Knowledge Center
Personal finance, explained in plain English - no jargon, no fluff. Every guide is dated so you know it's current, and every one ends with a way to ask Laalaji about your own numbers.
Atal Pension Yojana: A Guaranteed Pension for the Unorganised Sector
APY guarantees a fixed monthly pension (₹1,000 to ₹5,000, your choice) starting at age 60, based on contributions you choose that scale with your age at entry - designed for workers without employer-provided retirement benefits.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityEPF Withdrawal Rules: When You Can (and Can't) Take Your Money Out
EPF isn't meant to be touched freely - partial withdrawals are allowed for specific needs after 12 months of service, capped at 75% of the balance, and full withdrawal after leaving a job now follows a staged 12-month timeline rather than an immediate lump sum.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityGratuity: How It's Calculated and When You're Eligible
Gratuity is a lump-sum benefit from your employer after 5+ years of continuous service, calculated from your basic salary and years worked - tax-free up to a lifetime cap of ₹20 lakh for most employees.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityKisan Vikas Patra and National Savings Certificate: Fixed-Return Government Schemes
KVP is a simple 'your money doubles in a set period' scheme with no tax deduction; NSC offers a similar government-backed fixed return but does qualify for an 80C deduction - a meaningful difference for otherwise similar-looking products.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityNational Pension System (NPS) for Non-Government Employees: How to Join
NPS isn't limited to government employees - any Indian citizen between 18 and 70 can open an account voluntarily, choosing their own equity/debt allocation, regardless of employer.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityPM Awas Yojana: Home Loan Subsidy Eligibility and How to Claim It
The older CLSS interest subsidy under PMAY closed in 2022 and has been replaced by a new Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS) under PMAY-Urban 2.0 - checking which framework is actually current avoids applying for a scheme that no longer exists.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityPMJJBY and PMSBY: India's Low-Cost Insurance Schemes
PMJJBY is a low annual-premium life insurance scheme; PMSBY is an even cheaper accident insurance scheme. Both are government-backed, renew yearly, and are widely under-utilized relative to how affordable they are.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecurityPPF vs. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Which Is Right for You?
PPF is open to any Indian resident and is a general long-term savings tool; Sukanya Samriddhi is specifically for a girl child's future and typically offers a slightly higher interest rate, with restrictions tied to her age.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026 Government Schemes & Social SecuritySenior Citizen Savings Scheme: Rates, Eligibility, and How It Works
SCSS offers a high, government-guaranteed interest rate specifically for those 60 and above (or earlier for voluntary/defence retirees), with quarterly payouts and an 80C deduction - a common core holding for retirement income.
Last verified 14 Sep 2026Glossary
- EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) EPF is the default, largely automatic retirement savings scheme for salaried employees at eligible organisations, funded by both employee and employer contributions through payroll. Government Schemes & Social Security
- EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) EPFO is the government body that administers EPF, EPS (pension), and related schemes - the organization behind the UAN system, online withdrawal claims, and passbook access. Government Schemes & Social Security
- Gratuity Gratuity is a lump-sum benefit an employer pays after 5+ years of continuous service, calculated from basic salary and tenure - tax-free up to a lifetime cap of ₹20 lakh for most private-sector employees. Government Schemes & Social Security
- NPS (National Pension System) NPS is a voluntary, market-linked retirement account open to any Indian citizen aged 18-70, not just government employees, with its own dedicated tax deductions beyond standard 80C. Government Schemes & Social Security
- PF Withdrawal Rules PF withdrawal follows staged rules depending on whether you're still employed, recently unemployed, or retiring - it isn't a simple, unrestricted lump sum available on demand. Government Schemes & Social Security
- PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) PMAY is the government's affordable housing scheme, now in its PMAY-Urban 2.0 phase with a new Interest Subsidy Scheme replacing the older, now-discontinued CLSS interest subsidy. Government Schemes & Social Security
- PM Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) PMVVY is a government-backed pension scheme specifically for senior citizens, offering a guaranteed regular pension in exchange for a lump-sum purchase - administered through LIC. Government Schemes & Social Security
- PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi PM-Kisan gives eligible small and marginal farmer families ₹6,000 a year, paid in three installments of ₹2,000 every four months, directly to their bank account. Government Schemes & Social Security
- UAN (Universal Account Number) UAN is a single, permanent number linking all of an employee's EPF accounts across different employers over their career - it stays the same even when you change jobs, only the linked member ID changes. Government Schemes & Social Security
- VPF (Voluntary Provident Fund) VPF lets an employee voluntarily contribute more than the standard mandatory EPF percentage, earning the same interest rate as EPF - a way to boost retirement savings through an already-familiar, government-backed channel. Government Schemes & Social Security