The Economic Times

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Global tensions are not deterring investors. A young software engineer tracks oil routes. A CFO invests in tranches. An engineer stays invested, ignoring market noise. A retired executive sticks to his seven-year plan. These individuals demonstrate resilience, adapting strategies to navigate current uncertainties without panicking. Their approaches highlight diverse methods for maintaining portfolio stability amidst geopolitical events.

Market crashes are unavoidable, but portfolio damage is not. Analysis of major crises shows diversification across equity, debt, and gold significantly lessens losses. While aggressive portfolios fall more, balanced approaches offer a compelling middle ground. Investors should prepare for uncertainty by staying disciplined and focusing on long-term asset allocation.

Geopolitical tensions in West Asia are causing stock markets to fall. Experts suggest this is a short-term correction. Investors can use this opportunity to increase equity allocation, especially in mid- and small-caps, over the next few months. Domestic cyclicals and defensives are favoured sectors. Gold remains a safe haven, though moderate returns are expected.

The capital goods sector is performing strongly. Robust order inflows and demand from key industries are driving growth. Companies are seeing multi-year revenue visibility. Despite global challenges, the sector's outlook remains positive, supported by government spending and policy incentives. Investors are advised to focus on companies with strong fundamentals and execution capabilities.

You cant control whether you retire in a bull or a bear market. But if you start derisking your retirement corpus as you approach retirement, it can significantly mitigate sequence of returns risk.

Anup Rau of Generali Central Insurance addresses health insurance challenges. He highlights issues like policyholder dissatisfaction and rising premiums. Rau suggests solutions such as a health regulator and customisation of products. He also discusses the role of AI in improving insurance services and distribution.

Mumbai restaurants face a severe cooking gas shortage. Tushar Dhadam raised thali prices by 10% due to black market cylinder costs. Some small stalls are using domestic cylinders illicitly. This gas crunch is fueling inflation fears and impacting the rupee. Policymakers are concerned as global energy costs rise. Restaurants are halting operations.

Your career success hinges on daily actions, not just major achievements. Small habits like prompt replies, clear communication, and reliability build trust. Managers often choose dependable professionals over erratic stars. Focus on consistent positive behaviours to enhance your professional image and unlock future opportunities. This approach shapes how others perceive your capabilities and potential.

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.

If you are confused by personal finance terms, jargon and calculations, heres a series to simplify and deconstruct these for you. In the 94th part of this series, Riju Mehta explains how to deal with market fluctuations.

Hospital documentation errors, like incorrect entries in discharge summaries, are leading to health insurance claim rejections. Patients are facing disputes when insurers treat these mistakes as non-disclosure of pre-existing conditions, necessitating persistent follow-ups and clarifications from doctors to resolve.

India's market regulator Sebi has launched lifecycle funds, a new mutual fund category. These funds automatically adjust investments from equity to safer options as a set maturity date approaches. This aims to simplify investing for goal achievement and reduce emotional trading. The move offers a structured approach for investors seeking automated portfolio management and tax efficiency over the long term.

Losses from unoccupied properties repaired remotely at a steep cost; distress from unscrupulous renters; unfamiliarity with local laws and sale procedures; inability to make frequent trips to sell property; and the possibility of dealing with underhand practices are real risks for NRI property investors.

Two new passive funds, a commodity-based ETF and a mid-cap ETF, are opening for subscription on Monday. The HSBC Gold ETF closes on March 18, and the SBI Nifty Midcap 150 ETF closes on March 24, both with a minimum investment of Rs 5,000. Investors are advised to choose funds based on their individual risk profiles and financial goals.

Sunil Singhania-backed Abakkus Flexi Cap Fund saw its AUM grow to Rs 3,073 crore in February. The fund increased its stakes in several banking and industrial stocks, while adding BEML and Fractal Analytics as new entrants. Its portfolio expanded to 44 stocks across 22 sectors.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: Our daughter-in-law, an NRI in the USA, jointly owns a residential property in Mumbai with her sister, also an NRI based in the US. The property is currently under redevelopment. As both are unable to travel to India to complete the legal formalities, can they appoint their maternal uncle as their power of attorney (PoA) holder for all related tasks?

BI Mutual Fund, managing Rs 12.92 lakh crore, revealed its top stock holdings for February. The fund house heavily invested in banking giants like HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, while also holding significant stakes in Reliance Industries and State Bank of India.

A 75-year-old mother in Odisha has successfully evicted her son and daughter-in-law from her self-owned house. The Orissa High Court ruled that a son has no legal right to reside in his mother's property against her wishes, especially when she fears for her safety. The court upheld the mother's ownership, dismissing claims of joint family property.

Quant Small Cap Fund added HDFC Bank and others, trimmed Jio Financial, and exited Stanley Lifestyles in February.

Starting early with mutual fund SIPs leverages the power of compounding, making it easier to build a bigger retirement corpus.

Mutual funds reduced exposure to IT stocks in February, with the sectors weight in portfolios falling to an eight-year low of 6.9%, according to a Motilal Oswal report. The decline follows a sharp fall in tech stock values, even as some fund houses selectively increased holdings in key companies like Infosys and TCS.

Taxpayers are receiving emails from the Income Tax Department about 'significant transactions' and potential shortfalls in advance tax payments. These 'nudge' emails, sent as a taxpayer service initiative, highlight financial activities that may not align with advance tax deposited. Experts advise reviewing these alerts, as they are reminders and not statutory notices, and may contain errors.

Senior citizens can secure attractive fixed deposit rates, with some banks offering up to 7.9% for a five-year tenure on deposits up to Rs 3 crore. While banks deduct TDS on interest exceeding Rs 1 lakh, eligible individuals can submit Form 15H to avoid this deduction if their total tax liability is zero.