Livemint

Understanding these common reasonsand challenging deductions that lack clear justificationcan help consumers effectively dispute unfair cuts and secure a better outcome

Sikkim CM Tamang announced a 2% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, applicable from January 1, 2026. Arrears will be paid before Dashain 2026. 

To claim Section 54F exemption while selling shares, one can potentially gift one property to an HUF. The property remains legally owned by the individual, with income categorized accordingly. 

The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme 2026 offers eligible taxpayers a one-time window to disclose foreign assets and income. Heres what you need to know about the specific eligibility rules, disclosure limits, deadlines, and payment conditions. 

Salaries, performance bonuses, and extra earnings flow into an account month after month, causing the balance to swell quietly. Because investing feels intimidating or easy to postpone, several lakhs often end up sitting dormant over time

West Bengal is launching the Ayushman Bharat scheme, covering 1.5 crore families today. Here's all you need to know about how many hospitals are participating, eligibility, benefits, documents needed and stepwise guide on how to apply.

Taxpayers may receive defective return notice from the income tax department if they provided incomplete or inconsistent information in their ITR. Here's how to respond to such a notice and the applicable deadline. 

A 50 lakh to 2 crore fixed deposit can generate substantial annual income in 2026. Compare FD returns at 6%, 7%, and 8%; Check and understand senior-citizen rates, taxation, deposit safety, and key factors before investing.

Over 85 lakh pensioners under EPS-95 rely on monthly pensions. However, the payments will only keep coming if you stay compliant with the rules and requirements. Here's what to do to avoid pension payment disruptions. 

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) v Public Provident Fund (PPF) in 2026: Compare interest rates, tax benefits, eligibility, maturity, withdrawals and returns to understand which government-backed savings scheme better suits your financial goals.

An NRI living in the US faced a tax notice for unexplained funds used to buy a Mumbai flat using funds from his NRE account. Here's what happened next.

Health insurance can protect savings from rising medical costs, but hidden exclusions, room-rent limits, sub-limits and incomplete disclosures can reduce claims. Check out these five common health insurance traps and learn how to choose coverage that offers meaningful financial protection.

The EPFO has simplified withdrawal rules, allowing members to access a major chunk of their PF for emergencies like unemployment, medical needs, education etc. Full details here. 

From reasonable and customary charges to consumables and proportionate deductions, heres what policyholders need to know when insurers cut claim payouts.

The 8th Pay Commission could reshape Central government salaries, with employees seeking higher basic pay and fitment factors. Here is how minimum basic pay rose from 55 under the 1st Pay Commission to 18,000 under the 7th.

The government reported over 21 lakh inoperative EPF accounts with 8,505 crore in 2023-24, primarily due to members not filing claims after leaving service. Here's how it aims to fix the issue.

Income Tax Calendar 2026 highlights key ITR filing, advance tax, tax audit, TDS and belated return deadlines from August to December. Know the important dates for AY 2026-27, understand revised return rules and plan tax compliance.

FAST-DS 2026 opens on August 16, allowing eligible taxpayers to disclose certain undisclosed foreign assets and income until December 31. For the first category, a 1 crore declaration can attract 30 lakh tax plus an equal additional amount, taking the total payment to 60 lakh.

It is vital to update nominee details after major life changes to align your previous choice with your current wishes and also prevent complications for legal heirs later if they want to claim the assets. Here's when you should consider updating it.

A gift from parents to a married daughter is generally tax-free under the Income-tax Act, 2025. However, interest, rent, dividends and capital gains earned from gifted money, property or investments may be taxable separately.

A president's crypto fortune and a broken wallet expose what the small saver is not able to see. 

Bank holidays this week: Banks across India will be open for 4 to 5 days this week but digital banking services are available 24/7 for customers irrespective of bank holidays. Check dates on bank holidays as per RBI calendar.

From managing utility bills, recurring subscriptions and financial services, Gen Z's financial habits show they are a generation that has grown up with digital payments at its core. Here's a look at what they spend their salaries on

The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is a government-backed investment and retirement savings option in India. Today, we take a look at how membership conditions and related frequently asked questions

A process of trial and error and self-learning led this investor from 5 lakh portfolio to 1.30 crore over a seven-year period, he shared online. Here's how the investment journey went

Tata AIA rejected a 1 crore life insurance claim from a widow, alleging nondisclosure of prior insurance issues. 

8th pay commission: We can expect an announcement of the full list of recommendations sometime near May 2027 after completion of discussions with stakeholders and employee groups. Here's a look at how the timeline works

Prashant Kishor's financial portfolio largely consists of fixed deposits totaling 7.36 crore with HDFC Bank, compared to only 63 lakh in equities. His election affidavit shows total assets of nearly 198 crore, including movable and immovable properties.

Key demands by the BMS include hike in variable DA, a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 for unskilled workers, job security for contract workers, higher pensions and increased wage ceilings for EPF and ESLI schemes. 

Kisan Vikas Patra offers a 7.5% annual interest rate in July-September 2026, with investments doubling in 115 months. Here is how KVP works, its maturity period, investment limits and key points savers should know before investing.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes launched a one-time scheme on 16 August for small taxpayers to declare undisclosed foreign assets until December 2026. A 60% payment on the declared value ensures immunity from penalties.

Registration for the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana will continue till the target of 17 lakh women is met, CM Rekha Gupta said. Here's how eligible women can track the status of their application after applying for the financial assistance scheme 

Employees with multiple jobs may receive separate EPF benefits from each employer, and EPFO provides guidelines for overlapping employment. Details here. 

Home loan prepayment can reduce interest costs, while investing surplus funds may offer higher returns. Compare the loan rate, post-tax investment gains, risk and liquidity before deciding. 

Check out the difference between a credit card statement date and payment due date. Having a clear understanding of the same can help cardholders plan repayments, avoid late fees and interest, manage cash flow and maintain healthier credit habits.

RBI has proposed a new MCLR formula using a three-month moving average of banks marginal funding costs. The draft also proposes a three-month reset period for MCLR-linked loans and aims to make loan pricing more transparent.

Financial freedom requires more than wealth creation. Learn how life insurance, emergency savings and disciplined SIP investing can protect family finances, support long-term goals and build a stronger financial plan against unexpected life events.

Learn how to invest 5 lakh wisely at different ages with a practical asset allocation strategy covering equity, mutual funds, fixed deposits, gold and liquidity, while balancing risk, financial goals, family responsibilities and long-term wealth creation.

DA Hike 2026 explained: Know how Dearness Allowance is calculated using CPI-IW data, when the July revision takes effect, and how retrospective payments and arrears work. Having a conceptual understanding of these aspects can help in better financial planning. 

A Telangana consumer commission has upheld a 1 crore life insurance death claim after Tata AIA rejected it over alleged non-disclosure of an earlier policy proposal postponed on medical grounds. 

Taxpayers with unreported foreign assets can file declarations till December 31, 2026 through a one-time disclosure window. The voluntary scheme targets small investors. Here's all you need to know about the scheme.

His financial portfolio includes investments like fixed deposits, mutual funds, and bonds, He also possesses a dismantled rice mill and his wife has gold weighing 475 grams and silver weighing 200 grams.

The Finance Ministry has issued guidelines for insurance policyholders to address unfair claim rejections and service-related issues. Full details here. 

Missing a loan EMI does not give banks unlimited powers to seize assets or let recovery agents harass borrowers. Heres what banks can legally do after a default and what borrowers can do if recovery agents cross the line.

Credit card debt can delay financial freedom through high interest costs. Check and understand practical ways to repay outstanding balances, avoid minimum-payment traps, manage EMIs and build healthier money habits for long-term financial stability.

SCSS offers retirees a fixed-income investment with government backing, quarterly payouts, and an attractive interest rate. Here's what retirees need to know about extending their account. 

SEBI has proposed allowing NRIs, OCIs and eligible foreign nationals in FATF-compliant countries to complete digital KYC for Indian securities investments without travelling to India. The proposal also seeks to make KYC records portable.

Some common financial mistakes can weaken long-term wealth creation, from inadequate emergency savings and insurance to frequent fund switching and poor asset allocation. Experts explain practical ways Indian investors can protect savings and invest more effectively.

Large cash deposits in savings accounts can attract scrutiny from banks and tax authorities. Deposits exceeding 10 lakh in a financial year must be reported, requiring depositors to disclose their sources to avoid potential tax implications.

ITAT Ahmedabad has deleted a 2.31 lakh income-tax penalty imposed on a taxpayer over a 3.71 lakh political donation deduction claimed under Section 80GGC. The tribunal said the tax department failed to clearly establish how the claim amounted to under-reporting or misreporting of income.