Understand your income tax
Start with old versus new tax regime, then learn how Form 16, AIS and Form 26AS fit together. Use the tax estimator to explore a scenario with its stated assumptions.
The learning library
Indian finance guides, with the context explained
Learn how banking, tax, GST and investing work through practical Indian examples. Choose the question you are trying to answer, then follow the explanation and its original sources.
Library introduction updated . Each guide has its own publication and review context.
Start with the question in front of you
You do not have to read the entire library in order. These starting points connect an everyday question to the concepts and tools that help explain it.
Make sense of banking and EMIs
Read why a rate change can affect your EMI, then explore payments with the EMI calculator. Learn the context behind deposit protection in the DICGC guide.
Learn investing before comparing returns
Begin with mutual funds for beginners, follow with how SIP works, and understand NAV and expense ratios before interpreting a fund’s performance.
Follow taxes and public money
Use the GST explainer to understand a bill, read how Indian states work, then use the source directory to investigate a public spending claim.
Browse the guides and analysis
28 published pieces are listed below. Read the summary to choose a useful starting point. For developments tied to a particular event or date, you can also browse finance news and analysis.
Markets
UPI Charges Above ₹2,000 From October 2026? Here’s What You Will Actually Pay
UPI is not becoming paid for customers. A new 0.4% MDR will apply to selected merchant payments above ₹2,000 from October 15, while P2P transfers and most everyday UPI payments remain free.
Read guide MarketsTata Sons IPO 2026: RBI Rejects Deregistration Bid — What Happens Next?
Tata Sons IPO prospects after the reported RBI deregistration rejection: the listing requirement, ownership, valuation risks and what remains unconfirmed.
Read guide Money basicsWhat Is Money? Cash, Bank Balances and Payments Explained
Understand money through everyday Indian examples: cash, bank balances, payment methods, income, wealth and purchasing power.
Read guide Money basicsWhat Is an Economy? An Indian Beginner’s Guide
Learn how households, businesses, government and trade connect, what GDP measures, and why economic growth differs from household prosperity.
Read guide Money basicsWhat Is Inflation? Prices and Purchasing Power Explained
Understand inflation with rupee examples, why slower inflation does not mean cheaper goods, and how prices affect a household budget.
Read guide MarketsUpcoming IPOs in India 2026: Jio, NSE, Zepto, PhonePe, Razorpay & 11 More to Watch
Track the latest status of 16 major upcoming Indian IPOs—including Jio, NSE, Zepto, PhonePe and Razorpay—and learn what investors should verify before applying.
Read guide InvestingHDFC Silver ETF FoF Direct Growth Review 2026: 85% Return in 1 Year — Should You Invest Now?
A detailed 2026 review of HDFC Silver ETF FoF Direct Growth, including returns, risk, costs, taxation, SIP versus lump sum and who it may suit.
Read guide MarketsWhy FIIs Are Selling Indian Stocks Again in September 2026 — What Changed After Record August Buying
Why FIIs are selling Indian stocks again in September 2026, what changed after August buying, and what Indian retail investors should watch next.
Read guide MarketsNSE IPO 2026: Expected Price, Listing Date, Issue Size, Financials & Latest Updates
NSE IPO 2026 explained: expected price, listing timeline, issue size, financials, OFS structure, risks and what investors should verify before applying.
Read guide MarketsCrude Oil Near $100: What It Means for Indian Stocks, Rupee, Inflation and Your Portfolio
Understand what crude oil near $100 means for Indian stocks, the rupee, inflation, RBI policy, sectors and personal portfolios.
Read guide Income taxIncome Tax Slabs for AY 2026–27
A plain-English guide to the old and new regime slabs that apply to income earned in FY 2025–26, including the standard deduction, rebate and cess.
Read guide Income taxOld vs New Tax Regime for AY 2026–27
Compare the two income-tax regimes using taxable income, deductions and a repeatable decision process instead of choosing from salary alone.
Read guide Income taxSection 87A Rebate and Marginal Relief
Understand why eligible resident individuals can have little or no tax near the rebate threshold—and why special-rate income needs separate attention.
Read guide Income taxWhich ITR Form Should You Use?
A beginner-friendly map of ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4, plus the conditions that can rule out an otherwise familiar form.
Read guide Income taxForm 16 vs AIS vs Form 26AS
Learn what each tax record shows, where mismatches come from, and why none of the three should be copied blindly into an income-tax return.
Read guide BankingHow the Repo Rate Affects Your EMI
Connect an RBI policy-rate decision to a floating-rate loan without assuming that every bank changes every EMI immediately.
Read guide BankingDICGC Deposit Insurance: What ₹5 Lakh Covers
Understand the per-depositor, per-bank insurance limit for eligible bank deposits and why multiple accounts at one bank do not create separate ₹5 lakh covers.
Read guide InvestingMutual Funds for Beginners in India
Understand what a mutual fund actually owns, how NAV and expenses work, and which documents to read before investing.
Read guide InvestingHow SIP Works: Returns, Risk and Rupee-Cost Averaging
A Systematic Investment Plan is a contribution method, not a guaranteed-return product. See what a SIP can and cannot do.
Read guide InvestingNAV and Expense Ratio Explained
Two mutual-fund numbers are often misunderstood: NAV tells you the value per unit, while the expense ratio affects what the scheme retains over time.
Read guide BankingRBI Explained: What India’s Central Bank Does
Understand RBI’s role in money, banks and payments, and trace how a policy decision can reach a household loan.
Read guide BankingUPI, NEFT, IMPS and RTGS: Which Transfer Method Fits?
Compare payment methods by settlement, recipient details and the checks that matter before sending money.
Read guide TaxWhat Is Tax? Follow an Indian Household’s Payments
Separate income tax, taxes included in purchases and local charges without confusing collection with the final burden.
Read guide TaxIncome Tax Basics: From Income to an ITR
Understand income, deductions, tax credits and return filing using a simple reconciliation example for AY 2026–27.
Read guide Government FinanceUnion Budget Explained: Read Receipts, Spending and Deficit
Use a simple budget worksheet to distinguish revenue, borrowing, estimates and actual expenditure.
Read guide State FinanceHow to Read a State Budget Without Mixing Estimates
Build a source-linked worksheet for a state budget and compare like-for-like figures.
Read guide State FinanceHow Indian States Get Money: Own Revenue, Transfers and Borrowing
Separate the main sources of a state’s resources before comparing its budget with another state.
Read guide Global FinanceRupee vs Dollar: Read the Quote and Its Real-Life Impact
Understand exchange-rate direction, conversion costs and why a headline move is not your bank’s final rate.
Read guideGet more from each guide
Start with the key takeaways, then read the example and the conditions behind it. Keep the glossary open if a term is unfamiliar. For a broader sequence, the learning roadmap connects the main subjects.
Check the dates and follow the source links before relying on a rule, rate or market figure. Calculators help you explore assumptions; they do not decide which choice is right for your circumstances. Read the scope and limitations for more detail.
The guides are written by Naman Sinha. Our editorial policy explains the sourcing standards and corrections process. If a guide leaves a question unanswered, suggest a clearer example or a new topic.