Vidur Foundation · Knowledge Pillar
Financial Literacy वित्तीय साक्षरता
Financial fraud, mis-selling, and simple lack of knowledge about savings instruments cost Indian families billions every year. We cover the basics — budgeting, saving, banking — alongside the complex: mutual funds, insurance, fraud protection.
Financial Literacy
13 Articles
Life Insurance in India: Why Term Insurance Is the Only Policy Most Families Need — and How to Buy It Right
Life insurance is one of the most mis-sold financial products in India. Most families end up with endowment or money-back policies or ULIPs that give poor returns AND inadequate cover — the worst of both worlds. This guide explains the difference between term, endowment, and ULIP policies in plain language, why almost every financial expert recommends pure term insurance for protection + separate mutual fund SIPs for investment, how to calculate exactly how much cover you need, and how to buy term insurance online at the lowest price.
SIP and Mutual Funds: The Complete Beginner's Guide for India — Start Investing with ₹500 a Month
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) lets you invest a fixed amount — as little as ₹100 or ₹500 per month — in a mutual fund automatically. Over time, through the power of compounding and rupee cost averaging, even small regular investments can build significant wealth. This guide explains exactly how SIPs work, which type of mutual fund to choose as a beginner, how to start one in 10 minutes on your phone, the difference between direct and regular plans (direct plans give you 1-1.5% higher returns per year), the tax rules, and the most common mistakes to avoid. No financial jargon. Step-by-step from zero.
How to Write a Will in India: The Complete Plain-Language Guide for Every Family
Most Indian families don't have a Will — and most family property disputes, court cases lasting decades, and sibling feuds begin when someone dies without one. Writing a Will is legal, simple, inexpensive, and does not require a lawyer. This guide explains what a Will must contain, how to write one in plain language, how to register it (optional but recommended), and what happens to your assets if you die without one.
How to Build Wealth on Any Salary: The 5-Step Financial Plan for India's Ordinary Families
A ₹25,000-per-month salary can build real wealth over 20 years — or it can disappear every month with nothing to show. The difference is not income; it is system. This guide gives you the five-step financial plan: emergency fund, insurance, debt elimination, SIP investments, and retirement — with specific amounts, accounts, and free government schemes for Indian families.
Find Your Lost Money: How to Reclaim Forgotten Bank Deposits, Shares, and Insurance
Tens of thousands of crores of rupees lie unclaimed in India — forgotten bank accounts, old shares and dividends, matured insurance policies, and dormant provident fund money — much of it belonging to ordinary families who simply lost track of it or never knew a deceased relative had it. Here is exactly how to search for money that may be yours, using the government's free portals.
Government Small Savings Schemes 2026: Safe 7–8% Returns You Can Actually Trust
You don't need the stock market to grow your money safely. India's post office and bank small-savings schemes pay 7–8.2% with a full government guarantee — and some are completely tax-free. Here are the current rates, which scheme fits which goal, and how to open each one.
EPF Complete Guide: Check Balance, Fix Errors, Withdraw and Transfer — Everything You Need to Know
Most salaried employees in India have an EPF account but barely understand it. This guide covers everything: how to check your PF balance instantly, how to fix errors in your account, how to withdraw money for emergencies, how to transfer your PF when you change jobs, and how to activate your UAN — the one number that manages your entire EPF history across all employers.
National Pension System (NPS): The Complete Guide to India's Best Retirement Plan
India has no universal retirement pension for private sector workers. The National Pension System (NPS) is the government's answer — a voluntary, market-linked retirement savings account that gives you a regular income after age 60. It also gives more tax benefit than any other savings instrument. This guide explains everything: how it works, how much to save, what returns to expect, and how to open an account today.
Zero Tax Up to ₹12 Lakh: The Budget 2025 Change Most Salaried Indians Haven't Acted On
Budget 2025-26 made income up to ₹12 lakh completely tax-free under the new tax regime. Salaried workers with up to ₹12.75 lakh pay zero tax after standard deduction. Crores of people are still filing under the old regime, paying more than they owe, or not filing at all. Here is exactly what changed, which regime suits you, and how to file free in 30 minutes.
Borrow From the Government, Not the Moneylender: Mudra, KCC, and SHG Loans Explained
A vegetable vendor paying 5% monthly interest to a moneylender can borrow the same amount at 8% per year from a government Mudra loan — with no collateral. A farmer on a Kisan Credit Card can access ₹3 lakh at effectively 4% after subvention. This guide tells you which scheme fits your situation and exactly how to apply.
The Three-Digit Number That Decides Your Loans: Check Your Credit Score Free and Fix It
A single number between 300 and 900 quietly decides whether you get a loan, at what interest, and sometimes even a home to rent. You are legally entitled to check it free, and it can be improved with a few habits. Most people never look — until a loan is refused.
₹456 a Year for ₹4 Lakh of Protection: The Insurance and Pension Every Family Can Afford
For less than the cost of a single restaurant meal a year, a family can insure a breadwinner's life for ₹2 lakh and against accident for another ₹2 lakh — and build a guaranteed monthly pension for old age. These three government schemes are the cheapest security money can buy in India, and most eligible families have never enrolled.
The Fraudster Will Sound Official: How to Protect Your Money in Digital India
Digital payments have brought crores of Indians into the formal economy — and brought fraudsters to their phones. Learn the scams word-for-word, the three rules that defeat nearly all of them, and exactly what to do in the first hour after money leaves your account.
No lives in this section yet.