Personal Finance

The hike is likely to provide limited but welcome relief amid rising living costs.

For those opting for the old regime, Section 80C remains one of the most widely used provisions for tax savings, allowing deductions up to Rs 1.5 lakh on certain investments.

Depositing a lump-sum amount in the scheme between 1 April and 5 April is considered beneficial.

SBI Vs HDFC Vs ICICI Vs Yes Bank: Fixed deposits offer stability and guaranteed returns, which remain their biggest strength.

Earlier, this benefit was not allowed under the new tax regime, but the revised rule removes that restriction from FY27.

For long-term investing, PPF often outperforms FDs due to tax-free returns and compounding benefits, despite similar interest rates.

EPFO has clearly stated that it does not ask for sensitive information through calls, messages, or social media.

Achieving the goal demands a long-term mindset and consistency in action.

A Rs 5 crore retirement corpus can comfortably last 25–35+ years if managed with a 4-5% annual withdrawal rate.

PPF is a long-term savings scheme with a minimum lock-in period of 15 years.

The Cabinet recently announced 2% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees

While higher pay in big cities seems like the obvious win, the picture looks different once expenses kick in.

Mutual fund investors often buy on recommendations from mutual fund distributors/agents/brokers or follow unqualified advice from family, friends, and relatives, rather than carefully reading the scheme information document.

Step-Up SIP means you increase your monthly investment slightly each year, usually by 5 to 10%.

After retirement, EPF savings can support daily expenses and maintain a stable lifestyle without dependence on others. 

Choosing an SIP date based on market timing offers negligible benefits. Consistency and discipline matter far more for long-term wealth creation.

Depositors can now earn 7.40% a year on investments locked in for 31 to 60 months, with 7.75% rate available to older investors. 

Under the new rules, users will receive mandatory pre-debit notifications before any automatic payment is processed.

Mutual fund schemes have daily options, offering more flexibility compared to other instruments through systematic investment plans (SIP).

A Rs 3,000 monthly SIP for your child can grow to Rs 22.96 lakh in 18 years. See how small, consistent investing builds a strong future fund.