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VPF allows salaried employees to invest beyond mandatory EPF contributions at the prevailing 8.25% interest rate. Understand the 2.5 lakh tax-free interest limit, tax on excess contributions and withdrawal rules before investing more for retirement.
Abakkus Flexi Cap Fund raised its holdings in Groww, NTPC and HDFC Bank in September, added Zydus Lifesciences and exited Cyient DLM. It also trimmed positions in Divis Laboratories and Oracle Financial Services Software.
A 30% salary hike may look attractive, but tax, commuting and childcare costs can shrink the gain. An illustrative 18 lakh salary scenario shows how a 5.4 lakh raise could leave just 1.74 lakh in extra annual money.
The government has notified Aadhaar verification rules for PM CARES for Children scholarship beneficiaries. Children cannot be denied benefits solely because authentication fails or they lack Aadhaar, subject to prescribed alternative identity-verification procedures.
Ray Dalios All Weather portfolio returned 9.9% annually over 15 years in India, compared with 10.4% for a 60:40 portfolio and 12% for the Nifty 500 TRI. However, it had lower volatility and a smaller peak-to-trough fall, highlighting the trade-off between returns and risk.
Missed a gold loan EMI? An overdue payment does not automatically mean your pledged jewellery will be auctioned. Understand the RBI framework, how lenders handle defaults, the notice process, and what borrowers can do to reclaim their gold before it is sold.
ITAT Mumbai quashed a 1.46 crore reassessment against a man who said he earned 3,500 a month, ruling that the tax department failed to establish valid service of the notice. The tribunal did not decide whether the disputed transactions were genuine.
Prepare for a health insurance claim with 5 essential steps before hospitalisation. Check policy documents, identify network hospitals, organise medical records, understand coverage limits and maintain a claims folder to reduce paperwork hassles and better manage potential out-of-pocket expenses.
SBI has raised its benchmark lending rates by 25 bps from 15 October 2026. Find out how the hike could affect EMIs and total interest on 30 lakh, 50 lakh, 80 lakh and 1 crore home loans, and how choosing a higher EMI instead of a longer tenure could help reduce borrowing costs.
Indian Railways has announced 3,548 graduate-level NTPC vacancies across four categories. Applications are open till 6 November 2026. Selection includes two computer-based tests, document verification and medical examination.
India's financial assets have grown sharply since 2020, with mutual fund AUM, bank deposits, and equity holdings rising. But does this reflect wider market participation or growing wealth among existing investors? Zerodha's Nithin Kamath raises questions about who benefits.
Retirement planning can combine savings with investments and systematic withdrawal plans to provide a regular income. Here's how you can ensure a 50,000 monthly income from your investment after retirement.
Can you get a business credit card without owning a registered business? Freelancers, consultants and self-employed professionals may qualify, depending on the issuers eligibility criteria, proof of income, business activity and documentation requirements. Read on to know the complete rules.
Havent paid your Delhi property tax regularly or have years of outstanding dues? The MCDs SUNIYO 2.0 scheme offers eligible property owners and occupiers a chance to settle their dues with significant relief. Heres how to apply before the 31 December deadline.
The Eternal SBI Card offers 10% instant discount for spends on Zomato, Bistro, District, and eligible spends on Blinkit. Cardholders also earn 5% cashback with partners including Uber, ixigo, Urban Company, and Apollo.
Home loan EMI: Buying a home worth 50 lakh, 75 lakh or 1 crore requires careful financial planning. Experts explain the monthly salary needed to manage home loan EMIs, along with the down payment, upfront costs and other expenses buyers should consider before taking a loan.
Multi-asset allocation funds and omni FoFs offer exposure to multiple asset classes, but their returns can differ significantly. A comparison of their asset allocation and underlying holdings shows how the investment strategies of these two categories differ.
A report by Equirus Wealth finds that many women assume family wealth responsibilities after major life events without structured financial training. With an estimated 73 lakh crore set to pass to women over the next decade, it urges families to prepare successors.
Income tax return errors do not automatically attract a 200% penalty. Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, under-reporting can attract a penalty of 50% of the tax payable on the under-reported income, while misreporting can attract 200%. Here's how the rules, late-filing fees and interest work.
The 8th Pay Commission has 18 months from its constitution in November 2025 to submit its report. With 1 January 2026 emerging as a possible effective date, here's what previous Pay Commissions reveal about salary revisions, implementation timelines and arrears.
The 8th CPC is consulting employees, pensioners and other stakeholders before submitting recommendations on pay, allowances, benefits and pensions. Its report is due by May 2027. A year since constitution, here are the key updates
SEBIs PRIM route lowers the minimum investment for portfolio management services to 25 lakh from 50 lakh under the conventional PMS route. But renewals are treated as fresh investments, raising questions about investors whose portfolios fall below the threshold.
Gold and silver prices today, 16 October: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.
DA news update: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government is considering releasing a Dearness Allowance (DA) instalment on Diwali this year. Here's what we know
Bandhan AMCs Suyash Choudhary explains how rising rates affect savers, why investors should keep debt portfolio duration short, and how to balance yield, credit quality and currency risk.
SEBI is exploring the inclusion of insurance policy details in the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS), which already covers investments such as mutual funds, equities, debt securities and NPS.
A 5,000 monthly SIP in a small-cap mutual fund could grow significantly over 20 years. Compare illustrative SIP returns of 12% to 18% with bank deposit returns of 6% to 8% and understand the risks of long-term investing. Seek professional guidance before making any investments.
Several large Indian mutual funds, including HDFC, Kotak Mahindra and UTI, halted bulk subscriptions to gold ETFs ahead of the festive season. Here's what changes for investors and what happens to your existing SIPs
Credit card reward points can help save money during the festive season, but redeeming points that are about to expire should not lead to unnecessary spending. Check expiry dates, compare redemption options and understand restrictions before deciding whether to use your rewards or let them expire.
Rising cyberattacks and online fraud underscore the risks of identity theft and financial loss. Personal cyber insurance may cover eligible incidents, including phishing and unauthorised transactions. Here's all you need to know.
The Centre has approved a 30-day ad-hoc bonus for eligible Central government employees for 2025-26. The payout can reach 6,908 under the 7,000 monthly calculation ceiling, with pro-rata payments for shorter service and separate eligibility rules for casual labourers.
A retired LIC employee won ITAT Jaipur relief on 9.04 lakh in leave encashment after the tax department restricted her exemption to 3 lakh. The ruling examines whether the enhanced 25 lakh limit introduced in 2023 can benefit employees who retired earlier.
For now, investors see continued central bank buying and demand for safe-haven assets as key supports for bullion. However, predictions of fresh record highs remain forecasts rather than guarantees.
Sundaram Finance has raised fixed deposit rates from October 16, 2026. Check revised rates across different tenures.
Salary hikes may not increase savings if lifestyle expenses rise alongside income. Here are five money habits young professionals should watch, from lifestyle inflation to emergency fund planning.
EPFO has extended the deadline for employers to file September 2026 PF returns and deposit contributions to 31 October from 15 October. The extension follows the revision of the PF wage ceiling and gives employers more time to complete compliance formalities.
Diwali cash bonuses from employers are taxed as salary at the employees applicable tax rate. Here's when gifts are exempt from tax and how to report it in ITR.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed authorities to pay widow pension arrears from the date of application, ruling that administrative delays cannot deprive eligible beneficiaries of their entitlement. The arrears must be paid within eight weeks.
A 26-year-old earning 40,000 a month should prioritise adequate health insurance coverage, compare policy exclusions and hospital networks, and choose add-ons such as restoration, maternity and OPD benefits based on costs and individual needs.
A 25-year-old living independently in a Tier 1 city may need a monthly take-home salary of 70,000 to 1.4 lakh to meet living expenses and save 20-30% of income, depending on the city and lifestyle.
Reliance Jio Platforms IPO could reshape mutual fund exposure to Indias telecom sector. While some schemes have significant allocations to Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, the impact will depend on valuations and fund managers' investment strategies. Here's what you need to know.
The reporting mechanism could help authorities identify suspicious transactions, including instances where services are falsely declared to move money across borders.
A credit score above 750 can strengthen a personal loan application, but it does not guarantee approval. Here's why.
The tribunal held that a taxpayer could claim Section 54 exemption for the basement, ground floor and third floor received after redevelopment, while also directing a revised calculation of capital gains using a registered valuers report.
Dave Ramsey recommends teaching children four balanced money habits. He is the author of the international bestseller, The Total Money Makeover.
IDBI Banks proposed stake sale to Fairfax has raised questions for depositors, FD holders and employees. What could the ownership transition mean for existing deposits, interest rates, banking charges and job security? Here is what experts say.
Over the next five years, people could use AI to support services such as website design, writing, translation, and business consulting, or to build courses, videos and products.
SGB 2019-20 Series V investors can redeem their bonds at 14,725 per gram on October 15, 2026. Price gains range from 289% to 294%, excluding interest and taxes. Budget 2026 changes mean premature redemption is no longer eligible for the capital gains tax exemption.
David Bachs The Automatic Millionaire argues that building wealth depends less on earning a large salary than on creating habits that make saving and investing automatic.
Gen Z has more financial advice at its fingertips than any generation before it. But with influencers, family, friends and AI offering competing answers, knowing whom to trust is the real challenge.

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