The Economic Times

Policyholders can check claim settlement ratios to assess insurer efficiency. IRDAI released FY 2024-25 figures in February 2026. Acko General Insurance leads private insurers with 99.98% claims paid within three months. Standalone health insurers like Aditya Birla Health Insurance reported 100% settlement. Zurich Kotak General Insurance shows the lowest ratio.

Budget 2026 rewrites India's income tax penalty rules with a clearer framework. Read on to know about the reforms aim to foster trust, reduce court battles, and promote voluntary compliance while maintaining strong deterrents against tax evasion.

DSP Mutual Fund has announced the launch of the DSP Multi Asset Omni Fund of Funds, an open-ended fund of funds scheme aimed at simplifying investing for individuals who find it difficult to track markets, time asset allocation decisions, or manage multiple investments across cycles.

The top-performing smallcap mutual funds have delivered strong returns over the past three years, with four schemes generating over 25% gains. Bandhan Small Cap Fund led the pack, followed by ITI, Invesco India and Mahindra Manulife funds, while other schemes posted moderate double-digit returns.

The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the Mahavir Jayanti bank holiday on March 31, 2026, at the government's request. This ensures all financial year-end transactions are processed on time. Banks handling government business will remain open across various states previously scheduled for closure.

Budget 2026 clarifies that tax-free maturity benefits on Sovereign Gold Bonds will apply only to primary investors who bought directly from the government at issuance. Those purchasing SGBs from the secondary market will now face capital gains tax at redemption, altering post-tax returns and reducing the appeal of near-maturity secondary market bonds.

With diverse sectors such as consumer services, telecom, healthcare, logistics, financial services, IT, power and oil & gas scaling rapidly, Indias services economy continues to unlock multiple structural growth drivers for longterm investors, according to a press release.

EPFO is reportedly considering reducing the EPF interest rate for FY2025-26 to 8-8.20% to protect its corpus, though political factors might lead to maintaining the current 8.25% for a third year. The board will also discuss raising the wage ceiling to Rs 25,000 to enhance social security coverage.

Gold and silver futures opened higher for a second consecutive session on Wednesday, pushing commodity-based ETFs up by as much as 9% during the period.

The company reported an 8% year-on-year rise in Q3FY26 net profit to Rs 414 crore, while revenue grew 11.5% to Rs 3,567 crore, led by solid domestic growth and stronger export performance.

Shares of Bharat Coking Coal will be in focus after the Coal India arm reported a Rs 23 crore net loss in its first earnings since listing, against a profit a year ago. Revenue fell 25% YoY, though losses narrowed sequentially on higher sales and lower expenses. The stock still trades well above its IPO price.

According to the Sebi mandate, the large cap mutual funds are mandated to invest in top 100 companies by market capitalisation. Large companies fare better in a volatile market as these companies may be market leaders and resilient to downturns. That is why if you are looking for a relatively safer mutual fund category, you should consider investing in large cap funds.

Indian landlords must provide a 15-day eviction notice to tenants who remain after a lease expires, especially in month-to-month tenancies. A recent Odisha High Court ruling reinforced this, stating that a shorter notice period is invalid. This applies when no new formal agreement is signed, turning the tenancy into a monthly arrangement.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ITAT Chennai has ruled that taxpayers can claim the Section 87A tax rebate on long-term capital gains from equity income for Assessment Year 2024-25. This decision allows a taxpayer to get a Rs 25,000 tax demand deleted. The tribunal stated the rebate applies to total income without distinguishing between normal and special tax rates.

Investors face a choice between systematic investment plans and lumpsum investments. Financial planners suggest the decision hinges on market valuations, momentum, and individual risk tolerance. For hybrid funds, lumpsum is preferred. Pure equity funds require careful consideration of time horizon and valuations. A mix of both methods can optimize long-term returns.

Gold and silver prices saw an increase on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India following a reduction in US trade tariffs on Indian goods. Experts suggest that while geopolitical ease can reduce safe-haven demand, factors like central bank purchases and industrial demand for precious metals will provide support.

The schemes objective is to seek to generate long-term capital appreciation and/ or income from a portfolio constituted of equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed income securities (debt and money market securities).

Union Budget 2026 just made studying abroad more affordable for Indian families. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slashed the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rate on education remittances from 5% to 2% for amounts above Rs 10 lakh. Read on to find how this will save thousands on overseas education.

Silver emerged as the top-performing asset over the last decade, beating gold, equities, bonds and real estate. Mid-cap stocks led equities, while debt and property lagged due to lower yields, liquidity issues and structural constraints across markets.

The government sticking to the debt-to-GDP anchor will prove to be helpful for bond markets, and tax projections for FY27BE also appear to be reasonable, on a slightly conservative GDP growth estimate of 10% in nominal terms.

Kotak Mutual Fund has announced the launch of the Kotak Services Fund, an open-ended equity scheme following the service theme. The fund enables investors to access Indias core growth engine-the services sector that contributes 55% to the countrys GVA (Gross Value Added) and employs 31.5% of the country's workforce.

Budget 2026 gives Indian taxpayers some much-needed breathing space. With extended deadlines, flexible correction windows, and automated processes, read on to find out how Budget 2026 makes tax compliance easier.

Budget 2026 significantly softens penalties for income tax defaults. The jail term for failing to file ITR with tax exceeding Rs 50 lakh is reduced from seven years to two years. Minor offenses will now only incur fines, and punishment will be graded based on the offense's severity, aiming for decriminalization and rationalization of tax laws.

Gold and silver rallied sharply in January 2026 amid global uncertainty, shifting currency trends, and rising demand for safe-haven assets, driving prices to elevated levels.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I want to gift a large sum to my senior citizen parents so that they can invest in long-term, high-yield FDs. Id like to use the interest earned thus for my personal expenses. Can I open a joint account with them and use the interest without any tax issues?

India's New Baggage Rules 2026 have removed value caps on jewellery brought by returning residents and tourists of Indian origin, now only imposing weight limits of 40 grams for females and 20 grams for others. These revised rules also increase duty-free allowances for various passenger categories, reflecting current travel realities.

In Budget 2026, FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced a key change in the taxation of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs). With a change in the SGB taxation process, here are the latest taxation rules for different types of gold and silver investments.

Jio BlackRock has launched a new digital platform for retail investors. This service offers personalized investment advice using advanced technology. It aims to make structured, data-driven guidance accessible to more people. Investors can start with a small amount and benefit from low advisory fees. The platform is available on JioFinance and MyJio apps, enhancing household investment outcomes.

Budget 2026 has made CBDT guidelines mandatory for all property TDS and transaction participants. This move aims to prevent disputes and litigation by ensuring income tax authorities and deductors uniformly follow these rules. The amendment to Section 400(2) of the Act, effective April 1, 2026, restores the binding nature of these guidelines, offering legal protection and predictability.

Union Budget 2026 keeps tax rules unchanged for India's elderly, offering continuity but skipping major relief measures. Read on to what changed and what stayed the same for Senior Citizens.

Gold and silver ETFs experienced a significant rebound of up to 13% on Tuesday, recovering from a three-day sell-off. Fresh buying emerged at lower levels on the MCX, driving up futures prices for both precious metals. Experts suggest continued volatility but see key support levels holding.

According to a complaint filed by the boys father, a temple priest, the child had grown fond of momo sold at the roadside stall. The vendors allegedly began feeding him free of cost, winning trust bite by bite. Soon came bigger offers food, small sums of money, loyalty. Then persuasion. Unaware of the stakes, the boy began removing jewellery from home and handing it over, police said.

Budget 2026 brings a significant tax change for Sovereign Gold Bonds. Starting April 1, 2026, capital gains exemption will only apply to investors who buy SGBs at issue and hold them until maturity. Those purchasing from the secondary market will face capital gains tax. This impacts investors who previously enjoyed tax-free gains on secondary market purchases.