Business
New tax regime: Is ELSS still worth investing without section 80C benefits?
New Delhi: With the Indian government pushing more taxpayers towards the new tax regime, many investors are reassessing their financial strategies — especially when it comes to tax-saving investments like Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS). Once a popular choice for locking in tax benefits under Section 80C, ELSS now faces questions about its relevance since the new regime does away with such deductions.
ELSS are equity-oriented mutual funds that invest at least 80 percent of their assets in stocks and equity-related instruments. Traditionally, they offered a key advantage: tax deductions of up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. This deduction reduced taxable income and made ELSS a cornerstone of tax planning for many investors.
However, under the new tax regime, deductions under Section 80C — including those for ELSS — are not available. This means investors who opt for the new regime cannot claim tax breaks for their ELSS contributions, stripping away one of the main incentives for investing in these schemes.
This change has prompted some taxpayers to halt fresh ELSS investments or reconsider their strategy altogether. After all, if the primary tax benefit is no longer applicable, what is the point of continuing to invest in ELSS? The answer, financial advisors say, lies in understanding both long-term wealth creation and the behavioural advantages ELSS funds bring to an investment portfolio.
Even without 80C deductions, ELSS may still be relevant for investors focused on long-term goals. The mandatory three-year lock-in period can help reduce emotional decision-making, preventing premature withdrawals during market volatility and encouraging disciplined investing. This structure makes ELSS a useful tool for building wealth over time, particularly for investors who struggle with timing the market.
From a performance perspective, ELSS funds have historically delivered competitive returns, often in line with or slightly outperforming other diversified equity categories. While past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, the potential for market-linked growth remains a compelling reason to hold or continue investing in ELSS even without tax breaks.
That said, investors should evaluate their personal goals, risk tolerance, and tax situation before deciding. Under the new regime, some may prefer other equity funds or investment options that better align with their financial objectives. Consulting a financial planner can help tailor an approach that balances tax efficiency and long-term wealth creation.
Virgin Media O2 recorded its highest-ever broadband traffic spike as millions across the UK tuned in to watch Arsenal‘s Uefa Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.
Peak downstream traffic on the network surged by 17 per cent compared to an average Tuesday evening, marking an unprecedented event in Virgin Media’s broadband history.
This figure was 4.2 per cent higher than the previous record, established during Liverpool’s Champions League match against Real Madrid last November.
Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2, commented on the phenomenon: “Live sport is one of the biggest drivers of broadband traffic in the UK and last night’s Champions League semi-final set a record on our network.
“As more people stream the biggest sporting moments from home, reliable, high-capacity connectivity has never been more important.”
Bukayo Saka delivered the decisive goal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as Arsenal secured a 2-1 aggregate triumph over Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 – their first on Europe’s grandest stage for 20 years.
And although Arsenal have received an official allocation of just 16,824 tickets from UEFA for the final at the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena, Declan Rice wants the Hungarian capital to be a sea of red for the fixture against either Bayern Munich or Paris St Germain.
He said: “Bring it on, bring it on, I’ll be ready. I want every Arsenal fan out there, 200,000 of you, come out. Let’s try and do it because we’re going to need all the support, all the energy and let’s make it special.”
Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, hailed his “incredible” players for “making history” after securing the win.
Arteta said: “It was an incredible night. We made history again together and I cannot be happier and prouder for everybody that’s involved in this football club.
“The supporters were with us for every ball. They made it special and unique, and I have never felt it like that in this stadium.
“We knew how much it meant to everybody, we put everything on the line, the boys did an incredible job and after 20 years, and the second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.”
Business
Airlines spent 56.4% more on jet fuel in month after Iran war started, U.S. government says
A technician prepares to refuel a Delta Airlines aircraft at the Austin-Bergrstrom International Airport on April 10, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
U.S. airlines spent 56.4% more on jet fuel in March, the month after the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran began, than they did in February, U.S. government data released Wednesday shows.
U.S. carriers spent $5.06 billion on fuel in March, up from $3.23 billion in February. It was 30% more than what they paid in March 2025, according to the Department of Transportation.
Airlines have lowered or scrapped their 2026 forecasts altogether because of the spike in fuel, their biggest expense after labor. Some carriers have scaled back growth plans to cut costs and avoid having too much expensive capacity in the markets.
The spike in jet fuel was even sharper and topped $4 a gallon in some markets in April as the war continued and the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed.
Spirit Airlines collapsed over the weekend, and the carrier said the surge in jet fuel costs foiled its plans to emerge from bankruptcy midyear.
Other major carriers told Wall Street as they reported earnings last month that they expect customers to cover the higher jet fuel costs by early 2027, if not the end of this year.
So far, booking trends show consumers are still traveling, In March, travel agency ticket sales rose 12% from a year ago to $10.4 billion, with the number of domestic trips up 5% and international up 1%, according to the Airlines Reporting Corp.
Up to 150 high street stores previously part of the WH Smith business face closure, with hundreds of jobs understood to be at risk.
TGJones attributed the significant restructuring to the “direct result of government policy and recent geopolitical events”.
The firm stated that the planned closures are a necessary measure after 12 months of “highly challenging trading conditions”.
These outlets were rebranded as TGJones following Modella Capital’s acquisition of 480 WH Smith stores last year.
In a statement provided to the Press Association on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the business emphasised that the decision to restructure “had not been taken lightly”.
In a statement provided to the Press Association on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the business said the decision to restructure the company “had not been taken lightly”.
The statement said: “While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers.
“Weak consumer spending and cost-of-living pressures, combined with rising operating costs as a direct result of government policy and recent geopolitical events, have meant that the company as a whole has remained loss-making.
“The forced name change from WH Smith has also negatively impacted consumer awareness, despite the fact that the proposition has improved.”
The statement continued: “The survival of this iconic 234-year-old business is our imperative. No decisions have yet been taken on how this will impact roles, but we will aim to preserve as many jobs as possible.
“Any potential store closures or role reductions will be subject to appropriate consultation, and we are committed to engaging openly and constructively with colleagues and their representatives.
“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles.
“We recognise the impact this uncertainty will have on colleagues, their families and the communities we serve.”
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