Investing

ELSS vs PPF: Lock-in, Tax Treatment and Returns

ELSS has a 3-year lock-in and taxable market-linked gains; PPF runs 15 years at 7.1% (Jul–Sep 2026) with tax-free maturity.

How to Close a Demat Account

Clear your dues, move or sell any holdings, and submit a closure request signed by all holders to your DP. SEBI rules bar any…

ELSS Lock-in Period: How the 3 Years Count for SIPs

Each ELSS investment is locked for three years from its allotment date, and every SIP instalment has its own three-year lock-in.

Fresh Issue vs Offer for Sale in an IPO

In a fresh issue the company gets the money. In an offer for sale, existing shareholders sell their shares and keep the proceeds.

PFRDA Releases Charge Structure for NPS Points of Presence

PFRDA published a document defining the charge structure applicable to Points of Presence across all NPS and NPS Lite schemes.

How to Redeem a Mutual Fund: Exit Load and Payout Time

Redeem through the fund house, registrar or your platform. A request by 3 pm gets that day's NAV, and the money must arrive…

NPS vs PPF: Lock-in, Tax and Returns Compared

PPF pays a government-set 7.1% with a 15-year lock-in and tax-free maturity; NPS is market-linked and part of the corpus must buy…

Mutual Fund KYC Status: Validated, Registered and On Hold

KYC Validated lets you invest anywhere, Registered limits you to existing funds, and On Hold blocks new transactions until you…

Consolidated Account Statement (CAS): How to Download and Read It

A CAS lists all your demat and mutual fund holdings under one PAN. NSDL/CDSL email it monthly; CAMS, KFintech and MF Central send…

STP in Mutual Funds: How a Systematic Transfer Plan Works

An STP moves a set amount from one mutual fund scheme to another of the same fund house on a schedule; each transfer is a…

Record Date vs Ex-Dividend Date Under T+1 Settlement

Under T+1 settlement the ex-dividend date and record date are the same day, so buy at least one trading day before it to get the…

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate: Rules, Status and Withdrawal

MSSC stopped taking new deposits after 31 March 2025. Existing accounts earn 7.5% and mature within two years, the last by 31…

Post Office Recurring Deposit: Rules, Loan and Premature Closure

A post office RD is a 5-year monthly deposit from ₹100 at 6.7% (Jul–Sep 2026), with a loan after one year and early closure after…

Bonus Shares: Record Date, Credit to Demat and Tax

Bonus shares are free shares for holders on the record date, deemed allotted the next day and tradeable a day later. Their cost…

IDCW and Dividend Reinvestment in Mutual Funds Explained

IDCW reinvestment uses each mutual fund payout to buy more units of the same scheme, and the payout is taxed at your slab rate…