The Economic Times

The wage ceiling for the Employees Provident Fund has officially increased to Rs 25,000, effective September 17, 2026. This much-needed revision is the first change in wage limits since 2014 and directly impacts mandatory EPF contributions for employees in the organized sector. Those earning up to the new wage ceiling can expect elevated contributions, which will aid in bolstering their retirement plans.

A Will plays a crucial role in outlining how assets will be allocated following an individual's death, which can lead to family disputes if disagreements arise about the testator's intentions. To facilitate property transfers, it is wise to gather important documents such as a no-objection affidavit and release deed. Keeping mutation records up to date and securing an encumbrance certificate is vital for tax purposes.

If someone is found running a homestay or Airbnb-like service in your society, what can you do? Legally, the societys first step should be a written notice to the owner, pointing to the specific byelaw being broken and backed by evidence. If the owner still doesn't stop, the RWA's real recourse is a civil suit for an injunction.

Lets have a look at the latest 22k gold rates at Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers and Tanishq in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum and Bengaluru. Also see the updated indicative rates of 24k, 22k, 20k, 18k and 14k gold and 999-purity silver at the IBJA today.

Tata Mutual Fund has launched the Titanium Active Asset Allocator Long-Short Fund, a multi-asset strategy under its SIF framework. The market-neutral fund dynamically invests across equities, debt, commodities, and derivatives with a minimum investment threshold of Rs 10 lakh. The NFO closes on October 7.

An analysis by ETMutualFunds reveals that 12 equity mutual funds out of 218 schemes delivered over 70% absolute returns across both 3-year and 5-year horizons. Invesco India led with four schemes, followed by Motilal Oswal, while ITI Small Cap Fund posted the highest three-year returns.

In a significant move towards enhancing digital payments, NPCI BHIM Services Limited has introduced MyUPI, a conversational AI assistant seamlessly integrated within the BHIM Payments App.

Husband with Rs 45,000 salary started living in rented house because of wifes pressure to live separately from his parents; Madras HC says this is cruelty and upholds divorce. Justice P.T. Asha and Justice N. Mala of the Madras High Court heard this case.

A 40-year-old investor based in Pune is on a mission to retire by age 50 while providing for her two childrens education. With savings of Rs 1.68 crore from diverse investments, she plans to pay off her home loan by December 2026. Experts suggest she aim for a retirement fund between Rs 4-4.5 crore and adapt her investment strategy as her financial goals draw near.

Here's a list of top five mid cap mutual funds with the highest combined exposure to mid and small cap stocks in August 2026.

Gilt funds are not recommended to regular debt investors because they are risky and volatile. Gilt funds suffer the most when the rates go up. The bond prices and yields move in opposite directions. When the rates go up, bond prices come down. This drags down the NAVs of schemes.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) enables convenient investment in mutual funds through instant payments and SIPs. Investors appreciate UPI for its ability to process transactions 24/7 and avoid manual input. Recently, a 0.02% merchant discount rate was introduced on certain UPI transactions, affecting one-time investments. However, SIPs under UPI AutoPay remain exempt from this fee, easing investor concerns.

Eligible Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members can withdraw up to 75% of their EPF balance for illness-related expenses after completing 12 months of EPF membership.

After the MDR charge announcement on certain merchant UPI transactions, many UPI users are thinking whether they should shift from the UPI to a debit card or a credit card for daily transactions.

8th Pay Commission news: Bharat Pensioners' Samaj has urged the Centre and 8th Pay Commission to reduce the restoration period for commuted pension from 15 to 11 years. The demand follows the Himachal Pradesh High Courts September 16 judgment, which called for examination under changed actuarial conditions. BPS seeks a fresh actuarial review and reforms.

Indian equities ended lower on Tuesday as selling pressure resurfaced toward the close, with Nifty and Sensex falling 0.36% and 0.44%, respectively. Coal India, Eternal and InterGlobe were among the top gainers, while Tata Consumer, Nestle India and Bajaj Finserv featured among the biggest losers across key indices.

Five equity mutual funds delivered annualised SIP returns of over 19% over 10 years, led by Quant Small Cap at 24.2%. Nippon India Small Cap, Invesco India Mid Cap, Quant ELSS Tax Saver and Union Small Cap also posted strong returns.

While an expensive home is nothing less than an achievement, you must remember that the house in which you live produces no rent at all. Appreciation may increase your estate, but it does not pay this months grocery bill and the cost of that Sony PlayStation you wanted to gift to your grandchild. So, there are some questions that you need to ask for a well-planned retirement.

Helios Flexi Cap Fund reshuffled its portfolio in August, cutting exposure to HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and other holdings while adding to Swiggy, Paytm and several other stocks. The fund also exited five stocks and added two new names. Its portfolio stood at 68 stocks across 26 sectors during the month.

Five smallcap mutual funds delivered annualised returns above 17% over three years as of September 16, 2026. Investors should consider risk appetite, investment horizon and financial goals rather than returns alone.

The Union Cabinet approved raising the EPF wage ceiling to Rs 25,000. This change impacts mandatory PF contributions for employers and employees. Actual PF contributions depend on an employee's defined wage structure. Employers must bear their increased PF share as a statutory cost. This enhancement aims to strengthen long-term retirement savings and social security.

The railway employees' new pension guidelines have been announced, slated for implementation in 2026. These provisions classify both death and disability incidents into four specific categories. Notably, Categories B and D are set to receive enhanced pension benefits under this framework. Additionally, the family pension rates differ considerably according to the deceased employee's category, with added protections against any delays in payments and supplementary allowances for caregivers.

Due to delay in getting delivery of the flat, homebuyer says he faced difficulties as he paid both home loan EMI and rent, TSRERA orders Rs 5.04 lakh compensation to homebuyer and also rejects debris charge imposition by builder.

Gold rate today: Lets have a look at the latest 22k gold rates at Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers and Tanishq in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum and Bengaluru. Also see the updated indicative rates of 24k, 22k, 20k, 18k and 14k gold and 999-purity silver at the IBJA today.

Abakkus Mutual Fund, led by Sunil Singhania, has received SEBI approval to launch its Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) platform under the brand name Fokkus. Approved on 28 August 2026, the platform will offer differentiated equity, debt, and hybrid investment strategies.

Employee with Rs 14.42 lakh salary pays Rs 4.53 lakh income tax in Belgium and asks for credit under the India-Belgium DTAA; Income Tax Dept denied it as no Form 67 was filed; ITAT Bangalore orders relief for him.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: My sister and I received Rs 37 lakh each from the sale of agricultural land in our native place. She has gifted her Rs 37 lakh to me. Will she have to pay capital gains tax on the gift to me?

The Finance Ministry is advising bank employees to refrain from a planned three-day strike initiated by the United Forum of Bank Unions. In response, the Department of Financial Services has sought additional security from the Home Ministry.

Tenant receives Rs 1.38 crore permanent alternate accommodation, gets Section 56(2)(x) tax notice; ITAT Mumbai gives relief; know why. This judgement was given by Vikram Singh Yadav, the Accountant Member along with Siddhartha Nautiyal, the Judicial Member of ITAT Mumbai.

Top five Specialised Investment Funds delivered up to 15.21% returns over the three-month period from 1 June 2026 to 31 August 2026. According to data from SIF360, QSIF Equity Ex-Top 100 Long-Short Fund led performance across all SIF strategies, followed by QSIF Active Asset Allocator Long-Short Fund.

An insurer's attempt to deny a Rs 1 crore accidental death claim based on alleged income inflation backfired. The consumer commission ruled that insurers must prove deliberate misrepresentation, not just suspicion, influenced policy issuance. This landmark decision emphasizes the need for concrete evidence over mere allegations when repudiating claims.

HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund recorded an impressive 25% return in the last year, surpassing its category average across various time frames. The robust performance is primarily due to heightened demand for generic drugs and recent FDA approvals. Investors are advised to steer clear of merely chasing past successes and instead focus on a sustainable long-term strategy.