Life insurance surrender value is the amount a policyholder receives upon voluntarily exiting a life insurance policy before maturity. Surrender and withdrawal payouts rose to Rs 2.80 trillion in FY26 in India, according to data revealed by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in the Lok Sabha in August. The percentage of total benefits paid by life insurers that are surrendered or withdrawn has risen over the past five years, from 32% in FY 2021–2022 to 39% in FY 2025–2026.

Read more: https://www.fexp.in/vzxOqo

Exchanging your old gold jewellery to buy a new one can be a way to upgrade your ornaments, but the transaction could also have income-tax implications. Under Section 67 of the Income Tax Act (ITA) 2025, a transaction involving the exchange of old gold jewelry for new jewelry may result in capital gains tax. This is because exchanging old jewelry with a jeweler and adjusting its value against the purchase price of new ornaments is typically considered a transfer of a capital asset. Such jewelry’s taxability would vary depending on how long you have held the gold.

Read more: https://www.fexp.in/iaLwTc

A crisis in the banking system may be brewing, and the cracks are showing in American banking stocks. History shows bank stocks often peak prior to recessions, so if this slump persists, the US economy would face significant challenges.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/DlSoKx

Central government employees and pensioners will have to wait longer for the next Dearness Allowance (DA) increase as the Union Cabinet did not hold its weekly meeting on Wednesday, October 21. About 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners have been waiting for the July 2026 DA and Dearness Relief, or DR, revision. The increase is expected to be 3 percentage points, taking DA from the current 60% to 63% of basic pay. The delay means employees will have to wait for the formal announcement even though the inflation data needed to calculate the revised rate is already available. The government has not announced a confirmed date for the next decision.

Read more: https://www.fexp.in/h+mhPk

The Indian equity benchmarks had a volatile Wednesday, with the Nifty and Sensex ending slightly lower. Several companies released their quarterly earnings during the day and some after the market closed. Here is a quick look at the stocks that will be in focus on October 22.

Read more: https://www.fexp.in/M12rSw

*Stock Insights*
_by Financial Express_

The daily briefing that helps you make more informed investment decisions.

*Sunil Singhania’s 3 new SME bets: One is already up 189% from his entry*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/rm1hq-

*4x oil production target by FY30: An under-the-radar smallcap betting on bigger profits*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/MOMBL-

*Beyond Titan and Kalyan: The smallcaps supplying India's jewellery giants*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/dE-Vh1

*142.1% profit growth: Why Hindustan Zinc still trades near its 52-week low*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/KG497E

*FE Stock Insights on WhatsApp*: Follow our official channel for daily data-backed views and opinions. No noise, we promise -
https://www.fexp.in/gv-Sdz

*📰 *The Financial Express*

Catch up on the top financial, business, and market stories before the day begins.

Read today’s complete E-Paper here: https://www.fexp.in/1LQ0fr

Singhania is no stranger to big money. He spent about 15 years at Reliance Mutual Fund, now Nippon India Mutual Fund, where he rose to chief investment officer for equities, before leaving in 2018 to set up Abakkus Asset Manager.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/rm1hq-

The GIFT Nifty indicated a cautious start for the Indian stock market on Thursday, with futures trading around 45 points lower and below the 22,700 mark in early trade.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/swYe6R

India’s B2B jewellery manufacturers are catching market attention. Sky Gold has surged around 200% in 2026 so far. Meanwhile, other B2B jewellery manufacturers have also seen sharp gains. Shringar House of Mangalsutra rose nearly 50% in October till date, while Shanti Gold gained 109.5% in 2026 so far.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/dE-Vh1

For foreign taxpayers seeking income-tax exemption on interest and capital gains from government securities (G-Secs), the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued Form 173A under the Income-tax Rules, 2026. The Income-tax (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026 mandate that taxpayers seeking exemptions under Schedule IV of the Income-tax Act, 2025, are now mandated to disclose the required information in Form 173A, according to a notification released by the Ministry of Finance on October 19.

Read more: https://www.fexp.in/ctxxvf

The government has amended the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 2026, specifying a monthly wage limit of Rs 15,000 in the provision governing its contribution. This follows the increase in the EPFO statutory wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. Here is what the notification says, how the two limits differ and what employees should know about EPS contributions and pension benefits.

Read more: https://www.fexp.in/cIUzyd

📨 The Evening Essential
from Financial Express

Good evening. The noise stripped away—here is the definitive record of today's defining journalism, exclusives, and master essays from our newsroom.
-------
EPS contribution: Govt’s 1.16% share is still limited to Rs 15,000 wages
Read here: https://www.fexp.in/cIUzyd

Navratri auto retail hits 11.23 lk units: Tata Motors, Maruti gear up for Diwali rush
Read here: https://www.fexp.in/lHdsow

Dixon vs Cyient DLM: Why JP Morgan prefers 1 stock after 27% EMS correction
Read here: https://www.fexp.in/Motwv7

Vodka vs whisky: Why Jefferies sees a new growth opportunity for Radico Khaitan
Read here: https://www.fexp.in/qdcdyP

Middle East economy to shrink 1.3%: IMF warns of sharp downturn for Pakistan, MENA
Read here: https://www.fexp.in/lOv+Nt

-------
You are reading The Evening Essential, a curated daily broadcast for decision-makers.

Paying the final Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) on your home loan, car loan, or personal loan can feel like getting major debt-free relief, but the mental peace may only come when you obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your lender, even after you fully repay the loan amount.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/fDqKiG

After steadily rising for several months this year, the Nifty India Defence index has lost some momentum in the last three months. The recent consolidation signals investors’ worries about weakness in order executions, after the sector had rallied on strong capital expenditure.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/7qFRa6

The Jio Platforms IPO continued to see strong investor interest, with all categories of the issue fully subscribed on the second day of bidding. As of Day 2, the issue has been oversubscribed by 5.57 times, receiving bids for more than 110 crore shares against its offer of 19.75 crore.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/CeytDg

Buying a term insurance plan can offer you higher whole life coverage, financial protection, tax benefits at an affordable premiums, but do you know the right age of buying a term insurance?

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/WSMsrh

Karnataka, facing its most severe southwest monsoon deficit in 55 years driven by a strong El Niño phenomenon, has sought immediate release of Rs 20,585 crore drought relief from the Centre.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/VhgA4p

*Stock Insights*
_by Financial Express_

The daily briefing that helps you make more informed investment decisions.

*A new Rs 924 cr metro tender: 2 stocks positioned for India’s next order wave*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/Dn9bBl

*Why FIIs more than doubled their stakes in 2 auto stocks amid record outflows*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/80IjEq

*Vijay Kedia’s latest bets: Rs 73 cr in 2 smallcaps with surging profits*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/Dkpkew

*India’s $13.62 billion food ingredients opportunity: 2 stocks, two very different bets*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/+yBWCO

*Rs 760 cr orders, 157% profit growth: An under-the-radar smallcap rides the global grid boom*
Read More: https://www.fexp.in/aXD1yD

*FE Stock Insights on WhatsApp*: Follow our official channel for daily data-backed views and opinions. No noise, we promise -
https://www.fexp.in/gv-Sdz

In November 1984, a 28-year-old Indian mathematician at Bell Labs became the subject of a story that set off a deluge of inquiries from brokerage houses, oil companies and airlines. Those industries had millions at stake in a class of problems called linear programming. That mathematician was Narendra Karmarkar. The problem was how to allocate scarce resources so that cost falls or efficiency rises.

Read More: https://www.fexp.in/2HuGpo