The Economic Times

In a significant update, the EPFO wage ceiling limit has been modified to Rs 25,000 monthly. This modification will add fifty-one lakh workers to the social security umbrella. With this change, both employee and employer contributions will go up from Rs 1800 to Rs 3000, potentially cutting monthly take-home pay by Rs 1200.

Govt tax reforms aim to reduce litigation at source, seeks practical industry Inputs: FM Sitharaman

The government has approved raising the EPF wage ceiling to Rs 25,000. This change will significantly increase the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance coverage amount. Nominees could receive a maximum assured sum of Rs 10.50 lakh or more. The revised ceiling aligns social security thresholds with current wage levels. Employers should await formal notification for detailed implementation provisions.

Filed ITR under the old tax regime but paid income tax under the new tax regime; ladywins case in ITAT Delhi after proving her accountant mistakenly filed this ITR under the old tax regime. M. Balaganesh, Accountant Member and Sudhir Kumar, Judicial Member of ITAT Delhi heard this case.

Non-Resident Indians can effectively manage their Indian earnings via NRO accounts. They are allowed to transfer funds to NRE accounts, but there are specific regulations to follow.

Is Rs 1 crore enough for retirement? A new study reveals declining confidence among urban Indians, with many accumulating only 28% of their target corpus. Retirement planning is shifting earlier, with a growing focus on health and personal passions. Discover what truly defines retirement readiness beyond just financial savings.

The central government has raised the provident fund wage ceiling to Rs 25,000 monthly, which will enhance social security coverage for many organised sector employees. Those earning this amount in basic pay and dearness allowance will now be included in the Employee Provident Fund and Employee Pension Scheme. This adjustment aims to broaden the reach of social security benefits, thus supporting a larger workforce in their retirement planning.

Mutual funds recorded their highest net selling in five midcap stocks during August, led by Tata Elxsi, HUDCO and Rail Vikas. Laurus Labs and UPL also saw significant selling, according to a Motilal Oswal Financial Services report.

After elder sister revoked her 1st Will, younger sister forcefully grabbed her house and refused her entry; elder sister writes a 2nd Will giving house to adopted daughter; Punjab and Haryana HC upholds this 2nd Will. An SLP has been filed against this high court judgement in Supreme Court. SC's decision is pending.

Eight stocks were held by more than 600 mutual fund schemes in August, making them the most widely owned stocks based on scheme holding count, according to ACE MF data. ICICI Bank topped the list with 775 funds, followed by HDFC Bank and SBI. Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, Infosys and L&T also featured among the stocks with the highest mutual fund ownership.

As part of the recent regulatory changes, hallmarking fees for gold and silver jewellery have been updated. Jewellers will now incur a fee of seventy-five rupees for each gold article and thirty-five rupees for silver articles. These adjustments, mandated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, ensure that all hallmarked jewellery meets the required standards, reinforcing consumer trust in gold and silver products.

The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise interest rates for the first time in three years, as persistent inflation, higher oil prices and rising bond yields add to pressure on policymakers. The move could have implications for Indian equities, the rupee, bond yields, gold and foreign investor flows, with the Feds forward guidance likely to remain crucial.

The fund house had its highest allocations to two bank stocks, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, at around 5.54% and 4.97%, respectively, of equity AUM.

SEBI has allowed arbitrage mutual funds to temporarily carry unhedged positions of up to 1% of their plans, aiming to improve liquidity in the struggling stock closing auction. Arbitrage funds held combined assets of Rs 3 trillion at the end of August.

Quant Mid Cap Fund exited ICICI Bank, Ambuja Cements and L&T Technology Services in August, while adding six stocks including IDBI Bank, Concor and Sona BLW Precision Forgings. The fund also increased exposure to three stocks and maintained holdings in 16 stocks.

Mutual funds raised their healthcare allocation for the fourth straight month in August 2026 to 8.4%, the highest in 71 months. Experts attribute the increase to resilient demand, earnings visibility, structural growth and opportunities in hospitals, specialty pharma and healthcare outsourcing. However, they caution investors against chasing the rally and suggest focusing on valuations, earnings quality and long-term prospects.

Arbitrage funds are taxed like equity mutual funds. This means they qualify for long term capital gains tax of 12.5% if investments are held for more than a year. If investments are for less than a year, short term capital gains tax of 20% will be applicable.

Worried about your security deposit? Landlords can't keep it for normal wear and tear or upgrades. Learn what legitimate deductions are, when you should get your money back, and your legal options if your landlord unfairly withholds it. Protect yourself with proper documentation before you move out.

Did you realize that getting married may nullify your EPF nomination? This frequent oversight can lead to significant issues for your family. Its essential to update your EPF nomination following marriage. Uncover who you can name as a nominee and how to ensure your family can receive their benefits effortlessly when they need them most.

Smart beta funds represent a hybrid approach, merging the advantages of passive and active investing to enhance returns. Implementing specific guidelines for stock selection and weighting, they provide cost-effective solutions with greater transparency. While there may be times when smart beta trails behind traditional indices, they can serve as a valuable addition to diversify and strengthen investors' portfolios.

Student gets Rs 18.34 lakh stipend from university for PG studies and pays no tax; Tax dept sent notice; She wins case in ITAT Delhi; Know how did she win and what is the income tax treatment of scholarship.

Recent data reveals a rise in Consumer Price Index inflation, now at 4.8 percent, spurring predictions of possible interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India. This inflation surge is pressuring banks to elevate fixed deposit interest rates amidst fierce competition from government securities and appealing returns from small savings schemes. Future adjustments in fixed deposit rates will largely hinge on ongoing inflation trends and RBI policies.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I am 48, planning to fund my sons MBBS degree at a private medical college. The fee is about Rs 21 lakh a year for five years. I am in the 30% tax bracket and have sufficient savings, with 90% of my mutual fund portfolio in equity. Should I redeem my investments to pay the fees or take an education loan? If I opt for loan, what repayment tenure would offer the maximum financialbenefit?