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Nigam's comment comes a day after the Payments Council of India clarified that UPI would remain free for consumers. It also noted that small merchants would not be required to pay MDR for accepting UPI payments.

Rony, a 25-year-old first-time earner with low risk tolerance, is overwhelmed by investing. A structured four-step formula can guide him: maintain liquid funds for emergencies, prioritise insurance, allocate investments based on timelines, and track real returns to make informed decisions.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the state govt is considering legal options, including appealing to the Supreme Court, after the Punjab HC directed it to clear pending DA within 15 days. 

Bitcoin has evolved into a mainstream financial asset but carries significant risks, as highlighted by its sharp price drop. Despite being recognised for tax purposes in India, investor caution persists regarding crypto safety. 

SEBI revised nomination norms for single-holder demat accounts and mutual fund folios, effective September 1, 2026. Here's what to do if you don't want to choose a nominee.

Check out the 10 essential personal finance rules every Indian should follow to build wealth, manage taxes, reduce debt, invest through SIPs, and secure financial stability with insurance, emergency savings and disciplined investing for long-term financial success.

Compare PPF, SCSS and SSY to understand their interest rates, eligibility, tax benefits, and investment features. Learn which government-backed savings scheme best matches your retirement, long-term wealth creation or girl child financial planning goals.

Section 44AD allows eligible small business owners to declare income on a presumptive basis without maintaining detailed books. However, taxpayers must still disclose turnover and other taxable income sources while filing ITR. 

The new EPF Scheme allows voluntary contributions beyond the wage ceiling and simplifies withdrawals. If an employee resigns, the wait for EPF withdrawal has increased from 2 to 12 months.

Every investor should have a portfolio strategy beyond just tracking assets. A structured approach involving Asset Allocation, Bubble Plan, and Crisis Plan helps guide decision-making during market fluctuations, ensuring preparedness rather than reaction to unforeseen events.

The US FIRE model can be customised by Indians to suit their requirements. The customisation can include a larger corpus, a lower withdrawal rate, a separate fund for healthcare expenses, and following the three-bucket strategy.

Retirement planning requires more than choosing investments. Experts explain why starting early, maintaining asset allocation, accounting for taxes and inflation, and investing consistently can help build a larger retirement corpus and improve long-term financial security.

Investing 15,000 every month for 30 years, assuming an average annual return of 12%, can potentially build a corpus of around 5.29 crore.

PhonePe launches fixed deposit (FD) distribution allowing customers to compare and book high-yield fixed deposits with partner banks and NBFCs online. Here's a stepwise guide on how to book deposits using the app

A Will and nominees alone may not be enough to help your family access your assets. Estate planning experts explain why every investor should maintain a financial inventory, what it should include, and how it can save loved ones time, confusion and legal hassles.

Emergency fund: Today, we explain the 3-6-9 rule that salaried individuals and even those without stable income can use to build their savings for a rainy day or to safeguard against extenuating circumstances.

Merchant discount rate on UPI transactions: What is MDR, will customers have to pay, who bears operating costs, who invests in infrastructure, why are discussions happening now? Check top FAQs answered

IBAI President Narendra Bharindwal described the insurance regulator's initiatives as a major milestone in enhancing accountability and protecting policyholders' interests.

UAN activation through the EPFO portal has been deactivated and shifted to the Umang mobile app. Here's how employees provident fund subscribers can complete the process. We also answer some key FAQs

Pay commission: The Himachal Pradesh government has approved a 78% salary hike for contract and trainee medical officers (specialists) up from 33,660 to 60,000 per month. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said healthcare and education are among the state's highest priorities. 

West Bengal state government has notified its 38% DA and DR hike for employees and pensioners, with effect from 1 October, just ahead of Durga Puja festivities this year. Check the latest updates here 

NRIs engaging in property transactions in their home country should be aware of compliance issues like TDS, repatriation limits, and FEMA regulations. Informed decisions are crucial to avoid financial pitfalls, penalties and complexities in capital gains tax calculations.

In India, landlords may ask for cash rent payments. While cash payments do not disqualify HRA, lack of documentation can lead to claim scrutiny. Here's how to claim HRA benefit if you are paying rent in cash and complications that may arise.

NPS for NRIs: Understand eligibility, tax benefits, Tier-I account rules, contributions and withdrawal guidelines. This guide explains how NRIs and OCIs can use Indias National Pension System for retirement planning while considering cross-border tax implications.

Interest earned on fixed deposits (FDs) and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) remains taxable under the Income Tax Act, 2025. Understand FD TDS rules, KVP tax treatment, and how investors can report interest income correctly while filing income tax returns.

The PFRDA has extended the cut-off time for same-day NPS contributions by 2.5 hours. This change allows later contributions to secure the same day's NAV. Here's who benefits from it.

The Supreme Court has extended mandatory third-party motor insurance for new vehicles: four years for cars and six years for two-wheelers. Here's the difference between third-party and comprehensive motor cover and whether you can upgrade.

The 8th Pay Commission will hold crucial stakeholder meetings in Delhi to discuss pay revision, pensions, allowances and employee welfare. Here are the latest official updates, upcoming consultation schedules and what central government employees and pensioners can expect before the final report.

Gold and silver prices today, 7 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.

Taxpayers can pay income taxes online using credit cards through the e-filing portal. While convenient, they should be aware of potential convenience fees and interest charges if debts aren't cleared on time. Details here. 

EPFO settled over 8.3 crore claims in FY26 and scrapped the imageupload requirement for cheque leaves in online claims. The reform, the Ministry of State for Labour and Employment told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply, has already benefited 7 crore members.

The Allahabad High Court ruled that police cannot resolve civil property disputes and should only intervene to maintain public order. The court emphasised that ownership and possession issues must be settled in civil courts.  Allahabad

EPFO has reminded members about inoperative EPF accounts and withdrawal timelines. Understanding these rules can help subscribers avoid interest losses, manage retirement savings and ensure their provident fund corpus remains secure after retirement.

Narendra Bharindwal says mandatory salesperson tagging, perpetual registration and stronger governance norms are expected to reshape insurance distribution and improve customer trust.

Out of 45 flexi-cap schemes, only six recorded a Sortino ratio above 1, indicating stronger downside risk-adjusted performance. A Sortino ratio above 1 means the fund generated higher excess returns for every unit of downside risk faced.

The 2026 ITR season has exposed major tax reporting gaps among crypto investors, with many mistaking TDS for their final tax liability. Investors who missed the deadline can still file a belated return, report income in Schedule VDA, and claim eligible TDS refunds.

Many ELSS investors assume they can redeem their entire investment once the first SIP completes three years. However, each SIP instalment has its own three-year lock-in, resulting in staggered redemptions. The lock-in cannot be bypassed by paying an exit load.

Freelancers must file their ITR by 31 August if they are not required to get their accounts audited. The choice of ITR form, tax method and deductions depends on their income structure. Proper documentation and reconciliation of receipts and foreign income are essential for accurate filing.

Building a sizeable retirement corpus of 10 crore demands a structured investment strategy, consistent contributions and favourable market returns

Indian equities have lagged global markets due to AI-led capital flows, valuation pressures and global uncertainties. However, strong domestic demand, policy continuity, infrastructure growth and healthy fundamentals continue to support India's long-term outlook.

Consumers are becoming more value-conscious. Many are delaying upgrades, choosing previous-generation or refurbished phones, repairing existing devices, or using exchange offers

A consumer commission held a bank liable for failing to act on suspicious transactions after a woman lost nearly 6.93 lakh in a FedEx parcel scam. Despite OTP-authorised transfers, the bank was ordered to refund the amount along with interest and compensation.

Choosing a nominee for accounts or policies is crucial, but they only act as custodians until legal heirs receive assets. Final ownership is governed by wills and succession laws, not solely by the nominee. Here's what matters.

Salaried employees in India contribute to EPF, receiving matching employer contributions. Tax benefits apply, but a new rule restricts tax exemption on interest for total contributions over a certain threshold. Check rules here. 

Buying or selling property in India involves more than finding the right deal. From FEMA and TDS to repatriation limits and POA rules, experts explain the compliance pitfalls NRIs must avoid.

AY 2026-7 deadlines: To ensure timely payment before last date, here's a taxpayer's guide with key dates. Learn more about penalties associated with late filing. 

The EPFO has introduced a free doorstep life certificate service for EPS pensioners through India Post. Eligible pensioners unable to visit centres can call 033-22029000 for assistance. The facility helps ensure timely pension payments through easy digital certificate submission from home.

Five small-cap mutual funds delivered annualised SIP returns of more than 20% over the past decade, highlighting the category's long-term wealth-creation potential. A comparison of three-, five- and 10-year returns also shows how leadership has evolved across different market cycles.

An EPFO officers' association has written to the Labour Minister highlighting delays in PF claim settlements, shortage of IT staff and manpower gaps. The body has also sought reforms in the pension system, CITES implementation and leadership structure within the retirement fund organisation.

The Delhi High Court asked the Centre to respond to a PIL that is seeking automatic TDS refunds for individuals with no tax liabilities, challenging the requirement to file ITR for refunds. Full details of the demand here.