In a rare impromptu statement, Priyanka noted how “at opportune moments” such conjecture was always raked up.

Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, SBI, said: “Pressure (on asset quality) appears to be subsiding. But we need to see a pick-up in the economy to see appreciable changes in asset quality.”

It beat street expectations which had pegged the net profit at Rs 833 crore for the quarter. During the quarter last year it had posted net profit of Rs 938 crore. The profit would have been higher, but for the Rs 67 crore (or 37 per cent) jump in the depreciation to Rs 248 crore. Stand-alone revenues were up two per cent year-on-year to Rs 10,096 crore in the quarter.

Kotak Mahindra Capital and Axis Capital will facilitate the process to woo minority shareholders.

Bill payment is a major component of the retail payment transactions as over 3,080 crore bills amounting to more than Rs6 trillion are generated each year in the top 20 cities in the country. Though various forms of payments are accepted, cash and cheque payments continue to be predominant, particularly at the Billers’ Own Collection Point.

The remaining Rs 650 crore will be received by the firm before March 31, 2015, RCom said in a statement.

"Buying tomatoes feels like buying jewellery," says the 29-year-old maid, who is struggling to make ends meet on her monthly pay of $65 as prices for fresh staples such as onions and potatoes also soar in New Delhi.

Besides, fresh weakness in the rupee had negative impact.

The two coal blocks in Odisha and Chhatisgarh are expected to fuel 4,500 MW of new power generation capacity being set up by NTPC that could be delayed if these blocks are not freed from encumbrances, NTPC.