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Mint Explainer: Why the insurance bill 2025 marks the industry's biggest reform in decades

The bill seeks to amends three core lawsthe Insurance Act, 1938; the LIC Act, 1956; and the IRDAI Act, 1999to allow 100% foreign direct investment, strengthen regulation, introduce new intermediaries, and accelerate insurance penetration.

17 Dec 2025 12:56 pm
This year, 344 IPOs later, half the market is underwater

A year after a record 1.5 lakh crore IPO wave, half of new listings are underwaterrevealing why listing-day pops mislead and disciplined selection matters more than ever.

17 Dec 2025 11:18 am
In charts: Why India's foreign tourist numbers are set to disappoint in 2025

India witnessed 6.18 million foreign tourist arrivals in January-September 2025, down from 70.6 million in the same period last year. The year does not look good for Indias tourism industry.

17 Dec 2025 9:13 am
Why investors chase the illusive pot of gold: Inside finfluencers' mind games

Understanding the psychological biases at play can help investors resist the pull of finfluencers like Avadhut Sathe.

17 Dec 2025 7:00 am
Mint Explainer: Why is Indias natural gas consumption falling despite the governments push?

The share of natural gas in Indias energy consumption fell 8.6% annually in April-October, data showed. How realistic is the government's goal of increasing its share in India's energy basket to 15% by 2030?

17 Dec 2025 6:01 am
Why your next appraisal won't be better than the previous one

India Inc is expected to roll out salary increments of 8.59.5% in 2026, broadly in line with 2025 levels, as companies balance benign inflation, labour code-related costs, and margin pressures.

17 Dec 2025 5:35 am
Mutual funds: What is STP and how does it help avoid market volatility? Explained

A systematic transfer plan allows investors to transfer their funds from one mutual fund to another in a planned and systematic manner, rather than in a lump sum.

16 Dec 2025 8:04 pm
SIM binding rule splits tech firms and telecom companies down the middle

Tech industry bodies such as IAMAI and BIF have pushed back against the move but telecom operators have welcomed SIM binding, terming it a 'necessary security measure'.

16 Dec 2025 8:01 pm
Income Tax: Last two weeks left to file belated return all about late fee, penalty, interest and more

A tax return is referred to as a belated return when it is filed after the end of the original due date mentioned under section 139(1). The last date to file a belated return is 31 December.

16 Dec 2025 6:31 pm
Saregama invests in filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis company as M&E industry sees growing consolidation

The partnership aims to mitigate market volatility and support diverse projects. Bhansali retains creative control, ensuring a strategic alignment with Saregama's entertainment leadership.

16 Dec 2025 5:49 pm
Ixigo vs Cleartrip: Hotels, buses, rail and AI in the fight for second place

MakeMyTrip is the leader of Indias online travel market by some distance with more than 50% share. The real fight is for second place, between iXigo, which claims to be the fastest growing, and Cleartrip, which is rebuilding itself under Flipkart. An inside look.

16 Dec 2025 5:02 pm
Mint Explainer: How and why is the government promoting homestays in India?

Homestays are gaining popularity as Indians embrace experiential tourism and explore new, offbeat destinations across the country.

16 Dec 2025 4:10 pm
Personal loan eligibility: What is the minimum income required?

The minimum income requirement is an important eligibility criterion for a personal loan. The applicants income helps the bank assess the applicants repayment capacity and ability to make timely EMI payments.

16 Dec 2025 3:43 pm
Streaming platforms are playing it safeand new shows are paying the price

Streaming originals are experiencing a decline in weekly viewership as platforms rely on established franchises, leading to audience saturation. With over 60 services available, viewer choice fatigue and a shift towards regional content further erode interest in Hindi-language offerings.

16 Dec 2025 3:10 pm
One nation, one portfolio: How AI biases could leave us all holding the same bag

Generative AI is quietly reinforcing one of our most persistent investing biases familiarity thanks to inherent disparities in training data. If were not careful, we could find ourselves with portfolios that look eerily similar, carry the same risks, and collapse in unison.

16 Dec 2025 2:28 pm
As China tightens grip, German wind majors look to India for rare earth magnets

With China controlling most rare earth magnet supplies, German offshore wind players are in early talks to assess Indias manufacturing potential.

16 Dec 2025 10:48 am
Mutual Funds: Want to accumulate 50 lakh in next 12 years? You will need SIP of this amount

The amount of SIP is contingent on the rate of return on your investment. Higher the return, lower the SIP needed. Conversely, lower the return, higher the need for SIP.

16 Dec 2025 10:47 am
Your debt portfolio with a lower tax-bite

From FDs to PPF and new-age funds, here are the best choices for short and long-term investment goals.

16 Dec 2025 7:00 am
Armed with new RBI approvals, HSBC India's Hitendra Dave wants a seat at the big banks' table

HSBC India's CEO Hitendra Dave plans to expand the bank's presence by opening 20 new branches after receiving RBI approval. He wants his bank to be among the top five private sector lenders in India, focusing on affluent customers and leveraging opportunities in the financial services sector.

16 Dec 2025 6:00 am
Why Indian IT firms are spending billions to gain Salesforce expertise

San Francisco-based Salesforce Inc develops software to manage client inventory tracking, sales, ticket resolutions, and data entry. It even tracks marketing campaigns and keeps a log of customer engagements. But what makes it so important for Indian IT services providers? 

16 Dec 2025 5:30 am
Fintech lending 2.0 shifts focus from blitz scale to depth and discipline

Founders who participated in a panel discussion on digital lendings next chapter, at Mints annual BFSI Summit on Friday, said the sector is moving away from blitz-scale expansion to stronger liability management, unit economics, and deeper monetization of existing customers.

16 Dec 2025 5:00 am
Advance tax deadline today: What happens if you miss the 15 December payment? What's the penalty?

The third advance tax instalment for FY 2025-26 is due on 15 December 2025. Taxpayers with a liability over 10,000 must pay on time to avoid interest. Here's everything you need to know about the rules in case you miss the deadline.

15 Dec 2025 10:35 pm
SBI plans to add 6,500 staff for YONO 2.0 as it targets 200 million digital users

State Bank of India has launched YONO 2.0, a completely rewritten version of its digital banking platform, to accelerate customer migration to digital channels.

15 Dec 2025 10:30 pm
New bill to open nuclear power to private sector, remove supplier liability

The SHANTI bill aims to boost investments in the nuclear power sector to help India achieve its ambitious target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

15 Dec 2025 10:17 pm
NPS: These fund managers delivered highest returns on equity investment in past 3 years. See list

National Pension System subscribers can choose their fund managers each of which has a unique portfolio of assets based on their investing philosophy. 

15 Dec 2025 9:13 pm
Baap of Charts crackdown: Sebi starts proceedings against this finfluencer to recover over 17 crore

Sebi launched a crackdown on Ansari and his firm in 2023 when he was banned from trading in the securities market

15 Dec 2025 7:41 pm
Rupee at 90: Why your holiday to Europe, Maldives, and parts of Southeast Asia may cost more

The rupees slide past 90 to the dollar is making overseas travel costliernot just to the US, but across Europe, the Maldives and parts of Asia, with uneven impact by destination.

15 Dec 2025 3:46 pm
One year can change a lot: Why your financial goals and investments need a reset

As the year ends, it's crucial to review financial goals and investments. Changes in personal circumstances or income levels can necessitate adjustments to financial plans and insurance needs, ensuring optimal asset allocation and adequate coverage for future expenses.

15 Dec 2025 3:45 pm
Bumper first-day openings fade as word of mouth trumps star power

In a content-saturated entertainment market, audiences are increasingly prioritising compelling storytelling over star power, reflecting a shift in viewer preferences toward strong narratives across films and streaming platforms

15 Dec 2025 3:36 pm
Building generational wealth: The role of intelligent advisory in family financial planning

Wealth erosion is not caused by market volatility or poor investment performance, but by a fundamental discontinuity in financial acumen.

15 Dec 2025 2:52 pm
Mint Explainer | Indias booming data centre industry: Which is the way of water and power for $70 billion investments?

Discover how looming water scarcity and energy supply challenges threaten to undermine the growth of data centres for which $70 billion of investments have been committed and what solutions are being proposed. 

15 Dec 2025 2:35 pm
Year-end credit checklist: 5 smart moves to strengthen your credit before 2026

Regularly monitor your credit score, balance credit with investments, ensure timely EMI repayments, and avoid over-leverage to strengthen your financial health for a stress-free new year.

15 Dec 2025 12:55 pm
Thinking of closing a credit card? Heres how it impacts your credit score

A credit card closure can alter the credit mix, reduce credit ageing, increase the credit utilisation ratio, or halt the progress in building a credit score and history. These can result in a marginal fall in the credit score. 

15 Dec 2025 12:00 pm
India must stop reinventing the regulatory wheel when it comes to educating investors

India's finfluencer crackdown reveals gaps in the digital-finance ecosystem, where unregulated advice thrives. Learning from global regulations, India can enhance transparency and accountability to protect young investors with low financial literacy.

15 Dec 2025 11:59 am
Mint Explainer | Trai plans a cut in network spectrum chargeswhy it matters for telcos

Trai has proposed slashing charges on network spectrum used to connect mobile towers, arguing that telecom operators are overpaying for non-revenue infrastructure critical to 5G expansion. Here is why it matters.

15 Dec 2025 10:53 am
Chasing quick returns, investors sacrifice their own financial security

The ancient tale of Bhasmasura serves as a perfect metaphor for modern retail investors who, in their impatience for quick wealth, progressively sacrifice fundamental financial security for high-risk, high-leverage instruments.

14 Dec 2025 6:40 pm
ITR advance tax deadline 2025: Key dates to step-by-step guide to pay All you need to know before 15 December due date

ITR advance tax deadline 2025: From Key dates, tax calculation to a step-by-step guide on how to pay the partial tax payment for the financial year. Here's all you need to know before the 15 December due date.

14 Dec 2025 6:33 pm
8th Pay Commission: Will pensioners stop getting DA hikes under new Finance Act 2025? Govt clarifies

8th Pay Commission: Government issues clarification on whether the central government employees will get dearness allowances (DA) and pay commission revisions under the new Finance Act 2025. Here's what you need to know.

14 Dec 2025 3:14 pm
Hong Kong, India fuel blockbuster year for Asia fundraising

Not long ago, Hong Kongs share-sale market was a symbol of Chinas slowdown: Deal books were thin, investor sentiment was sour and bankers were fleeing the industry. This year, the script has flipped.

14 Dec 2025 8:54 am
8th pay commission: Railways plans cost-cutting to deal with higher wages, says report

The 8th Central Pay Commission, established in January 2024, will review pay, allowances and pensions of central government employees.

14 Dec 2025 8:30 am
AI has taken over Wall Street. Should it take over your portfolio too?

For Indian investors, the implications of the US rally are different from those for American investors.

14 Dec 2025 7:01 am
Netflix vs Paramount: The high-stakes battle for Warner Bros, explained in 5 charts

The fight between Netflix and Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros could reshape both the streaming market and theatrical distributionand it's turning political.

14 Dec 2025 7:00 am
Income Tax dept cracks down on bogus claims linked to donations, SMS and emails sent to taxpayers as friendly measure

The Income Tax department is alerting taxpayers via SMS and email to update their returns and withdraw incorrect claims, following a crackdown on fraudulent tax claims linked to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) or charitable institutions.

13 Dec 2025 7:24 pm
SBI revises term deposit rates, reduces lending rates check details

The State Bank of India has revised interest rates for term deposits and reduced MCLR and EBLR rates following a repo rate cut by the RBI. Interest rates for senior citizens and the general public on various tenures have been revised, effective from December 15, 2025.

13 Dec 2025 12:10 am
New Labour Codes: Will it slash your take-home salary? Govt clarifies amid PF deduction concerns

The Ministry of Labour stated that the new Labour Codes will not decrease take-home pay as PF deductions are based on a 15,000 ceiling. 

12 Dec 2025 9:00 pm
Understanding how asset management companies invest your mutual fund money for smarter wealth creation

An Asset Management Company manages pooled investments through research-driven portfolios, transparent costs and regulatory oversight, helping investors access diversified mutual fund opportunities while understanding AMC functions, benefits and key considerations.

12 Dec 2025 5:56 pm
Even Warren Buffett is open to learning how to be a better investor

Investors must evolve their thinking to adapt to constantly changing market environments, Douglas Eby writes in a guest commentary.

12 Dec 2025 5:51 pm
Understand the key differences between a credit report and credit score to strengthen your financial profile

A clear overview of the differences between a credit report and credit score, highlighting their purpose, impact on borrowing, and why both are essential for maintaining a strong financial profile.

12 Dec 2025 4:16 pm
Check out how personal loan refinancing lowers EMIs, trims interest outgo and enhances financial control

Refinancing a personal loan can cut EMIs, lower interest costs and simplify repayments by securing better terms, helping borrowers improve cash flow and strengthen long-term financial stability.

12 Dec 2025 2:58 pm
Understanding key differences between overdraft and personal loan options for better financial planning

A clear comparison of overdraft vs personal loan outlining key differences, benefits and risks to help borrowers choose suitable credit options based on cash flow needs, costs and financial goals.

12 Dec 2025 1:25 pm