an investment of nearly 11 billion dollars, translating to over Rs 90,000 crore. The investment is expected to play a catalytic role in shaping the project’s infrastructure, technology backbone and employment potential. Officials indicated that the commitment reflects strong investor confidence in Maharashtra’s governance and growth trajectory.
On the first day of the summit itself, Maharashtra secured Memoranda of Understanding of approximately Rs 14.5 lakh crore. These agreements span sectors such as data centres, logistics, urban infrastructure, financial services and clean energy. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority alone signed 19 major MoUs aimed at strengthening logistics corridors, fintech ecosystems and large scale urban projects.
The MoUs signed on Day One are projected to generate over 15 lakh jobs across sectors, including infrastructure manufacturing, renewable energy, digital services, food processing and automobiles. The employment boost is likely to span skilled technology roles, infrastructure related work and allied services, particularly across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and emerging growth centres.
Fadnavis reiterated the government’s vision for the Raigad Pen Growth Centre, referring to it as the Third Mumbai. Planned as a new age business district, the area will host global capability centres, data centres and fintech hubs, easing pressure on Mumbai while creating a modern commercial nucleus aligned with future industries.
In line with sustainability goals, the Chief Minister announced a target to source 52 percent of Maharashtra’s total power from renewable energy by 2030. He also outlined a circular economy vision for Mumbai, focusing on waste reduction, resource efficiency and sustainable urban development, aligning the city with global climate commitments.
A MedTech roadmap was unveiled to make healthcare more affordable through advanced medical technology. Alongside this, strategic partnerships were announced to strengthen Maharashtra’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, with the aim of positioning the state as a leading AI hub in India.
Throughout the summit, Fadnavis engaged with global leaders and investors, reinforcing Maharashtra’s ambition of becoming a one trillion dollar economy driven by innovation, infrastructure and sustainability.
Business
Sensex, Nifty post strong gains as geopolitical tensions ease over Greenland

Mumbai, Jan 22: The Indian benchmark indices posted strong gains in early trade on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump walked back on his tariff threats against eight European countries over Greenland ownership.
As of 9.25 am, the Sensex added 568 points, or 0.69 per cent to reach 82,477 and the Nifty advanced 160 points, or 0.64 per cent to 25,317.
Main broadcap indices overperformed the benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 adding 0.94 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 advancing 1.01 per cent.
All sectoral indices were trading in the green, with Nifty auto, PSU bank, media and IT being the notable gainers — up 1.05 per cent, 0.89 per cent, 1 per cent and 0.80 per cent, respectively.
Immediate support lies at 25,000 zone, while resistance is now anchored near 25,250–25,300 zone, market watchers said.
Asia-Pacific markets rebounded after Trump informed that tariffs won’t be imposed on European countries over Greenland.
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Trump said that force would not be used to acquire the Arctic island, adding that he had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland,” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Analysts said that Trump’s message that the US would “refrain from imposing tariffs on Europe” retracts threat of a US-Europe trade war which was dragging the markets down.
The consequent relief rally in the market could be significant since two lakh short contracts are lying in the market, with the market construct appropriate for a short-covering, they said.
Though the Q3 profitability of companies was negatively impacted by higher provision for the new labour code commitments, the market will shrug it off as a one time factor, an analyst added.
In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index lost 0.12 per cent, and Shenzhen eased 0.12 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei added 1.87 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.08 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi added 1.97 per cent.
The US markets ended in the green in the last trading session as Nasdaq advanced 1.18 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 1.16 per cent, and the Dow added 1.21 per cent.
On January 20, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in India sold net equities worth Rs 1,788 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 4,520 crore.
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