EPFO Retains 8.25% Interest Rate on EPF for FY 2025-26, Affecting Over 7 Crore Subscribers

EPFO Wage Ceiling Hiked to ₹25,000 After 12 Years: 8 Cr Subscribers Impacted

The Ministry of Labour has raised the EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 after 12 years, expanding mandatory social security coverage to over 51 lakh additional workers. While this boosts retirement savings and formalisation, it may reduce take-home pay for employees earning between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 and increase costs for employers, especially MSMEs.

Cabinet Raises EPFO Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000, 51 Lakh More Workers Covered; EPS Minimum Pension Unresolved

The Union Cabinet has raised the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 after a 12-year gap, bringing an additional 51 lakh workers under social security. However, the minimum pension of ₹1,000 per month remains unchanged since 2014, with 45% of 82 lakh pensioners receiving that amount or less, sparking demands for urgent revision.

MCA Data Reveals Only 9 Women CEOs, 25 MDs in India's Top 500 Listed Companies

Ministry of Corporate Affairs data tabled in Lok Sabha reveals severe underrepresentation of women in top corporate leadership: only 9 CEOs and 25 MDs among India's 500 largest listed companies. This directly impacts the UPSC/state PSC themes of women empowerment, corporate governance, and the effectiveness of legal mandates under the Companies Act, 2013.

Govt Proposes Gold Monetisation via Jewellers: 20,000 Tonne Idle Gold, Demat Deposits, Interest Income

The government is planning a new gold monetisation scheme where jewellers, not banks, will collect physical gold deposits from households, issue demat receipts, and pay interest. This aims to unlock over 20,000 tonnes of idle gold, improve India's trade balance, and reduce import dependence — a key reform for economic stability and current account management.

VB-G RAM G Scheme: Karnataka Person-Days Fall 70% in July, 805 GPs with Nil Expenditure

The new VB-G RAM G scheme, which replaced MGNREGA from July 1, 2026, has seen a drastic drop in employment generation in Karnataka - only 17.98 lakh person-days in July 2026 vs 61.48 lakh in July 2025 under MGNREGA. Implementation delays, lack of clarity, and procedural hurdles are blamed. This is critical for understanding rural employment policy shifts.

CMS-E 2025: Govt School Education Costs ₹4,757/yr; Private Coaching Largest at ₹1,855

This article reveals that while government school education is nominally 'free', families spend an average of ₹4,757 per child annually, with private coaching (₹1,855) being the largest component. Only 27% of students take coaching, but it accounts for 40% of total costs. The RTE Act's narrow definition of 'free' only covers the course fee (₹324), leaving the bulk of expenses unaddressed. This data is critical for understanding the real cost of education and the limitations of current policy.

Nestle Seeks Industry Consultation on India's Front-of-Pack Food Labelling Rules; SC Slams Delays

Nestle CEO has urged the Indian government to consult the food industry before finalizing front-of-pack warning labels for high fat, sugar, and salt products. This comes after the government dropped a similar proposal in March following opposition from companies like Coca-Cola, and the Supreme Court slammed the delay. The debate highlights the conflict between public health interests and corporate influence in India's $100 billion packaged food market.

ESIC Report Warns Against Privatisation, Recommends ₹33,000 Wage Ceiling, Panchdeep 2.0 Rollout

The 'ESI Ki Baat' report by Safe In India warns against privatisation of ESIC and recommends raising the wage ceiling to ₹33,000 from ₹21,000 to expand coverage. It also highlights the rollout of Panchdeep 2.0 digital platform and stresses that private involvement must be strictly regulated.