The Economic Times

Sebi has launched a unified certification for mutual fund and Specialised Investment Fund distributors, known as the NISM Series V-D certification. This new credential streamlines the eligibility criteria for selling these products.

Indian taxpayers must report foreign assets in their Income Tax Returns for AY 2026-27. Foreign currency amounts require conversion to Indian Rupees using SBI's TTBR exchange rate. This specific rate is mandated by the Income-tax Rules for accurate reporting. Taxpayers should use the TTBR rate applicable on the relevant date of acquisition or closing year. Retaining records of the adopted exchange rate is crucial for compliance and avoiding reporting errors.

8th Pay Commission salary: Central government employees anticipate the 8th Pay Commission's fitment factor recommendations. A higher fitment factor could significantly increase employee payouts and basic salaries. Past pay commissions show varied gross salary hikes despite differing fitment factors. The prevailing Dearness Allowance rate influences the actual gross salary increase. Projections suggest potential gross salary increases ranging from 31% to 68%.

After filing your Income Tax Return, you may receive a Section 143(1) intimation notice. This notice confirms the tax department's preliminary processing of your filed return. It details any adjustments made to your income, deductions, and tax liability. Taxpayers must review this intimation carefully for any discrepancies or demands. Responding within thirty days is crucial to avoid penalties and interest.

ITR filing 2026: The government has addressed concerns regarding the income tax e-filing portal's performance. While usage has increased, the portal has largely remained stable, according to officials. The managed service provider, Infosys, has faced contractual penalties for project delays and outages.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am 45, and want to buy a holiday home, or what may be called a second home. I do not have any major financial commitments apart from my two daughters education. I have also been investing through Systematic Investment plans (SIPs) for the past two years. Should I liquidate my gold investments to buy the second home, or would it be better to pledge the gold instead?

Choosing health insurance requires careful consideration of several important factors. Opting for a policy simply because it has a low premium can leave you underinsured and cost you more when you actually need to file a claim. Adequate coverage is crucial, especially as medical inflation is projected to rise significantly in the coming years. Read on to learn about five key factors every policyholder should assess before buying a policy.

Gold rate: Gold prices saw an increase across major Indian cities on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association also noted an upward trend in gold rates. Consumers planning purchases should verify current rates before buying.

Sovereign gold bonds: The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price for SGB 2019-20 Series-VIII. This offers investors a significant absolute return of nearly 257 percent. Tax rules apply to capital gains on premature redemption of these bonds.

Indian taxpayers face new foreign asset reporting rules for AY 2026-2027. Schedule FA requires disclosures for foreign shares and overseas bank accounts. Employee stock options and cryptocurrencies also demand careful reporting considerations. Jointly held foreign accounts need accurate disclosure based on fund ownership. Accurate reporting is crucial to avoid penalties under the Black Money Act.

Non-Resident Indians can park their Indian income in NRO fixed deposits. These deposits offer attractive interest rates, with some banks providing up to 6.75 percent. Banks like Bank of Baroda offer the highest rates on specific tenures. Investors should consider tax implications and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements. Understanding these factors helps maximize returns on NRO fixed deposits.

Staying invested throughout market cycles yields the highest returns for investors. Missing just fifty strong trading days drastically reduces Nifty 50 returns to 0.89 percent. Missing thirty best trading days improved returns to 4.59 percent for the Nifty 50. Missing ten best trading days boosted Nifty 50 returns to 9.67 percent. Market timing requires two correct decisions, which is difficult for investors.

The government is planning a new pension scheme under the EPFO 3.0 framework. This new plan aims to provide retirement benefits to workers in both formal and unorganised sectors. Members will build a retirement corpus through regular contributions invested in government-backed assets.

HSBC Bank's IFSC unit offers Non-Resident Indians significant leverage on FCNR(B) deposits. This strategy allows investors to borrow up to nineteen times their initial deposit amount. The potential for amplified returns arises from the spread between deposit earnings and borrowing costs. However, this leverage strategy carries risks if borrowing costs exceed deposit interest rates. FCNR(B) deposits also offer protection against Indian Rupee depreciation for investors.

Gold rate: Gold rates remained largely steady across major Indian jewelry brands today. Find the latest 24k, 22k, 20k, 18k and 14k gold and 999-purity silver jewellery indicative rates provided by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) today.

Central government employees anticipate significant salary raises from pay commissions. However, gross salary increases may lag behind basic pay hikes. This difference arises from various allowances that do not always scale proportionally. Historical data shows gross salary hikes have been lower than basic pay increases. The 8th Pay Commission's projections suggest similar trends for future salary revisions.

Students, salaried individuals, and pensioners can file ITR-1 for AY 2026-2027. The deadline for filing this income tax return is July 31, 2026. This simplified form is for resident individuals with income up to fifty lakh rupees. It covers income from salary, one house property, and other specified sources. Taxpayers must log in to the e-filing portal and follow the guided steps.

New income tax rules aim to reduce penalties for ordinary citizens. Minor foreign asset non-disclosures will not face prosecution from October 2024. Prosecution provisions are softened with reduced jail terms and graded punishments. Several penalties are converted into fixed fees to reduce litigation and bring certainty. Penalty proceedings will merge with assessment proceedings from April 2026.

The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price for SGB 2021-22 Series-IV. Investors can redeem these bonds prematurely from July 20, 2026, after five years. Tax rules apply to capital gains on premature redemption of these bonds.

Taxpayers using the presumptive taxation scheme must select the correct Income Tax Return form. Generally, ITR-4 is suitable for individuals and HUFs with income up to fifty lakh rupees. However, certain conditions like foreign income or losses necessitate filing ITR-3. Essential documents include PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, and tax payment proofs. Ensuring an active PAN and validated bank account is crucial for filing.

Under the new labour code, employers must pay salaries by the seventh day of the following month. Daily wage workers must be paid at the end of each workday. Employees who leave a job are entitled to receive their final dues within two working days. The code applies to all employees, regardless of salary, and introduces the role of an inspector-cum-facilitator to help resolve wage-related complaints and claims.

Largecap mutual funds' cash holdings fell to a one-year low of 2.2% in June, reflecting higher equity deployment and fund managers' confidence in select opportunities. Experts caution this is not a buy signal, advising investors to continue SIPs and focus on long-term goals, as lower cash may increase volatility during market corrections.

The Delhi High Court has canceled a government tender for passport and visa services abroad. This decision came after losing bidders argued the selection process lacked fairness. Authorities must now seek fresh bids for services in four countries. Passport and visa services in Australia have already been suspended due to this dispute. The government has appealed the High Court's ruling to the Supreme Court.

Elevated inflation persists due to West Asian tensions and a weak monsoon outlook. The Reserve Bank of India maintains its policy rate, diverging from global peers. Governor Malhotra stated that domestic inflation pass-through has remained limited so far. India's economic fundamentals remain strong despite geopolitical uncertainties and growth forecasts. Policymakers will monitor inflationary pressures before considering any monetary policy adjustments.

The ideal mix depends on each investors financial goals, risk appetite and time horizon, making asset allocation unique to every individual. In this weeks TrendMap, ET Wealth compares seven asset combinations. Portfolios with gold have delivered a notable return boost in recent years. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

It is relatively easier to reliably buy or sell property in the United States, compared to the process in India, which can be fraught with delays and in some cases instances of fraud and malpractice. The liabilities and penalties for such instances are clearly stated and implementable in the US.

India's virtual digital asset taxation remains among the world's toughest. Investors face a flat thirty percent tax on gains and one percent TDS. Specific provisions govern the taxation of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens. Airdrops and staking rewards are taxed as income upon receipt. Non-disclosure of overseas holdings can invite severe penalties and prosecution.

Report even exempt equity gains under Section 112A, and file losses on time to carry them forward.

Key features such as the 12% contribution rate for employers and employees as well as the Rs.15,000 statutory wage ceilingremain unchanged, but the formalisation of revised provisions will trigger new operational obligations.

Global exposure, including oil & gold ETFs, and hedge against rupee depreciation are key draws of GIFT City ULIPs; but the market is nascent and experts caution against mixing insurance with investments.

Hybrid long-short funds rival debt, arbitrage and hybrid funds, but look beyond the label.

As NSE and Jio Platforms head for blockbuster IPOs, ET Wealth speaks to five early investors. Their journeys reveal the rewardsand the risks.

In this edition of Know Your Fund Manager, Satish Donadapati, Fund Manager ETF at Kotak AMC, shares his journey from an Army upbringing to managing passive funds. He discusses his career path, transition into portfolio management, and current responsibility of overseeing 19 ETFs and 23 Index Funds with a combined AUM of Rs 20,440 crore, while highlighting his investing philosophy.

Mutual funds bought select small-cap stocks in June, with Acme Solar Holdings, Craftsman Automation, Pine Labs, Sterlite Technologies and RBL Bank among the top picks, according to Dolat Capital.

Patanjali Foods, ICICI Prudential AMC, IREDA, NMDC and Oil India saw the highest net selling by mutual funds among midcap stocks in June, according to a Motilal Oswal Financial Services report.

Six AMCs saw their AUM rise by over Rs 7,000 crore in June, according to ACE MF data. SBI Mutual Fund led the pack with an increase of Rs 14,192 crore, followed by Aditya Birla Sun Life, HDFC, Invesco, Nippon India and HSBC Mutual Fund.

Mutual funds completely exited nearly 25 stocks in June, according to Prime Database. Rossell Techsys saw the largest sell-off at Rs 94.34 crore, followed by Wim Plast, Paramount Communications, GOCL Corporation and Veranda Learning Solutions.

Daughter married and settled in USA lost partition case in HC for getting share in family lands in Bengaluru for this reason; Know more. Know why did she lose the case in Karnataka High Court. Also know what does Hindu law say.

Employee got Rs 65.21 lakh as VRS after company shut plant, but wrong ITR reporting led to tax dispute; ITAT Pune rules in his favour and gives him relief from tax. Know how this empoyee won the case in ITAT Pune.

HDFC Mutual Fund held top positions in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, RIL and Eternal in June. Check the fund houses top 10 stock holdings and portfolio changes.

Mutual funds bought five midcap stocks, including Lenskart, Meesho, JSW Infrastructure, NHPC and Ajanta Pharma, in June. These stocks witnessed net purchases worth over Rs 10,000 crore during the month.