The Economic Times

Health insurance coverage has grown significantly in India. However, patients continue to pay most hospitalisation bills themselves. Rural patients spent about 95% of costs from their own pockets. Urban patients also paid a large portion. Hospitalisation costs have nearly doubled. The number of hospitalisations per 1,000 people remains steady.

Gold prices edged up on April 27, 2026, across major Indian jewellers. Geopolitical factors like US-Iran tensions and a strong US dollar influenced the yellow metal's rates. Treasury yields also played a role in the price movement. Analysts suggest gold may remain rangebound without a significant geopolitical development. Jewellery brands like Tanishq and Kalyan Jewellers reported slight price adjustments.

Global gold demand as ETF inflows and bar and coin buying surged, shifting consumption away from jewellery. Rising prices curbed discretionary purchases, while investment demand strengthened globally and in India amid geopolitical uncertainty, diversification needs, and sustained central bank accumulation.

A joint report by EY and FICCI suggests lowering the GST on luxury hotel rooms to 9%. This move aims to make India a more competitive tourist destination. The report highlights that current taxes and costs make India appear expensive compared to countries like Thailand. Reducing the tax could attract more international visitors and boost the tourism sector.

Despite a challenging FY26, marked by volatility and weak benchmark returns, eleven mutual funds across categories consistently outperformed, delivering superior risk-adjusted returns and showcasing resilience through changing market conditions and trends.

Railway Board writes that the zone-wise annual MoU targets for manpower rationalisation (redistribution+surrender) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the year 202627 have been conveyed to the Efficiency and Research (E&R) Directorate for inclusion in annual performance agreements (MoUs).

Federation of National Postal Organisations's (FNPO) memorandum included issues related to postal assistants, sorting assistants, postmen, mail guards, civil wing, admin offices, accounts, marketing executives, systems administrators, development officers (PLI), among others. Here are the key demands of FNPO from the 8th Pay Commission.

Visa has appointed Suresh Sethi as its new Group Country Manager for India and South Asia. Sethi will oversee Visa's strategy and operations across six countries. He previously led Protean e-Gov Technologies Ltd. Sethi's appointment marks a significant leadership change for Visa in the region. He will be based in Mumbai and report to Stephen Karpin.

Contract workers often seek permanent jobs after long service. Indian courts examine if contractor arrangements are genuine or a ploy to avoid obligations. Key factors include control, hiring, and payment. While continuity of workers under different contractors can raise questions, it is not always decisive. Legal outcomes vary based on the specific facts of each case.

Tata Mutual Fund has launched the Titanium Equity Long-Short Fund under its Titanium SIF platform, offering a dynamic long-short equity strategy with net exposure ranging from -25% to 100%. Aimed at high-risk investors, the NFO is open until May 11.

Hyderabad gold rate today 24k, 22k, 18k: As per the latest trends in the city, the price of 24 karat gold was between Rs 15,443-15,906 per gram levels while 22 karat gold was largely priced between Rs 14,155 to Rs 14,643 per gram.

Investing a Rs 2 crore corpus effectively requires prioritising goals and building a strategic, inflation-adjusted allocation across equity, debt, gold and cash to fund a childs overseas education, future marriage, retirement and emergency needs.

Investors are reassessing investment choices due to rising fixed deposit rates and market fluctuations. Experts advise maintaining a long-term equity strategy for aggressive investors, even with short-term volatility. The decision between FDs and debt funds depends on liquidity needs and tax brackets. Diversification within equity portfolios is also recommended for wealth creation.

Bank of India Small Cap Fund leads five-year returns with a 30.83% CAGR. The fund shows strong performance across various periods, driven by disciplined stock selection and focus on business fundamentals. Experts highlight sector exposure and India's growth themes. However, concerns about current valuations and sustainability of high returns exist. Investors should consider risk tolerance and long-term goals before investing.

Silver and gold ETFs saw gains of up to 3% on Monday, despite a lower opening for bullion prices on MCX. Rising crude oil prices fueled inflation concerns, reinforcing expectations of prolonged high interest rates. Experts suggest this consolidation phase offers an attractive window for long-term investors to accumulate precious metals.

Gilt funds are being recommended to aggressive debt investors for potential double-digit returns during anticipated RBI interest rate cuts. These funds invest in government securities, offering no credit risk but high sensitivity to interest rate changes. Investors should have a long-term horizon and be informed about economic cycles to benefit from these volatile, yet potentially rewarding, schemes.

Sukanya Samriddhi Account interest rate: The Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) currently offers an 8.2% annual interest rate, compounded annually, with revisions occurring quarterly. This government-backed scheme allows parents to invest for their daughter's long-term financial future, with contributions required for 15 years and a maturity term of 21 years.

An Indian airline has been ordered to pay Rs 1.19 lakh to passengers for losing checked-in baggage containing sacred items and costly clothes. The Jammu and Kashmir consumer commission awarded Rs 89,000 in compensation for the lost items, plus Rs 20,000 for mental agony and Rs 10,000 for litigation fees.

If you are confused by personal finance terms, jargon and calculations, heres a series to simplify and deconstruct these for you. In the 100th part of this series, Riju Mehta explains the difference between these two types of business expenses.

India is ramping up LPG production and securing alternative imports as the Iran conflict disrupts supplies and deepens a nationwide cooking gas shortage.

Welcome to TrendMap, your quick guide to the performance of different investment segments. In this edition, we present a 10-year performance tracker of various asset classes. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

Medical coverage, duration and geography, add-ons, and claims experience are some aspects one must keep in mind before selecting the international travel insurance provider. Selecting a policy from India is less about finding the cheapest option and more about finding the right balance between cost and meaningful coverage.

Brilliant students often get stuck in careers, while average performers thrive. This happens because intelligence is an engine, not a driver; overconfidence creates blind spots; and the prestige trap limits careful choices. Recognizing signs like Sunday dread and a drained feeling signals a need for a career switch.

The primary rule to follow is: do not make rash and immediate decisions. Take time to consider what you have inherited and how to use it in a way that enriches your life. By all means, include your family in your decisionmaking process. But do not allow them to influence your decisions against your own best interests.

Alternative Investment Funds have delivered an average alpha of 9% over the Sensex, but most of that exists only in valuations, not in cash returned to investors. Heres what to look out for before you commit a crore.

When you invest in a passive fund, you are giving up the chances of getting the alpha, i.e. outperformance of your fund over the benchmark. An active fund can generate alpha even after expenses. But in a passive fund, you are protecting yourself against underperformance.

Deloitte Indias Aakash Sharma & Suchintan Chatterjee talk to Yasmin Hussain on insurance dark patterns.

Steady performance signals a resilient approach geared for long-term wealth creation.

If you spot discrepancies in your EPS contributions, take immediate corrective measures or face rejection in EPF withdrawal or transfer claims later.

From phonics to piano, music to drama, activity classes for pre-schoolers are growing fastand so is the cost of raising a well-rounded child.

Gold prices held steady on Sunday, April 26, 2026, across major Indian jewellers like Tanishq and Kalyan. While IBJA did not update weekend rates, leading brands maintained Saturday's prices. Consumers can check 18k, 22k, and 24k gold rates for specific brands, with Tanishq offering 22k at Rs 14,160 per gram.

Investors seeking robust SIP returns have found success in five equity mutual funds, delivering over 123% annualized gains over a decade. Quant Small Cap Fund led the pack with an impressive 22.5% return. Nippon India Small Cap and Growth Mid Cap funds also showcased strong performance, alongside Quant ELSS Tax Saver and Edelweiss Mid Cap Fund.

The two SIFs will follow different equity-oriented strategies, one an equity long-short fund and the other a sector rotation long-short fund.

Around 11 technology-focused funds, including HDFC Technology Fund, Tata Digital India Fund, and ICICI Prudential Technology Fund, fell 3.14% to 7.17% last week.

Here are the top five stocks held by the highest number of mutual fund schemes as of April 17, 2026

A daughter has been denied her father's family pension by the Tripura High Court. She divorced her husband after her father's passing. The court ruled that eligibility for family pension must exist at the time of the pensioner's death. Her divorce was finalized in 2021, after her father died in 2018.

Bengaluru residents can now download their e-Khata online. This new system uses your SAS Property Tax ID for quick access. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has made this digital option available to eliminate delays. Citizens can get their e-Khata anytime, anywhere, without visiting offices. This move simplifies property transactions and tax payments for all.

Top flexi cap funds delivered over 17% CAGR since inception, led by Bank of India Flexi Cap Fund, highlighting strong long-term performance across varying AUM sizes and relatively recent launch periods.

Five low-cost mutual funds delivered strong three-year returns, led by Nippon India Taiwan Equity Fund and global or silver ETFs, combining high performance with relatively low expense ratios for investors.

Thirteen equity mutual funds delivered over 22% CAGR on lumpsum investments in five years, turning Rs 1 lakh into nearly Rs 2.72.9 lakh, led by midcap and smallcap funds.

Paytm has said that the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) action on Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) will have no financial or business impact on the company, stressing that it has no material exposure or operational link with the banking entity.

The employee body representing central government teachers from Union Territories is seeking significant pay hikes in their salaries in the 8th Pay Commission. Pragatisheel Shikshak Nyaya Manch (PSNM) has submitted a memorandum demanding a minimum basic pay of Rs 50,000 for a Level 1 employee and a fitment factor up to 3.83.

Investors face a choice between SIPs and lumpsum investments for wealth growth. Experts suggest a balanced approach, continuing SIPs for discipline and using lumpsum for market dips. For a 4 lakh surplus, a staggered investment over months is recommended. This strategy aims to optimize returns over a 15-20 year horizon. Discipline and strategy are key for long-term success.

Senior citizens can still secure fixed deposit (FD) interest rates up to 8.05% for a three-year term from select small finance banks, with a cap of Rs 3 crore. Banks deduct TDS on FD interest exceeding Rs 1 lakh annually. Senior citizens with zero tax liability can submit Form 15H to avoid this deduction.

A husband took Rs 25.6 lakh personal loans in his wife's name, spent the money on a lavish lifestyle, and fled with her car and jewellery. He later sued her for maintenance. The Allahabad High Court imposed a Rs 15 lakh cost on him for filing false affidavits and exploiting his wife.