The Economic Times

Taxpayers in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad can soon benefit from increased house rent allowance tax relief. The government proposes extending the 50% HRA exemption to these cities under the old tax regime. This change, effective April 1, 2026, aims to provide significant savings for salaried individuals.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am 45, married, with a school-going child and dependent parents. I have employer health insurance of Rs.5 lakh and an additional personal policy of Rs.3 lakh. Is this cover adequate?

The fund house posted on social media platform X, Every milestone is built one disciplined step at a time. Crossing Rs 3,000 crore AUM is not just a number; its your trust, our discipline, and a shared journey of steady growth. Thank you for being part of this journey.

The Income Tax Department has released draft Income Tax Rules, 2026, and forms for public feedback, aiming to simplify taxpayer experience and align with the Income Tax Act, 2025. These new rules, set to replace the 1962 rules and become effective from April 1, 2026, introduce simplified language, standardized information, and smart forms with pre-fill capabilities.

Income-tax Rules: The Income Tax Department has released draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, simplifying ITR filing forms and procedures. These draft rules, open for public feedback until February 22, 2026, aim to reduce compliance burden through standardized, smart forms with prefill and reconciliation capabilities.

The 8th Central Pay Commission has launched its official website and a questionnaire. This initiative seeks valuable opinions and inputs from various stakeholders, including government employees and pensioners.

The RBI's decision to maintain the repo rate at 5.25% means banks are unlikely to lower fixed deposit interest rates soon. Senior citizens relying on FD income may see a decrease, though existing investments remain unaffected until maturity. Top SFBs like Utkarsh and Jana offer 8% for senior citizens.

Commodity-focused ETFs have delivered strong three-year returns, led by gold and silver funds. Edelweiss and Motilal Oswal top the list, while UTI, SBI and Quantum offerings provide diversified exposure for investors with a medium-term horizon seeking stability and inflation protection.

A monthly SIP of Rs 25,000 invested over 25 years can help investors build a substantial corpus through disciplined investing. This analysis explains how investment horizon, expected returns and regular contributions shape long-term wealth creation, while highlighting the importance of goal-based planning before starting a SIP.

Sovereign gold bond : The Reserve Bank of India has set the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bonds, Series XI, issued in February 2021. Investors can redeem these bonds after five years.

HDFC Bank has lowered its Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rates by 5 basis points on specific loan tenures. This change will benefit borrowers with loans linked to this regime. The revised rates will be effective from February 7, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has kept its repo rate unchanged.

Quant Small Cap Fund reshuffled its portfolio in January 2026, exiting ONGC and three other stocks while adding Gillette India. The fund increased exposure to select small cap names, reduced stakes in a few holdings, and maintained positions across 83 stocks, according to its latest monthly factsheet.

The Supreme Court ruled that a tenant's long-term possession of a property does not automatically finalize a sale agreement, even with partial payment. The court emphasized that possession must stem directly from the sale agreement, not from an independent tenancy, to be considered a deemed conveyance. The sale agreement was admitted as evidence, but ownership remains undecided pending further trial.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues an yearly holiday calendar where state-specific holidays are mentioned. Customers can also utilize digital banking services for various transactions.

Budget 2026 brings a major tax relief for unexplained income. The tax rate has been slashed to 39 percent from the earlier 78 percent. This change applies to unexplained credits, investments, and expenditures. Taxpayers can now pay a lower tax on such income. The new provisions aim to simplify tax compliance.

Amid violent swings across stocks, bonds and commodities, Edelweiss MF CEO Radhika Gupta urges investors to be goldfish investors, ignoring noise, avoiding emotional asset switches, and sticking to long-term goals, discipline and asset allocation despite short-term volatility and market cycles.

Budget 2026 brings clarity on home loan tax deductions. Prior-period interest on home loans is now explicitly included within the Rs 2 lakh deduction limit for self-occupied properties. This amendment aligns the new Income Tax Act with previous rules. Taxpayers can now understand the total interest deduction cap more clearly. The overall tax benefit for most homeowners remains unchanged.

The Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts. This move is expected to lower borrowing costs for REITs. Consequently, REITs may distribute more cash to investors. This could lead to higher dividends and better returns for those invested in REITs. The decision aims to boost the real estate sector and investor confidence.

PGIM India Mutual Fund has reopened subscriptions in its three international funds starting February 6. The funds include Global Equity Opportunities Fund of Fund, Emerging Markets Equity Fund of Fund, and Global Select Real Estate Securities Fund of Fund. Fresh SIPs, STPs, Switch-ins, and lump-sum transactions up to Rs 5 lakh per day per investor per scheme are now allowed.

Over the last six months, the AMC has focused on building a solid operational and investing foundation, with clear processes across investing frameworks, risk management, investor servicing, and compliance.

Policyholders are voicing dissatisfaction with life insurers, with thousands lodging complaints annually. Bharti AXA Life Insurance leads the pack with 2,770 complaints in FY 2024-25, followed by LIC of India. The Council of Insurance Ombudsman's report highlights these figures, alongside outstanding complaint numbers, urging consumers to be aware.

A Parliamentary committee has deemed it unjustified to charge full fare for unconfirmed RAC train tickets when a passenger shares berths with another passenger. The committee recommended a partial fare refund mechanism for such passengers.

Mutual fund experts decode the RBI MPCs decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, highlighting a shift towards fundamentals-driven investing. While debt investors may focus on accrual strategies, equity investors are advised to prioritise earnings quality, balance-sheet strength, and long-term portfolio stability amid a neutral policy stance.

Farmers eagerly await the 22nd PM Kisan instalment of Rs 2,000. Eligible beneficiaries can expect this payment between February and March 2026. eKYC is a mandatory requirement for all PM Kisan registered farmers to receive these benefits.

Bandhan Small Cap Fund has doubled its assets to Rs 20,000 crore in under a year, reflecting strong investor confidence. The fund follows a disciplined, diversified approach with low portfolio turnover, healthy risk-adjusted returns, and a positive long-term outlook on small-cap equities.

The RBI has paused the repo rate at 5.25%, signalling stability rather than a policy shift. Experts suggest investors focus on short to medium duration debt funds, accrual-led strategies and selective equity exposure, as returns in 2026 are expected to remain range bound amid cautious global conditions.

Mutual fund managers and advisors say the valuations are rich but investors can continue to invest in small cap schemes to create wealth over a long period. According to many mutual fund advisors, even though the small cap segment has run up a lot in the last six months, investors can still invest in these schemes in a staggered manner to create wealth over a long period.

Bank customers who fall victim to small value financial fraud can now receive compensation. The Reserve Bank of India announced this new policy. Victims may get up to Rs 25,000. This decision was made by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The Monetary Policy Committee also kept the policy repo rate unchanged. This aims to protect customers from financial losses.

The Reserve Bank of India maintained its repo rate at 5.25%, signaling no immediate change in fixed deposit interest rates. This decision follows a previous cut in December 2025, with inflation and bond yields influencing the RBI's stance. While some banks may still adjust rates due to ongoing transitions, future cuts are contingent on evolving economic factors.

The Reserve Bank of India maintained its repo rate at 5.25%, meaning home loan EMIs are unlikely to change. While a rate cut didn't occur due to inflation and bond yields, future reductions remain possible. Borrowers can still save on interest through prepayment or refinancing.

Precious metal ETFs experienced significant drops, with silver and gold commodity-based funds falling up to 10% and 8% respectively. This decline followed a sharp fall in futures prices on MCX, driven by a global tech selloff and a stronger U.S. dollar. Experts advise investors to remain patient and focus on long-term fundamentals amidst volatility.

Pausing Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) can significantly impact long-term wealth accumulation by disrupting rupee cost averaging and missing out on compounding, especially during market dips. While temporary pauses for genuine emergencies are understandable, frequent or fear-driven breaks can derail financial goals and lead to substantial losses.

Suzlon Energy reported a 15% year-on-year rise in Q3FY26 profit to Rs 445 crore, supported by strong revenue growth, higher volumes, and margin expansion. The company posted record deliveries, a robust order book, and a net cash position, reinforcing confidence in its clean energy growth strategy.