Business
From Banking To Salaries, Here’s What All Changes From January 1, 2026
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The 8th Pay Commission is expected to come into force from January 1, 2026, following the conclusion of the 7th Pay Commission on December 31
A new income tax return (ITR) form is likely to be introduced in January 2026.
With just days left for the curtain to fall on 2025, the arrival of the new year will bring more than fresh calendars and resolutions. From January 1, 2026, a host of policy and regulatory changes are set to kick in, directly impacting farmers, salaried employees, young people and the wider public. Banking rules, social media regulations, fuel prices and government schemes are all in line for an overhaul.
While every new year ushers in tweaks to existing rules, 2026 is expected to see several big-ticket changes. The government’s renewed push on data protection and social media oversight, along with revisions in banking norms, is likely to alter how people transact, spend and access services.
Banking rules set for overhaul
One of the key changes will be in how credit scores are updated. Credit bureaus will now be required to refresh customer data every week instead of once every 15 days, making credit histories more dynamic and responsive.
Several major banks, including SBI, PNB and HDFC, have already reduced loan interest rates, a move that is expected to benefit borrowers in the new year. Revised fixed deposit (FD) interest rates will also come into effect from January 2026.
Banks have further tightened norms related to UPI and digital payments, along with stricter enforcement of PAN-Aadhaar linking. From January 1, PAN-Aadhaar linkage will be mandatory to access most banking and government services; failure to comply could lead to denial of services.
SIM verification rules have also been made more stringent, particularly for messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, in a bid to curb fraud and misuse.
Social media and traffic curbs in focus
The Centre is considering stricter social media regulations for children below 16 years, on the lines of measures introduced in countries such as Australia and Malaysia. Discussions are underway on age-based restrictions and parental controls.
On the mobility front, several cities are preparing to impose fresh curbs on diesel and petrol commercial vehicles to combat rising pollution levels. In parts of Delhi and Noida, plans are being discussed to restrict deliveries using petrol-powered vehicles.
Relief for government employees
The 8th Pay Commission is expected to come into force from January 1, 2026, following the conclusion of the 7th Pay Commission on December 31. This is likely to bring a revision in pay structures for central and state government employees.
In addition, dearness allowance (DA) is set to rise from January 2026, providing a salary boost amid persistent inflation. Some states, including Haryana, are also expected to review and raise minimum wages for part-time and daily-wage workers.
Key changes for farmers
In states such as Uttar Pradesh, farmers are being issued unique IDs that will be mandatory to receive installments under the PM-Kisan scheme. Without the ID, beneficiaries may not receive the credited amounts.
Under the PM Kisan Crop Insurance Scheme, farmers will now be eligible for compensation if crops are damaged by wild animals. However, losses must be reported within 72 hours to claim insurance benefits.
What it means for the general public
A new income tax return (ITR) form is likely to be introduced in January, pre-filled with details of banking transactions and expenditure, simplifying compliance but increasing scrutiny.
Prices of LPG and commercial gas cylinders will be revised from January 1, while aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices will also be updated the same day, changes that could have a ripple effect on household budgets and airfares.
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December 22, 2025, 20:42 IST
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The price of Bitcoin fell below $70,000 on February 5, down 44% from its October 2025 high of $126,210, as investors shift interest to gold and global economic concerns rise.
Earlier in the day, Bitcoin briefly touched $63,000 before closing at $70,000.
Last week alone, its value dropped more than $20,000, reducing it by almost a quarter.
Compared to four months ago, Bitcoin has now lost about half its peak value.
Analysts say investor interest in Bitcoin is waning, with growing pessimism surrounding the broader cryptocurrency market.
Business
Gold, Silver ETFs Sink Up To 10% As Precious Metals Rout Deepens; What Should Investors Do Now?
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Silver and gold-linked commodity ETFs extended their slide, falling as much as 10%, tracking sharp drop in precious metal futures on the MCX
Silver ETFs
Silver and gold-linked commodity ETFs extended their slide on Friday, falling as much as 10%, tracking a sharp drop in precious metal futures on the MCX for the second straight session.
The decline came amid a global sell-off in technology stocks and a strengthening US dollar, which wiped out most of the gains from a brief rebound earlier in the week.
Silver ETFs lead losses
Kotak Silver ETF was the worst hit, tumbling 10%, while HDFC Silver ETF, SBI Silver ETF and Edelweiss Silver ETF declined about 9% each. Bandhan Silver ETF limited losses to around 6%.
Among gold-linked funds, Angel One Gold ETF slipped 8%, while Zerodha Gold ETF fell about 5%.
Volatility persists after steep correction
Hareesh V, Head of Commodity Research at Geojit Investments, said gold and silver continue to witness heightened volatility after last week’s sharp selloff. The correction was driven by hawkish US Federal Reserve expectations following Kevin Warsh’s nomination, a stronger dollar, and steep margin hikes by the CME that forced leveraged positions to unwind. Profit-taking after record highs further amplified price swings, keeping sentiment fragile.
He advised bullion investors to remain patient and avoid reacting to short-term volatility driven by margin hikes, profit booking and policy uncertainty.
“Gradual, staggered accumulation can help manage timing risks, as long-term fundamentals such as geopolitical tensions, central bank demand and currency pressures remain supportive. Closely tracking the US dollar and upcoming Federal Reserve signals is crucial in this phase of elevated volatility,” he said.
MCX futures slide sharply
In Friday’s session, MCX silver futures for March 5 delivery plunged 6%, or ₹14,628, to ₹2,29,187 per kg. Gold futures for April 2 delivery also weakened, slipping ₹2,675, or 2%, to ₹1,49,396 per 10 grams.
Globally, silver remained extremely volatile. Prices rebounded as much as 3% after plunging 10% to below the $65 level, a more than six-week low. Despite the bounce, silver was still down nearly 16% for the week. In the previous week, it had fallen 18%, marking its steepest weekly decline since 2011.
Margin hikes add pressure
The selloff spilled into domestic ETFs after sharp margin hikes in precious metal futures. On Thursday, commodity-based ETFs dropped as much as 21%, led by silver ETFs, while gold ETFs declined up to 7%.
Margins on silver futures were raised by 4.5% and on gold futures by 1% effective February 5, followed by an additional hike of 2.5% on silver and 2% on gold on Friday. As a result, total additional margins now stand at 7% for silver futures and 3% for gold futures from February 6.
“Markets often see sharp corrections after extended rallies. Broader risk sentiment and geopolitical cues can trigger profit booking in commodities, especially where positioning has been crowded,” said Nirpendra Yadav, Senior Commodity Research Analyst at Bonanza.
However, he added that industrial demand for silver remains strong, with a tight global supply environment and persistent deficits supporting prices over the medium to long term. Short-term intraday swings, he said, do not alter the long-term outlook.
Trade deal, macro cues in focus
Ross Maxwell, Global Strategy Operations Lead at VT Markets, said the India–US trade deal could improve risk appetite by easing supply-chain frictions and reducing tariff-linked inflation pressures.
“In this context, gold and silver will balance lower trade tensions against ongoing macro uncertainty. A clearer trade outlook can reduce risk aversion, limiting upside in precious metals,” he said.
Maxwell added that gold remains supported by concerns around inflation, currency stability and geopolitical risks, making it attractive as a strategic hedge rather than a short-term trade. Silver, he noted, also benefits from industrial demand, meaning improved global trade expectations could lend support through stronger manufacturing activity.
“While reduced tariffs may dampen fear-driven buying, both gold and silver are likely to remain structurally firm as long as economic and policy uncertainty persists,” he said.
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February 06, 2026, 12:08 IST
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Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday saw a sharp decline in share prices on the last day of the trading week amid profit-taking by investors.
After a brief period of gains at the market’s opening, the KSE-100 experienced a sharp decline.
It lost over 1467.24 points or -0.74 percent, falling to 186,364.84, losing three key psychological levels during the trading session.
Investors are closely watching the market amid the ongoing volatility.
Out of 564 active companies in the ready market, 163 advanced, 267 declined, while 134 remained unchanged.
On Wednesday, the benchmark KSE-100 Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)witnessed a bullish trend, gaining 931.34 points, a positive change of 0.50 percent, to close at 187,832.08 points.
During the session, the ready market recorded a trading volume of 1,195.264 million shares with a traded value of Rs 44.102 billion, against 848.559 million shares valuing Rs 50.026 billion in the previous session.
Out of 483 active companies in the ready market, 246 advanced, 188 declined, while 49 remained unchanged.
K-Electric Limited topped the volume chart with 590.867 million shares, followed by Waves Home Appliances with 36.307 million shares and First National Equities with 32.938 million shares.
The top gainers included Nestle Pakistan Limited, which rose by Rs 75.39 to close at Rs 7,906.13, and Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which gained Rs 68.36 to settle at Rs 27,208.17.
On the losing side, Blessed Textiles Limited declined by Rs 67.48 to close at Rs 607.29, while Sazgar Engineering Works Limited fell by Rs 30.58 to close at Rs 2,271.47.
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