The Economic Times

The Income Tax Tribunal ruled that property purchase discounts are not taxable as income. A homebuyer received a Rs 9.82 crore discount on a Rs 32.95 crore flat, which the IT department tried to tax. The tribunal also allowed a Rs 9.65 crore capital gains exemption, reversing the lower authority's decision.

Central government employees are keenly awaiting the 8th Pay Commission's recommendations. Calculations show potential salary hikes and arrears for employees with basic pay under Rs 50,000. Different fitment factors are being considered. Arrears could be substantial, impacting lifestyle and purchasing power. The government's final decision is expected in over a year.

A decade after closing his credit card and receiving confirmation, a customer was shocked to receive a Rs 33 lakh demand notice from his bank. After the bank continued to harass him, he filed a complaint. The Karnataka State Consumer Commission has now ordered the bank to pay him Rs 5 lakh in compensation for unfair trade practices and harassment.

Bank holiday today: Bank customers can note upcoming closures for Ramzan Eid in March 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has confirmed specific dates for bank holidays.

India's largest asset manager SBI Funds Management filed for an initial public offering, where its existing investors State Bank of India and Amundi will together offload a 10% stake, its draft prospectus showed on Thursday.

Depositors can now access a simplified refund process through the CRCS-Sahara refund portal for claims up to Rs 10 lakh. This Supreme Court-monitored initiative allows resubmission for those with previous deficiencies or payment failures, with claims processed within 45 working days.

Indian stock markets experienced a significant downturn on Thursday. The benchmark Sensex dropped by 2,497 points, closing at 74,207. Amid this sharp decline, five prominent stocks within the BSE Sensex index reached their 52-week lows.

Indian stock markets experienced their worst single-day fall since the June 2024 election crash, with Sensex and Nifty plunging over 3% on Thursday. Soaring crude prices and hawkish US Federal Reserve commentary triggered the selloff, wiping out over Rs 11.5 lakh crore in market capitalisation. The decline mirrored the post-election panic, though markets historically show resilience.

Jairam Ramesh, who held different ministries during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, came down heavily on the current government, saying during the Modi governments nearly 12-year tenure, several social security schemes have gradually weakened, or have been deliberately made weakened.

South Mumbai home prices are set to rise. The ongoing Gulf war is increasing construction costs for builders. This could lead to a 5% price hike for luxury apartments. Steel and aluminium prices have surged. Imported fittings also cost more. Buyers may face an additional Rs 50-150 per square foot.

Auto stocks led the market decline as the Nifty plunged 600 points, with the sector falling up to 4% amid rising crude oil prices and Fed-driven macro concerns. Weak sentiment was compounded by geopolitical tensions, while banks and IT also dragged indices lower despite broader sectoral pressure.

FD investors often overlook bank failure risks, as only 5 lakh per depositor per bank is insured by DICGC. Spreading funds across multiple banks and legal owners, including joint accounts and family members, is crucial to maximize insurance coverage and protect principal beyond the 5 lakh limit.

Festive occasions like Ugadi and Gudi Padwa see many people buying gold. Today, March 19, 2026, gold prices have dropped. Major jewellers like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and Joyalukkas are offering 22k gold at competitive rates. IBJA data also shows a dip in gold and silver prices compared to yesterday.

Many taxpayers who filed ITRs for FY 202425 (AY 202526) are still waiting for refunds. However, such delays are not uncommon and do not always indicate an issue with the return.

Foreign selling in Indian equities surged in the first half of March, led by financials, marking the heaviest fortnightly selling in 17 months and dragging the Nifty 50 to its worst fortnight since the COVID-19-led rout in March 2020.

HDFC Bank shares fell nearly 9% after the resignation of Chairman Atanu Chakraborty triggered leadership concerns. Mutual funds held 359 crore shares worth Rs 3.19 lakh crore before the fall, with SBI Mutual Fund leading exposure. The data highlights significant institutional holding in the stock despite recent volatility.

Karnataka's new excise policy is set to benefit United Breweries significantly. The state is shifting to a global taxation standard, deregulating alcohol pricing. This move is expected to lead to price corrections in the economy beer segment, where United Breweries holds a substantial market share. Analysts predict a positive impact on the company's revenue and earnings.

ATM rules : Several Indian banks, including HDFC, PNB, and Bandhan Bank, are implementing changes to ATM withdrawal policies effective April 1, 2026. These modifications involve UPI withdrawal limits, daily withdrawal caps on specific debit cards, and revised free transaction counts.

Shares of HDFC Bank slumped nearly 9% after part-time Chairman Atanu Chakraborty resigned, citing value misalignment, prompting interim replacement Keki Mistry. The selloff marks the fifth 8%-plus single-day crash since 2020, even as the RBI flagged no governance concerns.

The cost of living in India varies significantly based on the city you choose. Cost of living includes daily expenses like food, transport, utilities, and entertainment, with rent typically being the largest additional expense. City indices are useful for comparing affordability; lower scores mean cheaper living. Based on Numbeo data (March 2026), heres a simple breakdown to help you compare and plan smarter.

HDFC Bank's share price plummeted by up to 9%, wiping out over Rs 1 lakh crore in market value following the resignation of its part-time Chairman, Atanu Chakraborty. Chakraborty cited ethical concerns over the bank's practices in recent years. Interim Chairman Keki Mistry assured investors there was no power struggle and no governance issues were discussed by the board.

Property sellers can now fix TDS credit mistakes. If a buyer incorrectly deposited TDS, sellers can file Form 71 within two years. This form helps align TDS credit with the correct assessment year. The ITAT Delhi recently upheld this, ensuring sellers receive credit even if the buyer erred. This mechanism aids taxpayers in claiming their rightful TDS.

Many senior citizens prefer stable income over high-risk returns. Government-backed schemes like the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) and RBI Floating Rate Bonds offer returns above 8%.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has simplified rules for international workers. Payments can now be made directly to overseas bank accounts. This eases hardships related to tax forms. Only nations with Social Security Agreements are eligible. A nodal office in Delhi will manage tax forms. This change aims to streamline fund transfers for global employees.

Health insurance is designed to protect you during medical emergencies, but even minor mistakes can result in claim rejection. Many policyholders lose out because of document errors, missing disclosures, or incorrect hospital records. By being aware of these common mistakes, you can steer clear of unnecessary stress and financial loss. Read to know more about the key mistakes you should watch out for.

Silver and gold exchange-traded funds saw a sharp decline on Thursday. This happened after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady and signalled a cautious approach to future cuts. Several silver ETFs dropped up to 8%, while gold ETFs fell between 2% and 4%.

Mutual funds significantly increased their allocation to the healthcare sector in February 2026, making it their fourth-largest exposure. This overweight stance, exceeding the BSE 200 benchmark, is driven by strong earnings visibility, export potential in pharmaceuticals, and rising insurance penetration. Experts suggest moderate exposure for investors, balancing stability with sectoral concentration risks.

Arbitrage funds look for arbitrage opportunities available between the cash and derivatives markets. In other words, the fund managers in these schemes look for the price difference that they can exploit between the cash and derivatives markets. They may also invest in debt securities and equities if there are no arbitrage opportunities available in the market.

A man from Bharuch, Gujarat had sold two agricultural lands for Rs 8.75 crore capital gains to a company who subsequently used the lands for industrial purposes. This man however, paid no income tax The Income Tax Department issued a notice. The ITAT Ahmedabad ruled in his favour for this reason.

Banks across several Indian states will be closed on Thursday, March 19, 2026, due to various regional festivals. Celebrations like Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Telugu New Year, and Sajibu Nongmapanba will lead to closures in states.

Ace investor Ashish Kacholia exited BEW Engineering entirely through a bulk deal, amid prolonged stock underperformance and declining prices, raising concerns about the companys near-term outlook despite its niche presence in pharmaceutical equipment manufacturing and past listing gains.

Seven stocks from the BSE 500 index slipped to their 52-week lows. A 52-week low marks the lowest level a stock has traded at over the past year, and is closely tracked by traders and investors to gauge valuations and potential future price trends.

Canara Robeco Large and Mid Cap Fund, a large and midcap fund managed by Canara Robeco Mutual Fund, turned a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP to Rs 1,97,34,611, delivering an XIRR of 16.89% in nearly 21 years since its inception.

Tenants ordered to vacate a dilapidated building in Varanasi can seek compensation or rehousing after demolition. The Allahabad High Court ruled that public safety, prioritized by municipal demolition notices, overrides tenancy rights. Tenants must pursue relief through separate legal proceedings after vacating.

The Orissa High Court upheld a mother's right to evict her son and daughter-in-law from her self-acquired house. The court ruled that property solely in a woman's name is her absolute property, as per Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, unless joint family funding is clearly proven. The son's claim of joint ownership failed due to lack of evidence.

Mutual funds boosted their cash reserves by Rs 3,544 crore in February 2026, reaching a total of Rs 2.09 lakh crore. This marks a slight increase in cash as a percentage of total assets under management. Several large fund houses, including SBI Mutual Fund and PPFAS Mutual Fund, hold significant cash positions.

Metal stocks, once among 2025s top performers, have slipped up to 15% since the IranIsrael/US conflict began on February 27. Despite showing resilience versus other sectors, high valuations and global risk-off sentiment are weighing on the space, leaving metals vulnerable to a deeper correction amid elevated macro uncertainty.

In a letter written to Ranjana Desai, chairperson, 8th Pay Commission, KV Ramesh, secretary general, IRTSA, wrote that stakeholders should be allowed to submit responses offline and the commission should also include questions related to more allowances, pension and pensioner rights, new classification of Group A, B and C employees, among others.

The 8th Pay Commission has extended the deadline for submitting responses to its 18-point questionnaire to March 31, 2026. Central government employees, pensioners, and unions are invited to provide feedback on pay, pension, and employment conditions.