India
UPI for Feature Phones from RBI

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced UPI123Pay, a new digital payment option for feature phones based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The UPI system has so far been restricted to smartphones with internet access. India’s mobile phone population is estimated to be at 180 million. 78 crore of these people have smartphones, while the remaining 78 crores have feature phones. Due to the phone they use, tens of thousands of users have been unable to do UPI transactions. The central bank of India introduced this new payment mechanism to incorporate all such users and bring them into the mainstream of digital payments.
“UPI123Pay would enable NPCI to accomplish its goal of a billion or more daily UPI transactions,” said Biswamohan Mahapatra, head of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the country’s umbrella organization for retail digital payments.
Working of UPI on Feature Phones?
Users will be able to conduct UPI transactions on feature phones using UPI 123Pay. Except for the scan and pay UPI option available for smartphones, consumers will be able to use all other functionalities. Transactions with the new digital payment mode don’t require an internet connection. To utilize the UPI 123Pay service, people must link their bank accounts to their feature phones. People with feature phones can now use the UPI 123Pay option for a variety of payments, from person to person to the merchant. UPI 123Pay would employ Hindi and English as their primary languages at first.
“We feel that the novel functions available on feature phones would give UPI a boost in many geographies across the country, transforming the way payments are perceived,” Mahapatra said.
UPI: India’s Most Popular Payment Method
In recent years, UPI has become one of India’s most popular payment methods. UPI is the country’s single largest retail payment system in terms of transaction volume.
“A substantial portion of digitalization is limited to people with smartphones, notwithstanding our tremendous growth in digital payments.” “About 40 crore feature phone users had limited access to digital payments,” said T Rabi Sankar, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India. He stated that the goal is to attract a significant number of feature phone users into the UPI payment system.
“To further popularise the usage of digital payments, a framework for retail offline payments across the country has been proposed.” This announcement has its roots in a series of successful pilot studies. The results of these experiments strongly suggest that there is more leeway for digital payment-related solutions, particularly in rural areas. According to Nitin Mathur, CEO of Tavaga Advisory Services, “the RBI is enthusiastic about expanding the ease of doing business in India as well as more innovative fintech prospects to capitalize on” as a result of this development.
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Navi Mumbai Police Seize Drugs Worth ₹1.10 Crore, Arrest Three in Pre-Dawn Raid

In a major crackdown on drug trafficking and illegal immigration, the Navi Mumbai Police conducted a pre-dawn raid on Thursday, seizing narcotics worth Rs1.10 crore and arresting three African nationals.
Acting on directives from Commissioner of Police Milind Bharambe, the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Crime Branch launched a coordinated operation at 4:00 AM. The raid, led by Assistant Commissioner Bhausaheb Dhole and Inspector Sandeep Nigde, involved 125 police officers targeting 11 locations across the Commissionerate.
Authorities confiscated 118.48 grams of high-quality cocaine worth Rs59.24 lakh, 100.84 grams of MD powder valued at Rs50.42 lakh, and Rs43,500 in cash. A total of 35 African nationals were screened, and three individuals found in possession of narcotics were arrested under the NDPS Act at Ulwe Police Station.
Additionally, 11 individuals with expired visas and passports were served Leave India Notices, as part of the police’s intensified efforts against illegal immigration.
The Navi Mumbai Police have vowed to continue their crackdown on drug trafficking and unlawful activities, warning of strict action against offenders.
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On February 15, CIDCO Will Conduct A Computerized Lottery Draw For The “My Preferred CIDCO Home” Program

CIDCO to hold computerised lottery draw for “My Preferred CIDCO Home” scheme on February 15.
The Lottery
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) will hold the computerised lottery draw for its highly anticipated “My Preferred CIDCO Home” housing scheme on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM. The event will take place at Raigad Estate, Phase I, Sector-28, Taloja Panchanand, Panvel, and will be streamed live on the CIDCO website for applicants to watch in real time.
Launched on October 12, 2024, the scheme aims to provide affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) categories. A total of 26,000 tenements have been made available across Navi Mumbai in key locations such as Vashi, Bamandongri, Kharkopar, Kharghar, Mansarovar, Khandeshwar, Panvel, and Kalamboli.
A key feature of this scheme was that applicants could select up to 15 preferred tenements, making it highly flexible and attracting overwhelming participation.
The live webcast of the draw can be accessed on cidcohomes.com, ensuring transparency in the process. After the draw, the list of successful applicants will be published on lottery.cidcoindia.com.
With this initiative, CIDCO continues its mission to provide affordable housing and fulfill the dream of homeownership for thousands in Navi Mumbai.
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Construction Projects Must Utilize Tertiary Processed Recycled Water, Under NMMC Regulations

NMMC mandates use of tertiary treated recycled water for construction projects.
The Regulation
In a major step towards water conservation, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has made it mandatory for developers to use tertiary treated recycled water in all construction projects approved by the Town Planning Department.
The initiative aims to curb the rising demand for potable water as the city grapples with declining rainfall and increasing concerns over water scarcity. With several redevelopment projects underway, the consumption of drinking water for construction has surged, putting additional strain on resources.
To address this, NMMC is leveraging its advanced sewage treatment infrastructure. The city currently operates seven sewage treatment plants using Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology. Additionally, tertiary treatment plants at Koparkhairane and Airoli utilize Ultra Filtration and Ultraviolet-Based Technology to further purify secondary treated water. This recycled water is already being supplied to industrial establishments in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area for non-potable use.
By enforcing the use of recycled water in construction, NMMC aims to reduce reliance on drinking water and promote sustainability. This regulation is expected to play a crucial role in preserving Navi Mumbai’s water resources for the future while ensuring responsible urban development.
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