Gold prices surged to fresh record levels in both domestic and international markets on Wednesday, driven by expectations of further monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve and heightened geopolitical tensions that boosted safe-haven demand.In domestic futures trade, gold prices climbed to a lifetime high of Rs 1,38,676 per 10 grams on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). Gold futures for February delivery rose by Rs 791, or 0.57%, marking the metal’s third consecutive session of gains. In the global markets, Comex gold futures advanced for the fourth session in a row, rising by $49.4, or 1.10%, to touch a fresh peak of $4,555.1 per ounce. “Gold surged past $4,500 per ounce to a fresh record, driven by expectations of further Federal Reserve easing and rising geopolitical tensions,” Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities told PTI. “Investors are still pricing in two rate cuts in 2026 as inflation cools and employment conditions soften, even as policymakers remain divided. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Venezuela have been rising, which has lifted safe-haven demand and increased geopolitical risks across commodity markets,” Trivedi added.Here’s how much gold costs in your city today:

Gold rate in Delhi today

Gold prices in Delhi edged higher, with 22K gold at Rs 12,750 per gram, up Rs 35, 24K gold at Rs 13,908 per gram, up Rs 38, and 18K gold at Rs 10,435 per gram, gaining Rs 29.

Gold rate in Mumbai today

Gold prices in Mumbai saw 22K gold priced at Rs 12,735 per gram, up Rs 35, while 24K gold stood at Rs 13,893 per gram, up Rs 38. The 18K gold rate was Rs 10,420 per gram, higher by Rs 29.

Gold rate in Bengaluru today

In Bengaluru, 22K gold was quoted at Rs 12,735 per gram, gaining Rs 35, while 24K gold traded at Rs 13,893 per gram, up Rs 38. 18K gold was priced at Rs 10,420 per gram, up Rs 29.

Gold rate in Hyderabad today

Hyderabad markets recorded 22K gold at Rs 12,735 per gram, higher by Rs 35, with 24K gold at Rs 13,893 per gram, up Rs 38. The 18K gold rate stood at Rs 10,420 per gram, gaining Rs 29.

Gold rate in Chennai today

Gold prices in Chennai moved up, with 22K gold at Rs 12,800 per gram, rising Rs 30, while 24K gold was priced at Rs 13,964 per gram, up Rs 33. 18K gold was quoted at Rs 10,675 per gram, gaining Rs 25.

Gold rate in Ahmedabad today

Ahmedabad saw 22K gold priced at Rs 12,740 per gram, up Rs 35, while 24K gold stood at Rs 13,898 per gram, gaining Rs 38. The 18K gold rate was Rs 10,425 per gram, higher by Rs 29.

Gold rate in Jaipur today

In Jaipur, 22K gold was quoted at Rs 12,750 per gram, up Rs 35, while 24K gold traded at Rs 13,908 per gram, gaining Rs 38. 18K gold stood at Rs 10,435 per gram, up Rs 29.

Gold rate in Kanpur today

Kanpur markets showed 22K gold at Rs 12,750 per gram, rising Rs 35, while 24K gold was priced at Rs 13,908 per gram, up Rs 38. The 18K gold rate stood at Rs 10,435 per gram, gaining Rs 29.

Gold rate in Kolkata today

Gold prices in Kolkata saw 22K gold at Rs 12,735 per gram, up Rs 35, while 24K gold stood at Rs 13,893 per gram, gaining Rs 38. 18K gold was priced at Rs 10,420 per gram, higher by Rs 29.

Winter rarely announces what it is doing to your body. It happens quietly. Meals start sitting heavier. You feel full for longer. Bloating shows up even on normal eating days. Your gut feels slower, less cooperative, almost sleepy. Many people brush this off as overeating or moving less, but digestion worsening in winter is not just a habits problem. It is a seasonal shift rooted in how the human body responds to cold and reduced daylight.Digestion depends on signals. Temperature, light exposure, daily movement, and routine all guide how quickly the gut works. When winter changes all of these at once, the digestive system adjusts by slowing things down. This response once helped humans conserve energy during colder months. Today, it mostly feels uncomfortable.

A peer-reviewed study published in Cell Host and Microbe observed that gut microbiota composition changes across seasons in response to environmental factors such as temperature and circadian rhythm. These microbial shifts were linked to changes in metabolism, inflammation, and digestive efficiency.When digestion is viewed through this biological lens, winter-related gut issues stop feeling random. They follow a pattern.

How seasonal changes affect digestion in colder months

Winter digestion problems do not come from one dramatic change. They build slowly through small, everyday shifts that add up.

1. Cold temperatures slow digestive muscle movement

Cold weather alters blood flow. The body focuses on protecting vital organs by keeping them warm, which reduces circulation to the digestive tract. With less blood supply, the muscles of the stomach and intestines contract more slowly.As a result, food moves through the gut at a reduced pace. This delay increases feelings of heaviness, bloating, and gas. Meals that felt light in summer can suddenly feel uncomfortable without any clear trigger.

2. Reduced physical activity weakens gut motility

People rarely notice how much less they move in winter. Shorter days and cold air lead to fewer walks, longer sitting hours, and more time indoors. Movement plays a direct role in digestion because the intestines respond to physical motion.When daily activity drops, bowel movements slow down. This is why constipation becomes common in winter, even among people who normally have regular digestion.

3. Winter foods place a heavier load on digestion

Cold weather changes appetite. Meals become warmer, richer, and more filling. Refined carbohydrates, fried foods, creamy dishes, and sweets appear more often on the plate.At the same time, fibre intake often drops. Fewer fruits, salads, and raw vegetables means less bulk in stool and slower bowel movement. The gut ends up working harder while moving more slowly.

4. Lower water intake dries out the digestive process

Thirst signals weaken in cold weather. Many people drink less water without realising it. Indoor heating adds to fluid loss, even though the body does not ask for more water clearly.When hydration drops, stool becomes firmer and harder to pass. This contributes to constipation, bloating, and the sensation that digestion is stuck or incomplete.

5. Disrupted sleep and routines interfere with gut rhythm

Winter affects sleep patterns more than people admit. Later mornings, inconsistent bedtimes, and reduced sunlight exposure disturb the body clock. The gut follows this rhythm closely.Irregular meal timing leads to uneven digestive enzyme release. Stress levels also tend to rise during darker months, which further slows digestion and increases acidity or discomfort.

Supporting your gut through winter

Supporting digestion in winter does not require extreme changes. Small adjustments make a difference. Warm fluids instead of cold drinks. Gentle movement after meals. More cooked vegetables. Regular meal timing.Paying attention to hunger helps too. Eating out of routine rather than appetite can strain digestion further during colder months.Digestion worsens in the winter because the body is adapting, not malfunctioning. When those adaptations are supported rather than ignored, the gut usually finds its rhythm again.Disclaimer: This content is intended purely for informational use and is not a substitute for professional medical, nutritional or scientific advice. Always seek support from certified professionals for personalised recommendations.Also read| 7 strange ways your body reacts in life or death situations

Identified taxpayers are being sent SMS and email under the government’s NUDGE campaign. (AI image)

ITR filing FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26): The Income Tax Department is stepping up scrutiny for tax returns and many taxpayers are getting alerts to check their exemption and deduction claims. The last date to file income tax returns for FY 2024-25 was pushed to September 15, 2025 this year since the tax department took time to release forms and update the portal. However, the last date to file an updated or belated return for the current assessment year remains December 31, 2025.Several taxpayers are also facing delays in their returns and refunds being processed. Ahead of the important deadline, the Income Tax Department has issued a clarification on why some taxpayers are getting alerts to review their ITRs.The Income Tax Department has said that in the ongoing financial year 2025–26, over 21 lakh taxpayers have already updated their ITRs for AYs 2021–22 to 2024–25 and paid more than ₹2,500 crore in taxes. Also, over 15 lakh ITRs have been revised for the current assessment year.

Investor Action Checklist

Why are some taxpayers getting intimations from the tax department, what is the nature of deduction and exemption claims being questioned, and what should taxpayers do? We take a look:

What’s the Income Tax Department’s ‘NUDGE’ campaign?

In a press release, the Income Tax Department has said that some taxpayers have claimed ‘ineligible’ refunds – through the deductions and exemptions route. This has led to their income being underreported.

“Under the risk management framework, and through the use of advanced data analytics, cases for Assessment Year (AY) 2025–26 have been identified,” the Income Tax Department said.The tax department on its part is ‘nudging’ taxpayers to update their tax returns in case there is some discrepancy in the deductions and exemptions.

What is NUDGE campaign?

Identified taxpayers are being sent SMS and email under the government’s “Non-intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable (NUDGE)” campaign. The aim is to encourage these taxpayers to correct errors in tax return filing, ahead of the December 31, 2025 deadline. “This initiative reflects a trust-first approach to tax administration, under which taxpayers are provided an opportunity to review their Income-tax Returns (ITRs) and voluntarily correct any ineligible claims, wherever required,” the tax department said.“The campaign leverages data analytics and technology to enable a transparent, non-intrusive, and taxpayer-centric compliance environment, with an emphasis on guidance and voluntary compliance,” the department adds.The tax department has advised the concerned taxpayers to “review their ITRs, verify the correctness of their deduction and exemption claims, and revise their returns, if required, within the prescribed time by 31 December 2025, so as to avoid further enquiries in the matter.”

ITR filing & Refunds: Why are taxpayers getting ‘nudges’?

Amarpal Chadha, Tax Partner at EY India explains that the NUDGE campaign is an initiative of the Income Tax Department aimed at encouraging taxpayers to voluntarily review deduction or exemption claims that have been identified as potentially ineligible through data analytics. The Department is also leveraging global information-exchange frameworks such as the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI), Common Reporting Standards (CRS), and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to identify possible discrepancies in foreign asset reporting, Chadha told TOI.

Under the tax department’s initiative, taxpayers may receive an email or SMS explaining the reason for the communication and advising them to verify the accuracy of deductions or exemptions claimed, as well as the correctness of foreign asset disclosures. Where a taxpayer believes that corrective action is required, a revised return may be filed on or before December 31, 2025, which is the deadline for filing updated income tax returns for FY 2024-25

What kind of exemptions and deductions are likely under scrutiny?

Tanu Gupta, Partner, Mainstay Tax Advisors LLP has a clear message: In principle, all those exemptions and deductions which are not genuine are likely to come under scrutiny. “Even those deductions and exemptions which are inconsistent with the income tax department’s records/information/data, may also come under scrutiny. The most sought-after deduction/exemption currently includes “Donation to Political Parties”, “House Rent Allowance” to name a few,” she told TOI.According to Amarpal Chadha, any deduction that is claimed for donations to political parties where an incorrect or invalid PAN of the donee has been provided may come under the Income Tax Department’s scrutiny. The tax department has said that there are also cases where the taxpayers have given incorrect or invalid PAN details. Other cases pertain to the extent of deductions and exemptions that are being claimed by the taxpayers.“In addition, any deduction or exemption claimed in the income-tax return over and above what is reflected in Form 16 such as HRA exemption, exemptions under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), gratuity exemption etc. are also under tax department’s radar,” he told TOI.

What should taxpayers do if they get a ‘nudge’ from tax authorities?

Tanu Gupta recommends that for all the claims including exemptions and deductions, the taxpayer should always keep in handy the following documents: receipts / invoices of the payments for which exemption / deduction is claimed, bank statement evidencing such payment through proper banking channels, receipts from the recipient to corroborate with such payments.

These are broad guidelines for the documents which the taxpayer should anyway keep on files for a good financial housekeeping, she says.Is there a need for panic? No, says Tanu Gupta. “Instead, the taxpayer needs to revisit their claims of exemptions and deductions in the return and take action accordingly viz file the revised return if needed. As the name suggests, the abbreviation and the complete name of it (Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable), it is to facilitate the taxpayer to file compliant tax returns voluntarily, with correct, justified and genuine claims of deductions/exemptions,” she tells TOI.“There are cases where the taxpayers have received the communication from the department, although they believe that they do not have any inconsistency for the claims made in the return. They only need to see if they have all supporting documents for such payments to submit to the tax authorities when asked for,” explains Tanu Gupta, adding that wherever such exemptions / deductions are not authentic, the taxpayer needs to immediately revise the tax return by reversing such claims in the returns; and pay due income tax along with interest.Amarpal Chadha shares a checklist:

If any claim or reporting needs correction, file a revised return within the prescribed timeline currently on or before December 31, 2025, he says. “However, if the taxpayer believes that the exemptions or deductions claimed are accurate and valid, they may wait for further communication from the Income Tax Department,” he adds.It is important to restate here that taxpayers do not have to worry where their tax claims are genuine.The Income Tax Department has clarified that taxpayers whose claims are genuine and correctly made in accordance with law are not required to take any further action. “It is clarified that taxpayers who do not avail of this opportunity may still file an updated return from 1 January 2026, as permitted under law, subject to payment of additional tax liability,” it has said.

Shankh airlines (Image/Website)

Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air is expected to begin flight operations in the first quarter of 2026. The airlines has already secured a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Union civil aviation ministry,.Yesterday, two other carriers Al Hind Air and FlyExpress also received their NOCs, paving the way for fresh competition in India’s fast-growing domestic aviation marketShankh Air will be operated by Shankh Aviation, whose aircraft are currently undergoing technical reviews and are being readied for delivery to India, the company said in a statement on Wednesday, according to PTI.

The airline plans to launch flight services early next year and aims to scale up its fleet to 20–25 aircraft over the next two to three years.Shankh Aviation’s Chairman and Managing Director Sharvan Kumar Vishwakarma recently met civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu to brief him on the airline’s plans.Vishwakarma said the company is working towards a timely launch, while the minister assured full cooperation from the ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure that required procedures are completed smoothly and within stipulated timelines.The approvals come as the government seeks to widen participation in India’s fast-growing domestic aviation market, which currently has only nine scheduled domestic airlines in operation. The number reduced further in October after regional carrier Fly Big suspended scheduled flights.Al Hind Air is being promoted by the Kerala-based alhind Group, while FlyExpress joins a list of aspiring carriers looking to enter a market where scale and pricing power are concentrated among a few major players.Concerns over an apparent duopoly in the sector have intensified in recent weeks. IndiGo and the Air India Group comprising Air India and Air India Express, together account for over 90 per cent of the domestic market, with IndiGo alone holding more than 65 per cent.Confirming the approvals, Naidu said in a post on X that the ministry had met teams from Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress over the past week. While Shankh Air already held its clearance, he said Al Hind Air and FlyExpress received their NOCs this week.Naidu said encouraging more airline operators has been a consistent policy objective, given that Indian aviation is among the world’s fastest-growing markets. He highlighted the role of government schemes such as UDAN, which aim to improve regional connectivity and have helped smaller carriers like Star Air, IndiaOne Air and Fly91 expand services to underserved routes.According to the latest DGCA data, India’s scheduled carriers currently include IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Alliance Air, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91 and IndiaOne Air.

Reserve Bank of India (ANI image)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a draft proposal aimed at making cross-border payments more transparent and consumer-friendly. With this, the bank aims to address long-standing complaints about hidden charges and unclear pricing in foreign exchange transactions.A large number of individuals face difficulties while making overseas payments for education, living expenses, travel, investments or remittances, mainly due to complex processes and high service costs.In many cases, customers only discover the true cost of a transaction after it has been completed. This includes charges such as fees, margins and intermediary costs that are either bundled into exchange rates or deducted later without a clear explanation.To address these issues, the RBI has proposed new regulations that would require banks and other authorised dealers to disclose the total cost of foreign exchange transactions upfront, before a customer agrees to the deal. The move is intended to help customers compare charges across service providers and make more informed decisions, according to ET.

What the RBI has proposed

Under the draft circular, authorised dealers such as commercial banks and certain financial institutions will be required to clearly communicate all transaction-related costs in advance. This includes commonly used foreign exchange transactions such as:

The disclosure requirement will cover both foreign exchange transactions and related derivative contracts used by retail customers.The RBI observed that a similar step was taken in January 2024, when authorised dealers were mandated to disclose mid-market rates for forex and foreign currency interest rate derivatives. The new proposal builds on a similar framework by extending transparency to the full cost structure of transactions.What counts as “total transaction cost”Before entering into a foreign exchange transaction, authorised dealers will now have to provide a complete breakdown of costs. According to Hemal Shah, Partner and Leader – Treasury and Commodity Advisory, Risk Consulting, EY India, this would include:

Importantly, these details must not only be shared upfront but also included in the final deal confirmation, allowing customers to verify what they were quoted against what they were ultimately charged.Once finalised, the instructions will be applicable within three months from the date of issuance.

Problems faced by retail users

Retail customers have long flagged that international transfers feel far more expensive and opaque than domestic payments. Often, customers are shown only an exchange rate, while additional costs such as remittance fees, FX margins, SWIFT charges and intermediary bank deductions are revealed only later.Experts point out that banks frequently embed margins and multiple fees into a single quoted rate, making it difficult for customers to understand the actual pricing. Charges on the recipient side, such as correspondent bank fees or instances where beneficiaries bear costs instead of remitters, have also added to confusion, particularly for exporters.Another major concern is the lack of transparency around correspondent bank fees, which can vary significantly depending on routing and overseas banking arrangements. While banks often describe these as outside their control, the RBI has flagged this as a key area where disclosure standards need improvement.

How customers will benefit

By mandating upfront disclosure, the RBI aims to give retail users a clearer picture of the true cost of cross-border transactions. This will help customers better understand pricing mechanisms, dealer margins, and the differences between various forex products.“Enhanced visibility on the hidden charges allows retail users to make better decisions on the pricing offered by ADs,” said Shah.Vijay Mani, Partner and Banking and Capital Markets Leader at Deloitte India, added that the move can significantly improve trust and comparability, provided the disclosures are implemented in a clear and customer-friendly manner.The RBI has invited public comments on the draft circular. Feedback can be submitted until January 9, 2026, after which the central bank will review responses before issuing final guidelines.

Who do the rules apply to?

Authorised Dealers under RBI regulations include Authorised Dealer Category-I banks and Standalone Primary Dealers authorised under Category-III to conduct foreign exchange transactions.Customers are classified as retail or non-retail for the purpose of these rules. Non-retail users include large financial institutions, NBFCs, insurance companies, mutual funds, alternative investment funds and Indian entities with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more or a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more. Non-residents, other than individuals, are also treated as non-retail users.Any customer who does not fall into these categories is considered a retail user and will directly benefit from the proposed transparency measures.

ICAI proposes that married couples be given the option to file a single, joint return. (AI image)

Pre-budget suggestions are pouring in, in the North Block. As the government gears up to present the 2026 budget, one proposal stands out for its potential impact on millions of households: optional joint taxation for married couples. It has been suggested by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and if adopted by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), it could mark a significant shift in how personal income tax is structured — and how families plan their finances.What is the proposal about?Currently, under the Indian tax system, every individual — married or not — is taxed separately. Each spouse must file their own income tax return, even if they have shared income or joint expensesICAI proposes that married couples be given the option to file a single, joint return — combining their incomes and deductions — instead of two separate ones. In other words: a married couple could choose what makes financial sense for them each year — file individually, or jointly.Why ICAI recommends joint taxationAccording to ICAI’s submission:

How joint taxation might work (proposed model)The couple would file a single consolidated Income tax return (ITR) under the joint-filing option.

What needs careful design — and possible concernsThe idea is attractive, but implementing joint taxation in India isn’t just a technical tweak. There are challenges to consider:

What could this mean for Indian households — a few scenarios

Why this proposal matters — beyond tax savings

ConclusionThe proposal for optional joint taxation of married couples — as submitted by ICAI in its pre-Budget 2026-27 memorandum — represents a potential paradigm shift in India’s personal tax framework. It seeks not just to ease compliance, but to recognise households (not just individuals) as fundamental economic units.For many Indian families — especially those with a single earner, homemaker spouse, children, home-loan or shared expenses — this could translate into lighter tax burden, improved financial well-being, and simpler tax compliance. On the policy side, it could bring India a step closer to global practices and make the tax system more equitable, transparent, and modern.

NEW DELHI: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari flagged Delhi’s worsening air pollution, saying the capital’s toxic air was so severe that he fell ill after spending just two days in the city, while stressing that the transport sector was a major contributor to the problem.“I stay in Delhi for 2 days and get an infection, it is so polluted,” Gadkari on Tuesday said while speaking at the book launch of My Idea of Nation First – Redefining Unalloyed Nationalism.Linking the capital’s smog to India’s dependence on petrol and diesel, Gadkari said the transport sector alone was responsible for around 40 per cent of Delhi’s pollution. He argued that moving away from fossil fuels towards electric and hydrogen-based mobility was not just an environmental necessity but also a matter of nationalism.“Today, the biggest form of nationalism, Uday ji, is to reduce the country’s imports and increase exports. What situation have we created for ourselves? I can barely stay for two days; I get sick. I got an infection. Why is there pollution everywhere in Delhi? I am the transport minister, and 40 per cent of it is because of us, because of fossil fuels like petrol and diesel,” Gadkari said.The minister questioned India’s continued reliance on imported fossil fuels, saying it imposed a heavy economic and environmental cost. According to Gadkari, the country spends nearly Rs 20 lakh crore every year on fossil fuel imports.“Even today, we are spending Rs 20 lakh crore. What kind of nationalism is this? In this country, we are spending Rs 20 lakh crore on fossil fuels and importing pollution. Can we not create an alternative India?” he said.Gadkari said India already had the capacity to produce cleaner fuel alternatives domestically and pointed to the growing role of farmers in energy production. Recalling earlier discussions on the subject, he said farmers were no longer limited to food production alone.“Sudarshan ji used to tell me many times that the farmer of this country, the annadata, will also become an energy provider, a fuel provider, even an aviation fuel provider. Now all of that has happened. Even vitamins are being made. But no one is ready to trust it,” Gadkari said.Citing advances in clean mobility, the minister said electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles were now economically viable. He claimed that newer technologies were helping reduce both running costs and emissions.“I came here in a car. The world’s first car that runs 100 per cent does not generate 60 per cent electricity. If you compare the cost, on average, this car runs at the equivalent of Rs 25 per litre of petrol. Pollution is zero. Hydrogen is there, we can make it,” he said.Gadkari also pointed to the sharp decline in battery costs over the years as a key factor driving the adoption of electric vehicles. “Electric vehicles have become so popular. When I first spoke about electric vehicles and launched the first one, the lithium battery cost was $150 per kilowatt hour. Now it has come down to $55,” he said.Referring to emerging innovations, he added, “Now sodium technology has arrived. Just yesterday, it came to my house. A boy with a BTech degree developed this technology in five years. Aluminium sheets, which are usually used, are fuel. This is lemon technology.”Gadkari’s remarks came as air quality across Delhi remained in the severe category, with monitoring stations at Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 466, Ashok Vihar 444 and Chandni Chowk 425. Areas around India Gate, Kartavya Path and Rashtrapati Bhavan continued to record very poor air quality.In response to the deteriorating situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan across Delhi NCR, including measures such as the deployment of truck-mounted water sprinklers to control dust and particulate pollution.