New Delhi, Dec. 30 -- New Delhi,

Bengaluru :

The year 2025 emerged as a pivotal year for household finances-marked by significant changes like a reduction in mandatory annuitization in the National Pension System (NPS), lower income tax rates, GST slab rationalization, and the introduction of new labour codes-laying the groundwork for how Indians will plan, save, and invest in 2026.

For instance, the new tax regime has emerged as the obvious choice for most taxpayers following the increase in the rebate limit to Rs.12 lakh. To make the old regime work, taxpayers would now need to claim deductions of over Rs.8 lakh a year-a tough target given the Rs.1.5 lakh cap under Section 80C and no change in the Rs.50,000 standard deduction for yea...