The Economic Times

India's tax collection saw a major boost through data-driven nudges. The NUDGE initiative guided taxpayers to correct claims, leading to over Rs 119 crore additional tax from HRA. Foreign asset declarations and 80GGC donations also increased significantly. This approach promotes voluntary compliance, reducing friction and litigation for a more efficient tax system.

ICICI Bank is implementing significant credit card benefit changes effective February 1, 2025. Key updates include the discontinuation of BookMyShow movie benefits on select cards and revised reward point structures for transport and insurance spends.

Central government employees and pensioner bodies, associated with CCGEW, have threatened a one-day strike on February 12, 2026, if their demands are not met. These include incorporating their suggestions into the 8th Pay Commission's Terms of Reference and demanding 20% interim relief from January 1, 2026.

India's Economic Survey reveals significant tax relief for households has been provided, with the fiscal deficit falling below target. Experts offer differing views on future tax cuts, with some suggesting a shift towards stability and incremental rationalization rather than sweeping rate reductions. The survey emphasizes delayed gratification for long-term national gain.

Under the revised mandate, the fund will allocate 80100% of its assets to equity and equity-related instruments of companies in the consumption and consumption-related or allied sectors.

Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) has launched two BSE India Defencebased passive funds: the Mirae Asset BSE India Defence ETF and its ETF FOF. The NFOs open on February 2, the ETF closes on February 10 and the FOF closes on February 16, 2026. The schemes will reopen for continuous transactions later in February.

The government is looking at raising the Employees' Provident Fund wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. This move aims to bring more workers under the social security net. The proposal is being fast-tracked following a Supreme Court directive. If approved, the new limit could be effective from April 2026. This change will expand mandatory PF coverage and strengthen the fund's corpus.

Gold and silver have hit record highs, but WhiteOak Capital MF warns this isnt a time to chase the rally. Its report says gold is talking signalling macro risks while silver is screaming, indicating speculative excess. Investors may be better off taking profits, rebalancing and reallocating strategically.

The Reserve Bank of India has paused plans for banks to disclose climate change risks. This move impacts global efforts towards a low-carbon economy. The proposed rules, discussed since 2022, aimed for banks to report loan portfolio risks and mitigation strategies. Implementation was expected from fiscal year 2027. The central bank cited current priorities and potential costs for corporates.

The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights a sharp rise in equity and mutual fund allocation in household savings, driven by a sevenfold increase in SIP contributions, signalling a structural shift towards disciplined, long-term investing by Indian households.

Insurers must prioritise the digitisation of distribution to rationalise acquisition costs and restore value for money for policyholders, the Economic Survey 2025-26 noted.

A husband secured a divorce from the Gujarat High Court. His wife's strict refusal to eat onion and garlic, coupled with rigid behavior, was deemed mental cruelty. The court upheld the family court's decision. The wife contested alimony, but the court reviewed the financial aspects. The husband was ordered to pay maintenance.

It has been more than a decade since the introduction of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act in 2015, and its practical impact is now well established. Be it disclosures under the one-time disclosure scheme, which was introduced with the law, or the flurry of notices and summons that followed and assessment orders, appeals as well as writs constitutionally challenging various provisions of this law in courts.

Within these five years, January 2025 marked the sectors steepest decline, as the Nifty Realty index plunged 12.45%. Other years were also weak, with declines of 4.69% in 2023, 0.81% in 2022, and 2.61% in 2021. The lone outlier was 2024, when the index posted gains of over 9%.

New labour code 2025 ensures employees cannot face penalties for utilizing their full leave entitlements. Employers are barred from reducing increments or taking disciplinary action for taking earned, casual, or sick leaves. Performance appraisals must focus on objective metrics, not lawful leave usage. Continued ill-health terminations are permissible but require due process and medical evidence, excluding retrenchment compensation.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: My husband plans to fully fund the purchase of a house, with no financial contribution from me. When we sell the property later, will the entire capital gain be taxed in his name, or will a portion be attributed to me despite no financial input?

The Bombay High Court has delivered a significant ruling on dividend taxation for foreign companies. Dividends paid by Indian subsidiaries to their non-resident shareholders are now confirmed to be governed by the India-UK Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. This means India cannot tax these dividends beyond the rates stipulated in the treaty.

Gold ETFs outperformed silver ETFs with gains up to 13% amid a rally in precious metals. Rising geopolitical risks, strong investment flows and tight supply conditions have driven record highs in gold and silver futures on MCX.

International mutual funds have delivered triple-digit gains since Budget 2025, driven by a rebound in US and Asian markets. Experts say the surge reflects a cyclical recovery, not a structural shift. For Budget 2026, investors and AMCs expect policy stability, higher offshore limits, and clearer taxation rules to support global diversification.

From an income tax perspective, the new Income Tax Act, 2025, scheduled to be effective from 1 April, 2026, simplifies language, removes obsolete provisions and consolidates and restructures provisions. While the law itself does not overhaul the individual tax regime, there are always expectations from individual taxpayers before every Budget.

Foreign spending by Indians faces a tax anomaly. While forex and debit cards incur Tax Collected at Source (TCS) under LRS, international credit card spending remains exempt, creating a regulatory imbalance. Experts anticipate Budget 2026 will address this disparity, aiming for uniform treatment and enhanced transparency in overseas transactions.

The ITAT Ahmedabad ruled in favor of a landlord, striking down a Rs 7 lakh deemed rent addition for five vacant Mumbai apartments. The tribunal stated that if a property is held with the intention to rent but remains vacant despite genuine efforts, deemed rent charges are unjustified. This decision offers relief to property owners facing similar situations.

Experts are urging the government to raise the spending limit for gold purchases requiring PAN or Aadhaar. The current Rs 2 lakh threshold, set in 2016, is now easily crossed due to rising gold prices. This impacts ordinary buyers and small jewellers. An increased limit would ease compliance for genuine customers while maintaining transparency for high-value transactions.

Indias top 10 asset management companies collectively managed over Rs 1.13 lakh crore in silver ETF assets in January 2026. Nippon India Mutual Fund led the pack, followed by ICICI Prudential and HDFC Mutual Fund, according to NSE data.

Silver has surged nearly 50% this month, dramatically outshining gold. Investors are now questioning if gold will catch up. Both metals have seen significant gains, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and expectations of interest rate cuts. Experts suggest gold offers stability, while silver's sharp rise comes with higher volatility.

Indian stock markets opened lower today. The Sensex and Nifty saw a slight dip. Investors are now focusing on the upcoming federal budget. This comes after a recent rally driven by trade agreement optimism. Market participants are shifting their attention to domestic policy announcements expected this weekend.

According to the Sebi mandate, short duration funds can invest in debt instruments which have maturity between one and three years. That means these schemes are meant for short-term investments of up to three years or more. They are somewhat in the middle when it comes to interest rate risk. They are riskier than liquid, ultra short term, and low duration funds.

Maharashtra observes three days of mourning after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's tragic plane crash death. State government offices are closed. Schools, however, will open as scheduled. There may be disruptions and bank closures at local levels due to the last rites of Pawar being performed in Baramati today. Nationalised banks follow the RBI holiday calendar and no holiday has been announced for such banks in Maharashtra today.

Markets showed high volatility but gained over half a percent as investor optimism returned, with the Nifty index nearing a crucial 25,350 level. Several companies, including ITC, Vedanta, and Tata Motors, are in focus due to Q3 results and other corporate developments.

Gold and oil prices surged as geopolitical tensions escalated and the Federal Reserve maintained its stance on interest rates. Gold broke above $5,550, while oil advanced on concerns over Iran. US equity futures dipped amid mixed tech earnings, with investors awaiting further clarity on interest rate paths.

February 2026 brings several bank holidays across India. Sikkim observes Losar on February 18. Maharashtra celebrates Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti on February 19. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh mark their Statehood Day on February 20. Digital banking services remain available for customer convenience during these closures.

eClerx Services approved a 1:1 bonus share issue alongside robust Q3FY26 results. Net profit rose 40% year-on-year, while revenue grew strongly, supported by steady execution, higher USD revenues, and resilient operating performance despite marginal margin compression.

The Economic Times presents The Psychology of Money Masterclass with Morgan Housel, a live online experience designed to transform how people think about money, risk, and decision-making. Focused on behaviour rather than formulas, the masterclass combines global insights with Indian investing perspectives to help participants build a healthier, long-term relationship with money.

Among the Top 10 AMCs managing Gold and Silver ETFs, Nippon India Mutual Fund leads with the highest combined AUM, ahead of peers like ICICI Prudential MF (Rs 48,165.7 crore), HDFC MF (Rs 34,075.7 crore), and SBI MF (Rs 33,103.6 crore).

New Aadhaar App: The government has launched a new Aadhaar app offering secure and convenient access to UID services. Users can now update mobile numbers and addresses, verify Aadhaar cards instantly, and selectively share identity attributes, all without physical visits or paperwork.

Aggressive investors suggest prioritizing high growth mutual funds like small cap, midcap, flexi cap, and sectoral schemes for SIPs in January to potentially maximize long term returns while accepting higher volatility.

SBI Research proposes aligning fixed deposit interest tax with capital gains. It also suggests shortening the lock-in for tax-saving FDs to three years, matching ELSS mutual funds. This aims to offer tax Section 80C tax benefits also to those investors who invest in 3-year FDs. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Budget 2026 on Sunday (February 1, 2026), many investors expect changes related to FD interest.