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Why arent petrol prices rising in India despite global crude surge?

Even as global crude prices surge past $100, petrol prices in India remain stable. Heres how OMCs, taxes and government intervention act as shock absorbers for consumers.

20 Mar 2026 6:00 am
In current times, look at debt investments for accrual only

With RBI likely pausing rate cuts after aggressive easing, bond gains from falling yields fade, pushing investors to focus on accrual, shorter duration and selective credit risk

20 Mar 2026 5:56 am
Will health insurance cover LASIK surgery? Heres what you need to know

Most health insurance plans in India dont automatically cover LASIK, but exceptions exist. Heres how medical necessity, limits and waiting periods determine your eligibility.

20 Mar 2026 5:50 am
Digital arrest fraud costs Noida man 1 crore: 5 key lessons to keep your money safe

Digital arrest scams are on the rise as fraudsters impersonate officials, pressure victims, and extort money through fear, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, verification, and timely reporting to prevent losses.

19 Mar 2026 5:04 pm
Planning for retirement by 2030? How to build a sustainable income

A reader planning to retire at 48 in 2030 with annual expenses of 20 lakh asks how to secure a steady income. A financial planner outlines the required corpus, portfolio balance and key safeguards.

19 Mar 2026 3:55 pm
8th Pay Commission: How to send your suggestions to government at www.mygov.in? Who can send them?

The extension of the deadline would mean that central government employees, pensioners and other stakeholders would get more time to share their views regarding the framing of the policies of the 8th Pay Commission, which is currently under work.

19 Mar 2026 2:48 pm
Salary shakeup: How new wage rules and income tax tweaks will change take-home pay

Changes to your salary components will depend on your income, organization profile and industry, though most companies aim to keep take-home pay broadly unchanged.

19 Mar 2026 2:44 pm
Personal loan interest rates March 2026: Comparison of top banks, fees and 5 key things to check before you apply

Personal loan interest rates in March 2026 vary across top lenders, making comparison essential to reduce EMIs and total cost while considering fees, tenure, credit score, and hidden charges.

19 Mar 2026 2:04 pm
Buying gold on Gudi Padwa, Ugadi? Dont skip these purity checks to safeguard your festive purchase

Even though mandatory gold hallmarking has been in place for five years, recent BIS raids on traders - who displayed hallmarking certificates and the BIS logohave still uncovered lapses in purity.

19 Mar 2026 12:42 pm
These 7 PSU banks offer up to 7.25% FD rates for senior citizens: 5 steps to choose the best fixed deposit

Senior citizens can enhance safety and wealth by choosing the right bank and FD tenure. Comparing interest rates is crucial, as many banks offer an extra 0.50% for seniors, making these FDs more attractive for retirees.

19 Mar 2026 12:23 pm
Crude hovers near $108 amid US-Iran conflict: How could oil volatility affect your investment portfolio?

Crude prices, which are near $108 per barrel due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, are bound to adversely affect global markets and personal finances. Strategic investing, expense planning, and inflationlinked assets can help protect portfolios during oil volatility.

18 Mar 2026 8:22 pm
8th Pay Commission extends deadline to 31 March: What it means for your salary, pension and allowances

The 8th Pay Commission questionnaire deadline has been extended to 31 March 2026 for employee feedback on pay, pensions and allowances, ensuring comprehensive stakeholder input before final recommendations.

18 Mar 2026 3:58 pm
War-hit flight disruptions expose travel insurance gaps

Travel insurance is fundamentally designed to cover individual, unforeseen risks, not large-scale geopolitical events

18 Mar 2026 3:33 pm
Claiming HRA? New rental rules kick in from 1 April what are the changes and what happens if they are ignored?

Starting 1 April, taxpayers must disclose their relationship with landlords when claiming House Rent Allowance (HRA), especially if rent exceeds 1 lakh annually. Here's what happens if you ignore or misreport the details. 

18 Mar 2026 3:11 pm
Women are powering Indias next credit boom; heres what the data shows

India's credit ecosystem is evolving, with women emerging as a significant force. They represent 27.6% of retail credit and show faster growth rates compared to men. 

18 Mar 2026 2:17 pm
Markets fall, fear rises. Should investors really sit this out?

Market falls trigger fear, but history shows exits often cost more than corrections. The real risk isnt volatilityits missing the rebound while waiting for clarity.

18 Mar 2026 1:45 pm
Why you must plan for a 30-year retirement

Longer lifespans and shorter careers mean affluent Indians must plan for a 30-year retirement, not 15requiring disciplined investing, diversified income and strong health coverage.

18 Mar 2026 10:16 am
Should you buy home loan insurance? How it works and where to buy

Home loan insurance is structurally similar to a term life insurance policy. In the unfortunate event of the borrowers death during the policy tenure, the sum assured is paid to the nominee or lender, and this amount can be used to repay the outstanding home loan.

18 Mar 2026 5:50 am
Joint home loan: How couples should split ownership, EMIs for maximum tax savings

For a couple taking a joint home loan, how should co-ownership and EMIs be structured to maximise tax benefits and boost approval chances? Indias housing market is shifting, with more couples making shared homebuying decisions - Livemint answer this reader query

17 Mar 2026 6:45 pm
SBI vs BoB vs PNB: Fixed deposit interest rates of top PSU banks compared check latest rates across tenures

Compare SBI, BOB, and PNB fixed deposit interest rates for 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year FDs to choose risk-free investments that offer steady returns for short- and long-term savings. 

17 Mar 2026 6:24 pm
How retail traders navigate full-time trading risks

Rising trading costs, larger contract sizes, and low odds of gains stack the odds against full-time traders.

17 Mar 2026 4:13 pm
'Diversification is protection against ignorance': 7 timeless investment tips from Warren Buffett's shareholder letters

Warren Buffett's investment lessons highlight patience, value investing, and long-term thinking, helping investors navigate market volatility, avoid panic, and build sustainable wealth through disciplined decision-making.

17 Mar 2026 3:52 pm
Time, not timing, is the real edge in investing

Consistency and patiencenot constant churndrive long-term wealth in equities. Yet resisting short-term noise remains the toughest discipline for most investors.

17 Mar 2026 2:03 pm
Thinking of stopping your SIP? Why market volatility says dont

Falling markets and negative returns are testing investor discipline, but the math of rupee cost averaging favours staying invested.

17 Mar 2026 1:22 pm
Bengaluru digital arrest scam: Elderly woman loses 38 lakh to cyber fraud 5 lessons to keep yourself protected

Digital arrest scam exposes how fraudsters use fear and fake authority to steal money, highlighting key warning signs and essential safety steps to protect finances from cybercrime threats.

17 Mar 2026 11:20 am
Joint income tax return? This Rajya Sabha MP has a fix for couples paying higher taxes

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has proposed the provision of joint income tax returns for married couples to provide equitable relief for single-income households, similar to systems in developed countries.

16 Mar 2026 10:11 pm
Returning from Dubai for safety: will it affect my tax residency?

Once you qualify as a Resident and Ordinarily Resident under ITA, your global income becomes taxable in India.

16 Mar 2026 7:15 pm
Advance tax: How to check and download challan, make corrections in case of errors step-by-step guide

The advance tax payment deadline was on 15 March. Taxpayers can check your payment status online, check and download your payment challan and make corrections. Here's where and how

16 Mar 2026 5:09 pm
Tax harvesting can save moneybut it can also derail your portfolio

As investors rush to optimize taxes before the financial year ends, experts warn that tax harvesting can trigger poor portfolio decisions and behavioural mistakes that undermine long-term returns.

16 Mar 2026 2:27 pm
A 38 lakh hospital billand the top-up claim that took months

Top-up policies are a cost-effective way to boost health insurance cover, but deductibles, paperwork and insurer coordination can complicate claims.

16 Mar 2026 1:06 pm
I bought an apartment in 2013 but registered it only in 2025. What is the year of acquisition?

If you had entered into an agreement with the builder in 2013 and the registration was undertaken only in August 2025, the date of acquisition would be the date of the agreement, i.e. 2013, and not the date of registration.

16 Mar 2026 6:01 am
Can I use MF sales proceeds to pay home loan and get Section 54F benefit?

Section 54F exemption is unavailable because the residential property was acquired more than one year before the sale of the MF units. While the exemption fails the timing criteria, taxpayers can still use Section 80C and Section 24 deductions for principal, interest repayments under old tax regime.

15 Mar 2026 5:23 pm
Advance tax deadline today: Can you pay the final instalment on 15 March via credit card?

The final advance tax payment deadline for FY 2025-26 is 15 March 2026. Payments can be made via the e-filing portal, including credit cards, which may incur fees. Details here. 

15 Mar 2026 11:31 am
How global reporting may pull crypto bets out of the grey zone

Through a series of legislative changes in 2025 and 2026, India has operationalized a reporting framework aligned with the OECDs Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, aiming to move crypto from an opaque asset class into a transparent financial instrument.

15 Mar 2026 10:19 am
Gold investment taxation explained: Jewellery, gold ETF vs sovereign gold bonds

The investments in gold products of this category are treated as capital asset under the income tax laws so any gains realised over its acquisition cost is taxed under the head capital gains.

15 Mar 2026 9:05 am
The Netherlands new tax experimentand why investors should worry

The Netherlands plans to tax unrealized investment gains from 2028. Indias experience with punitive wealth and income taxes in the 1970s shows why taxing paper wealth can distort markets and behaviour.

15 Mar 2026 7:00 am
Advance tax deadline today news LIVE: Final instalment to be paid on 15 March check details

Advance Tax Deadline News Today LIVE: The due date for paying the fourth and final instalment for the financial year 202526 is on Sunday, 15 March 2026. Check who needs to pay, how to pay online, among other details.

15 Mar 2026 6:54 am
Fake it till you make it? This CA disagrees, warns obsession with looking rich, fastest way to stay broke Here's why

CA Nithin Kaushik warns that the obsession with looking rich and faking wealth is the fastest way to stay broke. Feels real financial independence and power allows you freedom to say no. He explains

14 Mar 2026 8:00 pm
PSU mutual funds defy market slump in 2026 with strong three- and five-year returns

Mutual Funds, which deploy money exclusively in shares of PSUs, are among the only three equity fund categories that have given positive returns so far in 2026.

14 Mar 2026 7:53 pm
PPF withdrawal: Here's how you can access your public provident fund balance before the lock-in period ends

The Public Provident Fund is a low-risk savings scheme with a fixed interest rate of 7.1%, suitable for retirement planning and tax benefits. Here's how you can withdraw your funds before the lock-in period ends

14 Mar 2026 6:33 pm
How to merge multiple PF accounts after switching jobs: Step-by-step guide

Switching jobs often results in multiple EPF accounts under the same UAN. Employees must request EPFO to merge these accounts to ensure all retirement savings are consolidated. Here's how to do it online. 

14 Mar 2026 11:48 am
SEBI introduces Life Cycle Funds: How will they help in building your retirement portfolio

An individual can choose a life cycle fund that aligns with their financial goal date. The fund has a diversified portfolio, starts with a higher equity allocation, and follows a glide path towards maturity.

14 Mar 2026 11:01 am