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The debate over UPI transaction fees reignites as the government announces merchant charges on transactions over 2,000. Here's what some industry leaders said about the move.

Debt funds and FDs may face the same slab-rate taxation, but they differ significantly in return certainty, liquidity and market risk. FundsIndia CEO Rishabh Garg explains when investors should favour the certainty of FDs and when short-duration or liquid debt funds may fit better.

While the new MDR introduces another cost for UPI investments, a mutual fund investor will not directly pay the fee or see it deducted from the investment amount.

BIS has raised the hallmarking fee for gold jewellery to 75 per article from 45, while keeping the silver fee unchanged at 35, effective 14 September 2026. The increase comes ahead of the festive season, but it does not automatically mean buyers will pay 30 more for every gold jewellery article.

NPCIs new UPI MDR framework from 15 October will impose a 0.4% charge on select merchant transactions above 2,000, but consumers will continue to make UPI payments for free. NPCI has also clarified that there will be no monthly cap or platform fee for users.

AI tools and cloud storage are emerging as a new category of recurring household spending, but experts say users should regularly assess their utility, avoid overlapping subscriptions and protect personal data.

A Mumbai ITAT ruling has deleted a 23.94 lakh penalty imposed on a taxpayer who had omitted 38.37 lakh of cash deposits from his original ITR but disclosed the income during scrutiny and paid the tax due. 

Nithin Kamath, Zerodha co-founder, backed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI, calling it inevitable and saying it could boost competition. But he flagged the cost burden on brokers, suggesting a 0.02% MDR capped at 5-10, rather than 300.

US Treasury and Japanese bond yields can ripple through equities, currencies, commodities and even domestic borrowing costs, making global rate moves relevant to Indian families planning for long-term financial goals.

Credit card cashbacks, referral bonus or proceeds from selling an old phone online may all put money or benefits in your hands but the tax rules differ. Here's all you need to know.

What would it cost to run an investment app that adds 200 crore to wallets for stock and derivative trading / invested into mutual funds every day? INDmoney CEO explains

Gold prices in India rose nearly 0.65% today amid US-Iran conflict uncertainties. Check retail rates of both gold and silver in top metro cities of India today. 

UPI will introduce MDR on select merchant payments above 2,000 from 15 October, but the new charge does not apply uniformly to all UPI transactions. Mutual fund SIPs through UPI AutoPay remain outside the prescribed MDR, while one-time capital-market payments get a lower 0.02% rate.

From 15 October, NPCI's new MDR policy will apply to certain UPI transactions. Here's how the merchant charges compare with credit card and debit card fees, and credit-linked UPI. 

A postgraduate medical student received 18.34 lakh as a stipend from Aligarh Muslim University, but the Income Tax Department treated it as taxable salary. The Delhi ITAT held that the stipend was linked to her education and compulsory residency training and allowed the Section 10(16) exemption.

JP MORGAN-INVESTMENT BANKING/ (PIX):JPMorgan expects investment banking, trading to shine in third quarter

Indias income pyramid is shifting rapidly, with millions of households moving into higher-income brackets. As earnings rise, spending patterns, savings, and investment behaviour are also changing. 

Benjamin Grahams The Intelligent Investor advises on understanding investments through careful examination. Check out these 5 simple money lessons from the celebrated book.

The clarification comes ahead of the revised UPI fee structure, which is scheduled to take effect from October 15. Under the new framework, a 0.4% MDR will be applicable to certain direct account-to-merchant-account UPI payments above 2,000, with the fee capped at 300 per transaction

Mutual fund investors cannot always rely on a schemes category to determine capital gains tax. The actual portfolio allocation and tax classification can change the holding-period threshold and tax rate. Heres what investors should check before redeeming.

National pension scheme: The NPS Vatsalya Scheme allows children below 18 years to partially withdraw funds from their accounts under certain circumstances. We take a look at the process and how it works

Large & mid-cap funds offer investors a single-fund route to large and mid-cap stocks. But how do their returns compare with pure large-cap and mid-cap funds, and what does their portfolio allocation reveal about the differences?

A promotion often leads to lifestyle creep, where increased spending diminishes savings. Check the importance of examining expenses post-promotion to maintain financial discipline.

Indian bond yields have crossed 7%, raising the question of where debt investors should look. Axis MF favours the 35-year segment, particularly high-quality corporate bonds and select SDLs, while remaining cautious on long-duration debt amid oil, inflation, and global rate risks.

The commission's three-day visit to Chandigarh from September 16-18 will focus on employee and pensioner issues. Here's a look at what's on the agenda for meetings with representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the UT of Chandigarh.

UPI will remain free for all person-to-person transactions, merchant payments up to 2,000, and for small merchants, as per the NPCI's MDR framework. The organisation said it aims to promote digital payments and ensure UPI's sustainability.

By reserving a fixed percentage of income immediately, individuals can reduce reliance on discipline and make spending decisions more manageable. Check all 8 tricks. 

UPI remains free for person-to-person payments under new MDR rules. Here's what changes for merchant payments and what it means for users like you and me.

Rapido has been fined 10 lakh by the CCPA over prompts that allegedly nudged riders to pay more before rides were confirmed. Heres what the regulator found, how dark patterns can influence spending and what consumers should check before agreeing to pay extra.

The government is stepping up efforts to improve pension awareness and retirement planning in rural India through a network of Pension Sakhis. The community-led initiative aims to bring pension information and support closer to households and encourage greater focus on long-term retirement security.

NPCI today announced merchant discount rate on select UPI transactions, effective from October, while keeping UPI free for consumers. It said that MDR of 0.4% will be applicable on P2M UPI payments above 2,000, capped at 300 per transaction.

UPI transactions up to 2,000 stay fee-free under a new Finance Ministry notification, covering 96% of volume. Regulators are weighing a ~0.4% charge on larger merchant (P2M) payments, with banks getting 40% of the proceeds. P2P transfers remain free regardless of transaction value.

Mid-cap mutual funds continue to see strong investor interest, supported by earnings growth, domestic demand and the formalisation of the economy. But with valuations above historical averages, fund managers caution that stock selection and diversification are crucial.

Central government employees and pensioners are anticipating a dearness allowance hike during this festive season. With inflation rising and past trends favoring Diwali announcements, a 3-4% increase is expected based on recent AICPI-IW data.

Mutual funds changed their exposure to several large-, mid- and small-cap stocks in August 2026. While buying was spread across market segments, find out which stocks saw the biggest increase and decrease in mutual fund holdings during the month.

UPI and Services Steering Committee is set to soon decide on the merchant discount rate for UPI transactions above 2,000. Here's a look at the issues that are up for discussion 

As an non-resident for tax purposes, one is generally taxable in India only on income that is received or deemed to be received in India, or that accrues or arises, or is deemed to accrue or arise, in India.

Bharat Pensioner Samaj has asked DoT to allow provisional family pension to widows and widowers for up to 6 months while their regular claims are processed.

Can Indians continue PPF and NPS Tier II after settling in the US? A tax expert explains residency rules, KYC updates, FD redesignation, tax implications and why NRIs should review Indian investments before withdrawals or transfers.

India has no comprehensive law for managing a persons finances and property after they lose mental capacity. A combination of a private trust, living will and healthcare nomination may offer the closest workaround.

Having both a personal health insurance policy and employer-provided cover can help when a large hospital bill exceeds the first policys coverage. Heres how policyholders can use the second policy for the remaining eligible expenses.

Not every index fund tracking the same benchmark delivers the same investor experience. Experts say investors should look at persistent tracking difference and tracking error before switching, rather than chasing short-term returns or the lowest expense ratio.

8th Pay Commission news: Central government employees and pensioners seek salary and pension revisions every 5 years instead of 10. Know why unions want shorter pay cycles, inflation-linked reviews and a permanent wage review body.

Delhi ITAT condoned a 2,073-day delay after a taxpayer said reassessment notices were sent to his old address. The tribunal also deleted an 11 lakh addition after the taxpayer explained the cash deposit through property sale proceeds and past savings.

Broader equal-weight funds have outperformed their market-cap-weighted parents in recent months, but the strategy can also mean greater mid- and small-cap exposure, sector shifts and higher concentration in narrower indices.

Higher debt allocations have historically helped reduce the impact of market falls, but they also came with lower return potential. FundsIndia Research data shows how investors can balance portfolio volatility against long-term returns when deciding their equity-debt mix.

Compare personal loan interest rates in September 2026 from prominent private banks, including Axis, HDFC and ICICI. Check five-year EMI calculations, processing fees and key factors borrowers should consider before applying.

Small-cap funds continue to attract strong investor inflows, but historical data shows that sharp corrections are a regular part of the journey. FundsIndia data shows the Nifty Smallcap 100 has seen falls of more than 30% far more often than the Sensex.

With the repo rate already 125 basis points below its post-COVID peak of 6.5%, borrowers face a key choice: pay for stability now or stick with floating rates?

Ignore panic-selling during a price correction, and resist the temptation to churn your portfolio for better returns during a time correction. Stick to your asset allocation and invest consistently.