Livemint

Exchanging old gold for new jewellery this Diwali? Check six things before accepting your jewellers offer, including gold purity, net weight, market rates, melting deductions, making charges and exchange terms to avoid losing money.

A Diwali salary bonus can do more than fund festive shopping. From strengthening insurance cover and preparing for upcoming expenses to boosting retirement savings and investing in skills, here are five ways to put the extra money to work.

Planning expensive Diwali purchases? Paying upfront could help you secure additional discounts, while no-cost EMI can spread payments. Compare processing fees, GST, cashback and credit card rewards before deciding which option saves you more.

The court clarified that an employee cannot claim pensionary benefits under Rule 49(2) merely because he has completed 10 years of qualifying service if Rule 26(1), which provides for forfeiture of past service upon resignation, applies to his case

Indian investors seeking overseas exposure through mutual funds have limited choices, with only one scheme accepting fresh SIPs. Three other international funds have suspended new investments and paused existing SIP instalments. Here's what investors should know.

Air pollution can aggravate respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD. Health insurance may cover hospitalisation, but policyholders should check pre-existing disease waiting periods, ICU coverage, room rent limits, restoration benefits and OPD add-ons.

The ruling highlights the importance of following due process before the tax authorities modify an already processed income tax return

SEBI's new settlement rules came into effect on November 7, 2026. The revised framework changes application fees, minimum settlement amounts and filing deadlines, while introducing fast-track options for eligible cases. Here's what applicants need to know.

Got a Diwali bonus of 10,000? Should you clear credit card dues or start a mutual fund SIP? Compare the interest savings from repaying high-cost debt with the potential returns from investing to understand which money move makes more financial sense.

A daily SIP of just 50 can help build a corpus of over 20 lakh in 25 years, assuming 10% annual returns. But how much can your money grow in 5, 10 or 15 years? Here's how investment duration and compounding can influence your wealth creation.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a curative petition seeking a pro rata pension for former Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs). Here's what the October 2026 ruling means for Army veterans, pension eligibility and their long-standing demand for retirement benefits.

India Saves 2026 report shows that women are taking charge of household finances, Gen Z is saving for a home, while Gen X is focused on retirement. Here's a look at the habits, goals and choices across demographics 

Planning Diwali shopping with a credit card EMI? Check five hidden costs of no-cost EMI offers, including processing fees, GST on interest, lost instant discounts, foreclosure charges and credit limit impact, before converting festive purchases into monthly instalments.

The RBI has proposed tighter checks for banks classifying gold-backed agricultural loans as priority sector lending (PSL). It has also proposed changes to the treatment of bills discounted under letters of credit, which could increase banks' PSL requirements.

The Meghalaya High Court ruled that an Assam Rifles rifleman who voluntarily sought discharge after 13 years of service was not entitled to a pension. It however, directed authorities to release 5,656 to his IRLA account and 53,642 to his GPF account.

Moviegoers watching the Ramayana movie this Diwali weekend can save on BookMyShow ticket bookings through eligible bank credit and debit cards. Offers include buy-one-get-one-free deals and instant discounts.

Buyers have reportedly approached the Delhi High Court over NBCCs cancellation of bidding for 49 flats at its Avenue Towers project in Sarojini Nagar. They allege the cancellations were selective and question the auctions transparency. 

Buying gold or silver Lakshmi-Ganesha idols for Diwali puja? Know whether these idols fall under mandatory BIS hallmarking rules, how to verify HUID through the BIS Care app, and what to check about purity, weight, workmanship and making charges before purchase.

RBI's new gold loan rules introduce higher loan-to-value limits for small borrowers, transparent gold valuation and stronger auction safeguards. Understand the revised repayment conditions, jewellery return deadlines and compensation rules before pledging gold.

Pay Commission: West Bengal's 7th panel will cover non-teaching staff of state-aided universities and education boards and examine their existing pay structure and service conditions. Here's all we know 

The Jaipur ITAT deleted a 24.06 lakh unexplained income addition after accepting a gift from the taxpayer's grandmother. Find out why land records, loan repayment evidence and an affidavit helped establish the source of funds.

Gold ETF folios surged 164% in three years, outpacing large-cap mutual funds. A recent study flags investor FOMO amid the gold rally and cautions against deviating from the recommended 5-10% gold allocation in portfolios.

Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football after a record-breaking 23-year career. Discover seven personal finance lessons from CR7 on SIPs, budgeting, diversification, financial discipline, wealth creation and long-term investing.

DA hike news: The Karnataka govt raised dearness allowance and dearness relief for state employees and pensioners by 2.5% to 18%, effective July 1, 2026. Arunachal Pradesh also approved a 3% increase, to 63%.

While popular stocks feature across hundreds of mutual fund schemes, some stocks find a place in just one scheme's portfolio. Here is the list of 13 such uncommon picks, the schemes holding them, and what these fund managers' distinct stock-selection approaches mean for investors.

AIRF has submitted six key demands to the 8th Pay Commission, seeking higher railway employee salaries, better promotions, risk allowances, track maintainer parity and improved service benefits. Here's what railway staff want from the new pay panel.

How have Indian equity mutual fund returns compared with global markets over the past 30 years? A look at SIP and lump-sum performance across 15 countries offers insights for investors exploring long-term wealth creation and international diversification.

Bank holiday today: Check if public and private sector lenders including the State Bank of India and HDFC Bank will be open for customers across India on Saturday, 7 November, ahead of Diwali on Sunday. 

Ankur Warikoo highlights five money habits that can keep you poor, from improper budgeting and high-interest debt to lifestyle inflation and delayed investing. Learn how to fix them this Diwali to strengthen savings and build long-term wealth.

Nearly 30 Indian investors reportedly lost more than 100 crore after their Stockal Securities accounts were allegedly accessed without authorization. How to file a complain. 

A Chandigarh consumer commission directed UCO Bank to pay 15,000 to a widow after finding that its delay in revising her family pension amounted to deficiency in service. The commission said later payment of arrears did not erase the hardship and mental harassment caused.

A bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan was hearing a case arising from claims by government employees against the Punjab government over pending payments.

The commission found that the developer had violated the terms of the agreement by selling the same property to another buyer despite having already accepted money from the original purchasers.

Central government employees GPF savings are distributed under rules governing nominations and eligible family members. Here's who can claim the funds if no nominee exists.

A loan guarantor may be responsible for a borrowers debt, interest and penalties after default. Before signing, one should consider certain risks and know when to decline the arrangement.

The consumer court ruled that the landlord could not withhold the security deposit without producing evidence of damage to the property or establishing any outstanding rent, utility bills or other dues

Silver prices reversed their recent upward trend on Dhanteras. Check how much silver costs in Chennai today.

A Delhi consumer commission ordered Kia dealer Jayanti Motors and its managing director to refund 1.08 lakh with 9% annual interest, pay 1 lakh compensation and 25,000 in legal costs for failing to deliver a booked Kia Carnival. 

The income tax department seeks changes to account-opening requirements and gather feedback from financial institutions to improve information exchanged with foreign tax authorities. Details here.

Parag Parikh GIFT City has launched the Parag Parikh India Flexi Cap Fund, offering NRIs, OCIs, and eligible foreign investors access to the domestic Flexi Cap Fund. Here's how the feeder fund works, its investment rules, key features, NFO details, and what it could mean for domestic investors.

Recovery agents calling your office or relatives? RBIs new norms ban this from 2027. Here are the rules and how to complain to the Ombudsman.

Can you buy mutual funds, index funds, equity ETFs, gold ETFs and silver ETFs during Muhurat Trading 2026? Experts explain order timings, NAV applicability, ETF settlement, SIP processing and what investors should check before investing on 8 November. 

Planning to invest in gold and silver this Dhanteras 2026? Experts explain how much of your investment portfolio should go into precious metals, why gold should form the core allocation and how staggered purchases can help manage investment risks.

Sitting in a jewellery store today to buy gold or silver on Dhanteras? Don't make the purchase without checking these three important hallmark signs. Know how to verify the HUID number, check the jewellery's purity, and use the BIS Care app to authenticate hallmarked articles before paying.

Five practical ways to control credit card spending during Diwali and Dhanteras 2026: set a festive budget, use discounts wisely, manage credit utilisation, avoid unnecessary EMIs and pay bills on time.

Tanishq's 22K gold rate stood at 1,31,900 per 10 grams on Dhanteras, November 6, while Malabar Gold priced it at 1,31,500. Here are the latest 22K and 24K rates, price trends and buying muhurat.

Uttar Pradesh has approved a 30-day ad hoc bonus for eligible state government employees for 2025-26. The maximum bonus is 6,908, of which 75% will go into GPF or other specified savings accounts, and 25% will be paid in cash.

Gold coins, bars, ETFs and mutual funds offer different ways to invest in the yellow metal this Dhanteras. Here are their key features, purity levels, costs, liquidity, and tax implications to help you understand which option best suits your purchase or investment needs.

According to Dripkpanchang, Dhanteras Puja Muhurat is between 06:02 PM to 07:57 PM (Duration - 01 Hour 56 Mins).

Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6, with families buying gold, silver and utensils to welcome prosperity. The tradition is rooted in the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari, linking the festival to both wealth and good health.