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NPS returns can vary significantly depending on the pension fund manager and the asset class you choose. Here's how Tata, ICICI Prudential, HDFC, UTI and other pension funds performed over one, three and five years.

8th Pay Commission: Stakeholder consultations will be held in Jaipur on 31 August and 1 September. Central government and UT employee associations in Rajasthan can apply by 18 August using their Memo ID to participate.

Income tax refunds occur when paid taxes exceed actual liabilities after deductions and they are processed after ITR e-verification.  Here's when to expect it and common reasons for delay.

Taxpayers who missed the July 31 ITR deadline can still file a belated return until December 31, 2026. Here's the filing process, applicable late fees, and the tax benefits you may lose by filing late.

The EPF officers body has asked the Labour Ministry to hire more experts for better service delivery, citing delays in claim settlements. With inadequate technical support and staffing, they stress the need for timely intervention. 

Gold and silver prices today, 5 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.

The Centre is considering raising the EPF wage ceiling from 15,000 to 25,000, subject to Cabinet approval. If notified, the move could bring more employees under EPF and increase future EPS pension payouts.

LICs equity investment strategy explained as the Finance Ministry reveals how the insurer managed policyholders funds in listed companies over five years, including risk checks, regulatory oversight, portfolio review and investment decisions based on business performance and future prospects.

Taxpayers can file a revised return if they have made mistakes in their initial submission before the 31 July deadline. Know the due date and whether revising errors can lead to a penalty. 

The CBDT's technology-driven NUDGE campaign prompted 1.25 crore taxpayers to revise or update their ITRs over FY25 and FY26. The voluntary compliance drive also helped the Income Tax Department collect 9,494 crore in additional taxes.

EPFO's e-Office application will be unavailable from 6 pm to 9.30 pm today due to a scheduled system upgrade. Members may experience temporary service delays while key UMANG services remain available. Here's what EPF subscribers and employers need to know.

The stock markets new closing auction mechanism changes how closing prices are determined for F&O stocks. The shift from VWAP-based closing prices to auction-based pricing could impact index funds, ETFs and arbitrage funds by improving transparency and reducing tracking errors.

Franklin Templeton's new open-ended short term debt scheme, the Franklin India Short Term Fund opens NFO from 5th to 11th August. Here's all investors need to know about the scheme type, duration, minimum investment amount and potential risk class.

Factor investing has gained significant traction as investors increasingly seek rule-based strategies over traditional market-cap investing. While momentum has delivered the strongest long-term returns, the data shows that higher returns do not necessarily mean the highest risk. 

An early retiree must build a larger retirement corpus by targeting a lower withdrawal rate in retirement and by maintaining a margin of safety in the corpus to account for swings during multi-decadal economic cycles

Today, we look at how employees provident fund members can file a grievance with the retirement fund body, the step-by-step process to register a complaint, the customer care and social media alternatives.

The Centre said over 1.18 lakh eligible beneficiaries have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme since its rollout in April 2025. Introduced to provide an assured post-retirement income, the UPS continues as an optional pension framework under the NPS, with no review conducted so far.

Volatile markets have led retail investors to reconsider their investment options amid inflation. Fixed deposits and debt funds carry lower risk, but the choice depends on individual tax slabs, financial timelines, and risk tolerance. 

More than 31.82 crore unorganised workers have registered on the e-Shram portal, gaining access to social security schemes and welfare services. The government has integrated multiple schemes and platforms to help workers access benefits, job opportunities, skill development and pension services.

The 8th pay commission has invited candidates to apply for various consultant roles. Here's who is eligible, how to apply, the terms of the job, due date for application, salary offered and other details.

Though prenuptial agreements face legal hurdles in Indian courts, an evolving marriage landscape demands a legal framework that balances pre-marital financial transparency with essential statutory protections.

The Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission rules that while a lapsed life insurance policy does not entitle nominees to a death benefit, fairness may still require insurers to refund premiums in exceptional circumstances. 

The omission of Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 has changed the legal position on probate in India. While probate remains available, it is no longer a statutory precondition in cases that were earlier covered by Section 213.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Punjab government to clear pending dearness allowance arrears for employees and pensioners within two weeks. Dues are estimated at 15,000 crore, with penalties for late payment set at 6% interest. 

Sectoral indices, including the Nifty India Defence, are often market-cap weighted with high stock concentration. Investors should understand index construction and risks, limiting sector funds to 15-20% of their portfolio, while considering diversified equity funds for overall better returns.

The choice between a trust and a will should be informed not only by control and asset protection considerations, but also by taxation, treaty relief and repatriation rules in those jurisdictions.

These platforms move idle cash into liquid funds to beat traditional savings account rates and offer brand perks, but come with hidden costs, taxes, and exit loads.

The 31 August ITR deadline is meant for specific taxpayers, including freelancers, professionals, traders and small business owners filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 without a tax audit. Eligibility depends on the applicable return form and whether audit provisions apply.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha today. It amends laws regarding payment systems and income tax, including the reinstatement of merchant discount rates on UPI transactions and other tax provisions for various sectors.

The survey found that 53% of respondents would move away from UPI for transactions above 3,000 if an MDR is imposed on large merchants.

SEBI has repeatedly cautioned investors against using unauthorised platforms for buying or selling unlisted shares. Here are 5 checks to verify platforms, safeguard personal information, understand regulatory risks and make informed investment decisions before investing in unlisted company shares.

SEBI's new GARUDA framework cuts the launch time for eligible AIF schemes to 10 working days. Experts explain how the reform could benefit investors while keeping regulatory safeguards intact.

ANAROCK study shows home prices and rental yields have risen together across India's top housing markets since 2019. Noida, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Hyderabad emerge as the biggest winners for residential property investors.

EPFO has urged members to verify and correct their Date of Joining and Date of Exit details to avoid delays in PF withdrawals and pension claims. The advisory explains online correction rules, Aadhaar-linked UAN updates and employer approval requirements for eligible subscribers.

RBI's August 2026 redemption calendar lists six Sovereign Gold Bond tranches eligible for premature exit after the mandatory five-year holding period. Investors must apply within the prescribed window, as missing the deadline means waiting for the next eligible redemption date.

RBIs new fixed deposit rules for small finance banks will apply from October. The guidelines introduce advance-rate disclosures, uniform pricing, bulk-deposit rules and greater transparency.

The upgraded EPFO portal lets members view their complete service history and identify older PF accounts that may not be linked to their UAN. Here's how employees who started working before UAN or Aadhaar can trace and consolidate their old EPF accounts.

Gold and silver prices today, 4 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.

The Bengaluru ITAT has asked tax authorities to reconsider the tax treatment of ESOP buyback payouts by applying the Karnataka High Court's ruling. The order could strengthen the case for taxing payouts from vested but unexercised ESOPs as capital gains instead of salary.

HDFC Bank has introduced Max for Seniors and Max for Her savings accounts under its Savings Max portfolio. The accounts offer cyber protection, Auto Sweep benefits, insurance cover, health support and lifestyle privileges designed for senior citizens and women customers.

More than 1.18 lakh Central government employees and eligible retirees have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme. The Centre has told Parliament there is no proposal to review, modify or replace the pension scheme.

8th Pay Commission: The Commission is reviewing eight pensioner demands raised by RSCWS, including higher basic pay, revised HRA, transport allowance and stronger retirement benefits. The RSCWS proposals aim to improve pensions for Indian Railway employees.

The Union Ministry of Finance has made moves to enable merchant discount rates on UPI and proposed scrapping the zero MDR provision. We take a look at what this decision could mean for UPI customers.

REITs and REIT mutual funds offer investors exposure to the real estate sector but differ in structure, taxation, and returns. While REITs focus on rental income from properties, REIT funds combine REIT exposure with real estate equities. 

If a similar mutual fund with a proven track record already exists in the market, experts say investors should prefer an established scheme unless the NFO offers a genuinely differentiated strategy that complements their portfolio and investment goals.

Only two value funds have negative alpha, indicating they lag their benchmark indices, while Quant Value Fund and DSP Value Fund record the highest positive alpha. The contrast in alpha was also reflected in return performance, with the positive-alpha funds delivering better returns. 

Finance Ministry has approved an increase in EPF wage ceiling to 25,000 monthly from current 15,000, as per a Moneycontrol report. If approved this would expand coverage to more salaried workers.

F&O trading is treated as non-speculative business income and must be reported under business income in ITR. For AY 2026-27, taxpayers need to disclose F&O turnover and income in dedicated fields in ITR forms. They also need to comply with tax audit and carry-forward rules.

Upon returning to India, the person must compute capital gains from US shares in INR, using the exchange rate from the sale date. No concessions for rupee depreciation apply. Long-term gains are taxed at 12.5%, and disclosure of foreign assets is required for tax purposes.

DA, 7,500 minimum monthly pension, medical facilities Here's what the EPS95 National Agitation Committee is seeking from the government. It has warned of a protest on 5 August if demands are not met.