Key takeaways

• A loan against property EMI calculator helps estimate your monthly EMI before applying for a loan.

• You can calculate your EMI by entering the loan amount, interest rate and repayment tenure.

• Adjusting the loan amount or tenure helps compare different repayment scenarios.

• A longer tenure may reduce the monthly EMI but can increase the total interest payable.

• Bajaj Finance offers a loan against property with flexible repayment options, subject to eligibility and applicable terms.

• Borrow responsibly by choosing a loan amount and repayment tenure that suits your repayment capacity.

 How to use a loan against property EMI calculator?

Using a Loan Against Property EMI calculator is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Enter the loan amount

Enter the amount you plan to borrow. The loan amount should be based on your financial requirement and repayment capacity.

2. Enter the applicable interest rate

Enter the expected interest rate to estimate the monthly EMI. The applicable interest rate may vary based on factors such as borrower profile, property details and lender assessment.

3. Select the repayment tenure

Choose the repayment period in months or years. You can adjust the tenure to understand how it affects the EMI and total interest payable.

4. Check the estimated EMI

The calculator will display the approximate monthly EMI based on the details entered.

5. Compare different scenarios

Adjust the loan amount, interest rate or tenure to compare different repayment options. This can help you select a loan structure that is more suitable for your financial situation.

What is a loan against property EMI calculator?

A loan against property EMI calculator is an online financial tool that helps estimate the Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) payable towards a Loan Against Property. It uses three key details to calculate the approximate monthly repayment:

• Loan amount

• Interest rate

• Repayment tenure

The calculator provides an estimate of the monthly EMI, total interest payable and total repayment amount. This can help you assess the affordability of the loan before submitting an application.

For example, if you plan to borrow funds for business expansion, education expenses, debt consolidation or another planned financial requirement, you can use the calculator to compare different loan amounts and repayment tenures before making a borrowing decision.

How does a loan against property EMI calculator work?

The calculator uses the loan amount, interest rate and repayment tenure entered by the applicant to estimate the EMI.

The standard EMI formula is:

EMI = [P × R × (1 + R)^N] / [(1 + R)^N – 1]

Where:

• P is the principal loan amount

• R is the monthly interest rate

• N is the repayment tenure in months

Instead of performing this calculation manually, you can enter the required details into the online calculator to get an estimate within seconds.

Why should you use a loan against property EMI calculator?

Using an EMI calculator before applying for a Loan Against Property can help with financial planning.

1. Estimate your monthly repayment

The calculator gives an approximate idea of the EMI payable each month. This helps you assess whether the repayment fits comfortably within your budget.

2. Compare different loan amounts

You can enter different loan amounts to understand how borrowing more or less affects the monthly EMI.

3. Choose a suitable repayment tenure

A longer tenure may reduce the monthly EMI, while a shorter tenure may help reduce the total interest payable. The calculator allows you to compare different tenure options.

4. Plan your finances better

Knowing the approximate EMI in advance can help you plan your monthly cash flow and manage other financial commitments.

5. Save time

The calculator provides an estimate within seconds, eliminating the need for manual calculations.

How can a loan against property EMI calculator help with financial planning?

A loan against property EMI calculator can help you assess borrowing affordability before applying. You can compare the EMI with your monthly income and existing financial commitments to determine a suitable loan amount.

For example, if the estimated EMI is higher than your comfortable repayment capacity, you can consider:

• Borrowing a lower amount

• Choosing a longer repayment tenure

• Reviewing your planned expenses

• Comparing different repayment scenarios

This can help reduce the risk of taking on an unaffordable financial commitment.

Why choose a Bajaj Finance Loan Against Property?

A Bajaj Finance Loan Against Property can help eligible property owners access funds by leveraging a residential or commercial property as collateral. The loan can be used for various legitimate financial requirements, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Some key features may include:

How to apply for a loan against property with Bajaj Finance?

The application process can be completed in a few simple steps.

1. Click on “CHECK ELIGIBILITY” button on Bajaj Finance Loan Against Property web page.

2. Enter your 10 digit mobile number and OTP.

3. Fill in the application form with your Personal Details, Business/Employment/Professional details, Property details and proceed.

4. Enter your loan amount that you need, choose from our three loan variants- Flexi Term (Dropline) Loan, Flexi hybrid term loan, and Term loan.

5. Choose the repayment tenure – You can select tenure option of 12 months to 180 months and click on proceed.

Frequently asked questions

What is a loan against property EMI calculator?

A loan against property EMI calculator is an online tool that helps estimate the monthly EMI based on the loan amount, interest rate and repayment tenure entered by the applicant.

How can I calculate my loan against property EMI?

Enter the required loan amount, expected interest rate and repayment tenure into the Loan Against Property EMI calculator. The tool will provide an estimate of the monthly EMI and other repayment details.

Does the loan against property EMI calculator show the total interest payable?

Yes. Most EMI calculators display the estimated monthly EMI, total interest payable and total repayment amount based on the details entered.

Does a longer repayment tenure reduce the EMI?

A longer repayment tenure can reduce the monthly EMI. However, it may increase the total loan against property interest rate payable over the entire repayment period. Use the calculator to compare different tenure options before making a decision.

Is the EMI shown by the calculator final?

No. The EMI shown is an estimate based on the details entered. The actual EMI may vary depending on the applicable interest rate, loan amount, tenure and final loan terms.

Can I use the calculator before applying for a loan against property?

Yes. Using the calculator before applying can help estimate the potential EMI and assess whether the repayment fits your budget.

Conclusion

A loan against property EMI calculator is a useful tool for estimating your monthly repayment before applying for a loan. By entering the loan amount, interest rate and repayment tenure, you can compare different borrowing scenarios and plan your finances more effectively.

Whether the funds are required for business expansion, debt consolidation, education or another legitimate financial need, estimating the EMI in advance can help support responsible borrowing. Use the loan against property EMI calculator to understand your potential repayment obligation and make an informed borrowing decision.

Check your eligibility and apply for a Bajaj Finance Loan Against Property online, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

*Terms and conditions apply.

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The proposed revision could have brought more than 1 crore additional workers under mandatory provident fund and pension coverage. However, the government has reportedly decided to defer the move as businesses face higher compliance costs following the implementation of the new labour codes.

Government Defers EPFO Wage Ceiling Revision

A senior government official told Moneycontrol that the proposal had not been abandoned and the wage ceiling would eventually be increased after consultations with stakeholders.

“The government doesn’t want to put extra financial burden on companies right now. The wage ceiling will be raised, but only after proper stakeholder consultation,” the official was quoted as saying.

The government reportedly believes that increasing the mandatory wage ceiling at this stage would add to the statutory costs faced by businesses.

The revision is expected to be reconsidered after consultations with industry representatives and other stakeholders, though no timeline has been announced.

Current EPFO Wage Ceiling Stands At Rs 15,000

The statutory wage ceiling for mandatory contributions under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) is currently Rs 15,000 a month.

The limit has remained unchanged since 2014.

Employees earning a basic salary of up to Rs 15,000 a month are required to contribute 12 per cent of their basic pay towards EPF.

Employers also contribute 12 per cent, with part of their contribution directed towards the EPS and the remaining amount deposited in the employee’s EPF account.

Under the current ceiling, the maximum mandatory contribution is Rs 1,800 each from the employee and employer.

Over 1 Crore Workers Could Have Entered Mandatory EPFO Coverage

If the wage ceiling had been increased to Rs 25,000, the maximum mandatory EPF contribution would have risen to Rs 3,000 each for employees and employers.

The proposed revision was also expected to significantly expand the number of workers covered by the mandatory EPFO framework.

An internal Labour Ministry assessment cited in the report estimated that raising the wage ceiling by Rs 10,000 could make EPF and EPS coverage compulsory for more than 1 crore additional workers.

Labour unions have sought an increase in the wage ceiling for several years, arguing that many low- and mid-skilled workers in metropolitan cities now earn more than Rs 15,000 a month.

Workers earning above the existing threshold are not automatically covered under mandatory EPF enrolment, making participation optional in certain cases.

Higher Compliance Costs Prompt Government To Delay Move

According to the report, the Centre believes the current environment is not suitable for increasing statutory costs for companies.

Industry executives cited in the report said the implementation of the new labour codes had increased companies’ statutory liabilities by around 15 to 20 per cent.

Businesses in the information technology sector alone have reportedly incurred more than Rs 1,000 crore in additional compliance costs because of the new rules.

Against this backdrop, the government has decided to defer the wage ceiling revision until wider consultations are held with industry and other stakeholders.

EPFO Wage Ceiling Hike Not Dropped, No Timeline Announced

Government sources cited by Moneycontrol said the proposed increase in the wage ceiling would eventually be taken forward after stakeholder consultations.

However, no timeline has been announced for the revision.

The EPFO currently manages a corpus of around Rs 27 lakh crore to Rs 28 lakh crore and has nearly 8 crore active members, making it one of the world’s largest social security organisations.

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1. म्यूचुअल फंड में निवेश

म्यूचुअल फंड एक ऐसा विकल्प है, जो लंबे समय में विशेष रूप से अच्छे रिटर्न दे सकता है। नए माता-पिता को यह समझना चाहिए कि विभिन्न म्यूचुअल फंड्स में नियमित निवेश करना एक चतुर वित्तीय निर्णय है। SIP यानी सिस्टेमेटिक इन्वेस्टमेंट प्लान के माध्यम से छोटे-छोटे अमाउंट्स में निवेश शुरू किया जा सकता है। इससे आपका पैसा समय के साथ बढ़ता रहेगा।

2. टर्म इंश्योरेंस ले

बच्चे की सुरक्षा के लिए टर्म इंश्योरेंस लेना भी आवश्यक है। यह न केवल आपके परिवार को वित्तीय सुरक्षा प्रदान करेगा, बल्कि किसी भी प्रकार की आपात स्थिति में भी सहारा बनेगा। एक अच्छा टर्म इंश्योरेंस प्लान आपके बच्चे के भविष्य को बेहतर बनाने में मदद करेगा।

3. स्वास्थ्य बीमा है जरूरी

स्वास्थ्य बीमा आपके बच्चे के लिए अनिवार्य है। बच्चों की स्वास्थ्य संबंधी जरूरतों को ध्यान में रखते हुए, एक अच्छा स्वास्थ्य बीमा प्लान लेना अत्यंत आवश्यक है। इससे न केवल अचानक आने वाले मेडिकल खर्चों से सुरक्षा मिलेगी, बल्कि यह भी सुनिश्चित करेगा कि आपका बच्चा हमेशा स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं का लाभ उठाता रहे।

4. बाल संतोष योजना पर विचार करें

बाल संतोष योजना जैसे निवेश विकल्प भी एक सहायक साधन हो सकते हैं। इन योजनाओं में आपकी राशि समय के साथ बढ़ती है और यह बच्चों की शिक्षा या अन्य भविष्य की जरूरतों के लिए बेहतर विकल्प हो सकता है। इस तरह के लंबे समय तक चलने वाले निवेश से बच्चा सुरक्षित महसूस करेगा।

5. नियमित वित्तीय समीक्षा करें

एक बार जब आप सभी योजनाएं बना लें, तब नियमित रूप से अपनी वित्तीय स्थिति की समीक्षा करना भी महत्वपूर्ण है। इससे आप समय पर आवश्यक बदलाव कर सकते हैं और नई योजनाओं के लाभ उठा सकते हैं। बच्चों के भविष्य के प्रति आपकी ध्यान केंद्रित करने की आवश्यकता है, ताकि आप उन्हें एक सुनहरे कल की ओर ले जा सकें।

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The post How to secure Child Future: बच्चे का भविष्य करना है सिक्योर? एक्सपर्ट के 5 जरूरी फॉर्मूले जानिए appeared first on The CSR Journal.

The complainant reported receiving calls from a loan recovery agent regarding equated monthly instalments for a personal loan amounting to Rs 4.5 lakh, a loan he had never applied for. This triggered an investigation by the authorities, which unveiled the fraudulent nature of the loan obtained in the complainant’s name.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the complainant’s PAN details had been exploited to secure the loan. Furthermore, police discovered that the mobile number associated with the complainant’s Aadhaar had been altered without his consent, thus facilitating the fraudulent activity.

Investigation and Methods Used

The police traced the fraudulent loan amount to a bank account controlled by Ajay Kumar. Authorities stated that a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence led to his arrest. An analysis of his mobile device revealed communication regarding the complainant’s personal details exchanged with his accomplices before the fraud occurred.

Upon interrogation, Kumar disclosed that he was part of a broader network that funnelled fraudulently obtained loans through bank accounts owned by individuals who permitted their accounts to be used in return for a commission. This arrangement enabled the syndicate to execute their fraudulent operations effectively.

According to police reports, the modus operandi of the criminal gang involved first altering the mobile numbers linked to victims’ Aadhaar records. Subsequently, they used these modified details, along with PAN information, to procure loans from various private finance companies.

Wider Implications and Ongoing Investigation

Investigators have identified approximately 50 victims whose documentation was misused to obtain loans worth nearly Rs 1.6 crore from private non-banking financial companies. The implications of this fraud reach beyond a single incident, signalling a larger issue in identity theft and financial deception.

Authorities are currently undertaking efforts to uncover additional members of the criminal network. Investigators are also focusing on identifying more mule accounts used in the scheme and assessing the full extent of the fraudulent activity. This case has highlighted the significance of safeguarding personal identification and financial information in the digital age.

As the investigation continues, police are urging the public to remain vigilant regarding their personal details and report any suspicious activities. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of ensuring that one’s personal information is not compromised, particularly in relation to financial transactions.

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The story goes like this: we are the fastest growing large economy in the world, our stock market is the envy of emerging markets, and every young Indian with a smartphone and a demat account is now a shareholder in the nation’s growth.

It is a good story. It is also, on the evidence, only half true.

The other half is a quieter one, told in tax notifications, SEBI data releases, and rupee depreciation charts, and it says something less flattering. It says that the Indian state has spent the last decade squeezing the ordinary investor and trader from every direction, taxing the entry, taxing the exit, taxing the currency in which the whole game is played, and then sending its ministers and cheerleaders to Television studios or YouTube videos or LinkedIn to explain why this is all for our own good.

I want to walk through the numbers, because numbers do not care about narratives.

The tax that taxes the tax

Start with the Securities Transaction Tax, or STT. It was brought in back in 2004 by then finance minister P. Chidambaram, sold as a simple, low-friction way to catch capital gains at source. For years it stayed modest.

Then came Budget 2024, and the government raised STT on futures from 0.0125% to 0.02% of turnover, and on options from 0.0625% to 0.1% of premium, effective October 2024. That is not a small tweak.

On options alone, the tax nearly doubled. And it did not stop there. Budget 2026 raised it again, to 0.05% on futures and 0.15% on options, effective April 2026, a further hike of 150% on futures and 50% on options within about 18 months of the last one.

STT is charged regardless of whether you make money or lose it. It is not a profit tax. It is an entry fee on participation itself, deducted whether your trade wins or dies. And since Budget 2023 quietly removed the ability of speculative traders to claim STT as a deductible business expense, even the professional trader who declares trading as business income cannot offset this cost the way a normal business would offset any other expense. You are taxed on the attempt, not the outcome.

Then,

Long Term Capital Gains tax on listed equity, once a politically sacred zero in India for years, was reintroduced in 2018 at 10%, then hiked in Budget 2024 to 12.5%, with the exemption threshold barely nudged from one lakh to 1.25 lakh rupees, a threshold that has not kept pace with either market growth or inflation.

Short Term Capital Gains went from 15% to 20% in the same budget. And crucially, all these concessional rates apply only if STT was paid on the transaction. So the investor is taxed at the gate through STT, and then taxed again at the door through LTCG or STCG, and the government has structured the two taxes so that one is now the precondition for the other.

Compare this to the older folk tale that Indian equity investing is somehow undertaxed. It simply is not true anymore. Between STT, capital gains tax, stamp duty, GST on brokerage, and now higher F&O transaction costs, an active Indian trader today pays more layers of tax on a single roundtrip trade than most people realize, and none of these layers care whether the trade made a rupee of profit.

What the numbers on losses actually say?

The government’s own regulator has given us the receipts. SEBI’s July 2025 study titled “Comparative Study of Growth in Equity Derivatives Segment vis-à-vis Cash Market After Recent Measures” found that individual traders lost a net 1,05,603 crore rupees in the futures and options segment in FY 2024-25, up 41 percent from 74,812 crores the year before.

91% percent of individual traders in equity derivatives ended the year in the red. The average loss per trader was about 1.1 lakh rupees, itself up 27% year on year. An earlier SEBI study covering FY22 to FY24 had already found 93% of individual traders losing money, with aggregate losses of over 1.8 lakh crore rupees across three years, and separately calculated that retail traders spent about 50,000 crore rupees over that period purely on transaction costs, brokerage, and fees, money lost regardless of whether the underlying trade won or lost.

Here is where the government’s own logic turns against it. If 9 out of 10 retail traders are losing money on derivatives, and the government’s stated reason for repeatedly hiking STT is to curb this exact behaviour, then the honest thing to say is that the tax hikes are not primarily revenue measures, they are behavioural weapons aimed at retail participation itself. That may or may not be sound regulatory policy. But it is a very different thing from the story sold on budget day, where a rising STT is framed as a modest, technical, revenue-neutral adjustment.

When the finance minister stood up in Parliament in July 2024 to announce the F&O STT hike, and again in the 9^th budget to raise it further, the framing was procedural, “I propose to raise the STT.” What was not said with equal clarity is that this is a tool being used to price ordinary Indians out of a market that Indians are simultaneously being urged, in every advertisement and every talk show, to enter.

You cannot run a national campaign to get more citizens into equity markets while your finance ministry raises the cost of every single trade those citizens make, and call both of these things coherent policy in the same breath. One of them is theatre.

Even an investor who avoids derivatives entirely, buys blue chip stocks, and holds for the long term, faces a tax that never appears on any tax form: the rupee itself. The rupee has depreciated from about 3.3 to the dollar at independence to over 90 to the dollar by late 2025, a slide that has averaged something like 4 to 4.5% a year over the long run. In just the 10 years to March 2025, the rupee fell roughly 38% against the dollar, from about 62.8 to 87.

In 2025 alone, it slid further, breaching 90 and touching an all-time low near 91 in December, a fall of around 5% for the year even as the Nominal Effective Exchange Rate against a wider basket of 40 currencies fell about 8% and the inflation adjusted Real Effective Exchange Rate fell nearly 10 percent.

What this means in plain terms is that an Indian investor’s rupee returns are already discounted before they even look at a stock chart. A portfolio that grows 12% in rupee terms in a year when the rupee falls 5% against the dollar has, in real global purchasing power terms, grown closer to 6 or 7 percent. This is not a conspiracy, currencies of developing economies often depreciate relative to reserve currencies, but it is a cost that is rarely mentioned honestly in the same breath as market returns, because it complicates the growth story.

Where the foreign money actually went

If Indian markets were truly the best growth opportunity going, foreign capital would say so with its feet. Instead, 2025 became officially the worst year on record for foreign portfolio flows into Indian equities, with net outflows of about 1.58 to 1.6 lakh crore rupees, roughly 18 billion dollars, surpassing the previous record outflow of 1.21 lakh crore in 2022.

Foreign ownership of NSE-listed companies fell to 16.9 percent, its lowest level in over fifteen years, and foreign ownership within the Nifty 50 itself slipped to a thirteen-year low of about 24.1 percent. Between September 2024 and November 2025, foreign portfolio investors pulled out nearly 28 billion dollars from Indian equities, according to HSBC research, making India the second largest underweight position among global emerging market portfolios. By some counts, cumulative FII selling since December 2024 reached roughly 49 billion dollars.

Where did that money go instead? South Korea’s Kospi returned close to 70 to 76% in 2025, its best year since 1999, driven by semiconductors and AI infrastructure demand. Brazil’s Bovespa rose close to 39 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose about 20 percent. India’s Nifty 50, by contrast, delivered around 10 to 10.5% for the year, and by mid-2025 was underperforming the Hang Seng by roughly twelve percentage points and the Kospi by over twenty.

One brokerage house, Ambit Capital, described India’s one-year underperformance against emerging market peers as close to the worst in two decades, with earnings per share revisions in dollar terms among the worst of any major emerging market. This is not a market being starved of global capital by bad luck. Capital goes where returns and policy predictability are highest, and in 2025 that was mostly not India.

Only domestic mutual funds, propped up by relentless SIP inflows from ordinary households, kept the market from a much sharper fall, with domestic institutional ownership of Indian equities climbing to a record high even as foreign investors quietly walked out the back door. In effect, retail India’s own savings discipline is subsidising the exit of the very foreign capital the government spent a decade courting.

The theatre of good news

Every time the market wobbles, a familiar chorus appears in the newspapers and on business television. Officials describe corrections as healthy. Commentators aligned with the establishment describe every dip as a buying opportunity and every crackdown as investor protection, never as a tax grab. Newspaper front pages carry breathless stories about record IPO subscriptions and unicorn valuations on the very weeks that SEBI’s own data shows nine out of ten retail derivative traders losing money. This is not unique to India, financial media everywhere has a weakness for optimism, since optimism sells advertising and pessimism does not.

But in India this cheerleading has a particular political flavour. It is not merely bullish, it is patriotic, framed as an act of loyalty to the nation to believe the market will always go up and that any tax hike, however punishing, is simply the mature price of nation building. Genuine scepticism, the kind that simply asks to see the loss data before celebrating the growth data, gets treated less as analysis and more as disloyalty.

The honest description of what is happening is less flattering than the theatre suggests. A government raises transaction taxes twice in eighteen months, its own regulator’s data shows the overwhelming majority of active retail participants losing money, foreign investors are leaving at a record pace, and the rupee is quietly eroding whatever gains remain, and yet the dominant public conversation stays fixed on record indices and IPO oversubscription numbers, as if scale of participation were the same thing as return on participation. Numbers of demat accounts opened are not evidence of wealth created. They are evidence of participation, and participation, as SEBI’s own data proves, has been increasingly a losing proposition for the individual on the other side of the trade.

What India could actually learn

Look elsewhere and the contrast is instructive. Vietnam taxes listed share sales at a flat 0.1% of the transaction value, a single simple charge, and has spent years reforming settlement and foreign access rules rather than repeatedly hiking transaction costs, work that earned it an upgrade to FTSE Russell’s emerging market status in 2025, a signal that tends to draw fresh foreign capital rather than repel it.

Indonesia applies a comparable flat 0.1% withholding on listed share proceeds. Singapore and Malaysia levy no capital gains tax on securities at all, relying instead on modest stamp duties. Thailand exempts individual residents from tax on gains from shares listed on its own exchange entirely.

None of these markets are free of speculation or retail losses, and none of them are utopias, but their tax architecture treats the ordinary saver’s entry into equities as something to be simplified and encouraged, not something to be taxed twice over and then hiked again whenever the exchequer needs a headline number.

The lesson is not that India should abandon capital gains tax or investor protection regulation. SEBI’s caution about retail losses in options is grounded in real, well-documented harm, and that part of the regulatory response deserves credit rather than ridicule.

The lesson is that a government cannot on one hand build a national identity around stock market participation as evidence of a rising middle class, and on the other hand treat every rupee that enters that market as a target for repeated, compounding taxation, while pretending in public commentary that this is all simply prudent stewardship.

Simpler, flatter, more stable tax regimes elsewhere have not stopped those markets from protecting their retail investors. They have simply stopped pretending that taxation and investor protection are the same policy instrument.

Well,

None of this means the Indian growth story is fake.

The economy is genuinely growing, corporate earnings genuinely exist, and millions of new investors have genuinely entered formal markets for the first time.

But a story can be real and still be told dishonestly. The dishonesty here is specific: treating tax hikes as investor protection, treating capital flight as a temporary sentiment problem rather than a verdict on policy and currency stability, and treating loud optimism on television as a substitute for reading what SEBI itself has published.

The numbers, when you actually sit with them, tell a story of a state extracting more from its investors at almost every turn, a currency quietly eroding whatever nominal gains remain, and a foreign investor base voting with its capital while officials insist all is well. An investor does not need cheerleaders. An investor needs an honest tax regime and a stable currency. India has, for the moment, chosen theatre instead.

Views of the author are personal and do not necessarily represent the website’s views.

Dr. Jaimine Vaishnav is a faculty of geopolitics and world economy and other liberal arts subjects, a researcher with publications in SCI and ABDC journals, and an author of 6 books specializing in informal economies, mass media, and street entrepreneurship. With over a decade of experience as an academic and options trader, he is keen on bridging the grassroots business practices with global economic thought. His work emphasizes resilience, innovation, and human action in everyday human life. He can be contacted on jaiminism@hotmail.co.in for further communication.

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The post Who Really Profits When Indian Traders and Investors Lose ₹1 Lakh Crore appeared first on The CSR Journal.

Users will log into the Unified Member Portal where they can conveniently check their Provident Fund (PF) balance and track the status of their claims from a single location. In the past, members often faced challenges in acquiring information due to the fragmented nature of EPFO services across different regional offices. This centralised approach is designed to remedy those issues and improve overall accessibility.

Transition from Decentralised to Centralised System

The EPFO has shifted from a previously decentralised system, where each regional office operated independently, to a more integrated structure. Previously, each office had its own procedures, which could lead to prolonged delays in processing member services, particularly when information needed to be transferred between regional offices.

With the centralised system, services can now be processed from any EPFO office nationwide, thus enhancing operational efficiency. This transition is intended to cut down on waiting times and expedite the resolution of member requests, leading to a smoother operational framework.

The new portal is also anticipated to address issues regarding claim rejections. By clearly outlining eligibility criteria for various claim types, the system helps members ascertain their qualifications prior to submission, reducing the likelihood of errors that can lead to rejected claims.

Enhanced Automation and Interest Credit Processing

One of the standout features of the upgraded portal is the increased level of automation. Processes that previously required manual checks have been automated, contributing to faster processing of claims. This enhancement is expected to lower the incidence of claim rejections, thereby streamlining the overall claims process.

Currently, the new system is being utilised for crediting EPF interest for the financial year 2025-26. The EPFO is conducting field verification, which is projected to complete imminently. Following this verification, over Rs 1.44 lakh crore in interest will be credited to more than 34 crore member accounts within the next week. In the future, the entire interest credit process is set to be fully automated, further expediting transactions and minimising delays.

For members of the EPFO, these changes signify a move towards a more user-friendly experience, minimising paperwork and reducing the necessity for in-person visits to EPFO offices. Whether it involves checking balances, filing claims, or monitoring their status, the anticipated improvements are expected to create a more transparent environment that enables quicker access to benefits.

This initiative is part of EPFO’s extensive efforts to modernise its digital services, making them more responsive to the needs of its members. If the new system operates as intended, it could greatly diminish the time employees spend on administrative tasks while enhancing their access to various entitlements.

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The post Faster Withdrawals: What the Upgraded EPFO Portal Means for Your PF Savings appeared first on The CSR Journal.

With this release, taxpayers who fall under the categories eligible to file ITR-5 can now prepare their returns. The department has been progressively rolling out utilities for different ITR forms in recent weeks. Prior to the introduction of ITR-5, utilities for ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3, and ITR-4 had already been made accessible to their respective filers. However, the timing of this latest utility’s release has left some taxpayers with limited time before the filing deadlines.

Tax experts have expressed concerns about the delayed rollout, advising taxpayers to begin the filing process as promptly as possible to avoid last-minute complications.

Eligibility and Deadline for ITR-5 Filing

ITR-5 is specifically designed for various types of entities, excluding individuals and companies. Eligible entities include firms, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Associations of Persons (AOPs), Bodies of Individuals (BOIs), Artificial Juridical Persons (AJPs), local authorities, co-operative societies, and certain trusts, among others. These entities may now proceed to download the utility to initiate their filing for AY 2026-27.

The deadlines for filing ITR-5 vary based on whether the entity is subject to a tax audit. As per Chartered Accountant Nishant Shanker from Navraj Global Advisors, entities not requiring a tax audit should submit their returns by August 31. Those that are subject to a tax audit have until October 31, while entities requiring a transfer pricing report may file until November 30. Given the later-than-usual release of the utility, Shanker advises early initiation of the filing process.

There are restrictions in place for those wanting to use ITR-5. Individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and companies are not permitted to file returns using this form, nor can taxpayers obliged to file under ITR-7 do so. It is crucial for taxpayers to select the appropriate ITR form to ensure compliance and expedite return processing.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in ITR-5 Filing

Error avoidance is essential in the filing process, as mistakes can lead to notices from the tax department, delayed processing, or the loss of tax benefits. Shanker notes that mismatches between GST returns and financial statements are a frequent issue that could trigger scrutiny. Taxpayers are encouraged to reconcile their returns with Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) to align tax credits properly.

In addition, LLPs and partnership firms often report partners’ remuneration and interest incorrectly, which can result in improper deductions or taxable income issues. It is vital to clearly ascertain which payments are allowable as deductions and which are taxable. Ignoring necessary documentation for deductions can also complicate matters.

Failure to disclose all income sources, incorrectly reporting carried-forward losses, or selecting inappropriate schedules in the return are additional errors taxpayers must strive to avoid. Ensuring the figures in the income tax return match financial statements, particularly audited accounts, is equally important. Filing after the given deadlines may lead to penalties and loss of certain tax advantages.

Taxpayers are advised to download the Excel Utility from the Income Tax e-Filing portal and prepare all essential financial documents prior to commencing the filing process. Consulting with experts and reconciling financial statements with tax records can mitigate errors and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

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By implementing this new platform, the EPFO aims to facilitate a more efficient process for members handling their provident funds. The organisation’s efforts reflect a commitment to enhancing user experience, especially given past challenges with navigating the various functionalities of the previous system.

Interest Credit of Rs 1.44 Lakh Crore Scheduled

In addition to the launch of the new platform, the EPFO is set to begin crediting interest for the financial year 2025-26, amounting to over Rs 1.44 lakh crore. This significant deposit will benefit more than 34 crore accounts across the country. The anticipated timeline for this crediting process is within the next week, marking an important milestone for members awaiting their entitled interest.

The organisation’s commitment to crediting this interest is a crucial aspect of its function, illustrating its role in assisting employees with their long-term savings and retirement plans. With numerous members relying on these funds for future financial security, the EPFO is taking steps to ensure timely disbursement.

Moreover, this significant crediting operation aligns with the EPFO’s mission of safeguarding employees’ financial futures. By ensuring the timely release of funds, the organisation seeks to foster trust among its members and encourage continued participation in the provident fund scheme.

Full Implementation Planned After Blackout Period

The complete rollout of the new platform is slated to commence following the conclusion of a scheduled ‘blackout period.’ This phase is crucial for completing necessary system upgrades and ensuring the platform meets operational standards for user access. Once this period concludes, members will have full access to the new features provided by the centralised system.

The scheduled blackout is a customary practice when introducing major technological changes, allowing technical teams to address any glitches and ensure seamless functioning of the new platform. This careful approach is intended to minimise disruptions and enhance the overall user experience once the system is fully operational.

As the EPFO transitions to this enhanced digital environment, members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new functionalities. The organisation continues to emphasise the importance of member engagement during this period of transition and is committed to providing assistance to those who may require help navigating the new system.

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The post EPFO Launches New Portal With Upcoming PF Interest Credit appeared first on The CSR Journal.

Understanding the Classification of Trading Income

It is important for traders to understand how their income is classified for tax purposes. Profits derived from traditional investments in shares are typically taxed under capital gains. On the other hand, profits from frequent trading or intraday transactions are deemed business income. This classification is also applicable to F&O trading; while not speculative, it is still considered business income. Grasping these distinctions is vital as it influences both the selection of the ITR form and the applicable tax regulations.

Furthermore, traders must be diligent in how they report their income based on these classifications. Knowing whether their activities fall under speculative or non-speculative income can help mitigate issues during the filing process.

Accurate Reporting of Business Activity

The updated ITR-3 form requires traders to specify their precise business activities using designated business activity codes. For the Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27, traders should use code 21009 for intraday trading, 21010 for F&O activities, and 21011 for trading shares as a business. Entering the correct codes reduces the risk of discrepancies during the tax return processing.

By providing accurate and specific information regarding their trading activities, taxpayers can ensure compliance with tax regulations and simplify the review process.

Separate Disclosure Requirements for Intraday and F&O Income

A significant change in the ITR-3 this year is the stipulation for taxpayers to disclose their earnings from intraday trading and F&O transactions separately. Traders are now required to report turnover from intraday activities distinctly from that generated through F&O dealings. This means both income sources must be listed independently before being incorporated into the Profit and Loss Account.

This new requirement adds a layer of complexity for traders, necessitating thorough reconciliation of trading statements before submitting returns. The thoroughness in reporting aims to enhance transparency and ensure compliance with tax laws.

Ensuring Proper Record-Keeping and Meeting Deadlines

For active traders, maintaining accurate financial records has heightened importance, especially when turnover surpasses 25 lakh or net profits exceed 2.5 lakh during any of the previous three financial years. Furthermore, the possibility of tax audits may arise depending on these figures. It is advisable for traders to keep their broker statements, contract notes, and bank records well-organised to facilitate smoother tax filing.

Taxpayers who are not obligated to have audited accounts must remember the filing deadline for ITR-3 for AY 2026-27 is set for 31 August. Procrastinating until the last minute can significantly increase the likelihood of errors, particularly for those needing to calculate their turnover and report various transaction details. Filing ahead of the deadline provides sufficient leeway for correcting any mistakes.

In conclusion, with the introduction of more detailed reporting standards in ITR-3, traders engaged in intraday and F&O must navigate their tax obligations carefully. Diligent preparation, accurate record-keeping, and timely filing can significantly ease the entire process while preventing potential compliance issues down the line.

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Employees can continue to make higher voluntary contributions as they plan for their retirement. However, this regulation clarifies that companies are legally bound to contribute only up to the statutory wage ceiling. Any amount above this threshold will not be matched by employers unless there are specific arrangements stated in the company policies or individual employment contracts.

Adhil Shetty, CEO of BankBazaar, explained that the distinction drawn between mandatory and voluntary contributions is the essence of this update. For most employees, this change may not have an immediate effect on their current PF contributions.

Potential Impact on Employer Contributions

The new scheme does not necessitate employers to modify their existing practices regarding PF contributions. Many organisations calculate contributions based on an employee’s entire basic salary, rather than being limited to the statutory ceiling. Therefore, whether organisations will continue with this practice will depend on their internal compensation policies.

It is not yet clear if employers will reduce their contributions as a result of this clarification. Some organisations may choose to maintain their current contribution practices, while others may evaluate and change their policies in the future.

Shetty advised employees to await official updates from their employers before presuming any imminent changes in PF contribution structures.

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