The Economic Times

Retired employee sent income tax notice for Rs 9.04 lakh leave encashment, she wins case in ITAT Jaipur; Know how leave encashment is taxed for private and government employees in India.

Mutual funds increased exposure to Healthcare, Metals, Private Banks and other sectors in September, while trimming weights in Technology, Automobiles and PSU Banks. Motilal Oswal's report also highlights sector-wise changes in portfolio values and mutual fund ownership relative to the BSE 200.

After redevelopment of housing society, homeowner sold his flat for Rs 1.95 crore, pays no tax, got tax notice, wins case in ITAT Mumbai for this reason

Sovereign Gold Bond: The Reserve Bank of India has announced that the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bonds will be set for October 2026. These bonds can be redeemed five years after their issuance at a fixed price. This redemption value is determined by the average closing gold price from the preceding three days.

Swiggy, Groww parent Billionbrains Garage, Patanjali Foods, Astral, and PB Fintech emerged as the top five mid-cap stocks attracting the highest net buying from mutual funds in September, according to a Motilal Oswal report. Swiggy led the inflows with a Rs 6.3 billion value increase during the month.

Mr Anwar believed that the flat would be delivered after disposal of the litigation. However, after waiting for another 3 years, he came to Patna (from USA) in September 2011 and went to the builder with his sister to inquire about the same.Allegedly, one of the directors of the construction company refused to hand over the flat, demanding another Rs 20 lakh for possession, and threatened them.

Gold rate today: Gold prices saw a notable dip across major Indian cities on October 15, 2026, with leading jewelers such as Joyalukkas, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and Kalyan Jewellers announcing lower rates for 22k gold jewellery.

Indian mutual funds increased cash holdings to Rs 1.83 lakh crore in September, with cash allocation rising to 3.98% of total assets. SBI, HDFC and PPFAS led in cash reserves, reflecting varied investment strategies and liquidity positions amid market uncertainty and potential opportunities for future equity investments.

In response to the recent uptick in the repo rate, State Bank of India has elevated its External Benchmark-linked Rates and the Repo Linked Lending Rate. As a result, borrowers can anticipate an increase in their equated monthly installment payments. However, the MCLR rates have only seen adjustments across various tenures, leaving overnight and one-month rates untouched.

HDFC Defence Fund increased its holdings in 10 stocks in September, including Hindustan Aeronautics, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Bharat Electronics, according to ACE MF data. The fund also raised exposure to Bharat Forge, Eicher Motors and Tata Motors. However, it underperformed its benchmark over the three-year period despite stronger shorter-term returns.

Indian Railway annual bonus: The central government has announced a Productivity Linked Bonus for non-gazetted Railway employees for FY 2025-26. Railway employees will receive a bonus calculated at 78 days' basic wages, amounting to Rs 17,951. In contrast, other central government employees receive a significantly lower bonus calculated at 30 days' wages. Various employee associations have demanded an increase in the bonus wage ceiling due to rising inflation.

Silver ETFs fell sharply on Thursday as elevated crude oil prices and uncertainty over US inflation data weighed on sentiment. Experts expect continued volatility amid interest rate concerns, dollar movements and geopolitical tensions. They advise long-term investors to consider accumulating gold and silver gradually while cautioning traders against short selling.

Life Insurance Corporation of India is set to launch three new insurance products on October 19, 2026. These offerings, namely New Jeevan Dhara-II, Health Shield, and New Cancer Cover, have been designed to cater to various financial needs like retirement funds and health insurance. Customers will have easy access to these plans online via LIC's official portal, promising a boost in financial stability for families.

The Delhi Income Tax Appellate Tribunal quashed the assessment against Mr. Sehgal regarding alleged undisclosed cash. The Income Tax Department claimed he received Rs 1.70 crore in cash from a property sale. However, the tribunal noted that the evidence did not sufficiently establish the cash transactions. The tribunal observed that proper cross-examination of involved parties was not conducted.

If you are new to value investing, you should acquaint yourself with this style of investing and its merits and demerits. A value investor tries to choose stocks that are available at cheaper valuations. These investors employ various ratios and methodology to identify such stocks. Essentially, they look for stocks that are available at a discount to their real or intrinsic value. Simply put, it means the market hasn't discovered the true potential of these stocks and they are available at a dis

Thinking about joining the National Pension System (NPS)? The choice you make between accessing e-NPS or utilizing a Point of Presence (PoP) can greatly influence your overall costs for years to come. Grasping the fee structures associated with PoP and any potential extra charges is vital for both newcomers and seasoned subscribers. Uncover the best approach for your retirement investments.

Manjeet Singh Patel has alleged serious financial irregularities concerning the National Pension System Trust. He has requested a high-level audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Patel asserts that many employees' NPS investments have turned negative due to poor market performance. He demands the implementation of a guaranteed minimum return on employee contributions.

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that all train tickets must include mandatory travel insurance starting October 27, 2026. This decision applies to both online tickets purchased through IRCTC and offline tickets available at railway counters. The travel insurance will provide significant financial support in the event of accidents or emergencies for passengers.

Holiday on Maha Saptami Puja: Bankers in West Bengal are appealing for an additional holiday on October 17 to celebrate Maha Saptami Puja. While days off are currently set from October 18 to 21, the absence of a holiday on the 17th has prompted the All India Bank Officers' Confederation to reach out to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Delhi property tax: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has introduced SUNIYO 2.0, an amnesty scheme for homeowners with unpaid property taxes. Taxpayers are required to pay only the principal amount for the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2020-21 to 2024-25. All previous interest and penalties for tax dues before 2020-21 will be waived completely. Property owners must take advantage of this scheme before the deadline of December 31, 2026, which has been extended from September 30, 2026.

The EPFO has extended the September 2026 ECR filing deadline for employers from October 15 to October 31, following the increase in the PF wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. Employers must calculate contributions using the applicable wage ceilings. Meanwhile, eligible establishments can apply under the EPFO Amnesty Scheme 2026 for retrospective regularisation of exempt PF trusts by December 28, 2026.

Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) strategies received total inflows of Rs 7,578 crore in September, compared with Rs 7,699 crore in August.

Around 275 unique stocks were held by only one mutual fund house in September 2026. Among these, several stocks had holdings worth over Rs 100 crore, led by Network People Services Technologies, Marathon Nextgen Realty and Vindhya Telelinks.

Wife wins divorce and Rs 10,000 monthly maintenance after proving husband is incapacitated from having physical relationship; Kerala HC order explained

Seven equity mutual funds across large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap categories have multiplied investor wealth over 10 times in 20 years, according to FundsIndia's Wealth Conversations Report. Nippon India Growth Mid Cap Fund led gains, expanding money 18.4 times with a 15.7% CAGR over the two-decade period.

Around 10 equity mutual funds managed assets worth over Rs 60,000 crore each as of September 2026, with four crossing the Rs 1 lakh crore mark. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund topped the list with an AUM of Rs 1.45 lakh crore.

JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund made complete exits from 18 stocks, including Eternal and Ashok Leyland, in September 2026, while trimming stakes in RIL, HDFC Bank, and 32 others. Managed by Tanvi Kacheria and Sahil Chaudhary, the scheme added 19 new stocks with total AUM standing at Rs 3,175 crore.

Property owner inherits mothers land, converts it into freehold, DDA grants mutation, redevelops it, gets Rs 75 lakh from builder, pays no tax, gets tax notice, wins case in ITAT Delhi.

Husband and wife both of them put their name on houses title deed, but wifes father paid for it and even he gave 5000 Saudi Rials to him but marriage broke; Kerala HC orders him to vacate the house

As retirement approaches, investors must prioritize sustainable income from their portfolios. Take, for example, a 59-year-old managing Rs 1.51 crore, seeking Rs 16,000 monthly via a systematic withdrawal plan. Experts suggest portfolio reallocation and asset diversification among fund houses. By structuring investments into three distinct categories based on cash flow, investors can better navigate withdrawals, reducing the risk associated with liquidating assets during market dips while ensuri

Focused mutual funds have a concentrated portfolio. That means that the fund manager will choose stocks based on his or her conviction and take a meaningful exposure in the stock. Such investments can pay off handsomely if the call goes right. However, if a few calls go wrong, the scheme will suffer a lot. This is the trouble with concentrated bets.

Specialised Investment Funds, or SIFs, have quickly become popular among investors in just one year. They offer flexibility and strategies beyond traditional mutual funds, which appeals to many investors. As of September 2026, the assets under management for SIFs reached Rs 38,224 crore. A notable trend is the interest in hybrid and multi-asset strategies catering to shifting market conditions.