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The Ministry of Labour and Employment recently directed the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (<keyword id="19966712" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="EPFO" source="keywords">EPFO</keyword>) to ensure the activation of UAN (<keyword id="20789489" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="universal-account-number" source="keywords">Universal Account Number</keyword>) via Aadhar-based OTP. The outreach is part of announcements made during the Union Budget 2024-25, which aim to maximize the net of beneficiaries under the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme. The central government has already directed concerned ministries and departments to ensure that payment of all subsidies and incentives under all welfare schemes occurs via the Aadhar Payment Bridge and that 100% biometric Aadhar authentication is achieved. Notably, Aadhaar-based verification eliminates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity. In the first stage, all employers must complete <keyword id="24089674" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UAN-activation" source="keywords">UAN activation</keyword> through Aadhar-based OTP for all employees who've joined the company in the current financial year by November 30, 2024. Starting with their latest recruits, employers will have to finish this process for all their employees. As per the budget announcements, the government will implement 3 schemes for 'Employment Linked Incentive' as part of the Prime Minister's package. These will be based on enrollment in the EPFO and focus on recognition of first-time employees and support to employees and employers. The ELI Scheme aims to create over 2 crore jobs in the country in 2 years. This will significantly contribute to increasing employment opportunities and enhancing livelihoods. UAN activation provides employees with seamless access to EPFO's comprehensive online services, enabling them to efficiently manage their Provident Fund (PF) accounts, view and download PF passbooks, submit online claims for withdrawals, advances, or transfers, update personal details, and track claims in real-time. This allows employees 24/7 access to EPFO services from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need for physical visits to EPFO offices. For the uninitiated, UAN is a 12-digit number allotted to each member of EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organization). Think of UAN as a single-point number that brings together multiple member IDs that have been allocated to a particular employee. In September this year, EPFO added 18.81 lakh members, registering a 9.33% YoY growth.

EPFO to ensure UAN activation for employees through Aadhaar-based OTP

<div type="image" title="Are Indians depositing less money in banks, or more in mutual funds? Turns out, it&amp;#39;s neither of those." msid="113663806" hostid="261" sizebytes="1121785"></div> Over the past few months, there’s been a lot of brouhaha about the lagging pace of <keyword id="20202062" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bank-deposits" source="keywords">bank deposits</keyword> in India. Simply put, the rate at which Indians are depositing their hard-earned money in banks has been falling constantly, and some blame the increasing financialisation of <keyword id="20751315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-savings" source="keywords">household savings</keyword> in the country or the rising preference of Indians towards <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword> and shares. So, the hypothesis is that people are choosing to invest more in mutual funds and the Indian <keyword id="19949641" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-markets" source="keywords">equity markets</keyword> through direct investments, IPOs, or NFOs, the money flowing into Indian banks in the form of deposits is slowing down. But is that really the case? <h2>A crisis or a phase?</h2><keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="RBI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="RBI">RBI</keyword> data suggested that for the quarter ended June 2024, bank deposits grew at 11.7%. On the other hand, credit growth has outpaced this at 15%. This means that the outflow from banks as loans is far greater than the inflow into them in the form of deposits in Q1 of FY 2024-25. The situation largely saw cut-copy-paste in the first week of September as well, with loans registering a 13.3% YoY growth during the period, while deposits rose only 11.1%. This gap has only been widening for the last 3 years. Since deposits are how banks gather assets to further lend and earn interest income as a consequence, even a slight dip could set the alarm bells ringing for banks, and rightfully so. And truth be told, mutual funds are indeed taking on bank deposits in a big way. Per a report by Franklin Templeton, in August 2024, the AUM (assets under management) of Indian mutual funds, or the total funds managed by them, stood at 31.3% of total bank deposits in the country, up from 24.20% during the year-ago period. As of August 2024, the AUM of mutual funds stood at Rs 66.17 lakh crore, an all-time high. But all said and done, is this really the reason why the rate of bank deposits is falling behind? SBI has dismissed this to be a “statistical myth”, and experts point out that since equity and fund houses also keep the cash in their respective bank accounts, there’s no cause for concern. So, is financialization really to be blamed for the trailing tempo of deposits? Or is something else happening behind the scenes? We take a closer look: <h2>First, are household deposits really slowing down? And is that a cause of concern?</h2>Data from Motilal Oswal suggests the contrary. Deposits grew by around 10.4% between March 2020 and August 2024. Data from RBI also highlights that as of August 9, 2024, bank deposits witnessed a YoY growth of 10.8%. The loan-to-deposit ratio for the retail segment, which indicates what percentage of its total deposits the banks lend out as loans, has stayed at 77.5%, above the 77% mark for the tenth straight month. <div type="image" title="Yes, household deposits (as % of total deposits) have dipped, but the drop is far from significant" msid="113663882" hostid="261" sizebytes="306706"></div> Also, we can’t forego the fact that the share of Indian households in bank deposits has indeed slowed down. However, data from Axis AMC shows that the dip is marginal—from 63% in 2022 to 62% in 2023 and 61% in 2024. What has slowed down even more considerably is the share of government deposits in the aggregate bank deposits, which has dipped from 14% in 2018 to 9% in 2024. So, it's not just household deposits, you see. Moreover, as of March 2024, the collective CASA ratio (current and <keyword id="114757" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="savings-account" source="Orion">savings account</keyword> deposits) of all commercial banks in India stood at 41.00%, down from 43.1% in March 2023 and 45.2% in March 2022, marking a nearly 5% point decline over the past year, while still staying over the 10-year average of 39.2%. This implies that Indian banks are relying more on higher-cost funds (savings accounts), which can limit their profitability. <h2>What is this financialisation of savings we are talking about?</h2>Then again, there is no doubt about the growing affinity of Indians towards mutual funds and stock markets. Recent data from CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) highlights that India’s net direct tax collection surged by around 22%, driven exclusively by the significant uptick in the collection of Securities Transaction Tax (STT), which doubled to Rs 26,154 crore, from Rs 13,352 crore in the year-ago period. Why does this matter? STT is levied when you buy or sell equity shares on stock exchanges, sell <keyword id="6361918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equity-mutual-funds" source="Orion">equity mutual funds</keyword>, and trade in futures and options in the equity segment. Such taxes, including the multiple other taxes in equity market investments, are considered as leakages as the money moves out of the economy into government coffers. Data from a ValueQuest report explains that over the last 20 years, the markets have handsomely rewarded the investors, generating over $900 billion in incremental value for them. This is the major driver behind the dramatic rise in investment flowing towards the equity markets. There’s further proof of this budding romance, if you check the demat pudding. The number of demat accounts, which are a primary requisite for participating in the stock markets, also burgeoned by 42.3 lakh in August 2024, taking India’s total tally of demat accounts beyond 17 crore. To put this in perspective, this is almost equivalent to the population of just 8 nations in the world, including China, the US, Brazil and more. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat thinks it's rather important, as well. “Financialisation of household savings in India is an indication of deepening capital markets in the market, especially from a retail investor standpoint. Bank deposits with a modest rate of return are no longer the only option for savings for investors. Investors today have more avenues for wealth creation in the form of public capital markets, which have democratized wealth creation and provided equality of opportunity to retail investors”, he says. Yes, Indians are investing more and more in the markets, and in mutual funds. But is it a sin to look out for inflation-beating returns, which the stock markets offer, and vanilla bank deposits don't? After all, the allure of 12-13% annual returns offered by <keyword id="45369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="equities" source="Orion">equities</keyword> can certainly pale the stability offered by good old deposits, which generally do not go beyond 9% when it comes to annual returns. But all of this is not what is behind the slowdown. India is still a toddler in the school of savings financialization, with less than 10% of the population holding a demat account, and less than 5% of us saving in equities. That's a drop in the ocean of deposits, far inadequate to trigger a tsunami. <h2>Tell me why lagging deposits have nothing to do with Indians investing more in mutual funds!</h2>Says Shweta Rajani, Head - Mutual Funds, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited, “Households' equity holdings composition grew from 11.1% in FY 23 to 14.7% in FY 24. This trend reflects a growing awareness of investment options, empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. Despite this transition towards equities, banks still hold a significant share of household financial savings—33.5% in FY24 compared to 34.9% in FY23”. Also, household savings and their subsequent financialization do not have much to do with deposit creation, which is entirely made by banks. What actually drives increased deposits is credit growth or increased lending. When interest rates are eased, people tend to borrow more and spend more, which circulates more money in the economy. For the past 4 years, RBI has been tightening the screws on interest rates, which raises the cost of borrowings, and makes it more expensive to take loans, putting a dampener on credit growth, but effectively curbing inflationary pressures. The last time RBI cut the repo rate by 40 basis points was back in May 2020, 4 years ago. The lag in <keyword id="19998084" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="deposit-growth" source="keywords">deposit growth</keyword> we’re witnessing is almost 3 years old. Coincidence much, or just good old economics at work? But with the Fed recently setting a rate cut precedent by slashing 50 bps off its interest rate, RBI is expected to follow suit in the next MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) meeting, scheduled for November 2024. A rate cut would ease the aforementioned high cost of borrowing, and increase loan-taking for corporates and institutional investors, thereby stoking consumption in the economy. And then, deposit creation in banks is likely to return to its former glory. If not, then that would be a curious case to unravel! But that worry is for another day. Do you have insights or personal experience to share on your personal finances or money? Contact us at <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="mailto:businessinsider@timesinternet.in">businessinsider@timesinternet.in</a>.

Simply Put: A Deposit Dilemma — What's the fuss about a crisis in Indian bank deposits? Are mutual fund investments to blame?

The just-announced <keyword id="22906567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-Pension-Scheme" source="keywords">Unified Pension Scheme</keyword> for central <keyword id="19933272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-employees" source="keywords">government employees</keyword> will be available only for those who are currently subscribers of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), including retirees. The new scheme guarantees employees 50% of their average basic pay over the last 12 months before retirement, as a pension for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years against a market returns linked payout under the NPS. According to the scheme approved by the Union Cabinet, the pension will be proportionate for a lesser service period of up to a minimum of 10 years. Also, assured pension of Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after a minimum of 10 years of service will be provided. The scheme has been brought out to address the concerns of government employees over NPS, which came into effect from January 1, 2004. Under the <keyword id="3246232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Old-Pension-Scheme" source="Orion">old pension scheme</keyword> (OPS), effective before January 2004, employees got 50 % of their last drawn basic pay as pension. Unlike the old pension scheme, UPS is contributory in nature, wherein employees will be required to contribute 10% of their basic salary and dearness allowance while the employer's contribution (the central government) will be 18.5%. Under the NPS, the employer contribution is 14%, and the employee contribution is 10%. However, the eventual payout depends on the market returns on that corpus, mostly invested in government debt. Employees, under the OPS, were not required to make any contribution. They, however, contributed to the General Provident Fund (GPF). The accumulated amount, along with interest, was paid to the employee at the time of retirement. As the NPS was less attractive than the OPS, several non-BJP-ruled states decided to go back to the old pension scheme, which offered a DA-linked benefit. This prompted the Centre to constitute a committee in April 2023, under former Finance Secretary and now Cabinet Secretary-designate TV Somanathan to suggest improvement in the NPS architecture. Fulfilling the long pending demands of government employees ahead of assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Cabinet on August 24 approved the UPS, which will provide assured pension to 23 lakh eligible central government employees. Those opting for the UPS will not be able to switch back. The UPS will put an additional burden of Rs 6,250 crore on the exchequer per year. The expenditure will vary every year according to variations in the number of employees. In addition, there will be an arrear of Rs 800 crore that has to be paid under the National Pension System (NPS) to employees retiring before March 31, 2025. If these retirees opt for UPS, they will receive arrears. "UPS is being implemented by the Central Government, benefitting 23 lakh central government employees," Information &amp; Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X on Sunday. If states also adopt the UPS architecture, a total of over 90 lakh government employees, who are presently on NPS, would be benefitted, he added. On Sunday, Maharashtra, where assembly elections are due later in the year, became the first state to announce the adoption of the UPS for its employees. RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said though the government has attempted to overcome the shortcomings of the NPS, there are still some issues compared to OPS. BMS will decide its future course of action only after a detailed study of the UPS after it is notified. All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said it is nothing but an extension of the existing NPS. The trade union expressed apprehensions that UPS will have a lot of aberrations once implemented. AITUC reiterated that it will continue to fight for the restoration of the non-contributory OPS. ICRA Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said assured pensions will add to the government's committed expenditure in the future while reducing the uncertainty for employees. "This will have to be built into the fiscal consolidation roadmap going ahead," Nayar added. The UPS reflects a thoughtful approach to long-term social security, addressing concerns about the adequacy and sustainability of pension benefits in a rapidly changing economic landscape, said Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp; Co Partner Dorothy Thomas. "This move signals the government's commitment to providing robust support for its workforce, enhancing financial stability for millions of government employees across the country," Thomas said.

Over 23 lakh govt employees under NPS get option to choose unified pension scheme

Over the past few months, there’s been a lot of brouhaha about the lagging pace of bank deposits in India. Simply put, the rate at which Indians are depositing their hard-earned money in banks has been falling constantly, and some blame the increasing financialization of household savings in the country, or the rising preference of Indians towards mutual funds and shares. So, the hypothesis is that people are choosing to invest more in mutual funds and the Indian equity markets through direct investments, IPOs, or NFOs, the money flowing into Indian banks in the form of deposits is slowing down. But is that really the case? <h2>A crisis or a phase?</h2><keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> data suggested that for the quarter ended June 2024, bank deposits grew at 11.7%. On the other hand, credit growth has outpaced this at 15%. This means that the outflow from banks as loans is far greater than the inflow into them in the form of deposits in Q1 of FY 2024-25. The situation largely saw cut-copy-paste in the first week of September as well, with loans registering a 13.3% YoY growth during the period, while deposits rose only 11.1%. This gap has only been widening for the last 3 years. Since deposits are how banks gather assets to further lend and earn interest income as a consequence, even a slight dip could set the alarm bells ringing for banks, and rightfully so. And truth be told, mutual funds are indeed taking on bank deposits in a big way. Per a report by <keyword id="20250971" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="franklin-templeton" source="keywords">Franklin Templeton</keyword>, in August 2024, the AUM (assets under management) of Indian mutual funds, or the total funds managed by them, stood at 31.3% of total bank deposits in the country, up from 24.20% during the year-ago period. As of August 2024, the AUM of mutual funds stood at Rs 66.17 lakh crore, an all-time high. But all said and done, is this really the reason why the rate of bank deposits is falling behind? SBI has dismissed this to be a “statistical myth”, and experts point out that since equity and fund houses also keep the cash in their respective bank accounts, there’s no cause for concern. So, is financialization really to be blamed for the trailing tempo of deposits? Or is something else happening behind the scenes? We take a closer look: <h2>First, are <keyword id="4000333" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="household-deposits" source="Orion">household deposits</keyword> really slowing down? And is that a cause of concern?</h2>Data from Motilal Oswal suggests the contrary. Deposits grew by around 10.4% between March 2020 and August 2024. Data from RBI also highlights that as of August 9, 2024, bank deposits witnessed a YoY growth of 10.8%. The loan-to-deposit ratio for the retail segment, which indicates what percentage of its total deposits the banks lend out as loans, has stayed at 77.5%, above the 77% mark for the tenth straight month. Also, we can’t forego the fact that the share of Indian <keyword id="20319599" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="households" source="keywords">households</keyword> in bank deposits has indeed slowed down. However, data from Axis AMC shows that the dip is marginal—from 63% in 2022 to 62% in 2023 and 61% in 2024. What has slowed down even more considerably is the share of government deposits in the aggregate bank deposits, which has dipped from 14% in 2018 to 9% in 2024. So, it's not just household deposits, you see. Moreover, as of March 2024, the collective CASA ratio (current and savings account deposits) of all commercial banks in India stood at 41.00%, down from 43.1% in March 2023 and 45.2% in March 2022, marking a nearly 5% point decline over the past year, while still staying over the 10-year average of 39.2%. This implies that Indian banks are relying more on higher-cost funds (savings accounts), which can limit their profitability. <h2>What is this financialisation of savings we are talking about?</h2>Then again, there is no doubt about the growing affinity of Indians towards mutual funds and stock markets. Recent data from CBDT (<keyword id="19942037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-board-of-direct-taxes" source="keywords">Central Board of Direct Taxes</keyword>) highlights that India’s net direct tax collection surged by around 22%, driven exclusively by the significant uptick in the collection of <keyword id="20930760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="securities-transaction-tax" source="keywords">Securities Transaction Tax</keyword> (STT), which doubled to Rs 26,154 crore, from Rs 13,352 crore in the year-ago period. Why does this matter? STT is levied when you buy or sell equity shares on stock exchanges, sell equity mutual funds, and trade in futures and options in the equity segment. Such taxes, including the multiple other taxes in equity market investments, are considered as leakages as the money moves out of the economy into government coffers. Data from a ValueQuest report explains that over the last 20 years, the markets have handsomely rewarded the investors, generating over $900 billion in incremental value for them. This is the major driver behind the dramatic rise in investment flowing towards the equity markets. There’s further proof of this budding romance, if you check the demat pudding. The number of demat accounts, which are a primary requisite for participating in the stock markets, also burgeoned by 42.3 lakh in August 2024, taking India’s total tally of demat accounts beyond 17 crore. To put this in perspective, this is almost equivalent to the population of just 8 nations in the world, including China, the US, Brazil and more. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat thinks it's rather important, as well. “Financialisation of household savings in India is an indication of deepening capital markets in the market, especially from a retail investor standpoint. Bank deposits with a modest rate of return are no longer the only option for savings for investors. Investors today have more avenues for wealth creation in the form of public capital markets, which have democratized wealth creation and provided equality of opportunity to retail investors”, he says. Yes, Indians are investing more and more in the markets, and in mutual funds. But is it a sin to look out for inflation-beating returns, which the stock markets offer, and vanilla bank deposits don't? After all, the allure of 12-13% annual returns offered by equities can certainly pale the stability offered by good old deposits, which generally do not go beyond 9% when it comes to annual returns. But all of this is not what is behind the slowdown. India is still a toddler in the school of savings financialization, with less than 10% of the population holding a demat account, and less than 5% of us saving in equities. That's a drop in the ocean of deposits, far inadequate to trigger a tsunami. <h2>Tell me why lagging deposits have nothing to do with Indians investing more in mutual funds!</h2>Says Shweta Rajani, Head - Mutual Funds, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited, “Households' equity holdings composition grew from 11.1% in FY 23 to 14.7% in FY 24. This trend reflects a growing awareness of investment options, empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. Despite this transition towards equities, banks still hold a significant share of household financial savings—33.5% in FY24 compared to 34.9% in FY23”. Also, household savings and their subsequent financialization do not have much to do with deposit creation, which is entirely made by banks. What actually drives increased deposits is credit growth or increased lending. When interest rates are eased, people tend to borrow more and spend more, which circulates more money in the economy. For the past 4 years, RBI has been tightening the screws on interest rates, which raises the cost of borrowings, and makes it more expensive to take loans, putting a dampener on credit growth, but effectively curbing inflationary pressures. The last time RBI cut the repo rate by 40 basis points was back in May 2020, 4 years ago. The lag in deposit growth we’re witnessing is almost 3 years old. Coincidence much, or just good old economics at work? But with the <keyword id="19900043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fed" source="keywords">Fed</keyword> recently setting a rate cut precedent by slashing 50 bps off its interest rate, RBI is expected to follow suit in the next <keyword id="19918491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mpc" source="keywords">MPC</keyword> (Monetary Policy Committee) meeting, scheduled for November 2024. A rate cut would ease the aforementioned high cost of borrowing, and increase loan-taking for corporates and institutional investors, thereby stoking consumption in the economy. And then, deposit creation in banks is likely to return to its former glory. If not, then that would be a curious case to unravel! But that worry is for another day.

A Deposit Dilemma — What's the fuss about a crisis in Indian bank deposits? Are mutual fund investments to blame?

The <keyword id="22906567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-Pension-Scheme" source="keywords">Unified Pension Scheme</keyword> (<keyword id="19904859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPS" source="keywords">UPS</keyword>) is a newly introduced <keyword id="20146379" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pension" source="keywords">pension</keyword> system approved by the <keyword id="19909268" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian government">Indian government</keyword> aimed at providing guaranteed pensions, family pensions, and a minimum assured pension for central <keyword id="19933272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-employees" source="keywords">government employees</keyword>. It is set to take effect from April 1, 2025. <h3>Who is eligible for the UPS?</h3>The scheme is applicable to central government employees who have completed a minimum of 10 years of service. It also reportedly offers a choice to current employees between the existing National Pension System (<keyword id="19919089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPS" source="keywords">NPS</keyword>) and the new UPS. This includes employees who are retired or retiring on or before 31 March 2025 with arrears. Once selected, the choice will reportedly be final for both current and future employees. <h3>What are the key benefits of the UPS?</h3><ul><li>Guaranteed Pension: Employees will receive a pension equivalent to 50% of their average basic salary from the last 12 months prior to <keyword id="19908343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retirement" source="keywords">retirement</keyword>, provided they have completed at least 25 years of service. This is proportionately reduced for those with less than 25 years but more than 10 years of service.</li><li>Family Pension: In the event of the pensioner's death, the family is entitled to receive 60% of the pension amount that was being disbursed at the time of the pensioner's passing.</li><li>Minimum Pension: A guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs 10,000 is assured after retirement for those with at least 10 years of service.</li></ul><h3>How will the pension be adjusted for inflation?</h3>The UPS includes a provision for <keyword id="22911270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation-adjustment" source="keywords">inflation adjustment</keyword> through Dearness Relief (DR), which is linked to the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW). This ensures that the pension, family pension, and minimum pension keep pace with inflation. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112777109" title="GST Council meet: TMC&amp;#39;s O&amp;#39;Brien urges Sitharaman to withdraw 18 pc GST on insurance premiums" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The government's contribution to the pension fund has been increased from 14% to 18.5% of the employee's salary. This is part of the government's commitment to ensuring the <keyword id="20615853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-security" source="keywords">financial security</keyword> of its employees in retirement. In addition to the regular pension, employees will receive a lump-sum payment at the time of superannuation. This will be 1/10th of the monthly salary (including basic pay and Dearness Allowance) for every six months of completed service. <h3>How does the UPS compare with the NPS?</h3>The UPS offers a guaranteed pension and family pension, whereas the NPS is a contributory scheme where the final pension amount depends on the accumulated corpus and market performance. Employees under the UPS have the security of a fixed pension, while the NPS offers potentially higher returns but with associated risks. The central government has made the framework of the UPS available to state governments. If adopted, it could benefit around 90 lakh state government employees currently under the NPS. <h3>What is the broader impact of the UPS?</h3>As per current estimates, the implementation of the UPS is expected to cost the government an additional Rs 6,250 crore in its first year. The costs will be reassessed every three years to ensure sustainability. The introduction of the new pension scheme is potentially a significant step toward ensuring the financial security and dignity of government employees in their retirement years. It remains to be seen whether it will effectively address the growing demands for a more secure pension system and improve <keyword id="21935721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-welfare" source="keywords">employee welfare</keyword>.

Confused by the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme? Here’s all you need to know about how it will work

Markets regulator <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sebi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Sebi" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Sebi">SEBI</keyword> has asked the <keyword id="20677983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-fund-industry" source="keywords">mutual fund industry</keyword> to proactively conduct stress tests, a key component of <keyword id="20383727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="risk-management" source="keywords">risk management</keyword> for the financial sector, which will help strengthen the ecosystem, its whole-time member Ananth Narayan Gopalakrishnan said on Friday. The regulator's stress testing emphasizes the need to assess and manage liquidity risks, especially in small and midcap equity schemes. Speaking at a mutual fund event, Gopalakrishnan highlighted the importance of modelling stress scenarios not just for individual schemes or fund houses, but for the entire mutual fund ecosystem. "It is also important to model stress scenarios for the entire composite mutual fund ecosystem. I would strongly encourage the industry and <keyword id="20090036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMFI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AMFI" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="AMFI">AMFI</keyword> to take the lead and proactively conduct objective and credible industry wide stress tests. themselves," Gopalakrishnan said. He also emphasized the need to find better ways to communicate the risks associated with different mutual fund schemes. The SEBI official mentioned that while the current risk measurement system is straightforward and has had a significant impact, it doesn't fully capture the differences in risks among various investment schemes. According to him, many schemes are just labelled as high risk, even though they have different kinds of risks. The goal is to improve this system to better reflect those differences, while keeping it simple and easy to understand. One possible approach is to consider the portfolio's volatility and liquidity from stress tests to give a clearer picture. "While ensuring simplicity and ease of understanding remains a key objective, perhaps the underlying volatility of the portfolio along with the liquidity of the portfolio from stress tests could be used to provide better colour all around," he added. This comes at a time when the holdings of mutual funds by <keyword id="20234284" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-institutional-investors" source="keywords">Domestic Institutional Investors</keyword> (DIIs) and individuals have risen from about 54.3% of free float of all mid cap and small cap companies, as of March 2020 to 60.6% as of March 2024. Several fund houses have proactively stopped lump sum investments in some small-cap schemes and also capped the amount that can be invested through <keyword id="20675888" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="systematic-investment-plan" source="keywords">Systematic Investment Plan</keyword> (SIP) into small-cap schemes. He also highlighted the potential mismatch between the demand for paper and the supply of fresh paper coming into the ecosystem. Gopalakrishnan said the industry can make more progress in streamlining operations and improving efficiency for investors. "At a time when instantaneous fund transfers have become ubiquitous in our country, perhaps we should look to improve our internal processes and the security settlement ecosystem, to ensure that funds are passed on to investors on the day of the settlement itself, rather than a day after or two days after," he added. Over the last few years, the mutual fund industry has made impressive strides, and is now playing a crucial role in channeling financial savings towards risk capital formation. This was driven by stable macros, increased formalization, robust corporate earnings, digitisation and user friendly access. Moreover, the number of mutual fund investors has grown significantly from about 2 crore as of March 2019 to nearly 4.7 crore as of June 2024, an impressive compounded annual growth rate of 18% during that period. Gopalakrishnan mentioned that several exciting initiatives are in the works, developed with input from all stakeholders. These include a proposed low-ticket SIP, further breaking down regular SIPs into smaller, more accessible units (sachetisation and tokenization), and the introduction of "mutual funds lite" regulations. These new regulations will simplify rules for passively managed funds, reducing the compliance burden and encouraging competition and innovation. Additionally, a new class of higher-risk schemes is proposed for investors with a greater capacity to handle risk.

SEBI asks mutual fund industry to proactively conduct stress test

Rising awareness of <keyword id="20041501" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-planning" source="keywords">financial planning</keyword> has fueled a 256 % increase in retirement mutual fund <keyword id="20019621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AUM" source="keywords">AUM</keyword> in the last five years, according to a report. Factors such as rising <keyword id="21344413" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthcare-costs" source="keywords">healthcare costs</keyword>, increasing nuclear families, and higher <keyword id="20188311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-expectancy" source="keywords">life expectancy</keyword> are likely to fuel further growth in this sector, an ICRA Analytics report said. "Assets under Management (AUM) of these funds have grown by over 256 % in the last five years, reaching Rs 29,903 crore in July 2024, compared to Rs 8395 crore in July 2019," it said. ICRA said the growing awareness has led to a surge in the number of folios, which has increased by 17.44 % in the last five years to 29.36 lakh in July 2024, up from 25 lakh in July 2019. The number of schemes has also increased from 21 in 2019 to 29 as of July 2024. In July 2024, retirement funds received net inflows worth Rs 147.16 crores. The net inflows dipped in the month prior, standing at Rs 125.06 crore. Retirement funds have seen a consistent stream of inflows this year, with the January-March quarter recording inflows worth Rs 406.90 crore, which grew slightly to Rs 602.46 crore between April-June 2024. A retirement mutual fund is a specialized investment vehicle, also known as a solution oriented fund, which is designed to provide a secure and comfortable post-retirement life. The fund focuses more on equity, or growth opportunities early on in the tenure of the fund. But, in order to provide stability, the fund begins to rebalance and invests more in debt securities, as the individual ages and approaches retirement, where they will need a constant stream of income. These funds invest in both equity and debt, aiming to balance <keyword id="23041622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wealth-appreciation" source="keywords">wealth appreciation</keyword> and preservation offering a <keyword id="23041623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regular-income-stream" source="keywords">regular income stream</keyword> during retirement. The focus is largely on investing in steady instruments such as government bonds and more, in order to cushion any equity-related risks. Tpically, these funds have a lock-in period of five years or until retirement, which is generally between 58-60 years. However, experts note that a 5-year lock-in period could be discouraging for some investors. The average compound annualised returns on these funds stood at 26.21 %, 12.97 % and 14.09 % for a one-year, three-year and five-year period, the analysis found.

Assets under management of retirement mutual funds jumps 256% in 5 years

<ul><li>The <keyword id="23136597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-E-DRIVE" source="keywords">PM E-DRIVE</keyword> scheme, aimed at boosting the adoption of <keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">electric vehicles</keyword> has been notified.</li><li>The scheme comes into force from October 1, 2024 and will end on March 31, 2026.</li><li>The scheme has an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, spread over two years.</li></ul>Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has notified a new scheme aimed at boosting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The scheme, dubbed as PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) comes with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore. The PM E-DRIVE scheme will be implemented from tomorrow, October 1, 2024, and will be in force till March 31, 2026. The total outlay of ₹10,900 crore is spread over two years, with ₹5,047 crore allocated for FY 2024-25 and ₹5,853 crore for FY 2025-26. The scheme is aimed at accelerating the adoption of EVs in the country, with a focus on electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers (e-3Ws) and more. The scheme will also offer grants for the creation of capital assets such as electric buses, the establishment of a network of charging stations and the upgradation of testing agencies identified under this scheme. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113050150" title="Electric two-wheeler sales declined in August 2024, but year-on-year growth continues" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The PM E-DRIVE Scheme has replaced the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-II) scheme. Launched in 2015, the FAME-I scheme had an initial outlay of ₹795 crore, which was later extended to ₹895 crore. The government introduced the FAME-II scheme in 2019 with a budget of ₹10,000 crore, which was later enhanced to ₹11,500 crore to extend its support for electric vehicles until March 2024. Following this, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/government-extends-ev-subsidy-scheme-till-september-30-increases-outlay/articleshow/112062360.cms">Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024</a> (EMPS-2024) was rolled out with a fund allocation of ₹778 crore from April 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024. The PM E-DRIVE subsumes the ongoing EMPS-2024 scheme. A major focus of the scheme is providing demand incentives to lower the acquisition cost of EVs for consumers. For FY 2024-25, the scheme proposes a demand incentive of ₹5,000 per kWh for e-2Ws and e-3Ws, which will be reduced to ₹2,500 per kWh in FY 2025-26. A major part of the outlay, around ₹8,070 crore has been earmarked for EVs. This includes ₹4,391 crore for electric buses and ₹1,772 crore for electric two-wheelers. As part of the scheme, the central government aims to support the purchase of over 14,000 e-buses, establish 2,000 charging stations, and upgrade EV testing facilities across the country. A total of ₹7,171 crore has been allocated for capital asset creation. The scheme encourages states to provide supplemental support through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. With inputs from ANI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-launching-in-india-in-october-2024/slidelist/113809612.cms">Upcoming cars launching in India in October 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-october-2024/slidelist/113804125.cms">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in October 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/krn-heat-exchanger-ipo-allotment-check-allotment-status-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/113801258.cms">KRN Heat Exchanger IPO allotment – Check allotment status, GMP, listing date and more</a>

PM E-DRIVE scheme with ₹10,900 crore outlay announced for electric vehicles

In Greek mythology, Prometheus, a wise Titan whose name means "foresight," defied Zeus by gifting fire to humans, an act that revolutionised our civilization. Fire became a symbol of progress, providing the tools for growth and the spark for <keyword id="94495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="innovation" source="Orion">innovation</keyword>. This ancient tale mirrors the modern concept of <keyword id="3946833" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="intrapreneurship" source="Orion">intrapreneurship</keyword>—the process of fostering innovation within established companies. Intrapreneurship encourages an entrepreneurial mindset by providing staff with resources, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities, enhancing innovation in ideas, products, and processes. While startups are often seen as the hub of groundbreaking ideas, some of the most transformative innovations come from within the walls of larger organisations. These corporations, however, often face bureaucratic hurdles that slow progress. Intrapreneurship breaks down these barriers by giving employees the freedom and resources to experiment. Under strong leadership, companies can foster a culture of trust, empowering teams to solve problems creatively and drive growth. <h2>Nurturing the intrapreneurial spirit</h2>One of the key components of successful intrapreneurship is providing employees with a sense of ownership and autonomy. This approach taps into the vast potential within the workforce, unlocking creativity that might otherwise remain dormant in a traditional corporate structure. It encourages risk-taking and creative problem-solving, boosting innovation and enhancing employee engagement and satisfaction. Take 3M for example, Spencer Silver’s discovery of a unique adhesive led to the creation of the iconic Post-it note, despite initial skepticism.Yet, the company’s intrapreneurial environment allowed for exploration, leading to the development of a product that revolutionised communication. Similarly, Lockheed Martin’s ‘Skunk Works’ is a division that operates with the agility of a startup within the larger organisation. Skunk Works’ autonomy has resulted in numerous aerospace innovations, including stealth technology and fighter jets. These examples underscore the transformative potential of intrapreneurial freedom, where exploration leads to groundbreaking products and industry-shifting advancements. By giving employees space to explore ideas beyond their day-to-day tasks, organisations tap into a wealth of innovation, allowing intrapreneurs to flourish. <h2>The essence of intrapreneurship</h2>Innovation requires trial and error, and not every idea will succeed. The best environments for intrapreneurship are those that embrace failure as part of the learning process. Companies like Intel and Tesla have thrived by viewing setbacks as growth opportunities. In the 1980s, Intel faced a major crossroads when internal innovators identified a larger market opportunity and advocated for a shift from memory chips to microprocessors. They embraced potential failure with this pivot, which though risky, propelled Intel to become a leader in the tech industry. Tesla, known for its continuous drive for innovation, encourages its teams to experiment and push boundaries. Elon Musk’s willingness to accept failures along the path to innovation has led to significant breakthroughs, like the development of electric vehicles and space exploration technology. <h2>Collaboration: The key to creative synergy</h2>Intrapreneurs don’t work in isolation. True innovation happens when employees collaborate across departments, combining different skills and perspectives to tackle complex challenges IBM’s Watson, a cognitive computing system, is a prime example of what can happen when cross-functional teams come together. Engineers, data scientists, and non-technical staff worked collaboratively to create a groundbreaking technology that has since been used in fields ranging from healthcare to finance. Facebook’s famous "hackathons" foster cross-departmental innovation. These 24-hour events allow employees to work on passion projects outside of their usual responsibilities, resulting in successful product features like the "Like" button. The melding of expertise has led to breakthroughs that might not have been possible within traditional silos. <h2>Intrapreneurship: Driving growth from within</h2>Innovation is more than generating ideas—it’s about bringing those ideas to life. Intrapreneurship provides a framework for turning creative concepts into reality. Just as Prometheus defied convention to give humanity the gift of fire, intrapreneurs challenge the status quo to drive progress within their organisations. By fostering a culture of risk-taking, collaboration, and continuous learning, companies can ignite the innovation that fuels long-term growth. Continuous support in the form of funding, mentorship, and resources is crucial for intrapreneurship to thrive. In today's <keyword id="6355515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business" source="Orion">business</keyword> landscape, nurturing the intrapreneurial spirit is essential for companies striving to remain competitive and relevant. Encouraging collaboration across departments and providing autonomy to explore new ideas can lead to breakthroughs that fuel an organisation's success. As Prometheus’s fire illuminated the path to human progress, so too can the spark of intrapreneurship light the way toward a brighter future for businesses. Disclaimer: This article is authored by Manoj Nair,AVP &amp; Global Head of Marketing, Corporate Strategy &amp; Risk, Infosys BPM. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India. This article is published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on <a href="mailto:insiderstudios@businessinsider.in">insiderstudios@businessinsider.in</a>.

Ignite the fire of innovation: The intrapreneurship advantage

<ul><li>The growth in AUM for August 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 was 18.6% across all schemes. </li><li>The growth in <keyword id="6409502" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bank-deposits" source="Orion">bank deposits</keyword> was 12.3% during the same period, as per RBI data. </li><li>There's also a shift among mutual fund schemes with debt schemes losing some momentum. </li></ul><keyword id="6357979" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="Orion">Mutual funds</keyword> hold an inherent advantage as investments because they provide a diverse range of products tailored to investors' preferences. These include equity schemes and traditional debt options. For those with a more risk-tolerant approach, there are hybrid schemes, whereas index funds and ETFs offer more aggressive investment options. Nonetheless, it's important to note that all these investment options carry a degree of risk since they are influenced by the market, making them somewhat less predictable. On the other hand, bank deposits offer safety and ensure conservative yet guaranteed returns. During the pandemic, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) significantly reduced interest rates, causing deposit rates to decline, both retail and corporate investors poured more funds into mutual fund schemes. This resulted in an increase in the <keyword id="163912" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="assets-under-management" source="Orion">assets under management</keyword> (AUM) of mutual funds, according to a report by Bank of Baroda. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The growth in AUM for August 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 was 18.6% across all schemes. The growth in bank deposits was 12.3% during the same period, as per RBI data. There's also a shift among mutual fund schemes with debt schemes losing some momentum. Mutual funds hold an inherent advantage as investments because they provide a diverse range of products tailored to investors' preferences. These include equity schemes and traditional debt options. For those with a more risk-tolerant approach, there are hybrid schemes, whereas index funds and ETFs offer more aggressive investment options. Nonetheless, it's important to note that all these investment options carry a degree of risk since they are influenced by the market, making them somewhat less predictable. On the other hand, bank deposits offer safety and ensure conservative yet guaranteed returns. During the pandemic, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) significantly reduced interest rates, causing deposit rates to decline, both retail and corporate investors poured more funds into mutual fund schemes. This resulted in an increase in the assets under management (AUM) of mutual funds, according to a report by Bank of Baroda. Mutual fund deposits grow faster than bank deposits Using 2019-20 as the base year, a significant transformation occurred in the financial landscape as interest rates reached historic lows. Subsequently, there was a notable surge in the growth of assets under management (AUM) for mutual funds over the following three years. During this period, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was 24.8%, increased from ₹20.26 lakh crore to ₹39.42 lakh crore according to data by Association of Mutual Funds in India(AMFI). In contrast, the growth in bank deposits during this period was more modest, at just 10%, a per RBI data. Shift in investor preference towards mutual funds The growth in mutual funds AUM for August 2023 compared to August 2022 was 18.6% across all schemes. The growth in bank deposits was 12.3%. While equity/growth schemes saw a 25.8% growth , while hybrid and debt mutual funds grew at 14.5% and 7.4% respectively. The proportion of mutual funds in the market now stands at approximately 20%, a significant increase from the pre-pandemic figure of 13%. It is evident that there has been a notable shift in investor preferences towards mutual funds, primarily driven by the attractive returns they offer. For context, the Sensex, which was nearly at 30,000 in March 2020, surged to 58,992 in March 2023, achieving a CAGR of nearly 26% per annum. As of August, the Sensex had reached 64,831. Risk appetite of investors increase, debt schemes lose momentum The highest growth rates in mutual fund schemes have been in equity and 'others' categories, indicating investors' increased risk appetite. They are favouring growth-oriented schemes, indices, and ETFs in anticipation of higher returns, especially during a period of high inflation (18.3% over the past three years). On the other hand, AUM growth in debt schemes has been the slowest. There's also a shift among mutual fund schemes, with debt schemes losing some momentum. According to the report, this can be partly attributed to banks raising deposit rates, reducing the yield gap. “The new provisions of the previous budget have taken away the tax arbitrage of debt funds. The two products of the fixed income segment bank deposit and debt funds can be compared on their merits. Debt funds offer diversification of papers, better liquidity and a tool to take duration and interest calls,” says Renu Maheswari, co-founder and principal advisor, Finscholarz Wealth Managers. Over time, there has been a noticeable shift in the allocation of funds towards bank deposits and mutual funds. The pandemic marked a turning point, as investors, compelled by circumstances, embraced more risk through mutual funds." comment="Subhead" text="Mutual fund deposits grow faster than bank deposits">Mutual fund deposits grow faster than bank deposits</cmsannotation> Using 2019-20 as the base year, a significant transformation occurred in the financial landscape as interest rates reached historic lows. Subsequently, there was a notable surge in the growth of assets under management (AUM) for mutual funds over the following three years. During this period, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was 24.8%, increased from ₹20.26 lakh crore to ₹39.42 lakh crore according to data by Association of Mutual Funds in India(AMFI). In contrast, the growth in bank deposits during this period was more modest, at just 10%, a per RBI data. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Shift in investor preference towards mutual funds" comment="Subhead" text="Shift in investor preference towards mutual funds">Shift in investor preference towards mutual funds</cmsannotation> The growth in mutual funds AUM for August 2023 compared to August 2022 was 18.6% across all schemes. The growth in bank deposits was 12.3%. While equity/growth schemes saw a 25.8% growth , while hybrid and debt mutual funds grew at 14.5% and 7.4% respectively. The proportion of mutual funds in the market now stands at approximately 20%, a significant increase from the pre-pandemic figure of 13%. It is evident that there has been a notable shift in investor preferences towards mutual funds, primarily driven by the attractive returns they offer. For context, the Sensex, which was nearly at 30,000 in March 2020, surged to 58,992 in March 2023, achieving a CAGR of nearly 26% per annum. As of August, the Sensex had reached 64,831. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Risk appetite of investors increase, debt schemes lose momentum" comment="Subhead" text="Risk appetite of investors increase, debt schemes lose momentum">Risk appetite of investors increase, debt schemes lose momentum</cmsannotation> The highest growth rates in mutual fund schemes have been in equity and 'others' categories, indicating investors' increased risk appetite. They are favouring growth-oriented schemes, indices, and ETFs in anticipation of higher returns, especially during a period of high inflation (18.3% over the past three years). On the other hand, AUM growth in debt schemes has been the slowest. There's also a shift among mutual fund schemes, with debt schemes losing some momentum. According to the report, this can be partly attributed to banks raising deposit rates, reducing the yield gap. “The new provisions of the previous budget have taken away the tax arbitrage of <keyword id="35474" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-funds" source="Orion">debt funds</keyword>. The two products of the fixed income segment bank deposit and debt funds can be compared on their merits. Debt funds offer diversification of papers, better liquidity and a tool to take duration and interest calls,” says Renu Maheswari, co-founder and principal advisor, Finscholarz Wealth Managers. Over time, there has been a noticeable shift in the allocation of funds towards bank deposits and mutual funds. The pandemic marked a turning point, as investors, compelled by circumstances, embraced more risk through mutual funds.

Investors’ new love for mutual funds might take sheen off bank deposits

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The cost of childcare is weighing on American families.</li><li>Below are some of the policies Harris and Trump have proposed to address these worries.</li></ul>With the presidential election days away and early voting already underway in most states, America's parents are wondering how the next administration could affect the rising <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-kids-cost-raising-child-inflation-childcare-tax-exemptions-2024-1">cost of raising children</a>.In the last of Business Insider's five-part series in the final stretch before the election, we're looking at the ways each candidate and their proposed policies could influence the price of childcare. The series has already covered each how each candidate is expected to impact <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/market-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-trump-harris-stocks-bonds-crypto-2024-10">investments</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-expensive-goods-price-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-trump-harris-2024-10">overall </a><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-expensive-goods-price-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-trump-harris-2024-10">costs</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-affordability-supply-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-homebuyers-harris-trump-2024-10">housing</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-cut-tariff-plan-outlook-presidential-election-scenarios-harris-trump-2024-10">taxes</a>.Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have both talked about the importance of making childcare more affordable. Harris has put forth specific plans to help alleviate the high costs of raising children, while Trump's campaign has focused mainly on increasing the amount of the child tax credit.Below are three elements of the childcare equation and what the Harris and the Trump camps have either proposed or already done.<h2 id="fbba22c8-b4a8-4c15-9104-0610fb961271">Childcare-cost assistance</h2>Harris has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRJciXc4UcQ&amp;t=1206s">promised</a> to cap families' childcare costs at no more than 7% of their incomes, compared to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://blog.dol.gov/2023/01/24/new-childcare-data-shows-prices-are-untenable-for-families">between 8% and 19.3%</a> spent by the median American family in 2022. The policy was first proposed in President Joe Biden's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-bench-build-back-better-face-obstacles-with-voting-rights-2022-1">2021 Build Back Better package</a> but was not passed by Congress.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/29/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-announces-action-to-lower-child-care-costs-for-more-than-100000-families/">As vice president</a>, Harris said she's working to encourage states to lower childcare costs by cutting copayments for the Child Care and Development Block Grant — a federal program that provides childcare subsidies for low-income families. Harris wants to make these subsidies more accessible for families of children who have disabilities, are experiencing homelessness, or are in foster care, and families living at or below 150% of the federal poverty line.Trump has not included a specific policy to mitigate childcare costs in his 2024 campaign. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/new-plan-from-donald-trump-aims-to-address-costs-of-child-care/2016/09">While in office</a>, Trump expanded the child tax credit, but he made no other major policy changes.Neither Trump nor Harris have proposed plans to fund childcare facilities or boost <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-childcare-plan-providers-teachers-criticize-policy-2024-9">hiring</a>, though experts told BI that skyrocketing costs are in part because the industry is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/providers-struggle-to-keep-funding-rising-childcare-costs-2023-9">underfunded.</a> The number of childcare workers is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/chicago-fed-insights/2024/childcare-labor-market">still below</a> pre-pandemic levels."What's partially driving that conundrum is that we put so much burden right now on parents — and parents alone — to foot the bill for childcare," said Anne Hedgepeth, the senior vice president of policy and research at the advocacy organization Child Care Aware of America.Cindy Lehnhoff, the director of the advocacy group National Child Care Association, said that previous federal funding pools, such as the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-to-sign-19-trillion-american-rescue-plan-on-thursday-2021-3">2021 American Rescue Plan Act,</a> helped to fund childcare facilities at the local and federal levels. She said more plans like it in the future could expand childcare options and make it more affordable for parents.<h2 id="e8cf6a27-c056-425e-a8d8-f31d090d9888">Child tax credits</h2>Trump and Harris have both proposed expanding the child tax credit, which currently provides <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/">up to $2,000</a> per child.Harris' <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harris-trump-proposals-boost-child-tax-credit-give-parents-money-2024-8">child tax credit</a> policy would restore the enhanced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/child-poverty-rate-america-congress-cut-biden-expanded-tax-credit-2023-9">pandemic-era credit,</a> giving parents up to $3,600 annually per child, with the amount dependent on a child's age and family income. The plan also includes a $6,000 tax credit for middle- and low-income families for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/child-tax-credit-new-parents-cut-taxes-harris-economic-policy-2024-8">first year of their child's life</a>, which Harris said can be used to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://kamalaharris.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Policy_Book_Economic-Opportunity.pdf">offset expenses</a> like diapers, car seats, baby formula, and childcare. She has also proposed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-kamala-harris-opportunity-economy-2024-9">other tax cuts</a> for middle- and low-income Americans, which would benefit some parents.In August, the vice presidential candidate JD Vance floated a child tax credit proposal that would include $5,000 per child for families of all income levels. Previously, Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provided about $2,000 of relief per eligible child, though the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said the plan <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/child-tax-credit-increases-in-gop-tax-plan-exclude-millions-of-children-in-low">excluded some</a> low-income families and single-parent households.The US's pandemic-era child tax credit <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/child-poverty-rate-america-congress-cut-biden-expanded-tax-credit-2023-9">expired</a> at the end of 2021 because Republicans in Congress opposed it. A renewed one — which would have boosted the amount of money families receive — was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/child-tax-credit-boost-bipartisan-plan-lift-kids-from-poverty-2024-1">introduced to Congress</a> earlier this year, but it failed to pass the Senate.<h2 id="4d34e818-8e07-40ed-ba56-9b3d5c44fa5f">Paid leave</h2>During her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/10/7/20902697/paid-family-leave-kamala-harris">run for president in 2020</a>, Harris supported a six-month paid-leave policy for Americans with a new child or a sick relative. Protecting paid leave at the federal level has been one of her key 2024 talking points, and she's expected to build on Biden's agenda, which supported <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/02/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-support-and-advance-womens-economic-security/">12 weeks</a> of paid parental leave.While in office, Trump signed a bipartisan bill that provided federal employees with 12 weeks of paid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2019/12/13/787631029/paid-parental-leave-how-republicans-learned-to-love-a-democratic-priority">parental leave</a>. He hasn't emphasized the issue on the campaign trail.While parents are legally allowed to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-pregnant-workers-parental-maternity-leave-can-be-laid-off-2023-3">Family and Medical Leave Act</a>, the US does not have a federal paid-leave policy. Some states have their own paid-leave requirements, and others leave policies up to individual employers.Without federal paid-leave protections, many <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-childcare-costs-in-us-women-workforce-cheapest-countries-kids-2024-2">families</a> would not have access to parental leave — which could lead to higher childcare costs and lower job security.

How the cost of childcare is expected to change under Trump or Harris

New Delhi, India's low-cost carrier <keyword id="6358032" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SpiceJet" source="Orion">SpiceJet</keyword> has reportedly not deposited money into the pension funds of its employees for at least 6 to 8 months, a source said. However, a SpiceJet spokesperson told IANS said that the process has already been initiated by the company. "There was a certain deferral in PF but we will be depositing a substantial amount soon and salary disbursement is on time. We are also doing all settlements on time. Everything will be cleared soon. We are hopeful," said the spokesperson. "We are submitting PF together in three to four months and soon it will be cleared," he added. This week on Monday, SpiceJet announced a notable turnaround in its financials for the first quarter, driven by reduced costs which outweighed a decline in revenue. The airline revealed a consolidated net profit of Rs 197.64 crore for the quarter ending June 30. This marked a significant shift from the net loss of Rs 783.72 crore recorded during the corresponding period in the previous year. The impressive upswing in profitability was primarily attributed to a substantial 36 per cent reduction in total expenses for the mentioned quarter, amounting to Rs 2,069.24 crore. However, on Thursday, the Delhi High Court asked low-cost airline SpiceJet and its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) to pay Rs 100 crore to Kal Airways and its promoter Kalanithi Maran by September 10, failing which the court may consider the attachement of their properties. Appearing for Maran and Kal Airways, senior advocate Maninder Singh submitted that the judgement debtor -- SpiceJet and CMD -- had to file the affidavit of assets and weekly collection within one week which they have failed to file on time and the same has not been filed in a format mandated by this court. On August 9, the court had issued notice on Kal Airways and Maran's application seeking 50 per cent of the daily revenue collection of SpiceJet to be paid to them on a weekly basis. During the hearing on Thursday, Singh further submitted that the order dated February 13 and July 7, passed by the Supreme Court is pre-emptive, conditional and self-operative which has not been complied with till date. Additionally, he submitted that the affidavit filed by the CMD has been filed under sealed cover which has not been served to the decree holders -- Kal Airways and Maran. On the other hand, senior advocate Amit Sibal submitted that the amount calculated by them stood upto Rs 279 crore and not Rs 397 crore, as argued by advocate Singh. He further made an offer to deposit Rs 75 crore within 10 days to which advocate Singh objected and said that they had to pay this amount in April but has not paid till date.

'SpiceJet didn't deposit money into pension funds for months'

The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword>'s (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) <keyword id="19913109" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Monetary-Policy-Committee" source="keywords">Monetary Policy Committee</keyword> (MPC) has decided to keep the <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword> steady at 6.5%. This decision, announced by RBI Governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shaktikanta-Das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword> early today, marks the ninth consecutive time the central bank has maintained the current rate, which was last adjusted in February 2023. The MPC's decision was made by a majority vote of 4:2, reflecting a cautious approach to balance economic growth and <keyword id="19895000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="keywords">inflation</keyword> control. But what exactly is repo rate and how does it impact you? Read on as we explain. <h2>Understanding the Repo Rate</h2>The repo rate, or repurchase agreement rate, is a critical monetary policy tool used by the RBI. It is the rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks and financial institutions against government securities. By adjusting the repo rate, the RBI influences the money supply, which in turn affects inflation and economic activity. <h2>How does it impact you?</h2>Changes in the repo rate have significant implications for both borrowers and savers. When the repo rate increases, banks incur higher costs to borrow funds from the RBI. To maintain their profit margins, these institutions raise interest rates on loans, leading to higher borrowing costs for consumers. Conversely, a lower repo rate reduces borrowing costs, resulting in lower EMIs for various loans, including home, personal, and education loans. Fixed deposit interest rates are also influenced by the repo rate. An increase in the repo rate can lead banks to offer higher interest rates on fixed deposits to attract more funds, benefiting depositors. On the other hand, a decrease in the repo rate might result in lower <keyword id="20772297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fixed-deposit-rates" source="keywords">fixed deposit rates</keyword>, affecting returns for savers. <h2>Relationship between repo rate and inflation</h2>As the lender of last resort, the RBI provides short-term funds to commercial banks through the repo rate mechanism. By doing so, it influences the interest rates that banks offer to their customers. This ability to control the cost of borrowing is a powerful tool for the RBI to manage economic stability. In times of inflation, the RBI raises the repo rate to curb borrowing and encourage saving. Higher interest rates make loans more expensive, reducing consumer spending and slowing down inflation. Conversely, in a deflationary environment, the RBI lowers the repo rate to stimulate borrowing and spending, thereby boosting economic activity. For example, there's a very popular bakery that everyone loves in a fictional town. This bakery makes the best bread and pastries, and almost everyone in town buys their daily bread from there. During a period of low inflation, the central bank of the town (similar to the Reserve Bank of India) sets a low repo rate, meaning it's cheap for commercial banks to borrow money. As a result, banks borrow money at a low cost and are willing to lend more money to the residents at lower interest rates. The residents find it easy and cheap to get loans, so they have more money to spend. With more disposable income, people in the town buy more bread and pastries. The bakery sees a surge in demand. With everyone having more money to spend, the demand for bread and pastries increases rapidly. The bakery struggles to keep up with the demand and starts raising prices. As the prices of bread and other goods in the town go up, inflation starts to rise. The central bank notices that inflation is getting too high, making everyday goods more expensive for everyone. To control this inflation, the central bank decides to increase the repo rate. During a high inflation period, with the increased repo rate, it's more expensive for commercial banks to borrow money. Consequently, banks in the town start lending less money and at higher interest rates. The residents find it harder and more expensive to get loans, so they have less extra money to spend. With less disposable income, fewer people buy bread and pastries. The demand decreases. With lower demand, the bakery reduces its prices to attract more customers. As the prices of goods in the town start to stabilise or even decrease, inflation comes under control.

You Searched For "deposits under the employees provident fund scheme" and got 13 results

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How the cost of childcare is expected to change under Trump or Harris

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