A meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC) has been scheduled for December 4 to discuss the implementation of IMF conditions and the new financial award.

According to sources, the meeting will focus on IMF proposals regarding changes to the NFC Award. To consult on the matter, the federal government has invited all provinces to attend the session.

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, along with the finance ministers of the four provinces, is expected to participate in the meeting.

The IMF is anticipated to support the proposals for the new National Finance Award. Sources indicated that if multiple sessions are required to finalize the award, the process could take six to eight months.

The first scheduled NFC meeting had earlier been postponed at the request of the provinces due to flood-related disruptions.

Separately, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted that corruption remains a persistent challenge in Pakistan, urging the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to publish its first annual report.

In its Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA), the IMF stated that corruption poses serious risks to economic development and public trust.

The Fund called on the government to enhance transparency, strengthen governance structures, and immediately begin implementing a comprehensive reform agenda.

According to the report, the IMF has called on the SIFC to develop clear protocols for its operations and significantly improve transparency to ensure effective oversight and accountability.

It further recommended that the SIFC must publish its first annual report, detailing all investment deals it has facilitated, including any tax, policy, regulatory, or legislative concessions granted—along with the full rationale and the monetary value of each concession.

New Delhi: Since the post-COVID period, Indian Railways has made onboard meals optional for passengers on premium trains. While booking tickets online, passengers can now choose whether they want meals during the journey or prefer to skip them. At present, meal charges are included in the ticket fare for three major trains – Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express.

When booking on these trains, passengers must indicate their preference for onboard meals. But even if someone initially declines meals, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) allows them to order food later during the journey if they change their mind. Meal charges are adjusted accordingly: added to the fare if selected or deducted if declined.

A frequent point of confusion among travellers relates to the complimentary one-litre Rail Neer water bottle. Many wonder whether skipping meals also means losing the free water bottle that comes with Rajdhani and other premium train journeys. Passengers often ask if the water bottle is tied to the meal option or if it is provided independently.

Free Rail Neer water bottle is provided to all passengers, irrespective of whether they opt for meals. “The complimentary water bottle is available to everyone once onboard, regardless of meal preference,” an IRCTC official told The Indian Express.

Last month, rumours spread suggesting that the Indian Railways had removed the ‘No Meals’ option on premium trains, after some passengers noticed the IRCTC app and website prompting mandatory meal selection during ticket booking.

However, the railways clarified that the ‘No Food’ option has not been removed. It remains available during booking, though the placement on the page has been slightly adjusted. Passengers can still opt out of meals.

Skipping meals no longer affects access to the complimentary water bottle, and flexibility to order food later ensures passengers can tailor their journey according to personal preference.

Last Updated:November 21, 2025, 09:11 IST

The video explains how customers can verify authentic bank portals and avoid falling victim to fraudsters’ traps.

As more people turn to online banking, scammers are finding new ways to target unsuspecting users. Many individuals fall prey to links and messages that appear completely legitimate, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is genuine and what poses a threat.

Recently, a video has been gaining attention online, highlighting an important update about banking websites. It explains how customers can verify authentic bank portals and avoid falling victim to fraudsters’ traps. The video also underscores a new initiative by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) aimed at enhancing online banking security.

Important Update On Bank Website Domains

The clip begins with, “There is a recent update from RBI which you all must be aware of.” The speaker mentions banks like HDFC, SBI, ICICI and Kotak Mahindra and pointed out a major change in website addresses.

“If you are user of any of these banks, then you should know that all the bank websites have now moved to a new called ‘.bank.in.’ This means if you’re a user of HDFC, the new banking website will be HDFC.bank.in, and similarly with other banks like ICICI.bank.in,” he said.

He adds that any URLs ending with .com, .in, .net, or any domain other than .bank.in should be considered suspicious. Users are advised not to click on these links or share their banking credentials there.

Email Security

The video also focuses on emails: “All the banking emails you receive should come from the same domain – @yourbankname.bank.in.” Previously, websites like HDFCsecure.com or ICICIlogin.net were used by scammers to trick users. The .bank.in domain is restricted to RBI-registered banks only which reduces the chance of fraud.

Warnings About Possible Scams

The man further cautions viewers about how scams can spiral around this new change, saying, “You will soon receive in this coming one or two days a lot of SMS saying you need to update your bank details, click on this link immediately. Understand that it is a scam.”

The caption shared along with the post reads, “Beware of new scam.”

Watch The Clip Here

Viewers Call Video ‘A Must-Watch’

The video has drawn attention online, where viewers considered the information valuable and worth sharing.

One user commented, “This is good information and everyone must know this.”

Another called it “Important,” while someone else wrote, “take a note.”

“Must watch post,” read another comment.

RBI’s Role In Enhancing Security

RBI had instructed all banks, payment operators and financial institutions to transition their net banking portals to the .bank.in domain by October 31, 2025. With this deadline now passed, nearly all banks have updated their websites simultaneously.

Although the change may seem sudden to some users, it is part of a broader RBI initiative aimed at protecting customers from scams and phishing attacks.

Buzz Staff

A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

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