The Economic Times

8th Pay Commission salary calculator: Employee groups are advocating for a higher annual salary increment in the upcoming 8th Pay Commission. They suggest increasing the current three percent rate to at least five percent annually. This change aims to substantially boost the basic pay of central government employees. Calculations show a six percent increment could add millions over ten years. Such adjustments are expected to improve employee financial well-being significantly.

Crypto staking allows holders to support blockchain networks and earn rewards. Validators are chosen based on committed tokens, reducing reliance on mining. Users can delegate tokens or use exchange services for easier participation. Staking rewards vary due to on-chain conditions and network economics. Understanding risks like volatility and redemption periods is crucial before staking.

Gratuity, pension forfeited but only leave encashment paid after nine years delay without interest; retired employee wins case in Delhi High Court as court directs employer to pay 6% interest on leave encashment. Know how this employee's family won case in Delhi High Court.

Failing to file your income tax return by July 31, 2026, after TDS deduction has consequences. You will face interest charges and a late filing fee for delayed submissions. Not filing an ITR prevents claiming refunds and carrying forward losses. Virtual digital asset income is taxed regardless of the exemption limit. The tax department may issue notices for non-compliance and missed filings.

Five smallcap mutual funds delivered annualized returns of 20.6%-26% over three years, led by Bandhan Small Cap Fund, while investors should prioritize risk appetite, goals, and investment horizon over past performance.

Around 52 equity mutual funds have delivered absolute returns of over 100% in the past five years, according to an ETMutualFunds analysis. Mid-cap funds dominated the top performers, led by Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund with a 169.84% return. The analysis covered 212 regular-plan, growth-option equity funds, excluding sectoral and thematic schemes, with all generating double-digit returns.

Gold rates today: Gold prices remained steady across major Indian jewellery retailers today. Tanishq and Malabar Gold & Diamonds maintained their previous day's rates. Joyalukkas saw a slight decrease in its 22K gold price. Kalyan Jewellers has not yet updated its current gold rates. The IBJA provided benchmark prices for various gold purities and silver.

Long Term Capital Gain: The Finance Ministry has denied contemplating the scrapping of LTCG tax on equities for domestic investors. There is no current proposal under consideration to remove this tax for retail investors.

Building a 10 crore corpus over 20 years requires more than regular SIP investments. Financial planners suggest reviewing portfolios periodically, increasing SIP contributions with income growth, and maintaining the right asset allocation to maximise compounding benefits.

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NRIs selling under-construction property must use the allotment date for capital gains. This date determines long-term versus short-term capital gains tax treatment. The Bombay High Court and other rulings support the allotment date as the acquisition point. This principle applies even when possession or registration occurs much later. Proper documentation of the allotment letter is crucial for NRIs.

Can a housing society stop access to common facilities by residents of smaller flats on the ground of smaller maintenance? Know what the law says.

Gilt funds are recommended for aggressive debt investors expecting RBI rate cuts. These funds offer potential double-digit returns when interest rates begin to fall. Gilt funds invest in government securities, carrying no credit risk but high interest rate sensitivity. Investors should possess a long-term horizon and understand interest rate cycles before investing. Nippon India Gilt Fund and Bandhan Gilt Fund are among the recommended schemes.

HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Bank of Baroda collected the most penalties for low balances. Public sector banks collected these charges from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. Private sector banks collected penalties from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26. Most public sector banks have now withdrawn these charges for savings accounts. Zero-balance accounts like Jan Dhan Yojana accounts are exempt from such penalties.

Home loan insurance is designed to pay off outstanding loans if the borrower passes away, while term insurance provides a one-time payment to meet the family's needs. After securing a home loan, it's vital to reassess the adequacy of your term insurance to ensure it sufficiently covers all liabilities, particularly for those with substantial loans and multiple financial responsibilities.

New EPF withdrawal rules offer greater flexibility for salaried employees. Experts caution against withdrawing retirement savings prematurely due to lost compounding. Transferring EPF balances is generally better than withdrawing when changing jobs. Withdrawing EPF can impact future Employees' Pension Scheme benefits significantly. Consider genuine needs like permanent relocation or financial hardship before withdrawing.

Sebi has proposed lowering the minimum investment for mutual fund-only portfolio management services. The regulator suggests reducing this threshold from Rs 50 lakh down to Rs 25 lakh. This move aims to make these services more accessible to a wider investor base. Additionally, Sebi is simplifying other requirements for these portfolio managers. These proposed changes are expected to impact the investment landscape significantly.

Five conservative hybrid mutual funds delivered attractive Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) returns over a three-year period, according to an ET Wealth report. Parag Parikh Conservative Hybrid Fund led the category among listed schemes with a 10.9% return, followed by HSBC, ICICI Prudential, DSP, and SBI schemes.

ITR filing: Taxpayers have four days remaining to file their Income Tax Return by the July 31, 2026 deadline. It is important to match Form 16 with AIS and Form 26AS for accurate tax deductions. Gather all income and deduction documents, and choose the correct tax regime for potential savings.

Top-performing equity mutual funds delivered over 20% five-year returns, led by infrastructure, midcap, and smallcap funds, with varying AUM, ratings, and expense ratios highlighting strong performance.

Many taxpayers who purchase or construct a residential house to claim exemption under Sections 54 or 54F are unaware that selling the house within the prescribed lock-in period can reverse the earlier tax benefit. This article explains how such a sale affects the computation of capital gains, highlights the different tax implications under the two provisions, and outlines the precautions taxpayers should take while filing their Income Tax Return (ITR) for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27

Fund managers typically maintain cash to meet redemption requests and deploy capital when attractive investment opportunities arise.

Husband refused to take wife back home after she suffered an accident making her wheelchair bound; Hospital files case; HC orders him to take care and orders police to escort her. Know what the high court said.

Indian residents cannot gift US shares purchased through the LRS route to their NRI children. The liberalised remittance scheme requires sale proceeds to be repatriated within 180 days. US stocks held under LRS may face US estate tax upon the investor's death. Indian residents can reduce this exposure by investing through non-US domiciled vehicles. Lifetime gifting and succession planning can also mitigate these tax complications.

AU Small Finance Bank has raised interest rates on FCNR(B) and NRE fixed deposits. These new rates are effective from July 27, 2026, for specific tenures. The government's decision to bear hedging costs on FCNR deposits influenced this change. AU SFB also offers zero forex margin and bank charges on remittances. These benefits provide NRIs with a comprehensive banking solution for wealth growth.

Central government employees retired between 2006 and 2008 will not receive MACP benefits. The Modified Assured Career Progression scheme began on September 1, 2008. This means the scheme was not active during their service period. Employee bodies are now demanding more MACP promotions for Group C and B staff. They seek five financial upgradations instead of the current three.

The government has notified the EPS pension 2026 scheme, superseding older plans. Existing pension fund benefits are protected under the new scheme. A special drive is underway to dispose of pending labor cases expeditiously. The new scheme maintains the pension calculation formula and contribution rates. Membership eligibility is defined for those joining after June 29, 2026.

Stopping SIP contributions permanently can significantly delay wealth creation goals as investors lose the benefit of regular investments and long-term compounding. ET Wealth analysis shows how discontinuing a Rs 20,000 monthly SIP can delay a Rs 1 crore corpus target by several years.

Around 21 equity mutual funds delivered over 20% XIRR on SIP investments over the past year, an ETMutualFunds analysis found. Small-cap funds dominated the list, with the top seven all belonging to the category and five generating over 30% XIRR. Bank of India Small Cap Fund topped the rankings with a 39.08% XIRR, turning a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into around Rs 1.43 lakh.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am 43, a homemaker, with mutual fund investments of Rs 35 lakh and stock investments of Rs 50 lakh, mostly invested from my husbands income. During FY2025 26, I received dividend income of Rs 98,000, on which TDS of Rs 4,000 was deducted. I have no short-term or long-term capital gains during the year. In earlier years, I filed ITR-1 and reported annual income of Rs 2-3 lakh from private tuition. Is it appropriate to continue reporting Rs 2-3 lakh as income from priva

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund leads five-year returns, raising questions about future performance. The fund delivered strong CAGR, outperforming its benchmark and category average. However, recent valuations suggest a lower scope for similar past returns. Experts advise diversified equity fund investments to mitigate concentration risk. Investors can consider SIPs for rupee cost averaging during market fluctuations.

Gold prices saw a decrease today across major Indian jewellery brands. Rates for 22K gold jewellery varied slightly between Tanishq and other leading jewellers. These rates were observed across major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association also provides indicative rates for various gold purities.

Employee mistakenly declared Rs 14 lakh Australia salary in Indian ITR, later sought Rs 3.4 lakh foreign tax credit in India for tax paid in Australia; ITAT gives him full tax exemption on salary but denies Rs 3.4 lakh foreign tax credit. Know how employee won the fight in ITAT Delhi.

The EPFO has launched a new digital platform to help members trace old accounts. Members can now securely access and transfer their accumulated PF balances online. This new portal simplifies the process of consolidating funds from inoperative EPF accounts.

New fund offer collections by asset management companies fell significantly. Funds raised through new fund offers reached a five-year low in June. This sharp decline followed weak equity market sentiments in the preceding quarter. Although market sentiment improved, it did not revive new fund offer fundraising. Established fund houses and differentiated products may still attract investor interest.

Non-Resident Indians can now purchase US dollar-denominated term insurance plans in India. These plans are available through Policybazaar's partner insurers at GIFT City. Premiums and claim payouts will be processed in US dollars, addressing currency depreciation risks. This initiative allows global Indians to access internationally aligned financial products within India.

Homebuyer wins full Rs 18 lakh refund in Mumbai: While the developer issued an allotment letter dated August 16, 2010, it failed to provide possession to the buyer. In view of the delay, the homebuyer had approached Maharashtra RERA seeking relief. The authority had on April 24, 2025, ordered the relief of possession to the homebuyer. He again filed a review seeking refund of the amount.

Rising education costs necessitate early financial planning for parents. Disciplined investing and compounding can build a substantial education corpus. A bachelor's degree costing Rs 10 lakh today could exceed Rs 40 lakh annually in 18 years. Starting investments early significantly reduces monthly contribution requirements. Strategic shifts to debt investments mitigate market risks before college.

ITR filing: Paytm users can now file Income Tax Returns directly through the app. This service is available starting at an affordable price of eleven rupees. The company partnered with ClearTax to offer a quicker online filing process.

Five equity mutual funds have delivered annualised SIP returns of up to 24.4% over the past 10 years, according to ET Wealth. The list is dominated by small-cap and mid-cap funds, highlighting their strong long-term wealth creation potential despite higher market volatility.

Increasing your mutual fund SIP contribution every year can significantly accelerate wealth creation. For a Rs 1 crore target with a Rs 20,000 monthly SIP at 10% return, a 10% annual step-up cuts the timeline by nearly four years, leveraging the dual power of higher savings and compounding.