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Elections 2026Economy / Livemint
Multiple sources of income can include monthly interest, quarterly dividends, quarterly REIT, InvIT distributions, alternative investments, freelance projects, etc.
8th Pay Commission: Fitment factor is the multiplier that converts old basic pay into revised basic pay. Here's how the minimum basic pay could rise depending on the various fitment factors demanded by employee unions, and those projected by brokerage firms
The child education allowance has been raised from 100 to 3,000 per month per child, while the hostel allowance has gone up from 300 to 9,000 per month per child. Here's a breakdown of how much one can save on tax, who can claim, other details
While both NSC and tax-saving FDs have a standard 5-year duration, they differ in several key factors, including interest rates and compounding intervals.
As equity markets hit their lowest point in six years, conservative investors are increasingly gravitating toward fixed deposits.
A large share of those new entrants are first-timers. Many came in during a bull run and haven't yet seen a serious correction. That matters, because the biggest threat to their wealth won't be a bad fund, it'll be their own reaction when markets turn.
Early investment in the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana secures a stronger financial future for a girl child through long-term compounding, tax-free returns and disciplined savings.
Studies show that top PMS strategies have generated around 60 basis points of excess return per month over benchmarks. More importantly, roughly 7 out of 10 PMS strategies have beaten their benchmarks. Thats not easy, especially in markets where beating the index itself is tough.
In India, people buy gold on Akshaya Tritiya, depending on specific muhurat timings which vary from one city to another. From Kolkata, Delhi to Mumbai, other cities we bring you a list of the city-wise timings for Akshaya Tritiya
Secure your future with these government-backed schemes in India that offer stable returns, tax benefits, and predictable income, making them ideal for long-term financial planning in 2026.
Income tax penalties can occur due to default in tax payments, incorrect reporting of income, and, in some cases, misreporting of income, which is considered a severe issue. Here's when 50% and 200% fines apply.
Smart salary structuring unlocks major tax savings on car leases under the new tax regime, showing how a 20 lakh CTC can significantly reduce taxable income and enhance take-home efficiency.
RBI has mandated lenders to report credit data weekly instead of fortnightly to ensure more accurate and fresh credit scores. This shift enables faster loan approvals and quicker score recoveries for borrowers but also means defaults are detected much faster.
The PPF crorepati reality check shows that disciplined, long-term investing at 7.1% can build 1 crore over 25 years, highlighting tax-free compounding, stability, and the need for patience.
PPF, ELSS, and NPS are popular tax-saving investments, differing in structure, eligibility, and returns. Here's the best tax saving option.
Trump accounts explained: A new savings scheme, referred to as Trump accounts, is designed to help families start building wealth for children from birth. Here's how it works.
Investing in children's future is crucial for parents, with options like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, NPS Vatsalya Yojana, and PPF accounts. These plans help build savings for education and healthcare, offering tax benefits and high interest rates, ensuring financial stability.
Secure retirement planning can turn a 50 lakh retirement corpus into a balanced income engine. Here is how you can blend SCSS, mutual funds, equities and debt for inflation-beating, tax-efficient long-term financial stability.
Asset allocation involves distributing investments across various asset classes to manage risk and return. Common categories include fixed-income instruments, equities, and precious metals. Here's what investors should know.
First-time borrowers often damage their credit score due to poor awareness, high utilisation and missed repayments, making disciplined financial planning essential for building a strong and sustainable credit profile.
SIPs and lumpsum are two approaches an investor can take when venturing into mutual funds. Here's a look at how both work, what are the benefits and which you should choose depending on your risk appetite and financial goals.
Bajaj Life Nifty 500 Low Volatility 50 Index Fund offers ULIP investors stable, long-term growth through a disciplined, low-volatility equity strategy.
Hidden fees and spending traps in food delivery and OTT apps are eroding your savings.
Fund investing, which investors once saw as easy to manage independently, suddenly looks very discomfiting and complex in 2026. Investors feel unsure if their portfolios are constructed correctly, whether their choices carry good long-term prospects, and doubt their capability to generate returns.
Effective from this fiscal year, the new labour laws are reshaping your monthly compensation structure with more focus on long term and retirement savings. Here's how much your in-hand salary is likely to be impacted for 6 lakh CTC
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) has a 15-year lock-in period, starting from the end of the financial year in which the first deposit is made. However, investors may face a longer lock-in period, depending on the deposit date.
Steady wealth creation can be achieved through mutual fund SIPs, as investors should continue to focus on disciplined investing, rupee cost averaging, and compounding amid global market volatility.
A. Balasubramanian, CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life MF, views market corrections as conviction tests, urging investors to increase allocations during red periods to lower average costs. Mint explores the funds strategic deployment of cash into mid- and small-caps
From April 1, 2026, the tax-exempt limit on employer-provided meals have been increased to 200 per meal, up from 50 earlier. Here are the key conditions to claim the benefit.
With employer insurance often falling short, a top-up plan can offer a cost-effective way to build adequate family health protection
8th Pay Commission proposal sparks buzz as NCJCM suggests 69,000 minimum basic pay for Group C employees, based on an elaborate table of expenses, driven by rising living costs, higher fitment factor and detailed expense-based calculations.
Consent-driven credit is reshaping lending in India by giving consumers control over their financial data through the Account Aggregator framework. This shift is improving credit access, accuracy, and trust, especially for underserved borrowers.
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a long-term savings option favored by risk-averse investors for its government backing and tax benefits. Here's how much 5K, 10K and 12K investments can grow over 15 years and with 5-year extensions.
The 8th Pay Commission is reviewing salary hikes and pension structures for central government employees, with various consultations scheduled in 2026. Here's how the fitment factor, DA, arrears and other elements are decided.
Take-home salary to decrease? Effective from this fiscal year, the new labour laws are reshaping how your salary is credited each month with more focus on long term and retirement savings from the government.
Steady wealth creation meets certainty, as 10 lakh FD monthly income highlights how bank rates, tenure choices and geopolitical complications make fixed deposits even more attractive in 2026.
Want to leverage your gold for a line of credit? We explain what gold loan and gold overdraft facility is, what you get you and which is the better choice based on your needs.
A powerful long-term savings plan through Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) can help parents build a 50 lakh corpus for their daughter through disciplined monthly investing, tax-free growth, and early financial planning.
The right approach is to work backwards from your financial goals. These typically include major life milestones such as purchasing a house, funding childrens education, marriage, and planning for retirement.
The gold loan market has reached a record 16 trillion, but rising delinquency rates signal emerging credit stress. As market volatility triggers margin calls, experts warn that over-leveraged borrowers risk financial exclusion if gold prices continue to fluctuate.
Estate planning is crucial for family clarity after one's passing. Here's all you need to know about a settlement deed, why it is prepared, how it functions alongside a will, and what key factors to consider before opting for one.
From EPF and NPS to meal allowances and car leases, the new tax regime rewards how your CTC is built.
With the introduction of new labour codes, salary structures are changing, requiring basic pay and allowances to constitute at least 50% of total CTC. This shift could increase taxable income, particularly affecting mid- to senior-level earners in key sectors, according to experts.
The Rule of 72 shows how various small government schemes, such as PPF, FD, SSY and SCSS, help investors estimate wealth-doubling time, compare returns and plan long-term safe savings effectively.
How to become rich: Using the 15% annual step-up, one can accumulate 55.88 crore in 35 years by saving 30 a day and investing them in monthly SIP
Equity shares or mutual fund units can be transferred within families without capital gains tax if they are gifts. Here are the documents you need to avoid disputes, along with other details.
Power your wealth creation with disciplined investing: a mutual fund SIP comparison between a regular SIP and a step-up SIP with a 2% annual increase shows that compounding builds higher long-term returns.
The National Council-JCM proposes a minimum basic pay of 69,000 for the 8th Pay Commission, aiming to benefit over 50 lakh government employees. Recommendations include higher increments, pay restructuring, and HRA indexing to inflation for better financial support amid rising costs.
Income Tax Rules 2026 have made the old regime more attractive by raising exemption limits. For FY27, salaried individuals must recalculate before choosing between old and new.
PPF, a popular investment in India, offers tax benefits and stable interest rates for conservative investors. Here's how much you need to invest each year to build a 1 crore corpus and how long it takes.

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