The Economic Times News

An OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card remains valid for a lifetime, allowing its holders a multiple-entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose. However, it has to be renewed from time to time.

J.P. Morgan's quote: Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see farther, emphasizes the power of action and experience in personal and professional growth.

Income tax refund delayed: Taxpayers claiming incorrect refunds face potential delays in their income tax refunds. The Income Tax Department is notifying individuals with discrepancies in their filed returns, urging them to file a revised ITR by December 31, 2025.

Gold price vs silver price in 2026: Precious metals gold and silver delivered exceptional returns in 2025, with silver outperforming gold significantly. Experts anticipate continued positive performance in 2026, driven by factors like central bank buying, industrial demand, and economic uncertainty. While both metals are expected to rise, silver may continue to outperform gold on a percentage basis.

PAN Aadhaar link deadline: Linking your PAN with Aadhaar is crucial by December 31, 2025, to prevent your PAN from becoming inoperative from January 1, 2026. Losing your PAN card or forgetting its number can be stressful.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am currently employed in India and work for a US-based company, with my salary paid in INR and credited to my Indian bank account. My employer has asked me to continue in the same role while working from the US, with salary to be credited to my Indian account. Will this arrangement be valid once my residential status changes to NRI?

The Reserve Bank of India has proposed new regulations mandating banks to disclose all foreign exchange transaction costs upfront. This aims to bring transparency to cross-border payments, addressing issues like hidden charges and opaque pricing that have long troubled retail users. The move will empower customers to better understand and compare costs before committing to transactions.

Lumpsum mutual fund investments in 2025 yielded mixed results, with some schemes delivering negative returns up to 20%. This divergence highlights timing risk in volatile markets. While SIPs offered a less volatile approach, selective lumpsum investments in 2026, particularly in large and flexi-cap funds, are advised.

Delhi High Court has declared electricity a fundamental right. A tenant's power supply cannot be cut off due to a dispute with the landlord. BSES Rajdhani must restore electricity to a tenant's property. The court ordered the power company to visit the premises and restore the connection. Tenants must pay bills. Landlords cannot obstruct reconnection.

The Allahabad High Court has ruled a woman cannot claim maintenance from a man she lived with for ten years if she was still legally married to another. The court stated that cohabitation, even with public acknowledgment, does not grant the legal status of a wife. This decision upholds the sanctity of marriage and Section 125 of the CrPC.

EPFO simplified EPF withdrawal rules in 2025, reducing categories to Essential Needs, Housing Needs, and Special Circumstances. While full withdrawals are possible for retirement, unemployment, or permanent disability, partial withdrawals are allowed for emergencies, education, marriage, and housing needs after specific service periods. Understanding tax implications, especially the 5-year service rule for tax-free withdrawals, is crucial.

Confused about bank operations during the Christmas season? In 2025, banks will be closed on December 24th in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya for Christmas Eve. Nationwide, all banks will observe a holiday on December 25th for Christmas, with other state-specific holidays also impacting December banking schedules.

Multi-asset allocation funds have surprised investors by outperforming pure equity funds. These funds invest in at least three asset classes, including gold and silver. Their allocation to precious metals, which saw a sharp rally, drove their strong performance. Investors seeking automatic asset allocation can consider these funds. The Indian mutual fund industry has 32 such schemes.

The Income Tax Department is alerting taxpayers about potential errors in their tax deduction claims. Through a NUDGE campaign, the department is sending emails and SMS messages. Taxpayers are urged to review their Income Tax Returns and make corrections by December 31, 2025. This voluntary review aims to prevent future inquiries and penalties, as per the Income Tax Department.

A viral social media claim that the Income Tax Department will access private digital accounts from April 1, 2026, to curb tax evasion has been debunked by the PIB Fact Check team. The department's powers are strictly limited to search and survey operations for significant tax evasion, not routine processing or law-abiding citizens.

Employers are making mistakes with Employees Pension Scheme contributions. Some members are wrongly included, while eligible ones are excluded. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has released new guidelines. These will help field offices correct these errors. The aim is to ensure members receive their rightful pension benefits. This will streamline service delivery for all.

As more Indians relocate abroad, the demand for international money transfers is rising for various purposes like education and investments. Understanding the costs involved, including exchange rates, fees, and taxes, is crucial. This article reviews prominent online platforms like Niyo, Thomas Cook, and BookMyForex to help users save time and money on remittances.

A retired Punjab IPS officer tragically attempted suicide after losing 8.1 crore to a sophisticated stock market scam. Posing as DBS wealth managers, fraudsters lured him with promises of high returns, leading him to invest his savings and borrow heavily. Despite paying hefty fees, his money vanished, highlighting the vulnerability even to educated individuals.

The Indian government has removed the mandatory requirement for probate of wills. This change simplifies succession planning for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis. While no longer legally compulsory, voluntary probate still offers crucial judicial confirmation of a will's validity. This is especially important for complex estates or strained family relationships.

India's credit card growth is slowing. New card issuances have dropped significantly. Private banks are increasing their market share in credit cards. Meanwhile, public sector banks are gaining ground in personal, home, and auto loans. This shift indicates evolving trends in consumer credit across different banking sectors.

Central government employees and pensioners anticipate a substantial pay hike with the 8th Pay Commission. A fitment factor of 2.15 could double basic salaries. This revision, likely effective from January 1, 2026, will also boost allowances and pension benefits. The government may take up to two years to approve these recommendations, leading to arrears for employees.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: Im 45 and have a brother and a sister. Our family partition deed, signed in 2011 by me, my father, and brother, was not notarised and the original is lost. If my mother passes away first, how will my parents' properties devolve?

LIC Housing Finance has slashed its home loan interest rates, with the lowest starting at 7.15% for borrowers with a CIBIL score of 825 and above. This move offers a competitive edge, as it is marginally lower than SBI's starting rate of 7.25% for standard home loans. The revised rates are tiered based on CIBIL scores and loan amounts.

If you're constantly checking your bank account for that tax refund, this guide will help you track your income tax refund status check online and understand why delays happen.

To achieve goals or create wealth, the important ingredients are patience, discipline, and consistent investment with a long-term focus. The most important thing is to find the right mix of assets in your portfolio, with appropriate tenure and liquidity, to meet short to medium-term goals.

Flexi cap funds attracted Rs 70,959 crore in 2025 as investors sought flexibility in a volatile market. Experts say the categorys appeal lies in fund managers ability to shift between large, mid and small caps as conditions change. SIPs and long-term horizons remain key for investors using flexi caps as core equity holdings.

Gilt mutual funds may deliver strong gains when the RBI begins cutting interest rates, but they are highly sensitive and suited only for informed, risk-taking debt investors. Gilt funds are debt mutual funds that invest in government securities or G-secs. As per Sebi norms, these schemes must invest 80% of their corpus in government securities.

The employee had three disciplinary proceedings pending against him; he sought an NOC for a passport to visit his daughter in Singapore, but his request was denied. He subsequently filed a case and won in the Odisha High Court. He was represented by Advocates S. Mallik, P.C. Das, M. Mallik, and A.P. Mohanty.

Investors can consider the Nifty Next 50 Index fund for a contrarian investment. Its recent underperformance compared to Nifty 50, coupled with attractive valuations, presents an opportunity. The index offers exposure to high growth sectors and a unique risk-return profile. Wealth managers suggest staggering investments over the next three months, potentially accumulating during market corrections.

Uttar Pradesh property owners will soon benefit from a new 16-digit land unicode system. This initiative aims to enhance property tax tracking and collection across municipal corporations. The system will provide unique identification numbers for properties, aiding in the prevention of fraud and land disputes. It will also facilitate easier access to property information and streamline transactions for citizens.

Linking PAN with Aadhaar is now mandatory for taxpayers. If PANAadhaar linkage is not over by December 31, 2025, the PAN may become inoperative from January 1, 2026.

Check out the latest 22K gold jewellery rates of Kalyan Jewellers, Tanishq, Malabar Gold, Joyalukkas.

Taxpayers are entitled to their refund if the Income Tax Department's CPC fails to process their ITR within the statutory nine-month deadline from the financial year's end. This lapse means the CPC loses its right to make adjustments, and the return becomes final as filed. Taxpayers can then pursue their refund through grievances or legal avenues.

Ashok Leyland shares hit a fresh 52-week high after Nomura reaffirmed its Buy rating and raised optimism around the commercial vehicle upcycle. The brokerage sees the company as a key beneficiary of improving CV demand, stronger volume growth and margin tailwinds, setting a target price of Rs 196 with healthy upside.

Investors seeking relatively safe debt options for short- to medium-term goals can consider corporate bond mutual funds in December 2025. These funds invest largely in AAA-rated papers, offering lower credit risk than other debt schemes, though investors must still track interest rate risks and fund manager prudence.

Many Indians delay writing wills, but digital wills offer a simple solution. They address the complexities of scattered digital and physical assets. The ABCD app provides an accessible platform for creating legally valid wills. This modern approach ensures loved ones face less uncertainty during vulnerable times. Estate planning must evolve with digital financial behavior.

A man who invested Rs 75 lakh in ULIPs and surrendered them for Rs 3.22 crore was penalized Rs 2.48 crore for reporting the income under the wrong head in ITR. ITAT Hyderabad canceled the penalty, ruling that a mere reporting error does not constitute misreporting under Section 270A(9) of the Income Tax Act.

Eighteen equity mutual funds have delivered over 15% XIRR on SIP investments in 2025. SBI Focused Fund and ICICI Pru Focused Equity Fund led with over 20% XIRR. Mirae Asset Midcap Fund and ICICI Pru Midcap Fund also showed strong performance. Investors who started SIPs on January 1, 2025, saw significant returns.

ICICI Bank is introducing new credit card charges effective January-February 2026. A 2% fee will apply to online gaming transactions, and a 1% fee will be levied on transportation spending exceeding Rs 50,000. These changes also impact third-party wallet loads and other credit card features.