No-cost EMI is a loan, not a free offer
In short
The Hindu says a no-cost EMI is not really free. The example is a ₹60,000 phone paid in 6 instalments of ₹10,000 each, with no interest shown.
The point is that someone still pays the cost somewhere in the deal. The reporting does not say exactly who pays or how the price is adjusted.
What the reporting says
The Hindu Economy summary says a ₹60,000 phone can be paid in 6 instalments of ₹10,000 with no stated interest, but the offer is not free. The piece argues that somebody still pays because lenders do not give money away and sellers do not sell at a loss. The reporting does not say who bears the cost or how the pricing is structured.
Why it matters
The Hindu’s summary uses a ₹60,000 phone bought in 6 instalments of ₹10,000 to show that no-cost EMI still has a hidden cost. It says neither lenders nor sellers give money away, but the available reporting does not explain the pricing mechanism or identify who absorbs the expense. The immediate relevance is for consumers comparing financing offers.