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How Much Alimony Can Your Partner Legally Claim After A Divorce? Know Your Rights
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Knowing alimony, spousal, and child support rules in India is vital. Both parties should assess assets, liabilities, joint property, accounts, investments, and loans
Hiring a divorce lawyer to protect financial interests and a financial planner for post-divorce financial planning is recommended. (Representative/News18 Bangla)
Amid the emotional turmoil of divorce, many individuals face the added concern of alimony, which can bring significant financial implications. Courts step in to provide this support, aiming to ease the financial strain and ensure stability for the affected spouse.
In India, alimony is governed by various personal laws and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), ensuring that financially weaker spouses can maintain a life of minimum dignity post-separation. The form of alimony can vary based on case specifics.
Types Of Alimony:
- Permanent Alimony: This is extended to spouses who require ongoing financial support post-divorce, ceasing only upon the recipient’s remarriage or death, as stipulated under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and other personal laws.
- Temporary Alimony/Interim Maintenance: Provided during divorce proceedings, it covers legal fees, living expenses, and other related costs, according to Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Section 125 of the CrPC.
- Rehabilitative Alimony: Offered for a limited period, it aims to help the financially weaker spouse become self-sufficient, often through education or employment opportunities.
- Reimbursement/Compensatory Alimony: This compensates a spouse who sacrificed career opportunities for family obligations. Equitable principles guide its provision.
- Lump Sum Alimony: A one-time payment that spares the recipient from monthly legal battles, allowing them to settle debts, purchase property, or fulfil other needs.
- Nominal Alimony: A minimal amount set to preserve the legal right to claim more significant support in the future, used when immediate financial need is absent but anticipated.
Alimony Under Various Personal Laws
- Hindu Law: The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Sections 24 and 25) covers interim and permanent alimony.
- Muslim Law: Alimony is paid during the iddat period post-divorce as per Sharia law and the Muslim Women (Protection of Right to Divorce) Act.
- Christian Law: The Indian Divorce Act, 1869 (Sections 36 and 37) governs alimony for Christian spouses.
- Parsi Law: The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 provides for maintenance both during and post-divorce.
- Special Marriage Act, 1954: Applicable to inter-religious marriages, it permits maintenance under Sections 36 and 37.
Future Earning Capacity
The ability to earn in the future, even if currently unemployed, affects alimony amounts. Courts encourage self-reliance, as seen in Kalyan De Chowdhury v. Rita De Chowdhury, (2017) 14 SCC 200.
Income Disclosure And Special Needs
In a notable case, the Jharkhand High Court increased a wife’s monthly maintenance to Rs. 90,000 after RTI findings revealed the husband’s income. The court also acknowledged the special needs of the couple’s autistic child, factoring in the mother’s full-time caregiving role.
Understanding alimony, spousal support, and child support under Indian law is crucial. Both parties must evaluate their assets and liabilities, including jointly owned property, bank accounts, investments, jewellery, and vehicles, as well as joint liabilities like loans. Removing one’s name from joint loans or credit cards is advisable to avoid future liabilities.
For financially dependent individuals, budgeting for post-divorce living expenses is essential. Opening a separate bank account, updating nominees on insurance and investment portfolios, and planning finances to manage alimony payments are important steps. Alimony received in lump sums is tax-free, whereas monthly payments are taxable. Understanding capital gains tax on donated property is also necessary.
Child support for education, health, and daily expenses must be decided, considering the custodial parent’s role. Updating wills, insurance policies, bank nominations, and property documents to exclude the ex-spouse might be necessary. Ensuring all financial settlements are documented in the divorce decree is critical.
Hiring a divorce lawyer to protect financial interests and a financial planner for post-divorce financial planning is recommended. Saving and investing for long-term security, acquiring new skills, and seeking employment or business opportunities can help rebuild a financially independent life post-divorce.
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NEW DELHI: People with job cards assigned under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Scheme will be able to get work without disruption when transition takes place to new rural employment framework under Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.Even though exact timeframe is not known yet, rural development ministry officials said the VB-G RAM G scheme will come into force in the coming financial year after the Centre frames and notifies the rules. After govt notifies the Act’s commencement date, states will get six months to make their schemes to enable implementation of the law.To ensure there is no disruption and job guarantee is upheld during transition from MGNREGA, it has been proposed to enable workers to use the same job cards issued under MGNREGA with Aadhaar-based eKYC.The officials said that as of now, around 75% of job cards have been verified with eKYC under the ongoing scheme. Moreover, ongoing projects under MGNREGA, if incomplete when the transition happens to the new scheme, would stay on course.Meanwhile, work is on to frame rules, lay out regulations on normative allocations, fund flow plan, IT framework, a national-level steering panel and social audits.Under the new law, focus will be on transparency to weed out leakages and duplicacy of work,the social audit system will be strengthened, and technology leveraged to create systems to establish work progress, timely wage payment and accountability through ‘e-measurement’ books, sources said. Demand for work will have to be entered on a digital platform. Officials made it clear the new law in no way interferes with demand-driven character of the scheme.
Business
Gurugram Attracts Rs 86,588 Crore In Real Estate Investments In 2025 As RERA Clears 131 Projects
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Alongside rising investments, Gurugram RERA strengthened regulatory oversight to safeguard homebuyer and investor interests
Gurgaon Real Estate (Representative Image)
Gurugram emerged as one of India’s top real estate investment destinations in 2025, with projects worth Rs 86,588 crore receiving regulatory approvals during the year, according to data from the Gurugram Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Gurugram RERA).
Market observers said the numbers reflect strong investor confidence in the NCR’s largest commercial and residential hub.
Gurugram RERA registered 131 projects in calendar year 2025, representing development potential of 35,455 units across housing and commercial segments.
A striking feature of the data was the dominance of large-ticket projects. Just 28 major developments accounted for investments worth Rs 59,360 crore, highlighting the growing influence of institutional capital and large developers in shaping Gurugram’s property market.
Residential assets continued to attract the bulk of investment interest. Of the total units approved, 31,455 were residential, underscoring sustained end-user demand and long-term confidence in the city’s housing fundamentals.
According to Authority data, the residential mix included 17,405 group housing units, 5,720 mixed land use units, 4,040 residential floor units, 2,122 affordable group housing units, 1,954 units under the Deen Dayal housing scheme, and 214 residential plotted colony units.
Market observers said this diversified supply pipeline indicates capital deployment across both premium and mass segments, helping reduce concentration risk and deepen market resilience.
On the commercial side, Gurugram RERA approved about 4,000 commercial units, of which 168 were dedicated to IT parks, reinforcing Gurugram’s position as a preferred hub for technology firms and Global Capability Centres.
Analysts noted that the combination of office-led employment growth and residential expansion continues to make Gurugram attractive for long-term capital deployment.
Industry experts said the scale of investments approved in 2025 highlights Gurugram’s ability to attract capital despite global uncertainty, supported by infrastructure growth, a strong corporate base and an improving regulatory environment.
“With a large pipeline of approved projects and sustained interest from developers and institutional investors, Gurugram is expected to remain a key real estate investment destination in the coming years,” a Gurugram-based real estate expert said.
Tighter regulatory checks
Alongside rising investments, Gurugram RERA strengthened regulatory oversight to enhance transparency and safeguard homebuyer and investor interests.
“These steps included stricter scrutiny of developer submissions, mandatory site inspections by domain experts, and public consultation through mandatory notices before project registration,” an Authority official said.
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January 16, 2026, 07:44 IST
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National Startup Day highlights India’s thriving startup ecosystem, celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation driven by founders, unicorns and Startup India mission
National Startup Day 2026 honours Indian startups, entrepreneurs and innovators driving economic growth and job creation.
National Startup Day 2026: India’s startup ecosystem has evolved into one of the world’s most vibrant and promising innovation hubs. To recognise the contribution of entrepreneurs, founders and startups transforming ideas into impactful solutions, National Startup Day is observed every year on January 16 across the country.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, the day celebrates visionary entrepreneurs who play a crucial role in economic growth, employment generation and technological advancement.
National Startup Day serves as a reminder that innovation, backed by determination and policy support, can reshape society and create global impact.
National Startup Day 2026 Theme
The official theme for National Startup Day 2026 is yet to be announced. However, the core focus areas are expected to revolve around:
- Innovation and emerging technologies
- Entrepreneurship and leadership
- Self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
- Startup India Mission
- Youth empowerment
- Job creation
How Startups Are Shaping India’s Future
India currently ranks as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with over 1.59 lakh startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as of early 2025. Backed by 100+ unicorns, the ecosystem continues to grow rapidly.
Metro cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR lead this expansion, while Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as new innovation centres, adding diversity and scale to India’s entrepreneurial journey.
Startups across fintech, edtech, health-tech, e-commerce and deep-tech are addressing real-world challenges and gaining global recognition. Technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and IoT are increasingly driving innovation, according to Startup India ecosystem reports.
Industry-Wise Startup Impact
DPIIT-recognised startups have generated over 16.6 lakh direct jobs across sectors as of October 31, 2024, strengthening India’s employment landscape.
- IT Services: 2.04 lakh jobs
- Healthcare & Life Sciences: 1.47 lakh jobs
- Commercial & Professional Services: 94,000 jobs
Through the Startup India initiative, the government continues to focus on skill development, funding access, ecosystem collaboration and global outreach.
Key Initiatives Under Startup India
- Capacity building and mentorship
- Outreach and awareness programmes
- Ecosystem development events
- International exposure and global linkages
- Collaboration between startups, corporates and institutions.
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January 16, 2026, 07:00 IST
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Those with MGNREGA cards to get work during transition to G RAM G Act – The Times of India
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