The Economic Times

The Kerala High Court refused to quash an FIR against an excise inspector accused of accepting liquor bottles as a bribe for issuing transport permits. The court found that the recovery of liquor bottles established a prima facie case of corruption, dismissing claims of rivalry and procedural objections. The investigation into the alleged illegal gratification will now proceed.

Equity investors can save income tax on long-term capital gains. A strategy called tax-harvesting involves selling equity investments before March 31, 2026. This allows investors to book gains up to Rs 1.25 lakh tax-free each financial year. After booking profits, investors can repurchase the same assets to remain invested.

Sebi has formed a working group to review mutual fund distributor regulations and address overlaps with investment advisers. The regulator is also developing a common advertisement code and a digital platform, Sebi Setu, for investment advisers. A standardized penalty structure and simplified NISM module are also planned, amidst concerns over a decline in registered investment advisers.

Active equity mutual funds have failed to beat their benchmark indices over the past year. This underperformance has revived the debate on shifting investments to low-cost passive funds. Large-cap, flexi-cap, multicap, midcap, and smallcap funds all lagged their respective benchmarks. Despite this, wealth managers advise against completely abandoning active funds.

Sebi has set up a working group to review regulations for mutual fund distributors and investment advisers, address overlaps, curb unregulated finfluencers, and strengthen compliance, transparency, and investor protection in Indias advisory ecosystem.

Central government employees are eagerly awaiting the Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for January 2026. The government typically announces these increases around major festivals. Past trends suggest an announcement could be made anytime now until early April. The DA hike is calculated based on inflation and impacts employee salaries.

GSTN has issued a new advisory for GSTR-3B filings. Starting February 2026, taxpayers must confirm the 'Tax Liability Breakup, As Applicable' section. This feature auto-populates based on previous period supplies. Taxpayers need to save this breakup before filing. GSTN acknowledges feedback and is working on a resolution for cases without prior period liabilities.

The government has reiterated its stance on the minimum EPS pension, currently set at Rs 1,000 per month, emphasizing the need for fund sustainability. In line with a Supreme Court ruling, an online system has been established for eligible members to opt for higher pension contributions, with a three-month deadline to deposit dues after receiving a demand letter.

Bank holidays are set to vary across Indian states in March 2026. Several states will observe closures on March 19 for festivals like Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Telugu New Year. Customers should verify bank opening status in their respective regions. Other March holidays include Holi and Mahavir Jayanti, impacting banking services.

Indian stock markets experienced a strong rebound today. The Sensex surged over 900 points, while the Nifty also saw significant gains. This recovery was largely driven by major banking and financial stocks. Experts suggest this was a short-covering rally after a sharp correction. While markets showed resilience, volatility remains a concern. Investors are watching key levels for future direction.

REC Limited announced a fourth interim dividend of Rs 3.20 per share, with the record date set for March 20. The dividend will be paid on or before April 14. This marks the companys 45th dividend since 2008, with a 12-month equity payout of Rs 20 per share.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has announced major changes to the National Pension System (NPS). The regulator has reclassified the existing corporate sector model and updated the charge structure for Points of Presence (PoPs). The revised structure came into effect on January 1, 2026, streamlining the way different entities participate in the NPS framework.

Indian stock markets rebounded sharply on Monday, snapping a three-session losing streak with Sensex and Nifty closing significantly higher. Despite volatile trading, value-buying emerged after last week's selloff. Geopolitical tensions and persistent FII selling continue to influence market sentiment, while the rupee remains near all-time lows.

GSTN has resolved a long-standing issue where taxpayers faced double GST payments when filing appeals. The new GST DRC-03A form now allows payments made under protest via Form GST DRC-03 to be correctly adjusted against demand IDs. This ensures that pre-deposit amounts are accurately calculated, preventing taxpayers from having to pay the same GST amount twice.

Amid geopolitical tensions and stock market volatility, gold prices have seen fluctuations. As of March 16, 2026, 22k gold rates at major retailers like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, and Kalyan Jewellers are around Rs 14,590-Rs 14,630 per gram. IBJA rates also show a decline from March 13.

Paytm shares jumped on Monday after rival PhonePe paused its IPO plans, easing near-term competition in digital payments. PhonePe cited geopolitical uncertainty and volatile global markets for deferring its listing. The move reflects broader market caution, with fintech firms reevaluating IPO timing and valuations amid heightened investor uncertainty and equity market volatility.

Corporate and investment banks are losing ground to non-bank financial institutions. Clients demand faster, more transparent, and responsive services. Banks struggle with outdated systems and limited AI adoption. Innovation efforts are not yielding expected revenue or cost savings.

SIP contributions continued to grow despite market volatility, reflecting sustained retail investor confidence. Contributions rose 14.79% year-on-year to Rs 29,845 crore in February 2026, according to ICRA Analytics, although inflows dipped slightly from January. SIP accounts and assets under management remained robust despite mark-to-market corrections in equity markets.

An analysis of the BSE Mid-Cap Index shows that both FIIs and retail investors increased their stakes in 12 stocks during the December quarter. However, market volatility has weighed on returns, with 11 of these companies delivering negative performance over the past three months and some stocks declining by up to 40%.

Fino Payments Bank shares tumbled over 19% to a record low after a report said some online gaming transactions linked to the lender may attract scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate. The bank later clarified it is not under any ED investigation and is cooperating with DGGI Hyderabad in an ongoing GST-related probe.

Central government employees and pensioners await the 8th Pay Commission's recommendations, with AITUC advocating for implementation from January 1, 2026, to ensure no loss of arrears. Past trends show governments often backdate pay revisions, and AITUC also calls for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and improved benefits for pensioners.

Under the new tax regime, income tax slabs are the same for all taxpayers. There is no separate tax treatment based on age, meaning individuals below 60 years, senior citizens (60+) and super senior citizens (80+) all follow the same tax slab structure.

Despite recent volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions, India's Nifty 50 has historically demonstrated resilience, recovering from major global crises like the dot-com bubble, the 2008 financial crisis, and the COVID-19 crash. The benchmark index has consistently bounced back, proving that losses are temporary for long-term investors.

Bandhan Bank shares fell sharply after ET reported that Bandhan Financial Services is exploring long-term investor exits. Options under consideration include selling stakes to private equity or an IPO. The move aligns with regulatory mandates to reduce promoter stake and comes amid mixed quarterly performance.

Sectoral and thematic mutual funds experienced an 187% surge in February inflows, reaching Rs 2,987 crore. Experts attribute this jump to new fund launches and opportunistic investments in select sectors with attractive valuations, rather than a broad-based demand increase. Year-on-year data, however, shows a significant decline, indicating moderate overall participation.

FASTag annual pass: The National Highways Authority of India is increasing the FASTag annual pass fee. Starting April 1, 2026, private vehicle owners will pay Rs 3,075 for the pass. This allows one year or 200 toll crossings without per-trip charges.

The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of an employee denied compensation for a workplace accident. The court held that a disability certificate issued by a doctor who did not treat the injured worker is valid. This decision overturned a commissioner's rejection, allowing the employee's 16-year legal battle for compensation to proceed.

Silver and gold ETFs saw significant drops of up to 6% on Monday as surging energy prices and geopolitical tensions dampened expectations of near-term U.S. interest rate cuts. Rising inflation concerns and a strengthening dollar have also weakened gold's safe-haven appeal, with experts advising investors to buy on dips for long-term diversification.

Indian stock markets, including BSE Sensex and Nifty, have seen significant declines. Experts advise investors to maintain discipline by continuing Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). They suggest focusing on established equity funds and diversifying with large-cap, flexi-cap, and multi-asset allocation funds. Gold and silver funds can also offer diversification. Investors should avoid short-term market predictions and focus on long-term goals.

According to Sebi norms, focused equity mutual fund schemes must invest in a portfolio of maximum 30 stocks. These schemes have no other restrictions when it comes to investing- like flexi cap schemes they can invest in any market capitalisations and sectors.

Landlords can seek repair costs from former tenants. This applies only when damage exceeds normal wear and tear and is proven to be tenant-caused. Routine maintenance like whitewashing remains the landlord's duty. Tenants can contest claims with defenses like pre-existing damage or lack of proof. Security deposits can be withheld for justified damages, not arbitrarily.

Amidst geopolitical tensions and AI disruption fears, fund managers strategically invested in metals, energy, and power stocks. Hindalco and Nalco saw buying interest due to their integrated mining operations, while demand for aluminium in data centers and EVs is anticipated.