india
26 articles about india.
EPF vs NPS vs PPF: The Three-Way Retirement Comparison for Salaried IndiansStep-by-step comparison of EPF, NPS, and PPF — contributions, interest rates, lock-in, withdrawal rules, tax treatment at maturity, and how to combine all three for a robust retirement plan.5 June 2026 · 5 min read
TDS on Rent Above ₹50,000: What Tenants Must Do Before the DeadlineMost tenants believe TDS on rent is the landlord's problem. It isn't. If you pay monthly rent above ₹50,000, the obligation to deduct, deposit, and file falls entirely on you — and the penalties for non-compliance are steep.3 June 2026 · 5 min read
How Your CIBIL Score Is Calculated — and the 5 Factors That Actually Move ItFAQ-style explainer: what makes up a CIBIL TransUnion score, why it matters for home and personal loans, which behaviours increase it fastest, and what actually hurts it that most people don't know about.1 June 2026 · 6 min read
NPS vs Mutual Funds for Retirement: Which Builds More Wealth in 2026?Side-by-side comparison of NPS and mutual funds for long-term retirement investing — returns, tax benefits under 80CCD, lock-in, annuity obligation, withdrawal rules, and a verdict for different investor profiles.30 May 2026 · 5 min read
Your SIP Return Is Not CAGR — Understanding XIRR and Why the Difference Is Larger Than You ThinkMost mutual fund investors confuse fund NAV growth (CAGR) with their personal return (XIRR). For SIPs, the gap can be 3–5 percentage points. Here's the math, a worked example, and how to calculate your actual return in minutes.27 May 2026 · 6 min read
ELSS vs PPF: Which Section 80C Option Actually Wins in FY2026-27?With RBI cutting rates 50 bps in 2025–26 and PPF at 7.1%, the ELSS vs PPF calculus has shifted. Here's which ₹1.5 lakh 80C investment makes more sense now — with 10-year return data, lock-in comparison, and tax treatment side by side.25 May 2026 · 6 min read
Capital Gains Tax on Mutual Funds FY2025-26: New Rates, the ₹1.25L Exemption, and How to FileFinance Act 2024 changed LTCG on equity funds to 12.5% and STCG to 20% from July 23, 2024. Here's exactly what rate applies to your gains, how to claim the ₹1.25 lakh exemption, and how to report in ITR-2 this season.18 May 2026 · 14 min read
HDFC AMC Reports Cybersecurity Incident: What It Means for Your Mutual Fund InvestmentsHDFC AMC has disclosed a cybersecurity incident and activated containment protocols. Here's what happened, whether your mutual fund units are at risk, what data AMCs hold about you, and the exact steps to take right now.18 May 2026 · 11 min read
Form 26AS vs AIS: How to Read, Match, and Fix Discrepancies Before Filing ITRMost taxpayers file ITR using only Form 26AS — but the department already sees your savings interest, dividends, MF redemptions, and property deals via AIS. Here's how to read both, spot mismatches before July 31, and submit feedback when AIS is wrong.16 May 2026 · 14 min read
Your 2008 Mutual Fund May Be Silently Bleeding Money — Here's What Happened and How to Fix ItAgents in 2008 enrolled investors in dividend payout plans, left wrong bank details, and misspelled names. 15–20 years later, lakhs sit in money market accounts earning 4% instead of 12%+. Full recovery guide.16 May 2026 · 18 min read
Best Fixed Deposit Rates in India — May 2026: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Small Finance Banks ComparedBank FD rates are falling as the RBI cuts the repo rate. Here's where rates stand in May 2026, which banks still offer the best returns, and whether to lock in now before the next cut hits.15 May 2026 · 11 min read
How to File ITR Online for FY2025-26 (AY 2026-27): Step-by-Step GuideITR filing for FY2025-26 is open. Deadline: July 31, 2026. Here's exactly how to file online — which ITR form to choose, documents needed, regime selection, and common mistakes that trigger notices.15 May 2026 · 14 min read
Old vs new tax regime: which one saves you more in FY2026-27?The new tax regime is now the default in India — but it's not automatically better for everyone. Here's the exact break-even analysis to find out which regime saves you more.14 May 2026 · 10 min read
How to build a ₹1 crore corpus with SIP: a step-by-step 2026 guideBuilding ₹1 crore through SIP is more achievable than most investors think. Here's exactly how much to invest, for how long, and which assumptions to stress-test before you commit.14 May 2026 · 10 min read
Gold and Silver Import Duty Just Jumped to 15%: What Every Buyer, Investor, and SIP Holder Should Do NowThe government raised gold and silver import duty to 15% effective May 13, 2026 — up from 6%. Here's the real ₹ impact on jewellery, ETFs, and gold SIPs.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
Sovereign Gold Bond Matures at 382%: What 2018 SGB Investors Are Taking Home in 2026The SGB 2018-19 Series 1 matures in May 2026, delivering over 382% total returns to investors who bought at ₹3,114 in 2018. Here's the full calculation, the tax treatment, and whether gold as an asset class still makes sense for new investors.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
April CPI Prints at 3.48%: What India's Borrowers and Savers Should Do Right NowIndia's April retail inflation came in at 3.48% — well below the 4% RBI target. Here's the real ₹ impact on your home loan EMI, FD returns, and monthly fuel budget.12 May 2026 · 8 min read
Home Loan Rates Fall to 7.10% in May 2026: Is Now the Right Time to Buy a House?Home loan rates are at multi-year lows following the RBI's 125 bps rate cut cycle. Best rates now start at 7.10%. Here's what this means for affordability, whether to buy vs. rent, and how to get the best rate.12 May 2026 · 9 min read
New Income Tax Act 2025: ₹12 Lakh Zero Tax, 8-City HRA, and What Changed from April 2026India's new Income Tax Act 2025 is live from April 1, 2026. Here's what actually changed: the ₹12 lakh threshold, expanded HRA cities, doubled senior citizen deductions, and how to calculate whether old or new regime saves you more.11 May 2026 · 9 min read
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25%: What It Means for Your Home Loan EMI in 2026The RBI has cut the repo rate by 125 basis points since 2025, bringing it to 5.25%. Here's the exact rupee impact on your home loan, car loan, and personal loan EMIs — and whether you should switch lenders.11 May 2026 · 9 min read
CII Wants the ₹10 Fuel Excise Cut Rolled Back: What It Means for Your Petrol BillThe Confederation of Indian Industry has proposed a gradual rollback of the ₹10/litre fuel excise reduction. Here's the real ₹ impact on your monthly fuel spend.10 May 2026 · 8 min read
PPF at 7.1%, NSC at 7.7%: Small Savings Rates Frozen for April–June 2026 — What This MeansThe government has kept PPF, NSC, Sukanya Samriddhi, and other small savings rates unchanged for the April–June 2026 quarter — the eighth consecutive quarter without a change. Here's what current rates look like, why they're frozen, and how to use them in your portfolio.10 May 2026 · 9 min read
EPF Interest Rate 2025-26 Stays at 8.25%: When It Gets Credited and What It's WorthEPFO has kept the EPF interest rate at 8.25% for FY 2025-26 for the second year running. Here's when the interest will be credited to your account, how the calculation works, and whether your EPF is actually earning what you think it is.9 May 2026 · 8 min read
India's SIP Crosses ₹32,000 Crore in March 2026: What This Milestone Means for Your InvestmentsIndian retail investors pumped ₹32,087 crore into SIPs in March 2026 — a new record. 9.72 crore SIP accounts are now active. Here's what this wave of money means for your existing SIP and whether you should be increasing your contribution.8 May 2026 · 8 min read
SIP vs Lump Sum Investment: Which Builds More Wealth in 2026?SIP and lump sum both grow money — but which is right for you depends on market conditions, your cash flow, and your risk tolerance. Here's the honest breakdown.7 May 2026 · 9 min read
We just shipped 17 new finance calculators — full Groww parity, all client-sideFrom XIRR to APY to Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana — Stax now covers every calculator on Groww's catalog, with the same math but zero server-side processing of your numbers.6 May 2026 · 8 min read