Govt Ratifies 8.25% EPF Interest Rate for FY 2025-26, Third Consecutive Year at This Rate

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.

PMJDY: 15.36 Crore Accounts Inoperative, 5.72 Crore Have Zero Balance as per RTI

RTI data reveals that despite 59 crore PMJDY accounts, every fourth is inoperative and 5.72 crore have zero balance, signaling gaps in financial inclusion beyond account opening. UP leads in both zero-balance and inoperative accounts, highlighting regional disparities.

RBI Flags Consumption Loan Risk: Gen Z Unsecured Debt Hits 58.4% of Household Borrowings

Gen Z’s buy-now-pay-later lifestyle is driving a surge in unsecured consumption loans. Non-housing retail loans now constitute 58.4% of household debt, with delinquencies rising and fintechs holding 56.8% of small-ticket personal loans. The RBI has flagged these risks for close monitoring.

Cabinet Raises EPFO Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000; 51 Lakh More Workers Covered from Sept 17

Union Cabinet has approved raising the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, effective September 17. This will bring 51 lakh additional workers under EPFO, EPS, and EDLI schemes, with annual government outgo increasing by ~₹1,089 crore.

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.

EPFO Wage Ceiling Raised to ₹25,000: Mandatory Coverage for 51 Lakh More Employees

The Union Cabinet raised the EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, bringing over 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory social security coverage. The move aims to formalise employment and strengthen retirement savings, but trade unions call it "too little too late" while MSMEs worry about increased contribution burden.

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.

New UPI MDR: Flat Rs 5 Charge on Railway Bookings Above Rs 2,000 from Oct 15, 2026

From October 15, 2026, UPI payments above Rs 2,000 for railway tickets will attract a flat Rs 5 Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) instead of the general 0.4% fee. Crucially, this charge is on the merchant side and will not be passed to passengers. This special category concession makes railway ticketing cheaper to process than regular merchant payments.