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Updated 01/21/2024
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Updated 04/22/2024

FEB 19

What the New Consumer Price Index Means For You

As India updates the way it measures inflation, Monika explains why the revision of the Consumer Price Index base year from 2012 to 2024 matters and what it really means for households. Drawing on new data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, she breaks down how the CPI basket evolves over time to reflect changing consumption patterns — from the decline of outdated products to the rise of digital services, transport, and other modern expenses. The episode clarifies how shifts in weightages, especially the reduced share of food and the higher share of services, will influence headline inflation and policymaking. Monika also explains why the CPI is an average that may not match individual experience, and how the new index should give policymakers a more accurate picture of real household spending pressures. She highlights that lower food weight may make inflation appear less volatile, while costs that matter most to many middle-class families — healthcare, education, housing, and services — continue to rise faster than the headline number. The key takeaway: inflation data is improving, but personal financial planning should always be based on one’s own spending patterns, not just official statistics. In listener questions, Anonymous asks how global developments such as U.S. debt concerns, de-dollarisation, and shifting geopolitical power could affect Indian markets and whether investors should change their asset allocation or SIP strategy; Djay from Mumbai seeks guidance on retirement planning for couples and how to estimate and invest toward a child’s education corpus; and Ramya Srinivasan writes about deploying proceeds from a property sale, weighing PMS investments against mutual funds, and the best way to move a lump sum into equity over time. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) What the New Consumer Price Index Means for You (00:00 – 00:00) How Changes in the CPI Basket and Weightages Affect Inflation and Policy (00:00 – 00:00) Global Risks, Market Crashes and Staying Invested Through Uncertainty (00:00 – 00:00) Planning Retirement as a Couple and Building a Child Education Corpus (00:00 – 00:00) PMS vs Mutual Funds and How to Deploy a Large Lump Sum https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/why-india-needs-a-new-gold-standard-101770307424675.html https://www.mospi.gov.in/uploads/latestreleasesfiles/1770893247472-Press%20Relase%20of%20CPI%20for%20Jan26.pdf If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feb 19

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23 min
FEB 26

RBI’s New Mis-selling Rules

As complaints of insurance mis-selling by banks finally prompt regulatory action, Monika examines the Reserve Bank of India’s draft Responsible Business Conduct guidelines and what they could mean for customers. The proposed rules aim to require suitability assessments, explicit consent, and restrictions on coercive sales practices, signalling a shift toward holding banks accountable for putting customer interests ahead of sales targets. Drawing on years of research and documented evidence, she explains how mis-selling has persisted through opaque disclosures, aggressive commissions, and weak enforcement, eroding public trust in the banking system. Monika argues that while the intent of the new rules is welcome, their effectiveness will depend on clear definitions of suitability, independent monitoring, and reforms to the commission structures that incentivise harmful sales. Without these structural fixes, regulation risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative. She also reflects on how banks could instead build long-term, trust-based relationships with customers by offering transparent financial planning and aligning their incentives with household financial security rather than short-term product sales. In listener queries, Vijay Panchal from Ahmedabad asks whether to combine Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana with equity investing for his daughter’s future and whether to prioritise NPS or PPF for retirement under the new tax regime; Nitin Gupta from Dehradun seeks clarity on the tax and ownership implications of mutual fund investments held in his minor son’s name as he approaches adulthood; and Hemanth Thyagraj from Bangalore asks how to balance home loan prepayments with ongoing mutual fund investing while pursuing long-term financial independence. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) RBI’s New Mis-Selling Rules and What They Mean for Bank Customers (00:00 – 00:00) Suitability Framework, Commissions and Fixing Incentives in Financial Product Sales (00:00 – 00:00) SSY vs Index Funds and Choosing Between NPS and PPF (00:00 – 00:00) Managing Mutual Funds Held in a Child’s Name After They Turn 18 (00:00 – 00:00) Balancing Home Loan Prepayment with Long-Term Investing https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Content/PDFs/01CBDRAFT11022026ADD95448CA7E4662A409F78D829072C7.PDF https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S014759671730046X https://m.rbi.org.in//scripts/Bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=3370 https://youtu.be/q9kmG-443vo?si=IuTsFG9pbFmysTMD https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E8939c5w16_NIvshQbcUXW1iZtMLJVcS/view?usp=drivesdk If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feb 26

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22 min
07/03/2025

Bank FD rates will fall. Lock in now.

This week, Monika talks about the coming fall in bank fixed deposit (FD) rates as the Reserve Bank of India signals a low-interest rate environment ahead. With major banks like SBI already reducing savings account interest to 2.5%, Monika explains why risk-averse investors should act now to lock in current FD rates. She discusses strategies like laddering across time periods and breaking large deposits into smaller ones for flexibility. She also touches on senior citizen benefits, special FD schemes, and why she prefers sticking with larger banks over smaller or fintech-based FD platforms for safety. She then explains deposit insurance in India. Monika breaks down how DICGC covers your deposits up to ₹5 lakh per bank, including both principal and interest, and clarifies how coverage works if you hold accounts in multiple banks or under different account types. This helps listeners understand how to spread deposits smartly for maximum safety. In audience questions, Arvind asks whether he should surrender or make paid-up two LIC New Jeevan Anand policies bought early in his career, and seeks advice on getting health insurance for his senior citizen parents. Vishak wants to know how to deploy a large lump sum sitting idle in his bank account and whether to surrender an ongoing LIC policy. Finally, an anonymous listener shares how he’s coping financially after a recent job loss and asks whether he should pause mutual fund investments or continue them using his savings. Chapters: (00:33 – 05:44) Bank FD rates will fall: Why you should lock in now (05:45 – 07:12) How deposit insurance protects your money (07:13 – 11:20) LIC surrender vs paid-up and getting health cover for parents (11:21 – 13:31) Deploying a lump sum and what to do with a dud LIC policy (13:32 – 16:21) Managing finances after a job loss: Building a cushion and staying on track If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. Twitter ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠@MonikaHalan⁠ Production House: ⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠ Production Assistant:⁠ Anshika Gogoi

07/03/2025

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18 min
10/29/2023

Sabah Bano Malik: “ You basically stop women from being their own people so that they can be married off to someone and they decide what she'd become”

In this episode, Shana is in conversation with Sabah Bano Malik, a radio jockey and a founding member of a Pakistani comedians' collective called Aurat Nak. Shana asks Sabah what has surprised her and what she struggles with as a Pakistani American who moved to Pakistan as an adult. Sabah talks about her online presence, comedy as a way to reflect on society, body-shaming, toxic rishta culture, the anger she feels when women are brutally murdered and the sisterhood she has found in Aurat March and with the many women who are resisting patriarchy in Pakistan. Follow Sabah Bano Malik on Instagram @sabahbanomalik and Twitter @sabahbanomalik CREDITS: Host and Creative Director: Shana This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer : Nikkethana Kamal, Sonali Gupta Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Visual Design & Social Media: Minal Jadeja, Akshat Agarwal, Shaumik Kanvinde

10/29/2023

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42 min
11/11/2018

Rashmi Uday Singh

Take some Income Tax Raids Stir in a newspaper column for 20 years Add 1 answering machine Sprinkle some blind dates Pepper in 39 books Serve with barbeque chaas on the side On the season finale of NoSugarCoat, Pooja chats to India’s most popular food critic, Rashmi Uday Singh. She talks about how she moved from writing quasi-judicial orders to writing about food, creating the first restaurant guide in India and how to use Instagram correctly. --- You can follow Rashmi at @rashmiudaysingh and Pooja at @Poojadhingra For more information, go to le15.com. This is a Maed In India Production; check them out at maedinindia.com

11/11/2018

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39 min
FEB 12

What will the trade deals change?

As global trade tensions reshape the economic landscape, Monika unpacks what India’s recent wave of trade agreements really means. Triggered in part by sharp tariff actions and the growing use of trade as a geopolitical weapon, India has moved quickly to diversify its export markets and reduce dependence on any single partner. This episode explains, in simple terms, how tariffs, free trade agreements, and shifting supply chains affect growth, jobs, and markets — and why these deals matter far beyond headline diplomacy. Monika walks through the major agreements signed with the UK, EU, EFTA nations, Oman, New Zealand, and the United States, and explains how they could boost exports, attract investment, and create jobs in sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, technology, and services. She also discusses the broader macro impact — from strengthening India’s negotiating position globally to supporting long-term GDP growth and market sentiment — while reminding investors that short-term market reactions often miss the bigger structural story. In listener questions, Avinash Mundhra asks about moving beyond basic index investing into strategy-based indices and whether ULIPs linked to such indices make sense; Venkatesh Kumaran from Spain seeks guidance on balancing loan repayment with saving for future goals and on investing in Indian mutual funds as an NRI planning to return; and Gaurav Madan writes about whether model-driven advisory approaches to mutual fund selection are superior to simple, transparent investing methods. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) Why India Is Signing Trade Deals After the Tariff Shock (00:00 – 00:00) How New FTAs Could Boost Exports, Jobs and GDP (00:00 – 00:00) Mid- and Small-Cap Index Funds, Multicap Funds and the ULIP Debate (00:00 – 00:00) Paying Off Loans vs Investing and NRI Mutual Fund Considerations (00:00 – 00:00) Choosing Equity Mutual Funds and the Risks of Model-Based Advisory If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feb 12

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19 min
03/24/2019

Sid Sriram

He’s sold out stadiums across the world after his big break with AR Rahman. His origins are Carnatic classical but he’s a pop/soul/R&B singer songwriter too. I’m talking about Sid Sriram. Out with his new album, Entropy, he comes to the studio and performs stripped down renditions of his songs with a bunch of musicians in Bombay. Also, we talk about many things, why he’s such a shy guy, he lovely mother Latha, his struggles with identity, and his super deep lyrics. Set List: It isn’t True - (00:42 - 04:01) 6 Weeks - (20:11 - 23:11) Paper Plates - (38:36 - 43:45) 2am Prayer - (57:13 - 01:01:21) Musicians: Sid Sriram Tapas Naresh Rohan Rajadhyaksha Amandeep Singh Follow Sid Sriram Facebook Twitter Instagram Come be our friend: Facebook Instagram Twitter CREDITS: Host: Mae Twitter Instagram Recording Engineers: NoFilterAsh Audio Editor Post: Vijay Doiphode Video Directed/Edited: Jishnu 'Short Round' Guha Studio: Island City Studios

03/24/2019

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1h 3m
04/09/2025

Zara Suhail Mannan - We deserve to be free here as much as our male counterparts, this is my Pakistan too

Zara Suhail Mannan is Shana’s guest on this week’s episode of Her Kajal Won’t Smudge. Zara studied English at Yale University. After Yale, she could have sought out the best-paying corporate job she could have found, but instead Zara returned to Pakistan to teach at an all-boys underprivileged school. By day, she taught, presenting as a man, and mentored young boys and, by night, she was one-half of a glittery, sparkly, pop band called Mystical Shayari. It all came to a head when Mystical Shayiri did a photoshoot, glammed up, in front of a monument to the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Next came online trolling, death threats, arrest, TV shaming and more. But what Zara has won in the process is truly a testament to the force that she is. Let’s just say, she set the record straight about what it means to be a Pakistani and she continues to live this activism through Kitab Ghar, a public library truly open to all. Follow us on Instagram @herkajalwontsmudge and check out our website www.herkajalwontsmudge.com. CREDITS: Host and Creative Director: Shana Head of Visual Design: Minal Jadeja Visual Designers: Akshat Agarwal, Shaumik Kanvinde This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar Junior Producer: Quoyina Ghosh Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram, Nihar Temkar

04/09/2025

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46 min
06/12/2025

Why RBI’s Rate Cuts Are A Good Signal

This week, Monika unpacks the Reserve Bank of India’s surprise 50 basis point cut in the repo rate—the third such cut this year, bringing the rate down to 5.5%. Alongside this, the central bank announced a phased reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from 4% to 3%, injecting ₹2.5 trillion into the banking system. These moves signal a clear shift to an easy money policy—one that indicates inflation is under control and a strong push for growth is underway. Lower interest rates will reduce borrowing costs, encourage private investment, and boost business activity, while also lowering EMIs and loan rates. However, fixed deposit rates are likely to drop, making it a good time to lock in existing returns. With inflation forecast at 3.7% and GDP growth at 6.5%, this policy shift marks the beginning of a new growth cycle, with monetary and fiscal strategies finally working in sync. She also breaks down a key monetary policy term—Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). Unlike CRR, the SLR is the portion of a bank’s deposits that must be held in liquid assets like cash or government bonds. It remains steady at 18%, and plays a crucial role in maintaining banking system health. Monika helps listeners understand how the repo rate, CRR, and SLR interact to shape credit flow, manage inflation, and support the economy. In listener questions, one listener seeks advice on whether to surrender or make a life insurance policy paid-up, prompting a walk-through of long-term return comparisons across options. Another listener asks how to find trustworthy financial guidance and upskill in money matters, and is directed to educational resources and fee-only financial planners. A third listener asks about investing for elderly parents, and the advice is to build personal financial stability first before offering financial support to others. Chapters: (00:31 – 07:18) RBI’s Easy Money Signal: Repo Rate, CRR, and Growth Forecasts (07:19 – 08:30) Understanding SLR: The Third Key Monetary Tool (08:31 – 13:25) Should I Surrender or Make My Policy Paid-Up? (13:26 – 15:48) How to Start Financial Planning in Your 50s (15:49 – 17:31) Helping Parents Financially: What Should You Prioritise? https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=60605 https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12858&Mode=0 https://tradingeconomics.com/india/interest-rate http://www.Aria.org.in If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. Twitter ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠@MonikaHalan⁠ Production House: ⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠ Production Assistant:⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠

06/12/2025

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19 min
11/19/2023

Anisha Oommen

On this episode, Pooja’s guest is Anisha Oommen, who quit a stable and successful job in shipping logistics to follow her true calling, writing about food! Anisha chats about food is at the root of everything - history, culture, and our social landscape and how in 2013 she co-founded Goya Media that focuses on stories about food - who cooks it, who eats it and how it is part of the human connection. In the world of “creating content”, what makes a good food story? Find out from Anisha. You can follow Anisha Oommen, goyajournal, Pooja and Le15 Patisserie on Instagram. For more information, go to le15.com. This is a Maed In India production; follow Maed in India & visit maedinindia.in.

11/19/2023

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30 min

When you think of podcasts in India, you think Maed in India.