Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee engaged in a war of words during election rallies, with Modi accusing the TMC of supporting divisive forces and Banerjee alleging the BJP plans to divide the state.
Rediff explains why the system, not the Budget, is the problem.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a new unemployment allowance of Rs 1,500 per month for young job seekers in the state, starting March 7. The announcement comes ahead of the assembly elections and aims to support unemployed youth aged 21-40 who have passed their secondary exams.
Kerala is set to hold its Assembly election, with the ruling LDF aiming for a historic third term, the UDF seeking a comeback, and the NDA striving to gain a foothold in the state's political landscape.
The improvement in the performance of actively managed mutual fund (MF) schemes is acting as a key tailwind for the nearly Rs 50 trillion industry, Kotak Institutional Equities (KIE) said in a report. The report adds that the two largest listed asset management companies (AMCs) - HDFC and Nippon India - are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries. "The industry has a solid track record of delivering alpha on 10-year returns (70-80 per cent of assets under management (AUM) beat the benchmark), with shorter duration performance also on an upswing.
Quant funds are a unique offering in the MF space as the investment decisions are driven by a blend of active and passive strategies.
Farmers in some villages of Maharashtra's Akola district claimed to have received as little as Rs 3 and Rs 21 as compensation under a central insurance scheme for the crop losses they suffered due to heavy rains, and called the aid as 'insulting' and 'mockery' of their plight.
Dwaipayan Bose on how index funds play a key role in the diversification of portfolios and help manage risks
Business cycle funds aim to optimise returns by aligning their portfolios with different phases of the economic cycle. First-time investors, those who prefer stable sector allocations, and those averse to volatility should steer clear of them.
After a landmark Supreme Court ruling, the family of Harish Rana, comatose for 12 years, prepares for his passive euthanasia, marking a significant moment in India's end-of-life care debate.
Kerala's 2026 assembly election will see a three-cornered contest where religion and communalism have emerged as central themes for the first time, challenging the state's long-celebrated secular fabric.
Inflows into mutual fund (MF) schemes via systematic investment plans (SIPs) have topped Rs 3 trillion for the first time in a calendar year, as investors increasingly rely on the staggered investment route amid market volatility.
Investors seeking higher returns at relatively higher risk should consider allocation to smallcap equity funds.
A retired school teacher in Kanpur was allegedly defrauded of Rs 1.57 crore (approximately 150,000) in a sophisticated cyber scam involving impersonations of Mark Zuckerberg and associates of Elon Musk.
'People become guided by emotions, fear of missing out, and greed. They tend to invest in booming sectors that may prove exceptionally expensive.' 'Typically, that represents the peak, and subsequently, they lose substantially.'
The Supreme Court has ordered a 'fair, dispassionate, transparent, and time-bound' investigation by the CBI and ED into the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, addressing concerns over alleged large-scale banking fraud and demanding accountability.
'Arbitrage funds make the most sense for those in the 30 per cent tax bracket, are viable for those in the 20 per cent bracket, but less so for those in the 10 per cent bracket.'
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd's (DHFL) former promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan for five years from the securities market for alleged diversion of funds. They have also been barred from holding any key position in a listed company.
AUM heavyweights SBI, HDFC and ICICI Pru flex muscle, adding Rs 2 trillion+ each.
Capex, infrastructure development, and prudent fiscal management are the key focus areas in the Budget, says Nilesh Shah.
'It's advisable not to go overboard on a banking sector fund or any other sector fund.'
A Kerala MLA, K Shantakumari, was targeted by a cyber fraud gang impersonating Anti-Terrorism Squad officers, who claimed she was linked to a bomb blast case. She reported the incident to the cyber cell after uncovering their deception.
MMFs invest in fixed-income instruments maturing in less than one year, minimising interest-rate risk.
The TMC has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of presenting a misleading picture of employment and development in West Bengal during his recent rally, alleging that the central government owes the state significant dues.
'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.'
Do not exit in panic or buy falling stocks without reassessing fundamentals; instead, build a watchlist and invest gradually with a disciplined, long-term approach.
'Except for extremely conservative investors, others can consider allocating 10 to 20 per cent of their portfolio to small caps.'
Delhi Police arrested a 22-year-old woman for allegedly providing mule bank accounts to an interstate cybercrime network, recovering numerous ATM cards, cheque books, and electronic devices.
'The volatility in the stock markets since September 2024 has hurt the pace of accretion of new investors.'
Domestic gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw their holdings jump 65 per cent to 95 tonnes in 2025, elevating Indian ETFs to sixth place globally, going by holdings of the yellow metal. At the end of 2024, they ranked eighth with 57.5 tonnes of holding, according to an analysis of data from the World Gold Council (WGC).
'There is a fortune in stolen money, counterfeit notes floating around, and political skullduggery afoot, along with treachery, double dealing, kidnapping and all manner of wickedness packing the series so densely that the pace never flags and a profusion of twists keeps the story engaging even when it strains credibility,' notes Deepa Gahlot.
'Uncertainty level A in the morning, uncertainty level B in the afternoon. If I answer about tariff rates now, I'll be outdated by the evening.'
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a strong attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, accusing them of compromising India's interests on the world stage and selling out farmers and the poor during their time in power.
India's market regulator is moving ahead to include real estate investment trusts (Reits) in benchmark indices in a phased manner, Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said, while asserting that the regulator was working to strengthen the link between infrastructure building and the markets.
Did you know that women can avail for a loan of upto Rs 20 crores to set up a manufacturing business?
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reaffirmed his government's commitment to honouring martyrs and building a vibrant Punjab, while also criticising the central government for not awarding the Bharat Ratna to freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Seva Teerth complex, which will house the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the National Security Council Secretariat, and the Cabinet Secretariat, marking a shift towards modernizing India's administrative governance.
The ideal time to invest in sector funds, is during a downturn so that investors can capitalise on a turnaround in 1.5 to 2 years.
Dwaipayan Bose highlights the similarities and contrasts between ETFs and Index Funds.
The idea of back-loading the target of fiscal consolidation is perhaps guided by the government's desire to be prepared for any adverse developments in the coming year, points out A K Bhattacharya.
