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Fresh developments in the 8th Pay Commission have raised expectations among central government employees and pensioners. From extended memorandum deadlines to upcoming state consultations, the latest updates highlight progress on salary revisions, allowances, pensions and fitment factor discussions.
Financial security starts with protection. Life insurance remains a crucial pillar of financial planning, helping families manage uncertainties, safeguard future goals, build financial resilience and create long-term security through adequate coverage, and thoughtful financial preparation.
Dearness Allowance: DA is the component of the basic salary that is periodically adjusted for inflation. Here's all we know about the Punjab, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh state governments' discussions on respective DA hikes.
Determining retirement needs requires calculating future monthly expenses, factoring in inflation, and estimating the necessary corpus. For example, a current expense of 70,000 may grow to 3 lakh in 30 years, necessitating a corpus of about 5.2 crore for adequate retirement funding.
The CCPA issued guidelines in 2023 to prevent and regulate dark patterns. The authority has listed 13 specific dark patterns. It has issued an advisory to strengthen compliance with guidelines and even penalised some platforms. However, the compliance still needs to improve.
Bank holiday today: Are banks closed today for the weekend holiday on Saturday, 20 June? Check the RBI calendar here
PhonePe has introduced a 100 quarterly inactivity fee for wallets not used in 365 days. Users must complete a transaction to avoid charges. Details here.
Under the flagship income-support programme, eligible farmers receive 2,000 every four months, amounting to 6,000 annually in three equal instalments.
The I-T department has released the Excel Utility for ITR-3 for Assessment Year 2026-27 on the e-filing portal. Here's who must file this form what changed this assessment year.
An AI-designed two-week Europe itinerary within a 1 lakh budget includes destinations like Budapest, Prague, and Krakw. Focus on off-season travel, budget accommodations, cheap eats, and smart transport for an affordable adventure.
The move follows the Reserve Bank of Indias recent decision to introduce a USD-INR foreign exchange swap facility for banks on newly mobilised FCNR(B) deposits with tenures of at least three years and up to five years.
Many EPF members are unaware of the free insurance benefits under the EDLI scheme, which provides up to 7 lakh for nominees or legal heirs upon the employee's death during service. Here are the features and how to claim it.
Despite NRIs investing about 1.4-1.5 lakh crore in India's stock market for long-term wealth, they face challenges like hidden taxes and currency depreciation.
Zerodha Capital reported a 44.2% increase in total income to 53.5 crore in FY26, with net profit rising 20.5% to 14.7 crore, driven by growth in its loan-against-securities business.
Japan is often considered one of the world's most expensive travel destinations. However, an Instagram post by travel page Planned Time Off is challenging that perception with a detailed cost breakdown of a 15-day trip covering Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima.
Fast access to funds comes at a cost. Compare personal loan interest rates, processing fees and key borrowing factors across leading private banks in June 2026 to find a cost-effective loan that suits your repayment capacity and financial goals.
I asked ChatGPT to plan the perfect monsoon family vacation near Mumbai in the last week of June. Here's what the artificial intelligence chatbot when comparing three hill-station destinations: Lonavala, Matheran, and Mahabaleshwar
The income tax return (ITR)-3 is meant for individuals and HUFs who have income from business or profession. Interestingly, the last date of filing tax return via ITR-3 is 31 August and not 31 July.
Big changes ahead for Gold ETFs as SEBI introduces a new trading framework from September 1. Dynamic price bands, pre-open auctions and revised pricing rules aim to improve price discovery, transparency and investor protection in Gold and Silver ETFs.
Artificial intelligence has accelerated women's rise in the technology space, according to the India AI Workforce Report by Scaler. They reported 145% salary increase after transitioning into AI-enabled careers, it added.
Smart borrowing builds stronger finances. This article explains overdraft impact on credit score, covering responsible usage, repayment habits, credit utilisation, and ways to manage overdrafts effectively for a healthy credit profile.
EPF members can use their Aadhaar or Aadhaar-generated Virtual ID to successfully add a nominee and complete the e-sign process for their provident fund account. Here's how to generate the 16-digit VID
Attention taxpayers! The tax department has today enabled excel utility for income-tax returns for AY2026-27 (FY25-26) for online form ITR-3 on its official e-filing portal. Here's all you need to know
Hidden behind every card payment, credit card swipe charges keep transactions secure. Understanding credit card swipe charges helps consumers and businesses manage payment costs and improve transparency.
A 35-year-old Bengaluru professional seeks to reduce his monthly spending by 20,000 from a 1.8 lakh salary. Strategies include meal planning, setting a monthly food budget of 18,000, and limiting dining out, while automating savings for financial stability.
Under the 8th Pay Commission, employee unions have proposed five assured financial upgradations at six-year intervals to improve promotions, career growth and pay progression for central government employees.
As markets grapple with AI disruption, global capital shifts and geopolitical risks, Tata Mutual Fund CIO Rahul Singh explains where investors should look for opportunities now.
8th pay commission: Here's how much salary hike Railway employees can expect from the 2.92, 3.50 and 3.80 fitment factors demanded by the Indian Railways Technical Supervisors Association across pay levels.
The price of gold in India dropped to 149,660 per 10 grams, tracking losses internationally due to a stronger dollar. Check 24K, 22K, 18K gold and silver rates in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities 19 June.
Amid the 8th pay commission's salary revision discussions, we take a look at the differences between Dearness Allowance (DA) and other allowance components of salary, such as HRA, medical allowance, education allowance and more.
Big relief for EPFO subscribers as the EPF interest rate remains at 8.25% for FY26. The upcoming EPFO 2.0 platform will introduce UPI-based withdrawals, making provident fund access faster, easier and more convenient for millions of workers.
The EPFO can officially credit interest to subscribers' accounts only after the rate recommended by its governing body receives the Finance Ministry's approval.
Working professionals took to social media to share how they used AI to file their income tax returns From decoding dense tax terminologies to automatically accounting for mid-year employer switches, and more
Axis Mutual Fund has launched the Rozana SIP facility, which enables investing with just 10 per scheme per day through its website. This initiative offers a low-ticket-size approach and helps build an everyday investing habit through daily contributions.
Often viewed as a secondary large-cap benchmark, the Nifty Next 50 has outperformed the Nifty 50 across 3-, 5-, 7- and 10-year rolling periods. The data also shows it occupies a distinct position between traditional large-caps and mid-caps on the risk-return spectrum.
The RBIs inflation target remains 4% with a 2%6% band. Medical inflation has recently run far above headline inflation, and Indias life expectancy at birth is about 72 yearsall of which argue for a cautious plan, said ChatGPT
The most contentious issue before the 8th Pay Commission centres on how minimum wages are calculated.
Ramit Sethi believes that if you automate your savings targets first, you don't need to track minor purchases
AIS is compiled from data reported by multiple entities such as employers, banks, mutual funds, brokers, custodians, and registrars. While it is a useful reconciliation tool, it is not free from errors.
Secure your future with the best health insurance in 2026 by understanding key features, coverage options, claim support, and mistakes to avoid for smarter financial and medical protection. If in doubt consult certified financial experts before locking in on any health insurance policy.
Access has surged across Indias markets, but investor behaviour has not kept pace with participation.
Equities can be the preferred asset class as geopolitical tensions ease. Gold will continue to serve as a portfolio hedge and wealth-preservation tool, while silver may benefit from improving industrial demand but remains a relatively volatile asset.
Income earned from the sale of cryptocurrencies needs to be declared in the Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) schedule. In the income tax return (ITR) parlance, cryptocurrencies are known as VDAs
Unexpected expenses can strain finances, and the credit card overlimit facility offers short-term spending flexibility. But understanding charges, repayment obligations, and the impact on credit scores is essential for responsible use.
A Delhi graphic designer earning 80,000 a month asked ChatGPT whether he should quit his job to start a food caf. The AI warned of significant risks but said the business could potentially earn up to 3 lakh a month.
The new tax regime has eliminated many popular deductions, but a few important tax-saving provisions remain for salaried employees. From the higher standard deduction to employer NPS contributions, here's what taxpayers can still use to reduce their tax liability.
The ITAT has ruled that transaction volume alone cannot determine whether a taxpayer is an investor or a trader. The decision came in a dispute over Dolly Khanna's claim for a 54.23 crore stock market loss.
Income-tax returns: Taxpayers filing their returns with the ITR-4 or Sahaj online form need to submit the following documents as proof in order to claim deductions under Sections 80C, 80D, 80U, 80E, and 80GG, among others.
The India-UK trade pact is set to come into force on 15 July, while India and the EU are aiming to conclude their landmark deal by the end of 2026. But what do these trade deals mean for Indian consumers? Here's a look at the products that could get cheaper.
Reits outperformed equities and bonds over the past year, but falling-rate tailwinds may fade. Here's how experts view their role in an investor's portfolio.

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