WestBridge Capital has increased its stake in Star Health and Allied Insurance by purchasing shares worth about twelve million dollars during the first half of the financial year. The move comes amid rising speculation that the firm may soon launch a new general insurance company with former Tata AIG chief executive Neelesh Garg. WestBridge, which manages more than eight billion dollars in India focused assets, first invested in Star Health more than ten years ago and partly exited during the insurer’s public offering in 2021. A senior executive said the firm has been rebuilding its position over recent quarters.
In July 2025, the insurance regulator approved the R1 application for Kiwi, marking the first step toward licensing a new general insurer. A spokesperson for WestBridge said, “Our investment in Star Health was fully disclosed to Irdai during the R1 licensing process for Kiwi, and every subsequent query was addressed to the regulator’s complete satisfaction.” The spokesperson added that under existing guidelines, a single investment firm can be a promoter in one standalone health insurer, one general insurer and one life insurer. WestBridge remains invested in Star Health and has added twelve million dollars this year.
India and Bahrain to get instant UPI cross border payments
Cross border transfers between India and Bahrain will soon become faster and more seamless through a new partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited and BENEFIT, a leading fintech company in Bahrain. The agreement will link India’s Unified Payments Interface with Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System, including the Fawri Plus service. This will enable real time and secure remittances between the two countries.
The partnership has been developed with support from the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Bahrain. Officials say the move will provide quicker, more efficient and cost effective remittance options. It will be especially beneficial for Bahrain’s large Indian community, which makes up nearly thirty percent of the country’s population. The initiative aims to build a strong remittance corridor by connecting UPI and Fawri Plus for everyday money transfers.
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