The income tax notices suggest that the assessment of income tax returns and the release of refunds have been paused for these categories of taxpayers. (AI image)

Income Tax alert! The Income Tax Department is sending emails and SMSes to taxpayers, just ahead of the year-end, alerting them of mismatches in their deduction and exemption claims while processing Income Tax Returns. The blunt emails are being received by two categories of income tax payers – the salaried individuals whose claims are not reflecting in Form 16, and the wealthy individuals who appear to have donated money running into lakhs for charities. Form 16 is a consolidated statement of salary paid and tax deducted at source, which employers submit to the Income Tax Department on behalf of their staff. The income tax notices suggest that the assessment of income tax returns and the release of refunds have been paused for these categories of taxpayers. The unexpected arrival of these “do not reply” emails from the Income Tax Department in the inboxes of certain taxpayers has caused unease, according to an ET report.

ITR stuck: Why are you receiving tax alerts?

A December 23 release from the Income Tax Department described the exercise as one meant to assist assessees and encourage voluntary compliance. However, the sharp wording of the emails has left many taxpayers confused about their next steps. Those who have received alerts from the tax department are uncertain whether they should ignore the messages or retract the claimed benefits and file revised returns before the December 31 cut off.Also Read | ITR filing: Received ‘nudge’ from Income Tax Department for tax return & refund claims? Here’s what you need to doThe reasons cited by the Income Tax Department include incorrect permanent account numbers (PANs) of recipient charities, organisations not being registered under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, or refund claims under the old tax regime that “appear to be high compared to the gross salary.”

Tax Trouble

Tax experts, however, point out that many such emails have been issued even where all details furnished by taxpayers are correct. According to the ET report, several individuals have expressed confusion after being questioned over donations made to a well known foundation in southern India that works in the area of yoga and spiritual development. As per the existing rules, taxpayers are eligible to claim a deduction of 50% of the qualifying donation amount.At the same time, this deductible amount is capped and cannot exceed 50% of the total contribution made to a trust or non profit organisation registered under Section 80G.Taxpayers who made contributions of over Rs 2 lakh appear to be the main recipients of these emails, which, notably, are not formal notices and do not reflect on the income tax portal.The messages cite several grounds for placing income tax return processing on hold. These include leave travel allowance claims that are significantly higher than the figures reported by employers in Form 16, capital gains declared in the return that do not seem to align with entries in the Annual Information Statement and the Taxpayer Information Summary, an unusually high house rent allowance claim, or donations reported above the permissible deduction threshold.The AIS and TIS are auto generated records prepared by the department using transaction level information and details reported by various third parties.Also Read | Income tax refund: Your refund may be delayed if revised return not filed by December 31, 2025 deadline – here’s why

Uncertainty on Tax Refunds

There is also increasing uncertainty over the timeline for receiving tax refunds, even among those who remain confident that claims in their income tax returns are accurate.“A policy that may have been conceived with good intentions has been undermined by ineffective communication. The use of charged terms such as ‘false claims’ for donations flagged by risk systems has rattled taxpayers who have followed the rules,” said Mohit Bang, partner at Hyderabad based chartered accountancy firm Trivedi & Bang. “We are increasingly seeing cases where taxpayers with legitimate and properly supported claims are being swept up by these automated notices,” he told ET.Bang noted that it reflects a deeper mismatch when contributions made via traceable banking channels to institutions approved by the government are described as “potentially false.” He added, “If the objective is to make compliance simpler, the department needs to fine tune its data analytics to minimise false positives. Automated communications should guide and correct, not intimidate, so that law-abiding citizens are not subjected to unnecessary stress despite full disclosure.”He also pointed to another concern, saying that refunds are being delayed for more than four months from the date returns are filed, while notices highlighting such issues are being issued barely a week before the filing deadline.According to Ashish Karundia, founder of chartered accountancy firm Ashish Karundia & Co, “The existing reporting framework already has strong safeguards in place, with recipient organisations required to submit Form 10BD and issue donor specific certificates in Form 10BE, which taxpayers rely on while filing their returns. “This information is easily accessible for system driven verification of legitimate claims. In the same way, although employers often impose internal deadlines for declaring investments or deductions, usually around November or December, there is no legal bar on claiming genuine deductions that were not communicated to employers within those timelines,” he told ET.In the case of salaried taxpayers, differences between figures in Form 16 and the income tax return often arise because investment details could not be submitted to employers in time.“Even though the objective may be constructive, the release of these communications toward the end of the year has unsettled many compliant taxpayers. A better approach would have been to engage earlier during the filing season, giving individuals sufficient opportunity to reconcile differences or revise returns in an orderly manner. Such messages should function as advisory nudges for compliance, not as suggestions of incorrect reporting, especially when claims are valid and properly supported,” Karundia said.

Thalapathy Vijay’s return to Chennai from Malaysia’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ audio launch saw him mobbed by enthusiastic fans at the airport. Overwhelmed by the crowd, the actor-turned-politician lost his balance and tripped near his car, but was quickly assisted by security and sustained no injuries. The event highlighted a stark contrast to the smoothly managed Malaysian function.

Thalapathi Vijay’s return from his trip to Malaysia after the audio launch event for his upcoming film ‘Jana Nayagan’ descended into chaos as he touched down in Chennai. A wave of overwhelmed fans caused the actor-turned-politician to lose balance and fall.

Vijay Thalapathy gets mobbed

As seen in the videos circulating on the internet, many fans ran to see the ‘Jana Nayagan’ star when he reached Chennai Airport. Fans wanted to take photos and be near him. There were too many people around him, which also led to everyone pushing forward to get closer. This made a small mess near his car.

Vijay loses balance and trips near his car

Because the crowd was so big, Vijay lost his balance and slipped and fell down just before he reached his car. The security guards came quickly to assist him. They picked him up, helped him stand and took him inside the car safely. Vijay did not suffer any injuries.

‘Jana Nayagan’ audio launch event

For the unversed, the Tamil star came from Kuala Lumpur after a huge show for his upcoming political thriller ‘Jana Nayagan’. The event took place at Bukit Jalil Stadium. It was a huge event, that the Malaysian Book of Records said it was the biggest audience for any audio launch in the country.

About ‘Jana Nayagan’

Speaking about his upcoming film, directed by H. Vinoth the movie is anticipated to be his final cinematic outing as he is said to solely focus on his political career. The movie stars him opposite Pooja Hegde as Kayal, with Bobby Deol as the antagonist.It will also feature Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Narain, Mamitha Baiju and others in key roles.The movie is set for Pongal 2026 release on January 9. Additionally the film will be clashing with Prabhas’ much anticipated horror comedy, ‘The Raja Saab’ which will also release on the same date.

Image Credit: Bilal Bahadur/TNN

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s apple orchards — the backbone of the Valley’s rural economy — are under renewed scrutiny as lawmakers and medical experts raise concerns over a possible link between decades of pesticide use and rising cases of malignant brain tumours among orchard workers.Lawmakers shift focus to farmers’ healthThe concerns were raised by the House Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, chaired by CPM legislator MY Tarigami, which met officials, scientists and health experts to examine the health hazards faced by those working in apple orchards.

Image Credit: Bilal Bahadur/TNN

“For years, farmers have sprayed orchards unaware of the toxicity of constant pesticide exposure, leading to a rise in malignant brain tumors among those who power the valley’s billion-rupee apple economy and contribute more than 70% of India’s total apples,” the committee said.Evidence from Kashmir’s fruit beltThe discussion revisited findings from a study conducted by the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), which examined more than 400 cancer patients between 2005 and 2008.The study reported high incidences of primary brain cancer in districts forming Kashmir’s core fruit belt, including Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Shopian and Kupwara. It identified a “quite strong and possible” link between pesticide exposure and malignant brain tumours among orchard farmers.

Image Credit: Bilal Bahadur/TNN

The findings were largely ignored when first published but have resurfaced amid growing medical evidence of pesticide-linked health disorders in the Valley.Tarigami told TOI, “We don’t want to create panic among farmers who spray their orchards every season. But neither can we sit idle when data indicates a serious health hazard. If pesticide spray is harming lives, it must be addressed.”Overuse of chemicals and lack of protectionScientists told the committee that pesticide use in apple orchards often exceeds recommended limits.Shahid Rasool, principal scientist at CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, said many orchardists spray chemicals every 10 to 12 days instead of the advised 18 to 21, believing it boosts yield.“Few can afford protective gear; chronic cough, rashes and irritation are common. Without gloves, goggles and masks, the risk multiplies,” he warned.Rasool said orchardists now use as many as 15 rounds of fungicide and insecticide each season, far beyond recommended schedules, and called for safer practices and protective equipment.Traces of pesticides found in human bloodFurther concerns were raised by Dr Sobia Nisar, a physician-researcher at Government Medical College, Srinagar, who has studied the biochemical effects of pesticide exposure among residents of apple-growing districts such as Shopian and Pulwama.“The initial idea was to check pesticides residue levels in the fruit,” she said. “But what we found was far more disturbing. Traces of these compounds in human blood samples.”

Image Credit: Bilal Bahadur/TNN

Her findings document pesticide residues in the bloodstream of orchard workers and nearby residents, along with higher rates of obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome and early kidney impairment.“When such patterns emerge consistently across populations exposed to pesticides, it demands urgent scientific scrutiny,” Dr Nisar said.Earlier studies show high exposure among cancer patientsA study published in the Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reported that 90% of brain tumour patients from Kashmir’s orchard belts had been exposed to pesticides, with all cases involving high-grade, aggressive tumours.The research focused on orchard workers in districts such as Anantnag, Budgam and Baramulla — areas that account for over 90% of the Valley’s apple-growing land — with smaller districts like Shopian and Kulgam also showing significant concentrations of cases.Committee seeks policy responseThe House Committee on Environment said it would recommend measures to the health and horticulture departments focusing on monitoring, research funding and worker safety, as concerns grow over the long-term health impact of pesticide use in Kashmir’s apple orchards.What the study foundA detailed study titled “Pesticides and brain cancer linked in orchard farmers of Kashmir”, conducted by researchers at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), examined the relationship between pesticide exposure and primary malignant brain tumours among orchard workers in the Valley.

The study analysed medical records of 432 patients diagnosed with primary malignant brain tumours and 457 control patients with non-tumour neurological conditions, all treated at SKIMS over a four-year period between 2005 and 2008.High exposure among cancer patientsThese patients had been exposed to multiple neurotoxic and carcinogenic chemicals, including chlorpyriphos, dimethoate, mancozeb and captan.Only 9.96% of patients had no recorded exposure to pesticides. Among the control group, 119 out of 457 patients had a history of pesticide exposure, while 338 had no such link. Of the pesticide-exposed cancer patients, 71.7% were male and 28.3% were female, including members of three families. Nearly a third — 31.9% — were younger than 40 years, having begun exposure at an early age.Tumour severity and mortalityThe study found that all orchard-related patients had high-grade, aggressive brain tumours, unlike those in the non-pesticide-exposed group. Mortality among pesticide-exposed tumour patients was recorded at 12%.Researchers measured serum cholinesterase levels — a marker used to assess exposure to organophosphate pesticides — and found higher-than-normal levels in 31.9% of exposed patients, while decreased levels were seen in 45.3%.

Image Credit: Bilal Bahadur

Statistical analysis showed a significant case-control odds ratio of 0.28, with additional hospital and family control serum cholinesterase odds ratios of 1.1 and 1.5 respectively, pointing to what the study described as a strong suspicion of a link between pesticide exposure and brain cancer.Wider environmental and occupational contextThe study noted that millions of tonnes of pesticides, insecticides and fungicides are sprayed annually across Kashmir’s orchards. Apple cultivation alone covers more than half of the Valley’s fruit-growing land, with around 40% of the population directly or indirectly exposed through farming, residence near orchards or recreational use of orchard spaces.Researchers highlighted that prolonged use of synthetic pesticides over the past three decades has coincided with a marked rise in admissions of high-grade malignant brain tumours from orchard districts to SKIMS.The study concluded that occupational and environmental exposure to pesticides in Kashmir’s fruit-growing regions poses a serious health risk, warranting closer monitoring and further investigation.

The Goods and Services Tax reforms, announced on September 22 gave a much needed push to consumer demand, as sales volumes for household essentials and groceries rose sharply in the October-December quarter, as compared to a year earlier.According to executives citing NielsenIQ data and internal company numbers, volumes expanded by around 9–10% in the December quarter, up from 7.1% in the same period last year. This marked the first full quarter after GST rates were reduced on a range of items from September 22, and the data suggests the move helped to revive the inflation-led slowdown that had crippled consumption for multiple quarters, ET reported.The increase in volume growth suggests that more products were sold across a range of categories such as soaps, detergents, snacks and noodles, despite trade disruption and restocking challenges. “The first quarter (after) GST reforms clearly shows volume growth and a further narrowing of the urban-rural gap,” said Mayank Shah, vice-president at Parle Products.“We expect the momentum to continue over the next two quarters, with a clear focus on premiumisation,” Shah told ET. However, though volumes strengthened, value growth remained muted due to widespread price cuts across fast-moving consumer goods. By value, FMCG sales rose 10–11% during the December quarter, broadly flat as compared with 10.6% growth a year earlier, data cited by ET showed.The revised GST structure brought down tax rates on everyday essentials such as soaps, shampoos, toothpaste and food products to 5%, from earlier slabs of 12% or 18%. However, the transition was not swift! Many companies saw their supplies shrinking temporarily as distributors and retailers avoided tying up working capital by placing orders and seeking credit adjustments for price differences, ET reported.Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, which owns brands such as Santoor and Yardley, attributed the uptick in demand to a combination of factors building over time. “There are income tax benefits which still exist in the system,” said chief executive Vineet Agarwal. “Commodity prices, including crude oil, are now cooling. All of this is clearly positive. The monsoon has been good, which adds to the overall picture. So, the direction is encouraging.”Demand in urban markets had begun to weaken from the middle of last year as rising fuel and commodity costs squeezed household budgets. At the same time, established consumer goods companies, from noodle makers to detergent manufacturers, have faced intensifying competition from regional and digital-first brands.Even so, industry leaders remain optimistic about upcoming months. “The outlook is quite positive,” Sudhir Sitapati, managing director at Godrej Consumer Products told ET. “GDP growth seems good, and all the factors for consumption growth are in place. I am expecting the demand outlook to be good on the back of both GST and income tax reduction. There is more money in consumers’ hands, so hopefully that will drive growth.”In the previous quarter, a majority of listed FMCG companies expected the second half of FY26 to deliver volume-led growth as supply chains normalise.Earlier data from NielsenIQ also highlighted a shift in demand patterns. In its July–September update, the research firm noted that rural markets had outpaced urban areas by volume growth for seven straight quarters, although the gap narrowed as cities showed signs of recovery.Rural volumes grew 7.7% in the September quarter, compared with 3.7% growth in urban markets.

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing controversy over Digvijaya Singh‘s remarks praising the RSS’s organisational strength, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Revanth Reddy hailed Sonia Gandhi‘s role in Congress leadership, citing examples of elevation of Manmohan Singh and P V Narasimha Rao to the post of Prime Minister.In a social media post on X, Reddy, on the 140th foundation day of the Congress, said that the party “has shaped every defining chapter of modern India.”

“Congress: a force for the people of India was born 140 years ago on this day. The story of the Indian National Congress is the story of Indian democracy in motion. When one reflects on the leadership of Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji, we find service, commitment, ethics and values,” Reddy said.“Under Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji’s leadership, it became possible for Shri P V Narasimha Rao garu, who started his public career from a remote village in Telangana, to rise to become Prime Minister of the country. Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji also made an economist like Dr Manmohan Singh Ji the Prime Minister. From leading India’s freedom struggle to framing the Constitution, from building democratic institutions to uniting a diverse nation, the Indian National Congress has shaped every defining chapter of modern India,” he added.This comes after Digvijaya Singh stirred a controversy by sharing a black-and-white photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting on the floor near senior BJP leader L K Advani in Gujarat.Singh commented on the ability of grassroots workers to ascend through the ranks to become chief minister and eventually Prime Minister, attributing it to the “power of organisation.”He tagged several senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, Prime Minister Modi, and the official Congress handles.Reportedly, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister rued “over-centralisation” in the Congress and pushed for decentralisation in the presence of top leadership at the CWC meeting held on Saturday.He also complained that district and state chiefs were appointed by the AICC and questioned why decisions taken at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir, including setting up an election management department, had not been implemented.Last week, Singh had also praised Rahul Gandhi for his stance on socio-economic issues, giving him “full marks,” while calling for internal reforms within the Congress. Drawing a parallel with Rahul Gandhi’s push for Election Commission reforms, Singh argued that the party itself needed similar changes.In another post on X, he wrote, “Rahul ji, you are absolutely ‘bang on’ in matters of socio-economic issues. Full marks. But now please look at Congress also. Like the Election Commission needs reforms, so does the Indian National Congress. You have started with ‘Sangathan Srijan’, but we need more pragmatic, decentralised functioning.”He added, “I am sure you would do it because I know you can do it. The only problem is that it is not easy to ‘convince’ you!!”

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Monday. While Nifty50 was above 26,050, BSE Sensex was above 85,000. At 9:17 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 26,074.75, up 18 points or 0.069%. BSE Sensex was at 85,082.51, up 41 points or 0.048%.Stock markets are likely to see increased volatility in this week as calendar year 2025 ends and a new year begins, coinciding with the December derivatives expiry. Investors will closely track a string of domestic data releases, including November industrial production numbers, government budget value figures, external debt data and the final HSBC Manufacturing PMI reading, which are expected to guide near term sentiment.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The standout feature of 2025 has been India’s stark underperformance compared to most developed and emerging markets. This underperformance is set to change in 2026 supported by solid fundamentals: India’s macros are in Goldilocks setting with robust economic growth and stable financial construct. The more important factor from the market perspective-earnings growth- is set to recover from Q3 FY26 onwards.” “Even though these are favourable factors, these are not sufficient to trigger a rally soon. A strong rebound in the market needs a trigger like a US- India trade deal with favourable thrills for India. There is no clarity yet on when this will happen. Therefore, a consolidation phase is likely in the near-term, and investors can utilise this consolidation phase to slowly accumulate high quality stocks giving priority to largecaps.”Global markets provided mixed cues in thin holiday trade. World stocks are hovering close to their record highs. Silver prices briefly touched a fresh peak before paring gains as lower liquidity amplified price swings. Oil prices moved up in early Asian trade on concerns over Middle East tensions that raised fears of potential supply disruptions. However, uncertainty surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war continued to cap gains and keep traders cautious.Precious metals saw renewed interest, with silver rising above $80 an ounce on Monday, supported by supply constraints, robust industrial demand and expectations of additional US Federal Reserve rate cuts. Platinum also touched a record high during the session before easing.On the domestic institutional front, foreign portfolio investors remained sellers, offloading shares worth Rs 318 crore on Friday. Domestic institutional investors, in contrast, provided support to the market with net purchases of Rs 1,772 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

North Korea has test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles (AP image)

North Korea has test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles to demonstrate its nuclear combat readiness. This comes as tensions continue to rise on the Korean Peninsula amid increased military activity by the United States and South Korea.According to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missile launches took place on Sunday over the Yellow Sea, west of the Korean Peninsula. Leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the drill, which was aimed at reviewing the combat capability and counter-offensive readiness of long-range missile units.KCNA reported that the missiles flew for more than two hours before successfully hitting their targets. The state media released videos showing the missiles being launched and striking targets at sea. Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the exercise and said North Korea would continue the “unlimited and sustained development” of its nuclear combat forces.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that it had detected several cruise missile launches at around 8.00 am on Sunday from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. The South Korean military said it is maintaining full readiness in close coordination with the United States to respond to any potential provocations.North Korea described the launches as a defensive measure. KCNA said Kim stressed that testing the reliability of the country’s nuclear deterrence was a “responsible exercise of the right to self-defence and war deterrence” in response to what Pyongyang sees as growing external security threats, news agency AFP reported. The missile test comes days after North Korea revealed its progress in building the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine. Last week, KCNA reported that Kim inspected a large submarine under construction at an indoor facility. He was accompanied by the senior officials and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. Pyongyang has suggested that the submarine could be armed with nuclear-capable missiles.The timing of the missile drill is also significant as North Korea prepares for a ruling Workers’ Party congress early next year, the first in five years. International attention will focus on whether Kim outlines new policy directions, including toward the United States and stalled nuclear negotiations.Tensions have increased following South Korea’s plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine, a move Kim described as an “offensive act” that violates North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty. Pyongyang has also strongly criticised the recent docking of the US Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Greenville at the South Korean port city of Busan.Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the cruise missile drill was intended to counter these developments. He said the arrow-type cruise missiles, with a range of about 2,000 kilometres, could strike targets across the Korean Peninsula as well as US military bases in Japan.While United Nations Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles, cruise missile tests are not prohibited. However, analysts warn that such missiles still pose a serious threat because they are highly precise and fly at low altitudes, making them harder to detect by radar.The latest test comes years after North Korea’s nuclear talks with the United States collapsed in 2019 during US President Donald Trump’s first term.Although Kim has recently signalled a willingness to return to talks, experts say he may seek to use his expanding nuclear arsenal as leverage in any future negotiations with Washington.