J
Jaspal Singh
Founder & Editor
Personal finance writer helping Indians make smarter money decisions through clear, jargon-free guides on taxes, investments, and budgeting.
Personal Finance
Taxation
Investing
Budgeting
Articles by Jaspal Singh (49)

Investments
GSP Crop Science IPO Opens March 16 — ₹280 Crore Fresh Issue, Should You Apply?
GSP Crop Science is launching its IPO on March 16 with a ₹280 crore fresh issue. The agrochemical company has QIB quota at 50% and retail at 35%. Here's everything you need to know before applying.
5 min read11 March 2026

Investments
Top 10 IT Stocks Could Rally 14-84% — Nuvama Sees $300-400 Billion AI Opportunity
Brokerage Nuvama has a Buy rating on all top-10 Indian IT stocks, with upside potential of 14-84%. They estimate AI services could become a $300-400 billion market by 2030. Here are the top picks.
6 min read11 March 2026

Budgeting
EMIs Are Eating 33% of India's Salary — Savings at 47-Year Low
Indians are spending 33% of their salary on EMIs — and for higher earners, it's up to 45%. With household savings at just 5.3% of GDP (a 47-year low), here's why this debt trap is dangerous and how to escape it.
7 min read11 March 2026

Investments
Multi-Asset Funds See ₹8,476 Crore Inflows — Why Smart Investors Love Them
Multi-asset allocation funds attracted ₹8,476 crore in February 2026, even as markets wobbled. Total mutual fund AUM crossed ₹82 trillion. Here's why these all-in-one funds are becoming India's favourite.
6 min read11 March 2026

News
Petrol and Diesel Prices Stable in India — But for How Long?
Despite Brent crude hovering near $120/barrel and West Asia tensions escalating, India has kept petrol and diesel prices unchanged. Meanwhile, Pakistan hiked fuel prices by PKR 55/litre. How long can India hold?
5 min read11 March 2026

News
LPG Crisis Deepens — 90% of India's Gas Passes Through Hormuz Strait
India imports 60% of its LPG, and 90% of that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. With West Asia tensions rising, induction cooktop sales have jumped 20X on Amazon. Here's what the LPG crisis means for your household budget.
6 min read11 March 2026

News
Sensex Crashes 1,342 Points — Nifty Hits 11-Month Low as Markets Bleed
Indian stock markets saw their worst single-day fall in months. Sensex plunged 1,342 points while Nifty dropped below 22,900 — its lowest in 11 months. Here's what happened and what it means for your investments.
5 min read11 March 2026

Investments
Best Gold Coins to Buy on Amazon India (2026)
6 best 24K gold coins and bars to buy on Amazon India — from MMTC-PAMP, Malabar Gold, and Bangalore Refinery. 0.5g to 5g options for investment and gifting. Buyer guide included.
10 min read11 March 2026

Budgeting
Best Budget Planners & Expense Trackers in India (2026)
8 best budget planners and expense tracker notebooks in India — from ₹199 tear-off pads to premium dated planners. Track every rupee, build better money habits, and take control of your finances.
9 min read11 March 2026

Budgeting
Best Home Safe Lockers for Documents & Jewellery in India (2026)
8 best home safe lockers in India — from budget ₹1,899 key safes to smart lockers with fingerprint and app access. Protect your documents, jewellery, and cash at home.
10 min read11 March 2026

Investments
Best Stock Market Books for Beginners in India (2026)
Handpicked stock market books for Indian beginners — from timeless classics by Benjamin Graham and Peter Lynch to Indian market guides by Parag Parikh and Saurabh Mukherjea. Build a solid investing foundation.
12 min read11 March 2026

Investments
Best Personal Finance Books for Beginners in India (2026)
The 8 best personal finance books every Indian should read — from beginner-friendly money management to advanced stock market investing. All under ₹500 on Amazon.
8 min read11 March 2026

Taxes
New Income Tax Act 2025: 10 Key Changes From April 1
India's new Income Tax Act 2025 kicks in from April 1, 2026, replacing the 63-year-old law. Here are 10 things every taxpayer needs to know — from the Tax Year concept to simplified forms and TDS consolidation.
7 min read11 March 2026

Taxes
Advance Tax Deadline March 15: Last-Minute Guide for Taxpayers
The March 15 advance tax deadline is just days away. Here's everything you need to know — who must pay, how to calculate your liability, penalty sections 234B and 234C, and what happens if you miss it.
6 min read11 March 2026

News
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers Resigns Abruptly After December Crisis
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has resigned following the airline worst operational crisis. 4,500 flights cancelled in December, Q3 profit crashed 78%. No successor named.
6 min read10 March 2026

News
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 6.25%: What It Means for Your EMI and FD
RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.25% amid oil crisis and rupee pressure. Your EMIs stay the same for now, but FD rates may dip. Here is the full impact analysis.
9 min read10 March 2026

News
UPI New Rules from April 2026: Higher Limits, Inactive ID Cleanup
Starting April 1, 2026, UPI gets higher transaction limits for taxes and education, inactive ID deactivation, boosted UPI Lite, and a new fraud alert system. Here is what changes.
6 min read10 March 2026

Investments
SEBI Mutual Fund Reforms: Lower Fees, Better Transparency
SEBI has announced major mutual fund reforms including lower expense ratios, stricter fund manager accountability, and enhanced disclosures. Here is how it affects your SIP investments.
8 min read10 March 2026

Investments
4 IPOs Opening This Week: ₹6,300 Crore Worth of Opportunities
Four new IPOs worth over ₹6,300 crore are opening this week, including the massive ₹6,000 crore Raajmarg Infra InvIT. Here is everything you need to know before investing.
7 min read10 March 2026

News
Sensex Surges 640 Points as Oil Crashes from $120 to $88
Indian markets staged a massive relief rally on March 10 as Brent crude plunged over 10%. Aviation, paints, banking, and auto stocks led the recovery. But is the crisis really over?
7 min read10 March 2026

Investments
Gold Price Crash: Why Gold Fell 5.5% Despite War in the Middle East
Gold prices crashed over ₹1 lakh per 100 grams in just four trading sessions. Here is why gold is falling even as a full-blown war rages, and what Indian investors should do.
8 min read10 March 2026

News
India Eases FDI Rules for Chinese Investments: 60-Day Approval Timeline
The Cabinet has eased Press Note 3 rules with a 60-day approval timeline for Chinese investments. Manufacturing and electronics sectors to benefit most. What it means for markets.
5 min read10 March 2026

News
LPG Crisis Deepens: Essential Commodities Act Invoked, Refill Gap Now 25 Days
The government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act for LPG, extended refill booking to 25 days, and halted commercial gas in 6+ states. Domestic cylinder now ₹913.
7 min read10 March 2026

News
How India Is Shock-Proofing Itself Against Oil Price Crises
India imports 85% of its crude oil and any Middle East disruption sends the economy into shock. Here are 5 concrete steps the government is taking to reduce this vulnerability.
7 min read10 March 2026

News
AC Prices Rising 10-15% from April — Should You Buy Now or Wait?
AC prices are going up 10-15% from April due to rising copper, aluminium costs and new BEE regulations. Here is whether you should buy before the hike or wait for off-season deals.
6 min read10 March 2026

Insurance
Is Gadget Insurance Worth It for Your ₹50,000 Smartphone?
Your phone costs ₹50,000, the insurance costs ₹5,000, and the screen repair costs ₹15,000. We break down when gadget insurance makes sense and when it is a waste of money.
8 min read10 March 2026

News
IDBI Bank Privatisation Delayed: What It Means for Investors
IDBI Bank privatisation has been delayed to FY27. With the stock down over 8%, here is what happened, why it matters, and what investors should do next.
7 min read10 March 2026

News
8th Pay Commission: Fitment Factor 3.0x Could Triple Minimum Basic Pay
The 8th Pay Commission is underway with unions demanding a 3.0x fitment factor. This would raise minimum basic pay from ₹18,000 to ₹54,000. What it means for government employees and taxpayers.
8 min read10 March 2026

News
RBI Proposes ₹25,000 Compensation for Digital Fraud Victims
The RBI has proposed automatic compensation of up to ₹25,000 for victims of digital fraud including UPI, net banking, and card transactions. Here is how it works.
7 min read10 March 2026

Budgeting
Banks Collected ₹19,083 Crore in Minimum Balance Penalties — How to Avoid Them
Indian banks collected ₹19,083 crore in minimum balance penalties over 3 years. Private banks charged nearly double that of PSBs. Here is how to avoid paying a single rupee.
8 min read10 March 2026

Investments
Silver Surges ₹13,000/kg in One Day, Gold Touches ₹1.60 Lakh
Silver jumped ₹13,000 to ₹2,73,000/kg on the MCX. Gold rose to ₹1,60,000 per 10 grams. Should you buy precious metals now or wait?
7 min read10 March 2026

News
Airlines Hike International Fares 10-15% as Jet Fuel Prices Double
Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet are raising international airfares by 10-15% from April 2026. Jet fuel has nearly doubled since the Iran conflict. Here is how to save on flights.
7 min read10 March 2026

News
FII vs DII: The ₹11,000 Crore Battle Keeping Indian Markets Alive
Foreign investors sold ₹4,673 crore while domestic institutions bought ₹6,333 crore on March 10. Here is why this tug-of-war matters for your investments.
6 min read10 March 2026

Investments
Bandhan Bank Shares Rally 10% in 5 Days — What Is Behind the Surge
Bandhan Bank has been the talk of Dalal Street this week. While the broader market struggled with selling pressure and global uncertainty, Bandhan Bank shares quietly rallied over 10% in just five...
7 min read10 March 2026

Investments
Mutual Fund Outflows — Why You Should Not Panic and What Smart Investors Are Doing
If you've been reading the news lately, you might have seen scary headlines like "Mutual funds see first outflow in years!" or "Investors pulling money out of mutual funds!" Sounds terrifying, right?...
8 min read10 March 2026

Taxes
New Tax Regime Becomes Default from April 2026 — Everything You Need to Know
Big news for every taxpayer in India. Starting April 1, 2026 , the New Tax Regime becomes the default income tax system. This means unless you specifically choose the Old Tax Regime, you will...
8 min read10 March 2026

Investments
Best Fixed Deposit Interest Rates in India — March 2026
So you have some money saved up, and you want it to grow — but you don't want the ups and downs of the stock market. That's exactly where a Fixed Deposit (FD) comes in. It's like lending your money...
8 min read10 March 2026

News
Tech Mahindra 30,000 Layoffs Rumour — What Really Happened
If you've been scrolling through social media today, you've probably seen scary posts claiming that Tech Mahindra is about to fire 30,000 employees. The news went viral on X (formerly Twitter) and...
8 min read10 March 2026

News
Rupee Hits Record Low at 92.35 — What It Means for Your Money
On Monday, March 9, 2026, the Indian rupee fell to its lowest-ever level — 92.35 against the US dollar . In just one trading session, the rupee lost 53 paise. That might sound like a small number,...
8 min read9 March 2026

News
Petrol and Diesel Prices in India — What Is Really Happening and What Is Next
If you have been watching the news lately, you have probably heard that oil prices around the world have shot up dramatically. Brent crude oil surged past $119 per barrel on March 9, 2026 — its...
8 min read9 March 2026

Investments
Oil Shock — Which Indian Sectors Win and Lose When Crude Prices Spike
Imagine you run a lemonade stand. You buy lemons, sugar, and cups every day. One morning, the price of lemons suddenly doubles because a big storm destroyed half the lemon farms. Your costs shoot up,...
8 min read9 March 2026

News
What Happens If Oil Hits $100 Again? The Impact on India Economy
Imagine you run a kitchen that needs cooking oil every single day. You buy 85% of your oil from a shop across a bridge. Now, someone has blocked that bridge. The shop is still there, but you can't...
8 min read9 March 2026

News
India LPG Crisis — Why Cooking Gas Prices Could Spiral Out of Control
If you've tried booking a gas cylinder recently and noticed it's taking longer than usual — or if your parents are talking about saving gas while cooking — you're not alone. India is going through...
8 min read9 March 2026

News
The Fertiliser Crisis Nobody Saw Coming — How War Could Hit Indian Farmers
You have probably heard that the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran has sent oil prices climbing. But there is another crisis brewing quietly — one that could hit your kitchen more directly than...
7 min read9 March 2026

Investments
Defence Stocks Surge — Why Indian Defence Companies Are Rallying
Imagine you run a shop that sells umbrellas. On a sunny day, not many people walk in. But the moment dark clouds gather and rain starts pouring, everyone rushes to your shop. That is exactly what is...
8 min read9 March 2026

News
India Cement Cartel Exposed — How Price-Fixing Hit Your Pocket
Imagine three sweet shops on your street. Instead of competing to offer you the best price for gulab jamun , they secretly meet every night and agree: "Let's all charge exactly Rs 100." You'd never...
8 min read9 March 2026
Investments
Airtel Nxtra Plans $1 Billion Data Centre Fundraise — What It Means for Investors
Imagine you have a giant library where millions of books are stored. Now imagine that instead of books, this library stores data — photos, videos, apps, and the brainpower behind artificial...
7 min read9 March 2026

News
Will AI Take Your Job? What Indian Professionals Need to Know
Imagine a giant robot that can write emails, answer customer calls, and even write computer code — all by itself, without getting tired. That is basically what AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools like...
7 min read9 March 2026

Budgeting
Digital Arrest Scams in India: How They Work and How to Protect Your Money
Digital arrest scams have cost Indians crores in losses. Learn how these sophisticated cyber frauds work, the warning signs to watch for, and practical steps to protect your savings from fake police and tax department calls.
5 min read25 February 2026