Blog
India’s Reform Year in Review: How 2025 Quietly Reset the Rules of Work, Money and Markets
2025 did not deliver one headline reform.It delivered many, in quick succession. Over the course of the year, India pushed through changes that normally arrive over several budget cycles. Some were triggered by global pressures. Others reflected long-pending domestic...
Choosing Between the Old and New Tax Regime: What Salaried Employees Should Evaluate Before Submitting Investment Proofs
As employers begin the annual process of collecting investment declarations and proofs, salaried employees are required to indicate whether they wish to be taxed under the old tax regime or the new tax regime for TDS purposes. This is not a mere administrative choice....
Union Budget 2026 and Crypto Taxation: What Market Participants Are Seeking and Why It Matters
As preparations for Union Budget 2026 gather pace, the taxation of virtual digital assets (VDAs) has once again come into focus. Since 2022, India has adopted a strict tax-first approach to crypto assets, characterised by high tax rates, transaction-level levies, and...
2026: The Year Indian Startups Stop Experimenting and Start Compounding
Indian startups are entering a different phase.The past few years were about testing ideas, chasing growth, and proving adoption.2026 looks like the year those experiments harden into systems. Across finance, manufacturing, commerce, and services, a few clear shifts...
Investing in Direct Mutual Funds for a Child: Process, Documentation and Practical Considerations
Many parents and guardians look to mutual funds to build long-term wealth for a child’s future needs such as education, business capital, or financial security. Direct mutual fund plans, in particular, are often preferred due to their lower expense ratios and better...
Sovereign Gold Bond Series IX (2020–21): Premature Redemption on 5 January 2026 and Tax Implications
The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2020–21 Series IX, which completes five years on 5 January 2026. Investors holding this series are eligible to exit at the notified price, which reflects a substantial...
₹500 currency notes remain valid: Clarifying rumours on ATM withdrawal and demonetisation
In recent weeks, messages circulating on social media have claimed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will stop dispensing ₹500 notes from ATMs, or discontinue their circulation altogether, by March 2026. These claims have led to avoidable concern among the public....
India–Singapore DTAA and mutual fund capital gains: What the Mumbai ITAT ruling means for Singapore tax residents investing in Indian MFs
A recent Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Mumbai ruling has held that capital gains earned by a Singapore tax resident from redemption/sale of units of Indian mutual funds can fall under the residuary capital gains clause of the India–Singapore DTAA, and...
Key Financial and Compliance Changes from January 2026: What Individuals and Businesses Should Prepare For
From 1 January 2026, a series of regulatory and financial changes will come into effect across taxation, employment compensation, banking, digital payments, and consumer finance. While none of these changes are disruptive in isolation, taken together they will affect...
Using an Income Tax Calculator for Investment and Financial Planning Decisions
An income tax calculator is commonly used to estimate tax payable for a financial year. However, when used early and thoughtfully, it can also serve as a practical planning tool. It helps individuals understand how income, deductions, and investments interact, and how...