eNews
Josh Talks and Meta wrap up a successful election awareness initiative
Mumbai: In a transformative initiative to inspire and empower the youth, Josh Talks, in partnership with Meta, concluded a successful series of Citizens’ Townhalls across Bhopal, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. With a reach of approximately 1.3 million across social media platforms such as Facebook, and Instagram, the events successfully engaged citizens across five states, fostering civic awareness and encouraging active participation in the democratic process.
The Citizens’ Townhall aims to educate and empower youth on the importance of exercising their vote and the power and responsibility that comes upon each citizen, as part of being a democracy. It seeks to heighten voter awareness among diverse communities, particularly focusing on engaging first-time voters.
The series commenced in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and continued to Jaipur, Rajasthan, culminating in Hyderabad, Telangana. The events featured esteemed bureaucrats, including Rituraj (IAS, 2015), CEO of Zilla Panchayat, Bhopal; Dr Snigdha Sharma, Principal of Government College, Jaipur; and Sarfaraz Ahmad (IAS, 2009), joint CEO of the office of chief electoral officer, Telangana.
The Citizens’ Townhall series not only provided a platform for open dialogue but also facilitated engaging interactions between students and prominent policymakers. The impactful sessions inspired students to exercise their right to vote, leading to interactive Q&A sessions that enriched the democratic discourse.
In conjunction with the Citizens’ Townhall series, a comprehensive social campaign spanning five states — Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana — was executed with the primary goal of encouraging citizens to exercise their right to vote. As part of this initiative, unique stories of citizens emerged, shining a spotlight on individuals actively working to empower citizens and ensure their exercise of fundamental rights. The social campaign, through its strategic outreach, aimed to instil a sense of civic responsibility and educate citizens about the significance of their participation in shaping the collective future.
The series emphasised the symbiotic relationship between informed citizens and a robust democracy, demonstrating the power of engagement and dialogue in shaping the perspectives of the younger generation. As Josh Talks and Meta continue their mission of building an informed electorate, the success of the Citizens’ Townhall series stands as a milestone in their collective commitment to fostering active participants in the democratic process.
Josh Talks CEO Supriya Paul expressed her delight at the success of the Citizens’ Townhall series saying, “Engaging nearly 900 students and reaching 1.3 million citizens across 5 states is a testament to the impact of our initiative. This success reinforces Josh Talks’ unwavering commitment to creating a lasting impact on society by developing responsible citizens and empowering youth to make a difference—the core values of Josh Talks.”
As part of the initiative, Josh Talks has also identified unique stories of citizens who are working to empower other marginalised groups to exercise their fundamental rights.
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.
