The reduction in goods & services tax (GST) on individual life and health insurance premiums has been called a "landmark step" for making insurance affordable and inclusive. In a panel discussion at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025, Anup Bagchi, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance; Mahesh Balasubramanian, MD & CEO of Kotak Life Insurance; Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO of Bajaj Life Insurance; and Ratnakar Patnaik, MD of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), listed what else the industry needs to reach more people.
Markets regulator Sebi has ordered the attachment of bank accounts and shares and mutual fund holdings of absconding diamantaire Mehul Choksi to recover dues totalling Rs 2.1 crore in a case of violation of insider trading rules in the shares of Gitanjali Gems.
IOC resumes funding to IOA after "corrective measures" to resolve disputes and governance issues
Ask rediffGURU and PF and MF expert Janak Patel your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
'Sebi's measures are necessary to align the derivatives market with its underlying cash market, as the current disconnect is unsustainable.'
'A dynamic bond fund acts like a gilt fund in a rate cut scenario and like a conservative short-term bond fund when rates rise.'
'For most investors, I recommend a low double-digit allocation (10 to 12 per cent) to gold and silver combined.'
Every 1 per cent per annum of investment costs is a matter of life or death, points out Avinash Luthria.
After overtaking foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in market ownership, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have further solidified their dominance. DII ownership reached a new all-time high of 17.82 per cent as of June 2025, up from 17.62 per cent at the end of March 2025, according to an analysis by Prime Database.
The interplay between domestic and foreign capital will shape India's equity markets.
A retired banker in Delhi lost his entire life savings, amounting to Rs 23 crore, to cyber fraudsters who posed as ED and CBI officers. The victim was kept under 'digital arrest' for over a month and forced to transfer funds under duress.
Ask rediffGURU and PF and MF expert Janak Patel your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
As a prudent investor who wants to create a portfolio that will help you achieve your investment objective in a time-bound manner, Suren Kochhar explains what you should know.
Real wealth isn't built on random bets; it's built on disciplined, guided portfolio strategies that can withstand market ups and downs, says Ramalingam Kalirajan.
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Milind Vadjikar your insurance, stocks, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Milind Vadjikar your insurance, stocks, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
rediffGURU Dev Ashish answers your personal finance and mutual fund queries.
New investor additions by mutual funds (MFs) have slowed dramatically in recent months, indicating that market correction and a rise in volatility are somewhat dimming the appeal of equity schemes. MFs have onboarded 300,000 new investors in April 2025, the lowest in 22 months.
Around 60 per cent of India's Uber rich wealth is still parked in real estate and gold, according to a report by Bernstein. Uber rich individuals includes Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNI), High Net Worth Individuals (HNI), and the Affluent class.
Here's how to own your dream home without paying excessive interest on your EMIs.
If a fund manager moves on to another fund or resigns from the concerned asset management company, is that a sign to sell your holdings in the fund or discontinue your SIP? Read on...
From appointment letters becoming mandatory to gig workers receiving social security to enhanced rights for women and contract labour, the changes reflect India's attempt to balance ease of doing business with stronger worker welfare.
Ask rediffGURU and PF and MF expert Janak Patel your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
The current debt market scenario is balanced from rates perspective.
The majority of active largecap funds are set to outperform for the second year in a row in 2024, thanks to the strong performance of their midcap and smallcap allocations.
'Most tax notices arise not from wrongdoing, but from unintentional mismatch or ignorance.'
'The danger is that when the music stops, the fall will be sudden, faster, and deeper than anyone expects,' warns Debashis Basu.
More than 50 per cent of SIP accounts come from semi-urban and rural areas.
In January, SIP account closures surpassed new registrations for the first time.
'Market momentum and investor interest are at unprecedented levels, making this the opportune moment.'
'The problem is that the bubble may not only be in valuations, but also in investors' minds.'
The proposed guidelines cover several key parameters, including governance, investor protection, disclosure, testing frameworks, fairness and bias, and data privacy and cybersecurity measures.
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Nitin Narkhede your mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
One should avoid keeping excessive funds in one's savings account.
'A balanced portfolio mix of domestic and international equity, fixed income, and precious metals is recommended.'
The tax department has created many circular traps -- flawed reporting formats, penalties for those who point out the flaws, and faceless assessors with no accountability. The result: Millions of taxpayers face needless harassment and procedural dead ends, highlights Harsh Roongta.
'Understand your financial goals. Next, categorise them by size. Then evaluate your investment options.'
Ask rediffGURU and PF expert Milind Vadjikar your insurance, stocks, mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.
Investing is not just about setting aside money -- it's about making it work for you, says Ramalingam Kalirajan.
The eighth Budget of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman continued to focus on 'GYAN' (Garib, Youth, Annadata, Nari) to maintain a consistent and coherent strategy initiated over the years in pursuing the government's vision for Viksit Bharat. The approach, characterised by incremental yet impactful steps, aims to create a compounding effect over time.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances