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At a recent Mint x Oliver Wyman roundtable on Indias GCCs, senior India leaders debated on how much real decision-making power their centres actually hold, and what needs to change.
AC prices are rising ahead of Diwali and winter, with brands like Daikin and Blue Star increasing costs. Stockpiles from earlier purchases may offer some price relief to buyers during the festive season.
A mutual funds reported returns may not always match what investors actually earn. The timing of investments and withdrawals can create a significant gap, even when the fund delivers strong long-term performance.
Irdai has proposed commission caps, tighter expense limits and stronger safeguards against mis-selling. But whether the reforms make insurance cheaper and easier to buy and claim will depend on implementation.
The Supreme Court will review a petition against the Centre's MDR on UPI transactions over 2,000, which will come into effect on October 15. Full details here.
A 10 lakh Post Office Time Deposit earns 7.1% for three years and 7.5% for five years in July-September 2026. Here is how the interest compares and what investors should consider before choosing a tenure.
A 10-15 lakh car budget can buy a new lower-end model or a pre-owned higher-end car. Compare depreciation, loan rates, EMI, maintenance, warranty, insurance and resale value before deciding which offers lower ownership costs.
Planning an international trip requires careful budgeting beyond flights and hotels. Indian travelers should avoid common money mistakes that may ruin their experience. Details here.
Money gifted to a spouse may not be taxable as a gift, but income earned from it can be clubbed with the donors income. Know how spouse clubbing provisions work, including when reinvested income is taxed separately.
As festive advertising intensifies, media fragmentation creates challenges for advertisers to gauge campaign performance across multiple platforms. With digital viewing surging, the risk of fraud increases, and marketers must focus on cohesive measurement.
A Bengaluru ITAT ruling says foreign salary credited to an Indian NRE account cannot alone make it taxable in India. The taxpayers overseas employment, passport and bank records were considered, while the case was sent back for fresh assessment.
BJP MP Raghav Chadha, in a social media post on Sunday, announced that the Centre has introduced the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, under which prepaid mobile users will have a 30-day recharge plan.
Extended unemployment can pressure savings, prompting some to withdraw from their EPF. Members can only withdraw the full corpus after 12 months of unemployment. Here's what happens if you take out the entire amount but later get a new job.
IRDAIs proposed distribution reforms could reduce insurers operating and distribution costs, potentially putting downward pressure on premiums, but they do not guarantee cheaper insurance.
Planning an international holiday? A 3 lakh budget can cover flights, accommodation, food, visas, insurance, local transport and emergencies for a one-week trip, depending on the destination. Here is how travellers can divide costs and calculate monthly savings.
Public-sector and regional rural banks across the country will open on Sunday, September 27, ahead of a three-day nationwide strike by bank unions. Details here.
Health insurers are using wellness programmes to reward activities such as exercise and healthy habits, but some programmes require policyholders to share data from wearables and health apps. Experts explain what data may be collected, how it can be used and what consumers should check.
Investors facing falling stock prices can consider averaging down to reduce costs or averaging up to increase exposure. While such strategies can enhance returns during recoveries, they carry significant risks too. Details here.
The 8th Pay Commission is consulting employee organisations and other stakeholders currently, as the consultative phase continues. NC-JCM has sought a minimum pay of 69,000 and a 3.833 fitment factor, while BPMS wants 72,000 and a 4.0 fitment factor.
RBIs new bulk deposit rules take effect from 1 October 2026, changing how banks disclose and apply interest rates. Large depositors should know the daily rate disclosure requirement, branch-level rate consistency and exceptions linked to liquidity regulations before booking a bulk FD.
Starting October 1, resident individuals and HUFs purchasing properties from non-resident sellers can simplify TDS compliance by using their existing PAN instead of a TAN. Details here.
Banks across India will be closed on October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti. Some banks will also remain closed from September 28 to 30 due to a nationwide strike.
Taxpayers facing the September 30 tax-audit deadline should reconcile their books with GST returns, AIS, TIS and Form 26AS, verify TDS/TCS credits and avoid claiming personal expenses as business deductions. Experts recommend completing these checks well before the deadline.
The Kolkata ITAT has upheld the deletion of a 1.56 crore tax addition on 3,233 grams of jewellery found in family bank lockers during an Income Tax search. The taxpayer said the jewellery belonged to his deceased grandparents, father and family HUF.
You spent a lifetime preparing for bull and bear markets; the final risk to manage is an empty afternoon.
Retiring with a home loan can put pressure on monthly cash flows. Experts explain when using retirement savings for home loan prepayment makes sense, why retirees should preserve an emergency corpus, & how interest rates, tenure, outstanding principal, & future expenses should guide the decision.
The Centre has approved a one-time, interest-free loan of 50,000 per barn for Flue-Cured Virginia tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh. The proposal covers about 44,000 tobacco growers, with financial intervention reaching near 220 crore, the ministry statement said.
India's NHAI will standardise high-speed national highways based on traffic assessments, focusing on safety and efficient movement.
Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh reviewed concerns and demands about salaries, minimum wage, incentives, and insurance raised by contractual drivers working under the DTC's Cluster Bus Scheme. Here's a look:
To reduce the impact of the strike on customers, the government has directed all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks to function normally on Sunday, September 27
Maharashtra has activated Trigger-1 under its Drought Management Code 2016 to initiate relief measures in drought-affected areas. We take a look at the financial relief measures announced by the state government.
Documentary evidence trumps procedural lapses as tribunal validates cash sales at APMC yard
NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan stated there have been no talks with the government regarding the new Merchant Discount Rate for UPI payments, which he claims is a matter for brokers and clients to resolve. The new MDR framework takes effect on October 15, impacting capital-market transactions.
The Odisha government is set to clear pension dues of 20.33 lakh beneficiaries covered under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) by October, state minister Nityananda Gond said.
With passive investing, funds track market indices, reducing the need for individual stock selection. Read more to find out.
The 8th central pay commission (CPC) has announced official meetings and state visits as part of its consultation stage. Since March, the commission has conducted multiple state visits to meet employee representative groups, unions and stakeholders.
The organisation clarified it seeks no advance payments but wants the pending process completed to settle arrears and revised salary payments. It urged expediting the July 2026 Dearness Allowance (DA) declaration, with estimates indicating a rate increasefrom 60% to 64% based on CPI data.
DA news update: Punjab government has notified an 8% dearness allowance hike for state government and pensioners, effective from 1 September, as per an official statement from the chief minister's office.
A recent ITAT ruling emphasizes that property transactions below stamp duty value can trigger tax scrutiny. A Ghaziabad taxpayer faced penalties for not reporting a 10.7 lakh difference, but the ITAT later overturned the penalty, citing the taxpayer's lack of intent to conceal income.
The tax audit deadline for AY 2026-27 is 30 September 2026, while professional bodies are seeking more time. Taxpayers should not wait for an extension and must complete reconciliations, verify records, review disclosures and ensure the tax audit report is approved on time.
The dispute revolves around the proposed commercial use of a strictly residential property.
Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) is now accepting applications for 19 institutional plots, including 10 school sites and nine corporate office plots. The application deadline is October 16, with the auctions scheduled to take place in November.
Missing the ITR filing deadline doesn't negate the chance for a tax refund if excess tax was paid. But what happens if you have an outstanding tax demand? Details here.
A parents death does not automatically erase income tax dues. Under Section 302 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, legal heirs may be liable, generally to the extent of the deceaseds estate. Know when personal liability can arise and what heirs should do.
Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is an important measure lenders consider when assessing a loan application. It compares monthly debt payments with gross income and indicates a borrowers existing debt burden. Check how to calculate DTI, and improve the ratio before applying for a loan.
In Mumbai, sales of residential properties fell 8 per cent to 9,830 units from 10,690 units. Thane in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region saw an 11 per cent decline in sales to 16,230 units from 18,240 units, showed a report.
Oracle has laid off several employees in its cloud infrastructure division recently, reflecting its ongoing restructuring amid increased focus on AI. Here's how to secure your finances if something unfortunate like this happens.
The Indian rupee, previously buoyed by FCNR(B) deposits, depreciated as crude oil prices rose. Will the pressure on INR ease in the near future? Here's what RBI DG said in an article published in the central bank's bulletin.
Central government employees have sought an early announcement of July 2026 DA and DR. The revised rate is effective from 1 July, while the widely discussed 64% figure remains an estimate until the government formally approves it.
A senior citizen who mistakenly paid 9.91 lakh tax on interest from tax-free bonds has received relief from the ITAT. The case highlights Section 10(15), tax return errors, Section 154 rectification and important lessons for taxpayers.

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