Finance News

Private life insurers see early signs of recovery in credit life business

In a post-earnings analyst call, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance's management said the MFI-linked credit life segment has begun to revive during the quarter

RBI asks banks to stay open on March 31 to close FY26 govt accounts

RBI says banks handling government receipts and payments will remain open on March 31, 2026, to ensure all transactions are accounted for in FY26

Income Tax dept aims to dispose of over 200,000 CIT(A) appeals in FY26

Building on last year's clearance of 172K cases, I-T department is pushing for faster appeal disposals, penalty reforms and system-driven processes to curb litigation and boost tax certainty

STT hike clouds trading volume growth outlook and revenue targets

Last year, the government had projected a record Rs 78,000 crore in STT collections for the ongoing fiscal, a figure that has since been cut by 18 per cent amid a sharp decline in trading volumes

Dividend yield funds suit moderate-risk investors seeking lower volatility

These schemes invest in high-dividend stocks to cushion downside volatility, but they can underperform growth-oriented equity funds during strong bull market phases

Supreme Court to examine tax treatment of delayed PF, ESI deposits

Top court agrees to hear plea on whether employees' PF and ESI contributions deposited late can still qualify for tax deduction if paid before I-T return filing

Warburg Pincus backed Vistaar Finance raises INR 400 Crs in debt financing from British International Investment

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Festival demand, GST 2.0 lifted credit card spend in Apr-Dec FY26

Dec spends rebound to top Rs 2 trillion; 2025 added 7.72 million cards

RBI outlines resolution framework for loans hit by natural calamities

The framework also factors in decisions of the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) and District Consultative Committee (DCC)

PFRDA launches NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme under regulatory sandbox

PFRDA has approved a pilot NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme under its regulatory sandbox to test health-linked benefits, allowing medical withdrawals and premature exits for treatment

Housing finance must be part of India's next economic reforms agenda

India's six largest cities contribute nearly half to housing and mortgage volumes but lenders with scale shy away from deeper geographies

Budget 2026-27: Insurance industry bats for income tax relief for premiums

Insurers also seek an increase in threshold for taxing maturity proceeds of high-value policies

Moderate-risk investors may choose balanced advantage funds for 2026

Balanced advantage funds offer equity participation with lower volatility through dynamic asset allocation, though they are not risk-free and returns can turn negative over the short term

NPS reforms: Panel set up on assured payouts, Vatsalya exit norms eased

Pension regulator overhauling National Pension System to introduce assured payouts and flexible withdrawal norms, aiming to bridge the gap between long-term savings and immediate liquidity needs

PFRDA forms expert committee to frame assured payout mechanism under NPS

PFRDA CHAIrman S Ramann saiD Access to Pension Products is essential for every Citizen as long-term financial security cannot be left to chance

Linking credit to health protection not charity but self-development: CEA

Nageswaran called for mainstream banks to not merely be spectators to the process of formalisation of the economy but to actively absorb new proven borrowers into their core portfolios

HDFC Bank debit card lounge access rules change: Vouchers now mandatory

Complimentary airport lounge visits now require voucher claim, not just a card swipe

Diversify your portfolio to guard against asset class leadership rotation

Investors can reduce the volatility that can arise from high exposure to a single asset class and earn sound risk-adjusted returns using a periodic table

Buying a car? Check out the best car loans available across lenders

If you are looking to buy a car before the Budget, here are the best loan rates available across lenders to help you make an informed decision

India's branded residences boom: Prestige, pricing and pitfalls

As branded residences gain ground in India's luxury housing market, buyers are paying hefty premiums for global names. But services, contracts and developer credibility matter more than logos