Sense International India Opens Hyderabad’s First Dedicated Centre for Persons with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities

Hyderabad, Aug 11: Sense International India, the country’s only national organisation exclusively supporting persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, today inaugurated ‘Sparsh, Centre for Persons with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities’ in Hyderabad. Supported by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Sparsh is Hyderabad’s first dedicated centre offering comprehensive services for children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities.

The inauguration marks a significant milestone in Sense International India’s journey of expanding access to specialised care for one of India’s most underserved communities. Sparsh is the Sense International India’s seventh direct centre in the country, adding to a growing infrastructure of dedicated facilities that works in tandem with the organisation’s established centres in partnership with 72 organisations across 25 states, together reaching more than 84,000 children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. The two models are complementary, with Sense International India’s direct centres enabling comprehensive, integrated service delivery in regions where specialised deafblindness services remain scarce, while the partner network continues to extend the organisation’s reach across the country.

The new centre will provide a range of services under one roof, including screening and assessment, early intervention, special education, home-based intervention, vision and speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility training, and counselling for parents and caregivers. By bringing these services together, the centre aims to help children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities develop communication, mobility, learning and independent living skills while reducing the need for families to travel to multiple locations for support.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar, CEO, Sense International India, said, “The inauguration of Sparsh marks an important milestone in Sense India’s journey to expand access to specialised services for persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities across the country. For nearly three decades, our network of 72 partner organisations across 25 states has enabled us to reach thousands of families across the country. Sparsh, our seventh direct centre, complements this strong partner network by providing comprehensive, integrated services in Hyderabad, ensuring that individuals with deafblindness and multiple disabilities receive specialised support closer to where they live. We are grateful to NPCI for their support in making this possible, and remain committed to ensuring that every individual with deafblindness has the opportunity to communicate, learn, live independently, and realise their full potential.” 

The inauguration ceremony brought together representatives from the disability sector, government, corporate organisations, special educators, volunteers, and families of persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Guests toured the newly inaugurated facility and interacted with beneficiaries, caregivers, and professionals, reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening inclusive services and expanding access to quality care across the region.

With the opening of Sparsh, Sense India is expanding access to specialised services, ensuring that more children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities can receive timely support closer to home.

MRF Reports Q1 Results as Strong Vehicle Demand Drives Operations

Chennai, Aug 11: MRF Limited has reported a consolidated total income of ₹8,610.56 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared with ₹7,804.23 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter ended June 30, 2025.

The company’s consolidated profit before tax stood at ₹649.69 crore in the first quarter of FY2026-27, compared with ₹671.83 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year.

Provision for tax for the quarter stood at ₹154.34 crore. After accounting for tax, MRF’s consolidated net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, stood at ₹495.35 crore, compared with ₹501.82 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY2025-26.

Operations

MRF delivered a resilient operating performance during the first quarter, supported by healthy demand for its products. Demand from original equipment (OE) manufacturers remained buoyant, with vehicle sales across segments witnessing strong growth.

Replacement sales also remained healthy, supported by robust demand during the quarter. However, higher input costs continued to put pressure on profitability.

During the quarter, the company implemented price increases and undertook cost management measures, which helped partially offset the impact of rising costs. Raw material prices continued to remain firm amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

MRF expects the impact of elevated input costs on margins to continue and will continue to focus on pricing and cost management measures to navigate the prevailing cost environment.

Half of Kiwi Postpaid Users Are New to Credit cards, Expanding Access to Credit on UPI for India’s Next Generation of Consumers

Mumbai, Aug 11: Kiwi, India’s fastest-growing Credit-on-UPI platform, today announced strong early adoption of Kiwi Postpaid, its Credit Line on UPI solution launched in partnership with YES BANK. Within the first 30 days of launch, nearly half of Kiwi Postpaid users were new-to-credit Cards, highlighting how Credit on UPI can enable easy access to credit for first time users across crores of UPI merchants. 

Early adoption reflects strong traction among consumer segments that have traditionally faced barriers in accessing a credit card. One in three  Kiwi Postpaid users are self-employed, 50% come from Tier II and Tier III cities, and nearly 30% belong to Gen Z, indicating growing demand for simple and digital-first credit products beyond traditionally served metro and salaried consumers. 

While only about 5 crore Indians have access to credit cards, UPI has become the country’s most widely adopted digital payment network. Credit Line on UPI can help bridge this access gap by bringing a credit card-like payment experience to UPI, helping unlock India’s next 50 million credit card users without requiring them to change how they already pay every day. 

Consumer behaviour during the initial launch period indicates responsible usage, with users relying on Kiwi Postpaid primarily for everyday UPI purchases rather than discretionary high-value expenses. Kiwi Postpaid has also seen strong approval efficiency, with nearly 95% of eligible applicants approved for a credit line within two hours. 

Siddharth Mehta, Co-Founder & COO of Kiwi, said, “For millions of Indians, UPI is already their primary way to pay, but credit cards have remained out of reach. The early adoption of Kiwi Postpaid shows that Credit Line on UPI can bridge this gap. We are seeing first-time credit card users, self-employed professionals and consumers from Tier II and III cities use Kiwi Postpaid for everyday spends. By bringing credit to the UPI ecosystem, we are making credit card-like access simpler, faster and more relevant for India’s next generation of consumers.” 

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Anil Singh, Country Head, Credit Cards & Merchant Acquiring, YES BANK, said, “UPI has transformed India’s payment ecosystem and will continue to shape the industry across the country. Building on this momentum, YES BANK is committed to delivering best-in-class experience to the customers. Our partnership with Kiwi on UPI credit cards has shown strong adoption and highly positive customer response. With Kiwi Postpaid, we are extending credit lines on UPI to a broader set of customers by encouraging early traction among new-to-credit users and customers beyond Tier I cities. By leveraging our digital onboarding and underwriting capabilities, we aim to provide seamless, responsible access to credit at scale.” 

Kiwi Postpaid enables consumers to access credit lines of up to ₹50,000 through the Kiwi app and use them for everyday UPI payments across categories such as groceries, travel, dining and other daily expenses. The product, offered in partnership with YES BANK, is designed to help users access regulated credit while building and strengthening their credit profiles through timely repayment.

MENA Fintech Association Names Victor L. Philippe Chatenay and Haifa Al Obaid as Co Chairs of Its Saudi Arabia Chapter

Appointments bring together senior banking, digital assets and strategic finance expertise to advance fintech innovation and collaboration across the Kingdom

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA | Aug 11 — The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) today announced the appointment of Victor L. Philippe Chatenay and Haifa Al Obaid as Co Chairs of its Saudi Arabia Chapter. The appointments reflect MFTA’s continued commitment to strengthening the fintech ecosystem in the Kingdom, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 financial sector development goals, and fostering closer collaboration between regulators, financial institutions and fintech innovators.

As Co Chairs, Chatenay and Al Obaid will lead the Saudi Chapter’s strategic direction, working to expand MFTA’s local membership base, convene industry dialogue, and support initiatives that accelerate the growth of digital finance, payments and emerging financial infrastructure across Saudi Arabia.

“We are delighted to welcome Victor and Haifa as Co Chairs of our Saudi Arabia Chapter,” said Nameer Khan, Chair of the MENA Fintech Association. “Their combined experience across banking, regulation, digital assets and strategic finance gives our Saudi Chapter exceptional leadership at a pivotal moment for the Kingdom’s fintech sector.”

Making Smart Use of Property Payment Plans

–  Akash Pharande, Managing Director, Pharande Spaces

For many homebuyers, the main consideration while buying a home is not just its price but the timing of the payment. This is why property payment plans exist. They aren’t just sales or promotional tools – at their best, they give homebuyers a financial structure that allows them to align property acquisition with their actual income flow, savings, borrowing capacity, and their stage-of-life priorities.

Given their importance, payment plans should be studied – and understood – very seriously. In most real estate-related conversations, especially from the developer’s side, they are often packaged with catchy terms like ‘easy payment,’ ‘flexi plan,’ or ‘pay later.’ These terms may be partially true, but do NOT deliver the full meaning, impact, and ramifications.

Good payment plans do a lot more than just defer cash outflow – they have a bearing on actual affordability and management of liquidity and can be great tools to buy a property with superior foresight and discipline.

Understanding the True Value of a Payment Plan

The primary value of payment plans is the financial flexibility they can offer. Rather than needing the entire purchase price up front, a developer can permit a customer to pay in stages linked to time, construction progress, or possession. This makes it possible for homebuyers to match their financial obligation to the developer with their salary cycles or business income, as well as home loan disbursements or the sale of an existing property.

If you are an end-user – meaning you are buying a home for your personal use, not as an investment – a good payment plan can allow you to make a less stressful and more structured purchase decision. If you are an investor – meaning you are buying the home to rent it out and/or hold it till you can make a profit on its resale – such a plan can improve your capital allocation, since it negates a sizeable and immediate cash outflow.

Especially for under-construction projects, the right payment plan lets both types of buyers manage their cash prudently while the property is still being built.

Buyers tend to have varying financial profiles; some may be able to make a larger down payment to secure better commercial terms, while others may prioritize liquidity and prefer a lower initial capital spend even if the total payment schedule increases. In that sense, a payment plan becomes not just a method of paying but a method of planning.

Debunking Common Myths About Payment Plans

– One of the most common myths is that every payment plan results in higher affordability. Actually, a payment plan can reduce the burden of timing, but that has little bearing on the total cost of acquisition. It is important to compare the complete cost under each option, and this includes stamp duty and registration charges; applicable taxes, including GST on under-construction properties; maintenance deposits; the costs involved in the home loan; penalties; and often many other not-so-obvious cost components.

– A second myth is that possession-linked or deferred payment plans are completely devoid of risk. While they can lower the near-term financial strain, they do not eliminate all risks – including those pertaining to project delays, approvals, and financing. It is very important to remember that no payment plan, no matter how good it is, will ever replace the need for due diligence.

– A third myth is that the safest payment plans are always linked to phases of construction. They can definitely be more balanced than time-linked payment plans, but only if there are clearly defined construction milestones in place. If the stages are vague or loosely worded, disputes may arise over whether an instalment is actually due or not.

– A fourth misconception worth mentioning is that since the bank is happy to fund a project, there is nothing else left for the buyer to verify. Actually, a lender’s assessment and due diligence by the buyer are far from the same thing – you still need to examine the title, check whether all approvals have been secured, determine the actual carpet area of your unit, and review every aspect related to project specifications, payment obligations, and contract clauses.

Different Types of Property Payment Plans

The commonest payment structure is the down-payment plan, under which you make a hefty down payment, and the remaining amount must be paid according to a short schedule or when you take possession of the unit. This often comes with some financial incentives, but the heavy early burden on the buyer is obvious.

Then there are construction-linked plans where you make payments according to the progress the project makes on the ground. Many buyers prefer this model for under-construction units, since there is a logical link between payment disbursal and verifiable on-site development.

On the other hand, a time-linked payment plan follows a fixed calendar schedule and has nothing to do with construction progress. While this payment plan is predictable, it can become problematic if there is a slowdown in project execution, as payments will still be required regardless of progress.

Possession-linked payment plans often call for a lower initial payment and a larger amount as possession nears. Such a plan can be suitable for homebuyers who want to preserve liquidity during construction. However, they need to make considerable advance preparations for the larger obligation in the future.

The much-touted ‘flexi plans’ are a combination of several payment structures. The buyer may only have to make a moderate up front payment and the remaining payments in later tranches. They are specifically designed to appeal to a wider buyer base and can be genuinely beneficial as long as they are transparently structured.

There can also be loan-linked or subvention-style payment plans where the payment schedule is coordinated with bank finance. Such plans call for particular high levels of caution, since you need to fully understand exactly who bears the interest burden and for how long and under what circumstances.

Precautions Buyers Must Take Before Opting In

– Legal & Regulatory Verification

Buyers must verify that the project has a proper registration under the applicable state RERA and must review the project details disclosed on that authority’s website carefully. RERA specifically stipulates that a promoter is generally not permitted to market or sell a project if it falls under its ambit if it has not been duly registered, subject to limited statutory exceptions.

In some cases, the project’s plot size may be small enough to exempt it from RERA registration. In such a case, buyers must understand their rights under other applicable laws, such as MOFA in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963, is a state law that regulates the construction, sale, management, and transfer of flats in the state of Maharashtra and protects buyers from various kinds of frauds by developers. It also mandates clear project disclosures and governs the formation of housing societies and conveyance deeds.

– Everything in Writing

Secondly, buyers must not make any substantial payments solely based on verbal assurances or booking forms. The law specifies that no promoter can accept more than 10% of the cost of an apartment, plot, or building as an advance or application fee if there is no written agreement for sale in place.

You must also ask for a complete payment breakup in writing. The base price is only a part of the story – other charges can impact the real cost of acquisition very meaningfully.

– Check The Plan for Actual Affordability

The affordability of any payment plan must be fully stress-tested – you must completely understand if you can sustain paying the instalments even if interest rates increase or the project is delayed, in which case you will have to pay rent for longer than you initially thought. A payment plan may pass the ‘wind tunnel’ test – meaning it may make sense on paper and under normal circumstances – but will it remain comfortable if the market changes for any reason?

– Don’t Wing It Legally

Always have an independent legal professional thoroughly check the sales agreement. Payment plans are designed to look good on paper, but what matters most is what is written into the contract – including default clauses, delay provisions, refund terms, and escalation conditions.

To conclude, I will repeat that a property payment plan is not so much a promotional offer as it is a risk-and-cash-flow management arrangement. If the plan is beneficial in your particular case, it can certainly improve your property buying experience. But it can only work well if you understand everything it implies – including in terms of payment schedules, the total cost, and all the underlying legal commitments.

About the author:

Akash Pharande is Managing Director of Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region.