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As India Inc looks to smaller towns to power festive sales, hiring of gig and blue-collar workers is rising. But a sizeable pay divide persists: workers beyond the metros can earn 2530% less by some estimates, even as companies struggle to find enough hands.

For self-employed individuals in India, handling tax compliance and maintaining financial records can be complicated. Presumptive taxation offers a simpler alternative for eligible small businesses and professionals.

The air services tariff regulator Aera has cut Bengaluru airport's user development fee sharply and introduced a first-ever charge on arriving passengers, but built in a mechanism to add fresh charges as three major expansion projects come online through 2030-31.

Investing the corpus in a mutual fund and setting up a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) reduces the tax burden and creates a steady income.

A Haryana man, whose declared income was 1.79 lakh, faces an income addition of 11.22 crore. A tax tribunal offers a final chance to contest this by planting 500 trees or paying the cost within a month.

Axis Bank will revise several credit card rules from August 28, including higher DCC charges, a new late fee slab, changes to payment settlement and restrictions on reward points.

Naturally Yours founder Vinod C. stresses the importance of paying oneself a modest salary while building a startup. He argues that financial self-punishment is unsustainable and encourages founders to manage personal expenses realistically to avoid burnout and maintain long-term commitment.

Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says three homegrown companies are in talks with the ministry of electronics and IT to apply for incentives under the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme.

Here is how the top public sector banks stack up for a 5 lakh investment based on current interest rates and quarterly compounding.

A Kerala consumer commission has ordered a builder to pay 25 lakh to a homebuyer after finding serious construction defects and inferior materials. The amount includes 20 lakh for repairs and damages, 5 lakh compensation and 25,000 litigation costs.

Robert Kiyosaki emphasises the high cost of financial ignorance, advocating for the pursuit of knowledge over merely focusing on the costs of education. After attending expensive educational programmes, he reflects on the value of ongoing learning to make better financial decisions.

Jay Kothari warns investors not to be misled by extraordinary market returns and emphasizes the need for proper research and patience. 

Turning 60 in India signifies the end of active earning but opens the door to financial benefits including higher interest rates, tax concessions and discounts on travel and utilities. All of these financial benefits ease day-to-day spending.

Priya Sunder, co-founder and director at PeakAlpha Investments, said a child's exact career choice cannot be predicted 15 years in advance. She, therefore, advised that a portfolio be structured based on present value, adjusted for education-specific inflation.

Your credit report is crucial for loan applications, as discrepancies can harm your credit score and loan approval chances. Here's what you must do the moment you spot a discrepancy.

PM Narendra Modis seven-stream framework puts agriculture and food production at the heart of the push towards Viksit Bharat, with a focus on processing, branding and global exports.

A businessman received 23 lakh via RTGS but had his account frozen by the bank due to an income mismatch. The Allahabad High Court ruled in his favor, ordering the bank to pay 50,000 in compensation. Here's what happened.

Indias lending ecosystem is becoming more interconnected as banks, NBFCs and fintechs take on specialised roles. This shift is distributing lending risk while making data sharing, technology and coordination increasingly important.

A recent Sebi study reveals that young traders, aged under 30, now represent 43% of individual traders but face high losses, with 89% incurring losses in FY26. Details here.

EPFO has clarified when an EPF account becomes inoperative and stops earning interest. Here are four retirementage examples, key rules and practical steps members should know to manage old balances.

Profits from selling an asset is generally subject to income tax, but there are certain exceptions which are categorised as personal effects by the income tax department. Here's when you have to pay tax and when the sale of an item is exempt from tax.

Gold and silver prices today, 21 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.

India has lagged global markets amid the AI boom. DSPs Jay Kothari explains why that underperformance could reverse, where investors should look and how to approach the coming IPO wave.

Senior citizens in India get higher interest rates, tax concessions and discounts on travel and utilitiesbut with retirement largely self-funded, building a sufficient corpus remains crucial.

The Supreme Court ruled that a retired employee cannot switch pension schemes after accepting benefits. This arose from a case where a retired professor sought GPF coverage after being under CPF. Details of the full case here.

The 8th Pay Commissions Terms of Reference could be amended to include pension revision for retirees who retired before 1 January 2026. While the Centre has yet to announce any change, historical precedents show that the ToRs of earlier Pay Commissions have been amended and improved when required.

The findings are significant for the country's private space industry, for one of Indias biggest selling points has been the frugality of its scientific space missions.

Traditional banks are moving into startup lending as more growth-stage companies become profitable and bankable, putting pricing pressure on venture-debt funds and NBFCs that previously dominated the segment.

Indian banks are rushing to raise funds before the RBI closes the FCNR(B) scheme early, leading to deployment challenges and potential negative carry for some lenders. 

Consumption funds have delivered widely different returns over the past three years, despite focusing on the same broad theme. Find out what drove this divergence, the role of stock selection, key sectors, and the risks investors should consider.

Former Isro chief Somanath Sreedhara Panicker joins the RBI board of directors, while Anand Mahindra gets another four-year term

Bitcoin and Dogecoin have emerged as the most popular crypto pairing among Indian investors across age groups, according to a report. While younger investors are driving new participation, older investors display stronger buying conviction and greater portfolio diversification.

NRIs are permitted to open and maintain FCNR(B) accounts jointly with eligible resident relatives, subject to certain conditions.

A Karnataka consumer commission has ruled that if gold jewellery pledged for a loan is stolen from a bank, the lender must compensate for the gold value, making charges and stone value. Canara Bank was ordered to pay 88,362 with 9% interest, plus compensation.

In 2026, planning for a child's education fund is complex due to shifting career paths. Experts advise creating flexible investment structures.

Income Tax Returns (ITRs) are essential for lenders to assess borrowers' financial stability. Taxpayers should monitor communications from the Income Tax Department post-deadline for any discrepancies in filings. While minor errors can be resolved, serious issues may lead to scrutiny.

The RBI has cut short the deadline for its special FCNR(B) deposit swap facility to 31 August from 30 September. With the window closing soon, NRIs need to weigh the potential benefits of higher foreign currency returns against the lock-in and liquidity considerations.

Credit score assessment relies heavily on four pillars: your track record of repaying debts, the proportion of available funds you currently use, the longevity of your active accounts, and the frequency of your recent loan applications.

Axis Direct data reveals a 53% rise in Gen Z investors aged 18-30, with significant growth in Tier-2 cities. Women now represent 13% of new additions. 

The RBI deputy governor called on banks to fix retail forex pricing, boost participation among smaller firms, and embrace digital workflows while managing risks in an integrated market.

Claiming HRA along with home loan benefits is allowed in certain situations, but mismatches in rent, property status, or loan details can attract tax notices. Heres what taxpayers should know about location rules, eligibility, and documentation. 

Experts found that, unlike 14-carat jewellery in its early days, the 9KT category is gaining awareness and trending in line with expectations.

State-backed lenders often provide competitive interest terms based on loan brackets. Bank of Maharashtra offers interest rates ranging from 7.00% to 9.90%, while the rates at Central Bank of India range between 7.00% and 9.15%.

Income Plus Arbitrage FoFs combine debt and arbitrage strategies, but their tax treatment can differ from that of debt funds. For investors in higher tax brackets, this difference could affect the returns they ultimately take home. Find out why.

Credit cards now offer valuable perks like complimentary airport lounge access, which is becoming harder to obtain for free due to banks tightening policies. However, some cards still provide unlimited access without spending thresholds. Check details

India Ratings retained stable outlooks for toll roads, hybrid annuity model projects, airports and electric bus projects amid stable operating assets, healthy toll revenue growth, higher road awards and continued asset monetization by NHAI

With the 31 August ITR deadline approaching, business and professional taxpayers need to know which return applies to them and which supporting tax forms may be relevant. From ITR-3 and ITR-4 to TDS and audit-related forms, heres what to check before filing.

The government seeks to improve value capture across the agricultural value chain and help farmers retain a larger share of the final consumer price.

NPS can help gig workers, freelancers and self-employed individuals build a retirement corpus even when their monthly income fluctuates. Experts suggest saving a percentage of each payout, starting early and making larger contributions during stronger earning months.

Selling gold can incur capital gains tax as they are considered as a capital asset by the income tax department. Here's whether you can eliminate or reduce your tax liability by investing the proceeds into new gold jewellery.