eNews
Daler Mehndi inaugurates IPRS ‘Soundscapes of India’
Mumbai: IPRS (The Indian Performing Rights Society Ltd), the music copyright society in India representing authors, composers and publishers of music, kicked off their highly anticipated ‘Soundscapes of India: Gateway to the World’ with an electrifying inauguration led by Daler Mehndi at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The vibrant ceremony set the perfect tone for the global music celebration that followed.
The opening day was highlighted by a fireside chat with Bhangra king and global pop star, Daler Mehndi, whose music has transcended borders to captivate audiences worldwide. Moderated by IMEA Dolby Labs Sr director commercial partnerships Karan Grover, the discussion offered a deep dive into Mehndi’s illustrious career, his contributions to Indian music, and the universal appeal of his work. The session underscored the enduring global resonance of Indian music and set the tone for the conference’s focus on expanding India’s musical footprint internationally.
“The inauguration of ‘Soundscapes of India’ by the legendary Daler Mehndi truly set the stage for what promises to be a groundbreaking celebration of Indian music on the global stage. As IPRS marks its 55th anniversary, we are thrilled to witness India’s rich musical heritage come alive through this event, opening doors for our creators to shine internationally. This is not just a conference—it’s a bold step towards making Indian music a global force,” commented IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam.
Following the fireside chat, the conference hosted its first panel discussion, titled “The Time is Now: Amplifying India’s Presence on the Global Music Stage.” This session brought together industry heavyweights, including Believe Digital MD Vivek Raina, Paytm Insider COO Varun Khare, and Sziget Festival director Marina Pommier. The panel explored innovative strategies to enhance India’s global music presence, particularly through digital platforms and international collaborations. The discussion highlighted the critical role that technology and partnerships play in elevating Indian music on the world stage.
The inaugural day also featured a special fireside chat celebrating 74 years of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and its pivotal role in promoting Indian music globally. ICCR deputy director general Abhay Kumar, and Businessworld Group chairman and editor-in-chief Anurag Batra shared insights on ICCR’s efforts to elevate Indian music and culture on the international stage.
The successful start of the ‘Soundscapes of India: Gateway to the World’ conference underscores India’s rising stature in the global music industry. The inaugural day set the stage for further engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and international collaborations over the next two days.
eNews
PNB partners Kiwi to launch credit-enabled UPI for users
Targets 180 million customers; RuPay card offers 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent cashback
MUMBAI: Swipe, tap, or scan credit is quietly slipping into the rhythm of everyday payments, and Punjab National Bank wants in on the action. The state-run lender has partnered with Kiwi to roll out credit-enabled UPI payments for its 180 million customers, marking a significant push to blend traditional banking with India’s fast-evolving digital payments ecosystem.
At the centre of the collaboration is the launch of the PNB Kiwi Credit Card on the RuPay network. The card is designed with a digital-first approach, offering fully online onboarding and seamless integration with UPI, allowing users to transact via scan-and-pay while accessing credit.
The offering also brings in a rewards layer, with cashback ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on online transactions, positioning the product as both a convenience play and a spending incentive.
The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, increasingly blurring the lines between debit-led transactions and credit access. For PNB, which operates over 10,000 branches around 60 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas, the partnership signals a targeted effort to extend formal credit to segments that have traditionally remained underserved.
The collaboration also reflects a broader industry shift, where banks and fintech platforms are converging to embed credit directly into payment flows, reducing friction while expanding access.
With RuPay credit cards gaining traction and UPI evolving beyond peer-to-peer transfers, the PNB–Kiwi tie-up positions both players at the intersection of scale, accessibility, and the next phase of digital finance in India.
