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Indias lower-middle-class consumers are not abandoning digital channels, but 2026 data shows a surprising shift towards offline transactions. Bill payments, food orders and travel bookings have moved back to physical channels. 

A LinkedIn post highlighted financial challenges faced by professionals with high salaries but high expenses. Many save little due to lifestyle inflation. 

Grocery spending fell 8% while rent rose 21%, showing a mixed picture for household budgets in 2026. GST 2.0 brought price relief, but families largely used the extra headroom for savings, better food, education, and health rather than splurging.

SEBI's proposed digital KYC and onboarding process aims to ease investment for retail NRIs by removing the requirement for physical presence in India. 

NPS now allows non-government subscribers to access schemes with up to 100% equity exposure under the Multiple Scheme Framework. But higher equity also means higher market risk. Heres what investors should know before choosing the option.

A study by WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund reveals that diversification improves risk-adjusted returns. It shows that including a small equity allocation in a debt portfolio can enhance returns and lower volatility

A SEBI study indicates that 96.5% of F&O traders lose after four years, largely due to poor risk management and psychological biases. 

Indian mutual fund investors are holding their investments longer, while women and younger investors are taking greater equity exposure. AMFI-Crisil data also shows regular-plan investors have longer holding periods, even as the industry's allocation shifts from debt towards equity.

The National Pension System offers Auto and Active Choice investment strategies for retirement savings, catering to different risk tolerances and investment skills. 

Sebis 10,000 minimum has opened the bond market to retail investors. Before chasing a higher yield, here are the five things that matter.

The desire to own a home was particularly strong among women surveyed. Around 40% of female respondents said buying a house was among their key financial priorities for the next five years.

Small-cap funds can differ sharply in how closely their portfolios resemble their benchmarks. But does a lower overlap translate into better returns? The latest data offers some surprising insights into the link between active bets and performance.

Capital gains tax treatment differs for brokerage, STT and loan interest. Learn which investment expenses can be deducted, which are excluded and how taxpayers should assess borrowing costs.

The Supreme Court advised the government to collaborate with domain experts to devise an antidote to the problem and requested action preferably within four months.

SBI Gold Fund topped the three-year SIP return chart at 44.11%, followed by Axis Gold Fund at 43.84%, while equity funds delivered around 20-21%. The one-year data shows a shift, with Bank of India Small Cap Fund leading at 50.13% and ITI Small Cap Fund at 42.06%.

For individuals with business or professional taxpayers, opting out of the default new regime, or subsequently returning to it, involves a specific compliance process.

The updated EPFO portal offers several key online services, including UAN activation, PF withdrawal, KYC updates, passbook access, transfers and e-nomination, helping employees manage provident fund accounts with greater ease.

Sebis latest F&O study does more than count losses. It reveals the behavioural biases that keep traders overconfident, chasing losses and returning to a market that repeatedly hurts them.

PPFAS GIFT has cut the minimum investment in its Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 fund of funds from $5,000 to $500. The 90% reduction lowers the entry requirement by about 4.3 lakh for eligible investors seeking US equity exposure through GIFT City.

Employees moving abroad and foreign nationals working in India may fall under EPFOs International Worker rules, which can affect PF contributions, withdrawals, pension eligibility and social-security coverage.

Delhi ITAT has dismissed the Income Tax Departments appeal in a Black Money Act case involving alleged undisclosed foreign assets linked to Tarun Trikha. The tribunal upheld the CIT(A)s decision to delete the addition after examining the material available in the case.

Planning to break your fixed deposit before maturity? Check premature withdrawal penalties, revised interest rates, tax implications and FD-backed loan options to understand the real cost and make a financially informed withdrawal decision.

Gold and silver prices today, 25 August: 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.

Airbnb once emerged as an alternative to traditional long-term leasing, where typical rental yields are stuck at a mere 24%. But as listings surged across the country, that premium is beginning to disappear.

A 2.1 fitment factor under the 8th Pay Commission may look lower than the 7th CPCs 2.57, but the actual salary gain could still be higher. Employee body representative Manjeet Singh Patel explains how existing DA changes the calculation.

8th Pay Commission: Stakeholder consultations will be held in Bengaluru on 7-8 October. Eligible employee organizations must apply by 18 September with their Unique Memo ID. 

ITAT Delhi has directed the Income Tax Department to issue a 5.31 lakh refund with interest to a taxpayer who claimed it in a return filed after a Section 148 notice. The tribunal held that the refund could not be denied merely because no original ITR was filed.

Credit report errors can lower your credit score and affect loan eligibility. Learn about common mistakes, how to identify inaccuracies and practical steps to dispute and correct incorrect credit information.

Bank holiday today, August 25: Are SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI, Axis Bank closed on Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26 for Onam and Milad-Un Nabi? Read to find out. 

SIF AUM rose to 10,620 crore by March 2026, a more than five-fold increase in six months. With hybrid long-short strategies accounting for most SIF assets, experts say the category may suit affluent and experienced investors seeking greater flexibility and downside management.

Mid-cap funds have overtaken large-cap funds as the biggest SIP category, while small-cap, multi-cap and thematic funds have also gained share. Experts explain what is driving the shift, the risks investors should watch out for and how to review their portfolios.

Both plans invest in the same underlying assets. The main difference lies in how the investor purchases the fund and the costs involved in the process.

Indias next financial advantage will depend on whether its institutions can move beyond generic tools and embed intelligence into their core decisions.

India may have lagged several global markets recently, but its long-term performance tells a different story. The latest study shows how market rankings change sharply across time periods, raising questions about whether chasing recent global winners makes sense for long-term investors.

Taxpayers filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 should carefully review key schedules and reconcile income, turnover, and TDS to avoid common filing errors. Here are the key schedules, documents, and changes to know for AY 2026-27.

Indian employees abroad and foreign nationals in India face different provident fund rules from those of regular EPF members. International Workers are defined as those in countries with social security agreements. 

Premature withdrawal from post office schemes Senior Citizens Saving Scheme, Public Provident Fund, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Monthly Income Scheme and Kisan Vikas Patra can cost more than you think. We explain

A 30-year analysis of the BSE Sensex TRI compares SIP investments made on the best, worst and 15th day of every month. The study examines how the choice of monthly investment date influenced annualised returns and the performance of monthly SIPs over the period.

Your ESOPs may show a 1 crore value, but the amount you actually pocket can be much lower. Heres how exercise price, ESOP tax, holding period and sale value can affect your final take-home.

The income tax regime chosen, the nature of the income and, crucially, compliance with the prescribed procedure can all affect the final outcome.

The UPI ecosystem in India is set for further transformation, driven by the government's commitment to expand the user base and support financial inclusion, as it marks a decade of significant growth in transactions and banking participation.

The ITR-4 deadline is approaching for taxpayers using presumptive taxation. Sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE offer simplified tax rules for eligible businesses, professionals and goods-carriage operators. Heres who can opt, the income limits and key conditions to know.

Is it possible to reach his 10 crore goal in 15 years simply with SIPs? Check out the simple calculations behind the investment strategy.

Having multiple health insurance policies can help cover a hospital bill when one policy falls short. Here is how insurers coordinate claims, which policy pays first and how much you can actually receive.

The Universal Account Number is a 12-digit EPFO identifier that links an employees PF member IDs across jobs. Check how UAN simplifies EPF management, enables online access to PF balances, passbooks, transfers and claims, and helps employees maintain accurate, secure retirement records.

Under the arrangement, Axis Bank will issue standby letters of credit to support financing provided by Citigroup through its offshore operations

Small savings schemes vary based on individual needs and tax situations. Notable options include PPF with 7.1% interest, SSY at 8.2%, and NSC at 7.7%, each with tax benefits, lock-in periods, and unique characteristics.

PPF investment calculator: See how 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 monthly investments could grow over 15 years at 7.1%. Check the PPF returns, tax benefits, contribution limits and long-term savings. 

Working abroad or hiring a foreign national in India? EPFOs International Worker rules can change how much you contribute, when you can withdraw EPF and how social-security benefits work.

On examining the return and the applicable compliance requirements, we found that the taxpayer had selected the new tax regime but had not furnished Form 10-IEA. The department consequently processed the return under the old regime.