When Banks Lose Interest, In You & Me

Sidhartha
Feb 25, 2026 | 20:50 IST
Illustration: Uday Deb

Financial mis-selling happens when bankers lure customers to meet their targets. Eg: selling insurance while hawking investment options. To tackle it, fix sellers’ incentive structure & mandate stiff penalties



Sometime during UPA’s tenure, the then FM held a meeting on a Saturday amid a tussle between Sebi and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The fight was over the regulation of unit-linked insurance policies (ULIPs). Several consumers had complained about the product not delivering the kind of returns promised by agents who had sold them these policies. During the presentation, a secretary-rank officer couldn’t hold himself back and said he had faced the same problem.
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