A personal loan is a flexible credit option that helps cover weddings, emergencies, debt consolidation, or big purchases without collateral. With quick approvals and competitive rates, it suits both salaried and self-employed individuals.Personal Loan Interest Rates 2025LenderInterest Rate (p.a.)IDFC FIRST Bank9.99% – 23.99%Axis Bank9.99% – 22.0%SBI (State Bank of India)10.10% – 15.10%Kotak Mahindra Bank10.99% onwardsICICI Bank10.60% onwardsHDFC Bank9.99% onwardsIndusInd Bank10.49% onwardsIDBI Bank11.00% – 15.50%Bajaj Finserv12.75% – 13%IIFL12.99% – 44%RBL Bank13.99% – 18%HSBC Bank10.15% – 16.00%Key Features and Benefits of Personal LoansPersonal loans are unsecured loans that do not require the applicant to pledge any asset as collateral. Personal loans are provided based on the borrower’s creditworthiness analysed based on their credit report/history.In the case of a home loan or car loan, you can use the funds only to purchase a house or a car. Funds from a personal loan can be used for any purpose.Loan tenure can range from 12 months up to 60 months based on your convenience.Minimal documentation, such as proof of identity, address, and income, is enough to apply for a personal loan.There are many instant loan disbursement schemes where the lender hands the cash to you in a matter of a few hours.The loan amount depends on many factors, such as repayment capacity, income source, and more.The loan amount can range from Rs.10,000 up to a few lakhs.Factors Influencing Personal Loan EligibilityThe following factors affect your personal loan eligibilityCredit ScoreA credit score is a 3-digit number reflecting how you manage finances; a low score can limit loan options or lead to rejection.Monthly IncomeAs personal loans are unsecured, lenders assess your income and repayment capacity, with income requirements varying by location such as metros, tier-1/2 cities, towns, and villages.Work ExperienceLenders prefer applicants with stable jobs and savings, usually requiring 2–3 years of work experience, including at least 1 year with the current employer, for better approval chances.LiabilitiesLenders assess your debt-to-income ratio before approving a loan. High existing debts like credit card bills or loans can reduce approval chances, as they limit disposable income for repayments.AgeAge is key in loan approval, as lenders ensure applicants have enough working years to repay. Typically, salaried applicants must be 23 - 58 years, and self-employed non-professionals 28 - 65 years.When to Take a Personal Loan?Paying Off a Higher-Rate DebtWhen unable to repay high-interest debts like credit cards or loans, individuals often take a personal loan to clear them quickly and repay in manageable monthly instalments.Medical EmergencyIn medical emergencies with insufficient funds, individuals often opt for a personal loan, which some lenders disburse instantly, making it useful for urgent needs.Education ExpensesWhen you or your loved ones want to pursue great heights through higher education, you may prefer a personal loan to take care of the related expenses. Down payment for car/houseHome and car loans usually require a 10%-15% margin from the buyer.

A diplomatic passport is a type of passport issued to government officials who travel abroad for diplomatic work. These passports come with privileges like visa exemptions, priority services, and access to diplomatic channels. This article will guide you through a diplomatic passport, who is eligible to get one, its benefits, how to apply for it in India, the documents required, and how it differs from an official passport.What is a Diplomatic Passport?A diplomatic passport is a special passport for government officials travelling internationally on diplomatic duty. Issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it provides diplomatic privileges like faster visa approvals, priority services at airports, and, in some cases, diplomatic immunity by international laws. These passports have a maroon-coloured cover and a letter ‘D’ in the passport number, clearly distinguishing them from the regular blue passports used by Indian citizens. The diplomatic passport is valid for up to 5 years or until the end of the assignment and cannot be used for personal or unofficial purposes.Who Can Get Diplomatic Passport?Diplomatic passports are given to individuals representing the Government of India officially.

Dreaming big shouldn’t come with a price tag that holds you back. Education loans in 2025 bridge the gap between ambition and affordability, with interest rates starting as low as 4.00% p.a. Whether you're eyeing for a masters in the United Kingdom, or a diploma in Delhi, this article will guide you through the latest interest rates, loan types, and what you need to know to fund your education.Highlights for Educational Loan Interest Rates 2025FeatureDetailsLoan AmountUp to ₹50 lakh (domestic), ₹1 crore (abroad)Interest Rate (Public/Private)4.00% – 16.00%Interest Rate (RRBs)8.50% – 13.60%Repayment TenureUp to 15 yearsMoratorium Period6 months to 1 year post-courseTax BenefitsInterest deductible under Section 80E (up to 8 yrs)Collateral RequirementRequired for high-value loansEligible CoursesUG, PG, professional, diploma, skill-basedEducation Loan Interest Rates 2025Bank NameInterest Rate (% p.a.)* Bank of Baroda7.10%  to 13.20%Punjab National Bank4.00%  to 12.35%Canara Bank8.10%  to 11.50% Union Bank of India7.00% to 11.50%State Bank of India7.55%  to 10.65%Central Bank of India8.55% onwardsIDBI Bank4.00%  to 11.50%Indian Overseas Bank8.25%  to 12.50% HDFC Bank10.50%  onwardsAxis Bank9.58%  to 12.75% Federal Bank11.75%  to 15%ICICI Bank10.25% to 13.75%Kotak Mahindra BankUpto 16%Karnataka Bank9.00% onwards*Note: These interest rates are applicable as of June 2025 and are subject to change as per the bank’s regulations.Regional Rural Banks Education Loan Interest Rates 2025Regional Rural BanksInterest Rates (% p.a.)Assam Gramin Vikash Bank9.65% – 10.15%Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank8.50%Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank10.50% – 12.00%Baroda UP Bank10.50%J&K Grameen Bank10.95% – 12.20%Karnataka Gramin Bank12.00%Kerala Gramin Bank10.50% – 13.60%Maharashtra Gramin Bank11.95% – 13.45%Prathama UP Gramin Bank10.00% – 12.00%Chaitanya Godavari Grameena Bank11.25% – 12.75%Chhattisgarh Rajya Gramin Bank10.40%Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank11.00%Types of Education LoansBased on LocationDomestic Education LoanStudents who would like to pursue education in India can apply for this loan type. The loan will get approved only if the applicant is admitted to an Indian educational institution and meets all other lender criteria. Overseas Education LoanSuch loans help students realise their dream of pursuing the course of their desire in a foreign institution. The loan covers the airfare, accommodation, and tuition fee for students who wish to study abroad only if they satisfy the eligibility criteria.Based on CourseUndergraduate LoansThis type of education loan is provided for students to give financial aid to students so they can complete their undergraduate degrees. An undergraduate degree will usually be a 3 to the 4-year long course under various specialisations.

Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a method where you build your budget from scratch without carrying forward any past figures. Every expense must be justified before it can be approved. This article will guide you what zero-based budgeting is, how it compares to traditional budgeting, the steps to create it, and why it can help your business. What is Zero-Based Budgeting?As the name says “Zero-based budgeting” is an approach to plan and prepare the budget from the scratch. Zero-based budgeting starts from zero, rather than a traditional budget that is based on previous budgets. With this budgeting approach, you need to justify each and every expense before adding it to the actual budget.

Banglarbhumi is West Bengal’s official land records portal, designed to make checking property details and ownership information simpler for everyone. Whether you’re buying land, applying for a Record of Rights (RoR), or tracking a mutation request, Banglarbhumi helps you do it all online without the hassle of visiting government offices. This article will guide you through what is Banglarbhumi, what you need to know about logging in, applying for certificates, checking plot details, and using the portal’s many services, so you can handle your land-related tasks efficiently.What is Banglarbhumi? Banglarbhumi is an online portal for land records and reforms launched by the Government of West Bengal. Anyone can use this portal to retrieve land and property-related information such as the owner’s name, land area, plot number, property value, and present owner.Banglarbhumi will provide these details along with the land/property map for West Bengal. If a person wants to purchase any land/property, they should check Banglarbhumi for the basic information. This website will also assist entrepreneurs with setting up new industries in the state by letting them know the infrastructure available at the proposed location.

Whether you're planning to buy a house, fund your education, or manage unexpected expenses, loans can help you get there without depleting your savings. Today, loans come in many forms, such as secured, unsecured, personal, home, education, and more, all designed to meet different financial goals.This guide will walk you through what a loan is, the various types of loans available in India, how the loan process works, eligibility criteria, documents needed, and how to calculate your EMIs, so you can make an informed decision.What is a Loan?When a sum of money is borrowed from a bank, financial institution, lender, or friend and there is an agreement to repay it over time with interest, it is referred to as a loan. Loans allow individuals or businesses to meet their financial needs without using their savings upfront. Different types of loans are tailored to suit various needs, such as personal, home, education, and business. A loan has three components – principal or the borrowed amount, interest rate and tenure or duration for which the loan is availed.Types of LoansBased on the Security ProvidedSecured LoansThese loans require the borrower to provide collateral for the money being borrowed.

Savitribai Phule Scholarship for Vimukta Jati Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) and Special Backward Classes (SBC) is a scheme by the Maharashtra government for girls studying in the 5th to 10th standard. Under the Savitribai Phule Scholarship, financial assistance is provided to only girl students studying in the 5th to 10th classes belonging to the minority communities (VJNT, SBC and SC) in Maharashtra. The Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra, implements this scheme.Objectives of Savitribai Phule ScholarshipThe objective of the Savitribai Phule Scholarship is to encourage the enrolment of girl students belonging to the VJNT or SBC community and continue their schooling. It initially provided benefits to only girls studying in the 5th to 7th standard. The government introduced this scheme for the girls from VJNT or SBC communities studying in the 8th to 10th standard from the academic year 2003-04. The scholarship provided under this scheme helps girls from lower-income families and reserved communities continue their schooling.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It shows the proof of identity for Indian residents and is linked to your basic details and biometrics. Over the years, UIDAI has introduced various Aadhaar formats to make it more accessible, including the Aadhaar Letter, eAadhaar, and mAadhaar. The Aadhaar PVC Card is the latest option introduced by UIDAI. Made of durable PVC (polyvinyl chloride), it’s designed to fit easily into your wallet, just like a credit or debit card. In this article, you will learn about what the Aadhaar PVC Card is, it's benefits, key security features, how to apply for it, and how you can track your application status with ease.What is Aadhaar PVC Card?The new Aadhaar PVC Card is a sturdier and more durable alternative to the regular Aadhaar card.

With the increase in the number of traffic offenses, the government of India has implemented the e-challan system. This is a digital method to penalize traffic violators, which, in comparison to traditional challans, makes paying fines more accessible and less time-consuming. In this article, we will explain what an e-challan is, how to check your status, how to pay fines both online and offline, the penalties involved, and how to ignore or dispute a challan.What is an E Challan?An E challan is a digital document that details the traffic violation made by a person, along with the fine amount that needs to be paid. One of the reasons why this has been introduced is to increase transparency within the system, ensuring that citizens do not rely on bribes to get out of receiving a formal challan.Traffic cops have been given a specific swiping machine that allows them to generate the challan right on the spot when someone violates traffic rules. While this is happening, the challan machine also generates an entry on the police server, due to which citizens cannot bribe officers and expect them to tear up the challans in return.How do you Check the Status of your E Challan?To check the status of your e challan, you need to follow these steps:Step 1: Visit the official website of e-Challan.Step 2: Click the ‘Check challan status option’ from the menu bar.Step 3: A pop-up will open.

Loan settlement is when a borrower facing financial struggles negotiates with a lender to repay a reduced amount instead of the full outstanding loan. While it offers you temporary relief, it will create a negative mark on your credit report, which can affect your borrowing capacity in the future.This article will take you in-depth into how the loan settlement world works, its benefits and drawbacks, and what you should consider before going down this path. What is Loan Settlement?A loan settlement occurs when the borrower can't repay the full amount due to financial difficulties. The borrower negotiates with a lender for a reduced amount that works for both parties. Once an agreement is made, the borrower pays the settled amount, and the lender writes off the remaining balance. After this payment, the loan will be marked as "settled" on the borrower's credit report.