👉 Flipkart Gets RBI Approval: First Indian E-Commerce Firm to Offer Loans Directly to Buyers & Sellers
📢 Introduction
Want to stay ahead in your exams? Here’s the latest hot topic that every aspirant needs to know about!
India’s biggest e-commerce player, Flipkart, has achieved a major milestone in its business journey by becoming the first e-commerce platform in India to get a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 🚀✨
This move is set to change the way Flipkart does business and how customers and sellers use the platform. Let’s dive into what this means, why it matters, and how it can impact your preparation for government job exams!
✅ Event Summary
👉 What happened?
Flipkart has received an NBFC licence from the RBI, allowing it to lend directly to its customers and sellers. 👉 On March 13, 2025, Flipkart Finance Private Limited received its official registration certificate from the Reserve Bank of India.
👉 Where?
Flipkart, which is currently based in Singapore, plans to move its holding company back to India. This aligns with its plan to go public with an IPO in India soon.
👉 What does it mean?
With this licence, Flipkart can now offer loans directly through its app and its fintech platform called Super.money. Previously, Flipkart partnered with banks such as Axis Bank and IDFC First Bank to provide credit to customers. Now it can do it independently!
✅ Why It Matters
This move has huge significance for India’s e-commerce and financial markets:
🔹 Empowering E-Commerce:
Flipkart is now the first major e-commerce platform in India to get an NBFC licence, setting a trend that others may follow.
🔹 Boosting Financial Inclusion:
By offering loans to both customers and sellers directly, Flipkart can help more people get access to credit, especially small businesses and entrepreneurs.
🔹 More Profits for Flipkart:
Direct lending is more profitable than partnerships because Flipkart can manage interest rates and loan terms itself.
🔹 Key for Aspirants:
This news is important for competitive exams as it involves key topics like RBI regulations, NBFCs, financial services, and the Indian economy.
✅ Background & Context
🔎 A Quick History:
Flipkart was founded in 2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, originally as an online bookstore. Over the years, it expanded into a full e-commerce platform, selling everything from clothes to electronics.
🔎 Walmart’s Involvement:
In 2018, Walmart made history by buying a commanding 77% stake in Flipkart for $16 billion, making it the biggest foreign investment in India’s e-commerce market at that point.
🔎 NBFC in India:
A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a financial institution that provides loans, credit, and other services but cannot accept public deposits like a traditional bank. The RBI regulates these companies to ensure they follow strict rules to protect customers.
🔎 Amazon’s Move:
Flipkart’s competitor, Amazon, also attempted to enter the lending market by acquiring Axio, an NBFC based in Bengaluru. However, the RBI has not yet approved Amazon’s acquisition.
✅ Key Takeaways for Exams
📝 Important Facts & Figures:
- On March 13, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India officially issued FK its NBFC license.
- FK Finance Private Limited is a non-deposit-taking NBFC, meaning it cannot accept deposits from the public.
- FK is set to offer loans to both its customers and sellers via its Super.money app and its main e-commerce website.
- CEO of Flipkart: Kalyan Krishnamurthy.
- Headquarters shifting from Singapore to India as part of IPO preparation.
📝 Definitions:
- 💡 NBFC: A financial company that provides loans and credit services but is not authorized to accept deposits from the public.
- Non-deposit-taking NBFC: Cannot accept deposits from the public but can lend.
✅ Impact on Aspirants
This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper 3 (Economy) and Essay sections in exams like UPSC, SSC, and State PSCs.
📝 Link with other topics:
- Financial inclusion
- RBI regulations
- Digital payments and fintech
📝 Tips to Remember:
- Flipkart = First e-commerce NBFC in India
- Date of RBI approval = 13 March 2025
- Walmart stake = 80%+
- Amazon = Still awaiting approval for NBFC entry
🔍 Unique Angle
💡 Did You Know?
- FK started as an online bookstore but now sells everything from electronics to groceries!
- FK also owns Myntra and PhonePe—two of India’s leading apps for fashion and payments.
🎯 Pro Tip:
When studying current affairs, always connect financial news with the economy and banking sector in your GS notes. It can be a game-changer in exams!
📝 True or False?
- Flipkart’s headquarters are still in Singapore. ✅ (True, but planning to shift back)
- Flipkart can now accept public deposits. ❌ (False, non-deposit-taking NBFC)
- Amazon already has RBI approval for Axio. ❌ (False)
- Flipkart’s Super.money app will offer loans. ✅ (True)
🏁 Conclusion
Stay updated with such important news topics to ace your competitive exams! Flipkart’s NBFC licence is not just a business move; it’s a key topic for your study notes on financial services, digital payments, and e-commerce.
👉 Follow TezKhabrein.com for daily current affairs and exam-focused news articles. Let’s keep learning and growing together! 📚✨
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