The Ministry of Labour and Employment introduces EES 2025, enabling employers to enrol workers left out of EPF between July 2017 and October 2025, with reduced penalties and a focus on formalising social security coverage.
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that EPFO subscribers will soon be able to withdraw their provident fund directly through ATMs and UPI, eliminating lengthy paperwork. He said the new digital withdrawal options are expected to be rolled out before March 2026. The move aims to make EPF access faster, simpler and more member-friendly.
UPI processed a record 59.33 billion transactions during the quarter, up from 44.44 billion in Q3 2024. Transaction value climbed 21% to Rs 74.84 lakh crore.
A financial expert stressed that this approach does not depend on market timing, stock tips, or shortcuts. Instead, it relies on patience and the power of compounding.
Under the new framework, social security-linked contributions such as statutory PF, NPS contributions (where applicable), gratuity and other retirement-linked benefits are expected to increase for many employees, especially where existing salary structures do not meet the prescribed 50% threshold.
The Labour Ministry has confirmed that employees whose PF is calculated on the Rs 15,000 statutory wage ceiling will see no reduction in take-home pay. Any PF contribution beyond this limit remains voluntary and could tweak the take-home salary then.
The 8th Pay Commission has already been set up, and its Terms of Reference (ToR) were cleared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 28. The Finance Ministry then formally issued the ToR through a resolution on November 3.
Under the new framework, wages, comprising basic pay, dearness allowance (DA) and retaining allowance, must account for at least 50% of total remuneration.
IndiGo’s nationwide disruptions have intensified, leaving thousands of travellers stranded across major airports. With cancellations piling up, the government has stepped in, ordering the airline to clear all pending refunds and suspend rescheduling fees. As operational challenges persist, understanding IndiGo’s refund, rebooking and Plan B processes has become essential for affected passengers.
IndiGo’s mass flight cancellations have left thousands of passengers seeking clarity on refunds and compensation. Here’s a quick guide to what the airline offers and what DGCA rules entitle you to.
The Reserve Bank of India has overhauled its gold metal loan framework to simplify lending norms for jewellers and strengthen regulatory oversight. The updated rules, effective April 1, aim to harmonise treatment for domestic and export segments while improving monitoring of gold-based credit.
According to the latest Digital Personal Loans Market Report for H1 FY25–26, 6.4 crore digital personal loans were sanctioned in the first half of the fiscal year, amounting to Rs 97,381 crore. The 6.4 crore sanctions mark a notable increase from 5.9 crore loans in H1 FY24–25.
The Centre has formally notified the 8th Central Pay Commission, ending months of speculation. The government also clarified in Parliament that it is not considering any proposal to merge DA or DR with basic pay. This has reset expectations among employees awaiting salary and pension revisions.
December has become a make-or-break month for taxpayers, pensioners and PAN holders, with several critical compliance deadlines approaching. Missing these cut-offs can trigger penalties, blocked financial transactions or even suspension of pension benefits. From income tax filings to Aadhaar–PAN linking, individuals must act quickly to avoid costly disruptions.
For decades, the formula for financial security in Indian households sounded familiar: “Buy a house as soon as possible.” “A car loan is normal — everyone takes one.” “Use credit cards only in emergencies.”
The 8th Pay Commission, headed by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Desai, will review and recommend changes to pay structures, allowances, pensions, and other benefits across a wide set of government roles.
Beyond family dynamics, inherited wealth is also exposed to creditors, lawsuits, business failures, and liabilities once it enters the beneficiary’s individual account.
Debjani Aich, Partner at CMS INDUSLAW, says the shift reflects a deeper recognition of India’s evolving household structures and the rising number of workers—particularly women—who shoulder the primary financial burden for their extended family.
Under the updated framework, wages now include basic pay, dearness allowance and retaining allowance. If allowances exceed 50% of total compensation, the excess will be added back to wages for calculating social security contributions.
MOA’s proposed fund will follow a diversified lending strategy, focusing on opportunities across growth-oriented sectors. The vehicle aims to deploy capital across growth credit, performing credit, special situations and dislocated credit, using a mix of structured and collateralised instruments.
Tax Buddy founder Sujit Bangar explains that while employees may initially be disappointed to see their net salary fall, the long-term gain is enormous—often to the tune of more than Rs 2.13 crore over a working lifetime. To demonstrate the mechanics of this shift, Bangar outlines a simple illustration.





