Money Control

This Raksha Bandhan, give more than cash: Gift your sister financial wisdom and investments

Gift your sister a term deposit, a SIP in mutual funds, enrol her for a financial planning workshop or book an appointment with a financial adviser to make a personalised investment plan.

Health insurance: How to choose the best plan

A recent report by Apollo Hospitals, one of India's leading healthcare groups, paints a grim picture of the nation's health. Released in April, the report dubbed India the “cancer capital of the world”, highlighting a worrying rise in cancer cases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Budget 2024 Key Highlights: From capital gains, income tax changes to employment initiatives, here are the key takeaways

Union Budget FY25: FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2024-25 budget focusing on job creation and boosting consumption. Key highlights include capex at ₹11.11 lakh crore, tax rationalisation efforts, and schemes for employment, skilling, and women empowerment.

Budget 2024: What’s cheaper and costlier? Here's the list

The reduction in customs duties on gold and silver to 6% is expected to stimulate retail demand and help mitigate smuggling issues in the world's second-largest bullion consumer.

LIC Q4 net profit rises marginally to Rs 13,762 cr, asset quality healthy; announces Rs 6 interim dividend

LIC Q4: Its gross non-performing asset (GNPA) stood at 2.01 percent against 2.56 percent in the year-ago period The insurer announced an interim dividend of Rs 6 per share.

LIC maintains lead in Indian insurance market, eyes rural expansion

With an eye on expansion, the management outlined plans to penetrate Tier-2, Tier-3, and rural areas, and to fortify its position against private competitors

International Women's Day: Only 26% women are decision-makers when it comes to buying health insurance, finds Future Generali study

International Women's Day: Compared to motor insurance, where over 50 percent women said they understood their policy benefits and clauses, only 32 percent were aware of their health insurance coverage details.

LIC launches Amritbaal, a traditional savings life insurance plan for children

The product is targeted at parents who wish to create a long-term corpus to meet the higher education needs of their children.

LIC Q3 results: Net profit jumps 49% YoY to Rs 9,441 crore

The insurer’s net premium income grew 4.67 percent to Rs 1.17 lakh crore in the quarter under review, from Rs 1.11 lakh crore in the year-ago period

This Dussehra, use this method to boost your health insurance

While financial planners plan for retirement, education, marriage, home purchase, travel, etc., they generally miss out on one of the most important life goals – the physical survival goal. Here is how it can be remedied.

GST refund on premiums makes term insurance more attractive for NRIs

The 18 percent refund should sweeten the deal for expat Indians seeking to secure their families back home.

How to choose the right health insurance plan for your needs

[Partnered] The right health insurance plan should be chosen after giving considerable thought to your needs, finances, and accessible possibilities. It's an investment in your health and financial stability that gives you peace of mind by ensuring that you and your loved ones are covered in the event of an emergency medical situation.

Buying health insurance? Six factors individuals with pre-existing conditions should be aware of while purchasing a plan

Health Insurance: Healthcare costs are skyrocketing significantly. And, this is when health insurance comes in handy. The financial security of an individual is protected by having health insurance. With the ever-rising instances of diseases, health insurance today is a necessity.

How Much Health Insurance should a fresher get?

It is wise to purchase a personal health insurance policy even if you have one through your employer

Section 80D: Ensure you claim all tax benefits on health insurance premiums while filing I-T returns

Section 80D offers tax breaks on health insurance premium paid for self, spouse, children and parents. You can avail of tax breaks at the time of filing returns, even if you have missed out on claiming these while submitting tax-saver investment proofs to your employer

LIC Q4 profit surges nearly 6-fold to Rs 13,428 crore; dividend declared

LIC earned net commission of Rs 8,428.5 crore for the last quarter of FY23, growing 5.4 percent over the year-ago period, and showing a massive 33.4 percent increase compared to previous quarter.

World Health Day 2023: 3 things you must check before buying health insurance

World Health Day 2023: Innovations in health insurance have led to the inclusion of day-care and OPD expenses, and even the cost of preventive health checkups, in certain policies for a reasonably priced premium.

LIC Q3 result: Life insurer's net profit surges multi-fold to Rs 6,334 crore

LIC Q3 result: The life insurance behemoth’s net premium income grew by 14.5 percent to Rs 1.11 lakh crore for the December quarter from Rs 97,620 crore a year ago

What's OPD? What about 30-day waiting period? Health insurance nuances still vague to most policyholders

A survey by ICICI Lombard showed that about 48 percent of policyholders were unaware of the features of their own health insurance policies, like out-patient cover, pre-post hospitalisation and so on.

Looking to buy a term insurance policy? Calculate your Human Life Value (HLV) first

Buying a term life insurance policy is the decision of a lifetime. So, it’s important that the amount arrived at is correct. Human life value (HLV) is one of the methods of computing the right cover amount.

Why you should buy health insurance now, and not wait till retirement

Buying health insurance when you are comparatively younger and healthier will supplement your employer-provided cover for any higher hospitalisation bills and there will be no hassles in terms of renewability. If you want to buy insurance at an advanced age and have some new health issues, insurers may not even be willing to cover you.

Three reasons why you must consider buying term insurance, even if you are single

A term life policy is as valuable for singles as for those married and with children. It will cover your liabilities, and ensure your dependents have financial protection in your absence.

How to insure against hassles at the time of health claim settlement

Settling claims has never been an easy process, for insurers or for consumers. However, the process can be made simpler if consumers go in for digitally enabled insurance advisors who will help consumers choose the best policy as per their needs

Should you revive your old term insurance policy or buy a new one?

The best option is always to ensure that your policy remains active and the premiums are paid on time. If, for some reason, your policy lapses, get yourself covered again as soon as possible.

Supplement your corporate health plan with personal insurance policy

In view of the rising incidence of health issues, increased cost of hospitalisation, employees should have a second line of coverage.

How to maximise your chances of securing an insurance claim

The most important document that is referred to at the time of the making a claim is the proposal form that is filled out when applying for the insurance policy

Four advantages of opting for a multi-year health insurance plan

If you don’t want the hassle of renewing your policy each year and can afford the higher one-time premium outgo, opting for a multi-year health insurance plan could work to your advantage.

A mistake in filling up the hospital forms can cost you your insurance claims

Taking treatment at non-cashless network hospitals, ‘unnecessary’ hospitalisation and ‘unreasonable’ charges are some of the lesser-known causes due to which your health insurance claims could get rejected

How wellness benefits can help reduce your health insurance premium

Health insurers can incentivise policyholders who meet wellness criteria by offering reward points or lowering health insurance premiums at the time of renewal. This feature is a win-win for both parties.

Why health insurance is a must in young mothers' protection portfolio

This Mother’s Day, you should consider purchasing an adequate and comprehensive health insurance cover for yourself and your family.

Securing a home loan liability: Home loan insurance or term policy?

The main difference is that home loan insurance covers property, while a term policy covers a person’s life

LIC IPO | How can policyholders invest in the mega listing?

LIC reserves up to 10% of offer size for policyholders

Know the non-medical expenses that your health insurance policy won’t cover

Medical insurance policies don’t cover all expenses incurred on hospital treatment. Becoming aware of the exceptions will help in the selection of a medical policy and reduce one’s out-of-pocket expenses.

Five things to watch out for before choosing your life insurance policy

A recent survey conducted by the Life Insurance Council showed that 91 percent of those surveyed are aware of what an insurance policy is, but only 60 percent own a policy.

Got an insurance complaint? Advanced redressal mechanism on the cards

Will seek feedback from policyholders on complaint resolution, lay emphasis on data analytics to ensure quick corrective action, says IRDAI chief Debashish Panda

Your motor insurance checklist as COVID-19 restrictions ease out

The absence of a valid motor insurance policy will expose you to the risk of huge financial and personal loss, in the event of an accident. The absence of a policy can also land you in legal trouble.

How to make your car and bike ‘fire-proof’ with motor insurance? Key points

Car and Bike Motor Insurance for Fire: Here are the key points you should know Individuals planning to buy a motor insurance for their cars of bikes need to be aware of certain facts when it comes to fire. Representative image

Explained: Why third-party motor insurance is a must-buy

Third-party motor insurance cover protects you from the legal liability, financial liability, accidental liability, or property damage that may arise.

‘Are we sufficiently insured?’ The one conversation you must have with your spouse in your 40s

Many couples put off buying insurance, especially life insurance, considering the subject too morbid. But there are ways to bring this up by highlighting that it is actually a life-saver for your dependents.

Why honesty is the best policy when an insurer conducts a medical evaluation

The insurer may refuse to extend a policy or in some cases throw in a waiting period or an extra charge, but that's a better alternative than having your claim denied because you weren’t acting in good faith

Making term insurance policy claims smooth for your family in your absence

Create an email that includes all that your family needs to know to make an insurance claim Term life insurance is a crucial step for securing the financial well-being of your family members when they do not have your shoulder to rely on.

Gift financial security to your partner this Valentine’s day

Talk about everything, ranging from personal finance management, stock markets, investment plans or budget – the more couples converse, better is the education

Five trends that will shape the life insurance industry in 2022

Insurers will invest considerable resources in re-imagining the consumer's journey across the life cycle of a policy

Term insurance premiums are set to rise from December: Here’s what you should do

Once you buy a policy, the term rates will remain the same throughout the tenure, so it makes sense to lock into lower rates now

Income-Tax return filing deadline extended to December 31

The due date of furnishing of Return of Income for the Assessment Year 2021-22 was July 31, 2021; it has now been extended to December 31, 2021.

The pandemic may have brought drastic changes to our daily lifestyle, however real estate investments are here to stay and will grow in popularity.

In case the minor children have not been appointed as nominees, the guardian can, on their behalf, produce proof such as death certificates

Why the rich must make life insurance an integral part of estate planning

“I know these premiums would pinch us a bit, but both of us know that in case something happens to me in the next few years, our current savings are not enough to take care of Varun’s expenses for the rest of his life.” Madhavi could clearly recollect her late husband Rahul’s exact words while filling his life insurance claim form.

RBI puts Rs 1,000 withdrawal cap on Deccan Urban Co-op Bank; fresh loans, deposits restricted

The RBI has been cracking down on weak co-operative banks over the last few years. In 2020, the RBI cancelled permits of three co-operative banks and imposed restrictions on several other banks.

EXCLUSIVE: LIC gross investments will exceed Rs 5 lakh crore in FY21, says chairman MR Kumar

EXCLUSIVE: LIC gross investments will exceed Rs 5 lakh crore in FY21, says chairman MR Kumar LIC's`contrarian’ strategy when investing in equity markets, to sell when the sentiment is bullish and buy when the mood is bearish, has paid rich dividends

Budget 2021: Interest deduction on loans for affordable housing extended till March 2022

This deduction is over and above the deduction of Rs 2 lakh for interest payments available under Section 24(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961

Here Are 3 Options Once Your PPF Account Matures After 15 Years

If you do not require the entire PPF account balance in one go, it’s best to extend it

Life insurers post 32% rise in new premiums in Apr-Oct period; LIC beats industry

At the end of October 2019, LIC held a market share of 70.9 percent while private insurers held 29.1 percent based on new premium collection

Filing income tax returns for the dead, the legal heir’s responsibility

Legal heirs of the dead must file income-tax returns for income earned in the year the dead passed away. Legal heirs cannot just merge the income with their own income and file just one tax return

7 easy steps for women to become financially free

While many women have a keen sense of finance, in most cases, they take a backseat when it comes to avenues for growing money and making investment-related decisions

Like A Boss | LIC Chairman MR Kumar on why a ‘gentle but firm’ leadership style works, the importance of empowered decision-making, and more

MR Kumar, chairman of India’s largest insurer, due for an IPO next year, on his management style, the book that influenced him and lessons in leadership.

Term insurance: How much should your coverage amount be?

The term insurance cover should be calculated after factoring in existing savings and investments

LIC sells record 2.19 crore new policies in FY20

During 2019-20, LIC registered a growth of 25.17 percent in its 'New Business' in terms of first year premium.

LIC made fresh investment in 16 stocks, bought additional stake in 43 counters in Q4

As of December quarter there were more than 350 stocks on the LIC's radar and in March quarter, it held stake in 326 stocks.

Our term insurance premiums not costly, private firms’ rates were unsustainable: LIC

LIC’s term products launched last year, with lower premiums, could be the cheapest ones available in the market

Here's why Parle-G biscuits logged 'record' sales during COVID-19 lockdown

The company has gained a market share of around 5 percent in the highly competitive biscuit segment, helped by Parle-G biscuits, which was proffered by the people while stocking pantry during the pandemic.

Britain borrows at negative interest rate for first time

It joins Japan, Germany and some other European countries in selling debt yielding less than 0 percent, reflecting the prospect the coronavirus pandemic will cause a severe global recession and bond-buying by central banks to mitigate its impact.

Franklin Templeton shuts down six credit risk strategy debt funds; All investors need to know

The decision is restricted to six funds which, the company said, have material direct exposure to the higher-yielding, lower-rated credit securities in India that have been most impacted by the ongoing liquidity crisis in the market.

Income Tax Form 26AS: Hotel bills of over Rs 20,000 will now reflect in your ITR; check other changes

The Government has proposed to widen the scope and reduce the threshold of various transactions to further include even white good purchases, property tax payment, medical and life insurance premium and even hotel payments.

Coronavirus pandemic | LIC contributes Rs 105 crore to PM CARES Fund

The PM-CARES Fund was set up on March 28 to raise money to deal with any COVID-19 like emergency situation and provide relief to the affected.

RBI clarifies on loan moratorium: Are credit card dues included, what happens after 3 months and other vital points you should know

What happens to your EMI burden? Which kinds of loans will the moratorium apply to? What about the interest component? Read on

What slowdown? LIC well in line to cross 25mn policy sales in FY20

LIC says it will cross its 25 million policy sales target well before March 31. The Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent slowdown has led to uncertainty among Indian companies about their ability to meet sales targets for FY20.

Explained: The impact of Yes Bank's AT1 bonds on debt fund investors

Investors can exit their mutual funds that had Yes Bank bonds, but they may have to do so at a loss

Yes Bank: Govt caps deposit withdrawal at Rs 50,000

The bank will not be allowed to pay depositors a sum exceeding Rs.50,000/- lying to his credit, in any savings, current or any other deposit account, the government said in a notification.

Buy term insurance now as rates may rise from April 1

The premiums for term insurance products may go up by 15-20 percent from April 1 onwards as reinsurance rates have been revised for these policies. LIC customers, however, may see a lower hike.

Section 80CCD: Income tax deduction under section 80CCD

Section 80CCD: Income Tax Deductions under section 80ccd can be availed for contributions made by an employer to the National Pension Scheme.

LIC sees 291% jump in investment income from FY09-19 period

Data from the LIC Annual Report 2018-19 released last week showed that the income from investments stood at Rs 2,21,573.72 crore at the end of FY19.

Are you in your 30s? Here are 6 financial vows you must take

It is important to fulfil our overlapping needs and desires at the outset itself as we step into the world of financial freedom along with the ability to earn and chose our lifestyle

LIC Pension and Group Scheme Vertical's premium income crosses Rs 1 lakh crore

This is the first time ever any single vertical of the insurer has crossed this record premium income figure, LIC said in a statement.

Don’t need health insurance? Here’s why you are wrong

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that India had the highest number of diabetics at 50.8 million till 2018 and estimated that the number will reach 73.5 million by 2025.

India may surpass Germany to become fourth-largest economy in 2026: Report

Japan, Germany and India will battle for third position over the next 15 years, according to the CEBR

LIC pays Rs 2,611 cr dividend to govt

This is for the first time in LIC's history that Valuation surplus has crossed Rs 50,000 crore, the insurer said in a statement.

5 things NRIs must do in 2020

It is important to revisit old plans for completeness and accuracy

How the new PPF rules affect your investments

While most provisions are part of the existing rule manual too, the recent notification has introduced a few modifications.

Indian women say yes to life insurance

IRDAI data showed that women bought 36 percent of the 28.6 million policies sold in FY19

LIC maintains track record of 100% complaint resolution in FY19

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is the only life insurance company in the country to have no pending complaints at the end of March 2019. According to the IRDAI Annual Report, LIC had no pending grievance despite 102,127 complaints being filed in 2018-19.

Life insurers April-November new premiums jump 37.2%; LIC holds the reins

LIC yet again beat the industry in the collections with a 44.5 percent YoY growth in new premium to Rs 1.2 lakh crore.

LIC waives off charges on credit card payments

The Corporation said any credit-card originated payments towards renewal premium, new premium, or repayment of loan and interest on loans against the policies will not attract any additional charges or convenience fee its parlance, from December 1.

4 insurance policies that doctors must take

The four policies – professional indemnity, personal accident, property and public liability – put together would cost a doctor less than Rs 25,000 annually

Can life insurance help you tackle mid-life crisis?

Be it a child plan, a unit-linked insurance plan or a traditional money-back plan, you can select one that best suits your requirement and goal.

EXCLUSIVE: LIC’s equity investment in FY20 likely to reach above Rs 70,000 cr, an all-time high

In 2019, LIC is looking to invest a total amount of Rs 3.49 lakh crore into debt and equities

Focusing on investments as important as keeping tabs on expenses

If you wish to reach your financial goals on time, you need to monitor both aspects of your finances

Home Loan status: How to check Home Loan application status?

Home Loan Application Status: Here's how to check your housing loan application status online or offline at Moneycontrol. Click the above link to read more!

Tax returns: Make full disclosures and preserve records of financial transactions

Taxpayers should go through the income tax website and familiarise themselves with the various services available

Motor insurance: What policyholders need to know about the regulator’s new measures

If you get penalised for bad driving, your motor insurance premium will go up

A personal finance house-keeping checklist for NRIs to focus on during their India visit

The list will make it easier for them to manage their monies once they go back to their professional and personal routines

Life insurers post 32% rise in new premiums in Apr-Oct period; LIC beats industry

At the end of October 2019, LIC held a market share of 70.9 percent while private insurers held 29.1 percent based on new premium collection

Fitness freak? You may soon get discount on your health insurance premium

IRDAI has floated a draft proposal that will allow insurers to give premium discounts in health insurance for those living a fit lifestyle.

Life insurers’ new premium sees 35% YoY growth in H1FY20; LIC beats industry

LIC saw a 41.7 percent YoY increase in first year premiums in H1

LIC refutes wealth erosion rumours, says it is in "sound financial health"

LIC asked its policyholders to not believe any rumours circulating on social media about the insurer's financial position

Avoid depending on children for post-retirement money needs

You shouldn’t be basing your savings decision on the notion that your sons and daughters will take care of you in your non-earning decades

Pay more motor insurance premium for breaking traffic rules? IRDAI moots idea

IRDAI said that linking Insurance premium to traffic violations committed could reduce road accidents and change driver behaviour

Family health insurance: Medical health insurance for family in India

Health Insurance for Family: Get the best medical insurance plan to protect & secure your family with the best coverage & benefits. Click to read more at Moneycontrol.

4 reasons why you shouldn’t stop your term cover at 65

The standard retirement age and hence the coverage duration may not be relevant for everyone and may call for a review

LIC beats private sector in new premium collection for April-July, registers 52% growth

LIC's market share stood at 73.17 percent in terms of premium collection.

VG Siddhartha: Money lessons for you in death, as in life

Managing debt, keeping personal and business finances separate, and curbing reckless spending are critical

ITR filing 2019 new deadline: Government extends due date by a month

The ITR-1 form has been simplified this year, making it easier for salaried employees to e-file returns.

Cash withdrawal from multiple accounts to be aggregated for levying 2% TDS

The amendment, along with 28 others, were approved by a voice vote by the Lok Sabha, which passed the Finance Bill 2019.

LIC new premium more than doubles in June; pushes industry collection to Rs 32,241 crore

All the 24 life insurers had written new gross premium of Rs 16,611.57 in the same month a year ago.

Life insurers close Q1 with 65% growth in first year premiums; LIC beats industry

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) posted an 81 percent YoY growth in new premiums at Rs 44,794.78 crore in Q1

A look at how Life Insurance Corporation has managed to retain its vice-like grip

According to IRDAI, on the basis of total premium income, the market share of LIC decreased from 71.81 percent in 2016-17 to 69.36 percent in 2017-18.

Budget may hike I-T exemption threshold, levy 40% tax on income over Rs 10 crore: KPMG survey

The pre-Budget survey 2019-20 conducted by KPMG (India) included responses from 226 respondents spanning across industries.

LIC sees 9.4% growth in assets in FY19

The total policy payouts amounted to Rs 2.50 lakh crore for FY19, showing a 26.6 percent increase.

Money lessons from Boris Becker’s riches-to-rags story

Keep loan EMIs to a maximum of 60 per cent of your salary to avoid getting into a loan trap

Now, pay income tax on cumulative cashbacks above Rs 50,000

If one fails to declare such ‘income’ in the ITR, it could lead to reassessment under Section 147 of the Income Tax Act.

Keep your date with filing income tax returns

The process has become almost entirely electronic. You must use the correct forms and report the exact details of income as well as deductions

Mumbai property prices may crash as much as 50%: Ambit

A lethal cocktail of high prices, drying up of bank lending and government efforts to reduce black money may combine to produce what many have anticipated -- in vain -- for long: a crash in realty prices in the country's metropolitan cities.

10-year jail for buying, selling cryptocurrency in India: Report

Selling, buying and/or mining cryptocurrencies will be considered a non-bailable offence, according to the new bill.

Save tax on rental income by claiming deductions

In the case of a jointly-owned property, each co-owner is liable to pay tax on his/her share of the rental income

Viewpoint | Have you saved enough to retire early?

Carefully estimate your regular, unexpected expenses, and medical costs while also factoring in inflation.

ITR filing: All you need to know about changes in Form 16 effective this year

Dig into additional details to file returns for your income earned in FY 2018-19

Viewpoint | Having only health insurance in old age for health-related expenses. Is it enough?

Health insurance alone is not sufficient for old age. You need to have a separate healthcare contingency corpus too.

Co-location case: SEBI bars NSE from securities market for 6 months; directs exchange to 'disgorge' Rs 625 cr

NSE did not exercise due diligence while putting in place TBT (Tick-by-Tick) architecture, SEBI said.

Co-location case: SEBI bars NSE from securities market for 6 months; directs exchange to 'disgorge' Rs 625 cr

NSE did not exercise due diligence while putting in place TBT (Tick-by-Tick) architecture, SEBI said.

RBI Policy Highlights: Will issue revised circular on stressed assets, says Shaktikanta Das

The monetary policy committee has reduced the key policy rate by 25 basis points to 6 percent in order to boost private investments and support domestic growth

Received scrutiny notice from income-tax department? here's what you should do

Every year the Income tax department verifies the correctness of the income tax returns filed by taxpayers by sending a scrutiny notice to them. This exercise is aimed at ensuring that the taxpayer has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid tax in any manner.

IRDAI asks insurers to inform policyholders via SMSes on receipt of premium from Jan

The IRDAI said the order is being issued to enhance the policyholder protection and information.

How should couples claim home loan along with HRA to avail tax benefit?

A couple can choose to split the rent or housing loan installment in any proportion depending on the salary structure to reduce the burden of the tax.