Plain-English guides to income tax, investing, retirement, loans and savings in India.https://smartfigure.in/blog/en-INFri, 02 Oct 2026 08:30:00 GMThttps://smartfigure.in/blog/sebi-board-meeting-september-2026-pms-rules-investors/https://smartfigure.in/blog/sebi-board-meeting-september-2026-pms-rules-investors/SEBI approved new PMS rules, a faster settlement process and a common advertisement code on 24 September 2026. What each decision means for ordinary investors.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsebi board meetingsebi september 2026pms rules 2026portfolio management servicessebi advertisement codesebi settlementprimaccredited investorsmutual fundshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/gst-collections-september-2026-2-04-lakh-crore/https://smartfigure.in/blog/gst-collections-september-2026-2-04-lakh-crore/Gross GST collections rose 14.7% to ₹2.04 lakh crore in September 2026, a third month above ₹2 lakh crore. The numbers, state-wise data and what it means.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxgst collectionsgst collection september 2026gst revenuegross gstnet gstgst datastate wise gstindirect taxhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/nps-swasthya-launched-health-cover-pension-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/nps-swasthya-launched-health-cover-pension-2026/PFRDA launched NPS Swasthya on 1 October 2026: an NPS account plus super top-up health cover up to ₹30 lakh and medical withdrawals. How it works, who it suits.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganRetirementnps swasthyanps health insurancepfrdasuper top-upnps diwasnps medical withdrawalhealth insuranceretirement planninghttps://smartfigure.in/blog/nps-new-charges-october-2026-pop-fee/https://smartfigure.in/blog/nps-new-charges-october-2026-pop-fee/From 1 October 2026, NPS accounts run through a bank or agent pay a ₹200 joining fee and 0.20% of the corpus a year. Who pays, who is exempt, how to avoid it.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 05:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganRetirementnps chargesnps pop chargesnps new rules october 2026pfrda circulare-npsnps feesnps litenps vatsalyapoint of presencehttps://smartfigure.in/blog/itr-deadline-extended-tax-audit-21-november-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/itr-deadline-extended-tax-audit-21-november-2026/CBDT has moved the tax audit report deadline to 21 October 2026 and the ITR deadline for audit cases to 21 November. Who gets the extra time, and who does not.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxitr deadline extendedtax audit due datecbdt extensionitr due date ay 2026-27section 44abtax audit reportincome tax return21 november 2026https://smartfigure.in/blog/sip-inflows-record-august-2026-what-it-means/https://smartfigure.in/blog/sip-inflows-record-august-2026-what-it-means/India’s SIP contributions hit a record ₹32,297 crore in August 2026 and accounts crossed 10 crore. What the AMFI data shows, and what to take from it.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsipmutual fundsamfi datasip inflowssmall cap fundsmid cap fundssystematic investment planhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/income-tax-refund-delay-2026-how-to-check/https://smartfigure.in/blog/income-tax-refund-delay-2026-how-to-check/ITR filing for FY 2025-26 is over and refunds are due. Why refunds get stuck — TDS mismatch, unvalidated bank accounts, NUDGE checks — and how to track yours.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxincome tax refunditr refund statusrefund delaytds mismatchsection 244acpcitr processingnudge campaignhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/sebi-new-etf-trading-rules-september-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/sebi-new-etf-trading-rules-september-2026/From 7 September 2026, SEBI moved ETF price bands to a T-1 VWAP base and made them dynamic. What changed for equity, gold and silver ETF investors.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsebietfetf rulesprice bandgold etfsilver etfindex fundsmutual fundshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/epf-interest-825-percent-fy26-credited/https://smartfigure.in/blog/epf-interest-825-percent-fy26-credited/EPFO has been crediting 8.25% interest for FY 2025-26 since mid-2026. How to check your passbook, when to expect the entry, and what to do if it is missing.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 06:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganRetirementepf interest rateepfopf passbookepf interest 2025-26uanprovident fundepfo grievancehttps://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-2fa-international-card-payments-october-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-2fa-international-card-payments-october-2026/From 1 October 2026, RBI requires an extra authentication step on foreign card payments. What changes, why some needed no OTP before, and what to check now.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 05:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganBanking & Paymentsrbi 2fa rulesinternational transactionscredit card otpcard not presentafa authenticationforeign subscriptions october 2026https://smartfigure.in/blog/silver-price-record-september-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/silver-price-record-september-2026/Silver has climbed past ₹2.5 lakh a kilogram in September 2026, outpacing gold. What is driving the rally, how it compares with gold, and how to invest in it.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 04:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsilver pricesilver rate todaysilver vs golddhanteras 2026silver etfdigital silvermcx silverhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/new-rules-from-1-october-2026-money-changes/https://smartfigure.in/blog/new-rules-from-1-october-2026-money-changes/From 1 October 2026: biometric Aadhaar for LPG subsidy, RBI FD rules, NRI property TDS by PAN, SBI withdrawal charges and NPS Swasthya. What to do about each.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganBanking & Paymentsnew rules from 1 october 2026october 2026 changeslpg ekyclpg subsidy aadhaarfd rulessbi chargesnps swasthyarule changeshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/small-savings-interest-rates-october-december-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/small-savings-interest-rates-october-december-2026/The government sets PPF, SSY, SCSS, NSC and post office rates for October–December 2026 on 30 September. Current rates, what bond yields suggest, what to do.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 05:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganSavingssmall savings interest ratesppf interest ratessy interest ratescss interest ratepost office interest ratesnsckvpoctober december 2026https://smartfigure.in/blog/bank-strike-28-30-september-2026-what-works/https://smartfigure.in/blog/bank-strike-28-30-september-2026-what-works/Bank unions strike on 28, 29 and 30 September 2026. Which banks are shut, why PSU banks open on Sunday 27 September, and what still works: UPI, ATMs, NEFT.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganBanking & Paymentsbank strikebank strike september 2026ufbu strikefive day bankingbank closedsbi strikebank open sundayupi during bank strikehttps://smartfigure.in/blog/bank-holidays-october-2026-list/https://smartfigure.in/blog/bank-holidays-october-2026-list/Banks are shut 8 to 10 days in October 2026 depending on your city. Dates for Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra and Durga Puja, weekend closures and what still works.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:48:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganBanking & Paymentsbank holidays october 2026rbi holiday listbank holiday todaydussehra bank holidaygandhi jayantidurga puja bank holidaybanks closedhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/missed-itr-deadline-belated-return-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/missed-itr-deadline-belated-return-2026/The ITR due dates for FY 2025-26 have passed. You can still file a belated return until 31 December 2026. Late fee, interest, what you lose and how to file.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:45:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxitr filingbelated returnitr last datelate fee 234fitr-uupdated returnincome tax returnsection 139(4)https://smartfigure.in/blog/da-hike-july-2026-63-percent-central-government-employees/https://smartfigure.in/blog/da-hike-july-2026-63-percent-central-government-employees/DA is 60% now and the July 2026 revision works out to 63%, a 3-point rise. What is confirmed, the pay and arrears by level, and when Cabinet may decide.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:40:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganSalary & Workda hikedearness allowancecentral government employees7th pay commissiondr pensionerscpi-iwda arrears8th pay commissionhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/petrol-diesel-lpg-price-hike-2026-what-changed/https://smartfigure.in/blog/petrol-diesel-lpg-price-hike-2026-what-changed/Petrol and diesel rose about ₹7 a litre in four hikes in May 2026, and LPG is up ₹89 a cylinder. Latest city prices, why $100 crude matters and what may come.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:35:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganSavingspetrol price todaydiesel price todaylpg cylinder pricefuel price hike 2026crude oilcng priceinflationstrait of hormuzhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-policy-october-2026-repo-rate-hike-emi/https://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-policy-october-2026-repo-rate-hike-emi/The RBI decides on the repo rate after 5–7 October 2026. Why a hike is being discussed, what it would do to your EMI in rupees, and what to do now.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:50:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganLoansrbi policyrepo raterbi rate hikehome loan emimpc october 2026floating rate loanfd ratesinflationhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/irdai-commission-cap-insurance-distribution-draft-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/irdai-commission-cap-insurance-distribution-draft-2026/IRDAI has proposed caps on insurance commissions and tighter expense limits, open for comments until 25 October 2026. What it means for your premium.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:45:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingirdaiinsurance commissionlife insurancehealth insuranceterm insurancemis-sellingpolicybazaarinsurance premiumhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/epfo-wage-ceiling-25000-pf-take-home-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/epfo-wage-ceiling-25000-pf-take-home-2026/The Cabinet raised the EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026. Who is covered, PF math and the effect on take-home pay.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:40:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganRetirementepfowage ceilingepfprovident fundpf contributiontake home salaryeps pensionepfo 25000https://smartfigure.in/blog/sensex-nifty-fall-24-september-2026-why/https://smartfigure.in/blog/sensex-nifty-fall-24-september-2026-why/Sensex fell 1,248 points and Nifty closed at 23,063 on 24 September 2026. Why it happened, what to do with your SIPs and mutual funds, and what to avoid.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:35:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsensex todaynifty todaystock market crashwhy market is fallingcrude oilus bond yieldfpi sellingsip in falling marketmutual fundshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/nri-property-sale-tds-pan-no-tan-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/nri-property-sale-tds-pan-no-tan-2026/From 1 October 2026, buyers can pay TDS on property bought from an NRI using their PAN, without a TAN. What changes, TDS rates, and the steps to follow.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:10:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxnritdsproperty saletanpancapital gainsbudget 2026real estatehttps://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-new-fd-rules-october-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-new-fd-rules-october-2026/From 1 October 2026, banks must pay the same FD rate at every branch and publish bulk deposit rates daily by 10 am. What changed and what it means for you.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganSavingsfixed depositfd rulesrbifd interest ratesbulk depositssenior citizensbank depositshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/sebi-nomination-rules-demat-mutual-funds-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/sebi-nomination-rules-demat-mutual-funds-2026/From 1 September 2026, new single-holder demat accounts and mutual fund folios need a nominee or an opt-out. Who it applies to, what changed and how to add one.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsebinominationnomineedemat accountmutual fundfoliotransmissionestate planninghttps://smartfigure.in/blog/gold-price-navratri-dhanteras-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/gold-price-navratri-dhanteras-2026/Gold is near ₹1.56 lakh per 10 g ahead of Navratri and Dhanteras 2026. What is moving the price, the real cost of jewellery, and cheaper ways to own gold.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 03:45:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestinggold pricegold rate todaynavratri 2026dhanteras 2026diwali 2026gold etfdigital goldjewelleryhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-60-day-debit-hold-mule-accounts/https://smartfigure.in/blog/rbi-60-day-debit-hold-mule-accounts/RBI’s draft lets banks block debits for up to 60 days on accounts suspected of carrying fraud money. When a hold can happen, your rights, and how to avoid it.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 03:30:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganBanking & Paymentsrbimoney mulecyber fraudaccount freezedebit holdkycbank accountdigital arresthttps://smartfigure.in/blog/8th-pay-commission-salary-hike-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/8th-pay-commission-salary-hike-2026/Where the 8th Pay Commission stands in September 2026, what fitment factor to expect, how much your salary could rise, and when arrears may be paid.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:20:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganSalary & Work8th pay commission8th cpcfitment factordearness allowancecentral government employeespensionhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/us-fed-rate-hike-september-2026-india/https://smartfigure.in/blog/us-fed-rate-hike-september-2026-india/The US Federal Reserve hiked rates for the first time since 2023. How it affects the rupee, Indian stocks, your loans, FDs, gold and money you send abroad.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:20:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingus fedfederal reserveinterest ratesrupeefpirbirepo rategoldhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/gratuity-new-labour-codes-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/gratuity-new-labour-codes-2026/Gratuity changed in November 2025: fixed-term staff now qualify after 1 year, and higher basic pay raises payouts. What changed and how to calculate it.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganSalary & Workgratuitylabour codescode on social securitysalaryhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/hra-exemption-new-metro-cities/https://smartfigure.in/blog/hra-exemption-new-metro-cities/Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad now count as metros for HRA, raising the tax-free limit from 40% to 50% of salary. How it works, with examples.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxhrahouse rent allowanceincome taxmetro citieshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/new-upi-charges-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/new-upi-charges-2026/NPCI will charge 0.4% on some UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000 from 15 October 2026. Who pays, who is exempt, and why your UPI stays free.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganBanking & Paymentsupinpcimdrdigital paymentsupi chargeshttps://smartfigure.in/blog/nps-withdrawal-rules-2026/https://smartfigure.in/blog/nps-withdrawal-rules-2026/NPS now lets non-government subscribers take up to 80% as a lump sum. See the new exit rules, tax on withdrawals and what they mean for your pension.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganRetirementnpsnational pension systempfrdaretirementannuityhttps://smartfigure.in/blog/old-vs-new-tax-regime-2026-27/https://smartfigure.in/blog/old-vs-new-tax-regime-2026-27/Old or new tax regime for 2026-27? Compare slabs, deductions and the exact break-even point for your salary, with worked examples and a free calculator.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganIncome Taxincome taxnew tax regimeold tax regimetax year 2026-27https://smartfigure.in/blog/sip-vs-fd/https://smartfigure.in/blog/sip-vs-fd/SIP or fixed deposit? Compare returns, risk, tax and liquidity with real numbers for 5, 10 and 20 years, and find out which suits your goal.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBalaji AnbazhaganInvestingsipfixed depositmutual fundsrecurring deposit