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Ravi

Ravi Mittal  |737 Answers  |Ask -

Dating, Relationships Expert - Answered on Oct 07, 2025

Ravi Mittal is an expert on dating and relationships.
He founded QuackQuack, an online dating platform, in 2010 with just two people. Today, it has over 20 million users in India.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Oct 06, 2025Hindi
Relationship

Dear Sir/Madam, I am 45YO working in GCC and She is 45YO working in India govt banking sector. We met through matrimonial site in 2009. We liked each other and decided to get marry. But due to some arrogent way of talking of her and her mother with my mother, which I didn't like at all. So before gettting finalising and engagement, I decided to go away from her without hurting and it took 5 month in Feb 2010. Actually I AM AGAINST HURTING ANYBODY'D'S HEART. So I made a situaton like that she rejected me. While meeting we both decided, even though, if we are not getting married with other we will be as friends in future. So I got married in 2011 and She got married in 2012. After our marriage we got busy in our married life and we were not able to contact with other for several years. But in second half of 2019 we again came into to contact over phone WA. Once she demanded make-up box and some chocolates from GCC, so I provided through courier. Then her demand increased with mobile recharge, Sani-pads, U/garment, gifts through Amezon, Flipkaut, Zamato, Swiggu etc etc.. One day she told she want to marry me, because there were physical quarrel with the husband and MIL, So she want to get divorse due to dosmetic violence between them. I avoided this topic as I am happy with my married life. Then 1 day she had some gmeil problem she was not receving email so she shared password. So I cleared all the promotions and unuseful stuff from her gmeil account. But I was shocked when I saw that she had saved all communication of having extramarital affair chats of WA with her office 2 different colleagues and, 1 Garage mechanic and College friend all were vulgar chats and different-different years. Especially all vulgar words and arrangement and planning made by her to meet in different room location. There I came to know why her husband is so physical quarrel with her. She had mentioned about husband activity of beating to her. And so both of them want to get divorse. But this all thing I kept it confidential with me from her. Let she admit some day. But I am still waiting. Now after 2021 all this has stopped because I convinced her and made her feel what she was doing after meeting her. She admitted her mistake and she promised that she will not go in wrong path. She also said it happened unknowingly she went with the flow. But She pleaded me and wants my Love and want to marry me privately and for her happiness, she in under divorce process. She proposed me for marriage in 2021 till now I have avoided with some excuses. Coming to the main topic, since 2021 to 2025, whenever I visit India, we meet each other, as I too have soft-corner for her and Love her as we were first Love of each other in 2009. Everytime when I inform her that I am coming to India, her dreams flies in sky and tells me come soon, I want to marry with You. And every time she ask something or the other gift as mentioned above. How should I get rid of this burden of over-expenses. Due to this it is difficult to manage my monthly expenses, means "The snake has to be killed and the stick should remain intact". Everytime I tells her this month not possible next month for sure, but again after 2-3 days she comes with new demand. And I am sure, if I broke this relationship she will again go to wrong path as she is getting divorce. Pls give some tips how to reply her to stop these expenses from me.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I just want to tell you one thing: since you are married happily, it would be best if you limit your interactions with this woman. She is consistently showing interest in marrying you, asking for an inappropriate amount of gifts and has demands from you like one has from their partner. Everything seems a little off. And also, it is not your responsibility to keep her from going in the wrong direction. She is a grown adult and should be able to handle it herself. The best decision is to distance yourself from her. If you can’t, you might want to still set some boundaries like telling her that you cannot continue speaking to her if she keeps telling you that she wants to marry you. I am sure your wife also doesn’t appreciate it. Let her know that you are in a happy marriage and you are not comfortable with her behavior. Also, you have every right to say no to all her demands. I understand that you two have a friendship, but there should be boundaries even in that.

Hope this helps

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Anu

Anu Krishna  |1809 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 22, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 16, 2024Hindi
Listen
Relationship
Hi , I am a professor mech engineer , after death of my wife and due to having 5 year girl baby I planned for 2 nd marriage as I live alone away from home town because my of job with my little baby . I accepted a widow having 2 child ,she was working in a govt job 250 km away , after ensuring and agreeing her possibility of transfer and job vacancy @govt office near my house and ensuring she agreed that she will come to live with me along with her 2 kids and my little baby as her trasfer was due in comming few months . We lived apart during her job at 250 km away.,while meeting on weekly offs 6 /7 time in 6 months , then she take 360 degree u turn and said she will not get job transfer to my place and get her trasfer in other dept. in same previous office. And started telling many reasons like she will loose her children's inheritance in her in-laws property ,she will loose promotion , kids Don't want trasfer , and said we will live apart forever . This was contradictory to earlier agreed things .and my my purpose to live in family with my baby not fulfilled , so after long ruckus ,I mutually got divorce from her , Then After divorce I decided to marry non working women having no child and don't expect child as I am @48 year old and tired of living alone and managing job ,girl , house chores . I married to a divorcee girl from Pune ,she was BA first year college drop out girl of 44 yr age after 6 months of long dating on week ends . During 6 months I tried to know her indepth but was don't used to talk much as I was trying to know her true nature, we visited many places ,movies . She seemed perfect as per my requirement of girl wanting no child , and she is house wife . after marriage she behave well for 1 st week ,then she started trouble to hate my baby ( became kaikai )on pety things , she want my baby to house chores at the cost of her important year of 10th std study . She don't liked me taking tution of girl , she didn't like if I help my girl any way . She don't like if I spent some money on my girl . She used to fight all night and don't let me sleep . Now she stated demanding that she want baby , though I was against and b4 marriage agreed to not have any more child due to old age ,cost ,and no personal time for self , then I agreed to have child but b4 that I got her and my fertility tested ,she had weak eggs and syst on her reproductive organs and doc warned to not go for pregnancy due to risk and probability of unhealthy baby birth , but she kept repeating That she want child we consulted 4 Drs. She used to fight and go to her mother's home for 2/4 months after living with me for 2/3 days only . Now she wants divorce , and asks me to keep my girl in hostel if I want her in my life . This Ramayan has left me baffled , What should I do ??? .....
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
The reason to marry for you mainly has been companionship, a mother for your daughter...
And marriage is not a transaction BUT a meeting of minds...when there is no compatibility, there is no space for agreeing on the same things or wanting to make things work which is possibly what has happened with your 2nd and 3rd marriage.
If you want this marriage to work, there has to be an equal commitment by both of you, so, start by emotionally bonding first. Slowly build on this by making goals for the marriage and the future...your only goal can't be mother for your child...not all women are going to readily accept this and some may even falter along the way. Allow the lady and your daughter to bond together for sometime so they develop a unique relationship...
Understand that transactional relationships do not last; so, invest enough time in building trust in that companionship for it to become something meaningful

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1809 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 31, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 07, 2025Hindi
Relationship
Dear Madam, I am 45YO working in GCC and She is 45YO working in India govt banking sector. We met through matrimonial site in 2009. We liked each other and decided to get marry. But due to some arrogent way of talking of her and her mother with my mother, which I didn't like at all. So before gettting finalising and engagement, I decided to go away from her without hurting and it took 5 month in Feb 2010. Actually I AM AGAINST HURTING ANYBODY'D'S HEART. So I made a situaton like that she rejected me. While meeting we both decided, even though, if we are not getting married with other we will be as friends in future. So I got married in 2011 and She got married in 2012. After our marriage we got busy in our married life and we were not able to contact with other for several years. But in second half of 2019 we again came into to contact over phone WA. Once she demanded make-up box and some chocolates from GCC, so I provided through courier. Then her demand increased with mobile recharge, Sani-pads, U/garment, sometime cakes on birthdays for her and for her 2 daughters, for late father's, own mother even though her mother stays in different city, gifts through Amezon, Flipkaut, Zamato, Swiggu etc etc.. One day she told she want to marry me, because there were physical quarrel with the husband and MIL, So she want to get divorse due to dosmetic violence between them. I avoided this topic as I am happy with my married life. Then 1 day she had some gmeil problem she was not receving email so she shared password. So I cleared all the promotions and unuseful stuff from her gmeil account. But I was shocked when I saw that she had saved all communication of having extramarital affair chats of WA with her office 2 different colleagues and, 1 Garage mechanic and College friend all were vulgar chats and different-different years. Especially all vulgar words and arrangement and planning made by her to meet in different room location. There I came to know why her husband is so physical quarrel with her. She had mentioned about husband activity of beating to her. And so both of them want to get divorse. But this all thing I kept it confidential with me from her. Let she admit some day. But I am still waiting. Now after 2021 all this has stopped because I convinced her and made her feel what she was doing after meeting her. She admitted her mistake and she promised that she will not go in wrong path. She also said it happened unknowingly she went with the flow. But She pleaded me and wants my Love and want to marry me privately and for her happiness, she in under divorce process. She proposed me for marriage in 2021 till now I have avoided with some excuses. Coming to the main topic, since 2021 to 2025, whenever I visit India, we meet each other, as I too have soft-corner for her and Love her as we were first Love of each other in 2009. Everytime when I inform her that I am coming to India, her dreams flies in sky and tells me come soon, I want to marry with You. And every time she ask something or the other gift as mentioned above. How should I get rid of this burden of over-expenses. Due to this it is difficult to manage my monthly expenses, means "The snake has to be killed and the stick should remain intact". Everytime I tells her this month not possible next month for sure, but again after 2-3 days she comes with new demand. And I am sure, if I broke this relationship she will again go to wrong path as she is getting divorce. Pls give some tips how to reply her to stop these expenses from me.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
It seems that you are happy in your marriage, then why are you afraid to tell this lady the same?
From what you have shared, she had associations with other men also while in her marriage and you are another one. Do you not get the feeling that she is using you for her needs or are you so fond of her that this has not occurred to you?
And also, you are not responsible for her life, her money or anything...what exactly are you getting by staying in touch with her? Please ask yourself this question and also if it is worth risking your marriage for all this?

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

..Read more

Ravi

Ravi Mittal  |737 Answers  |Ask -

Dating, Relationships Expert - Answered on Jan 12, 2026

Relationship
Dear Sir, I am 45YO working in GCC and She is 45YO working in India govt banking sector. We met through matrimonial site in 2009. We liked each other and decided to get marry. But due to some arrogent way of talking of her and her mother with my mother, which I didn't like at all. So before gettting finalising and engagement, I decided to go away from her without hurting and it took 5 month in Feb 2010. Actually I AM AGAINST HURTING ANYBODY'D'S HEART. So I made a situaton like that she rejected me. While meeting we both decided, even though, if we are not getting married with other we will be as friends in future. So I got married in 2011 and She got married in 2012. After our marriage we got busy in our married life and we were not able to contact with other for several years. But in second half of 2019 we again came into to contact over phone WA. Once she demanded make-up box and some chocolates from GCC, so I provided through courier. Then her demand increased with mobile recharge, Sani-pads, U/garment, sometime cakes on birthdays for her and for her 2 daughters, for late father's, own mother even though her mother stays in different city, gifts through Amezon, Flipkaut, Zamato, Swiggu etc etc.. One day she told she want to marry me, because there were physical quarrel with the husband and MIL, So she want to get divorse due to dosmetic violence between them. I avoided this topic as I am happy with my married life. Then 1 day she had some gmeil problem she was not receving email so she shared password. So I cleared all the promotions and unuseful stuff from her gmeil account. But I was shocked when I saw that she had saved all communication of having extramarital affair chats of WA with her office 2 different colleagues and, 1 Garage mechanic and College friend all were vulgar chats and different-different years. Especially all vulgar words and arrangement and planning made by her to meet in different room location. There I came to know why her husband is so physical quarrel with her. She had mentioned about husband activity of beating to her. And so both of them want to get divorse. But this all thing I kept it confidential with me from her. Let she admit some day. But I am still waiting. Now after 2021 all this has stopped because I convinced her and made her feel what she was doing after meeting her. She admitted her mistake and she promised that she will not go in wrong path. She also said it happened unknowingly she went with the flow. But She pleaded me and wants my Love and want to marry me privately and for her happiness, she in under divorce process. She proposed me for marriage in 2021 till now I have avoided with some excuses. Coming to the main topic, since 2021 to 2025, whenever I visit India, we meet each other, as I too have soft-corner for her and Love her as we were first Love of each other in 2009. Everytime when I inform her that I am coming to India, her dreams flies in sky and tells me come soon, I want to marry with You. And every time she ask something or the other gift as mentioned above. How should I get rid of this burden of over-expenses. Due to this it is difficult to manage my monthly expenses, means "The snake has to be killed and the stick should remain intact". Everytime I tells her this month not possible next month for sure, but again after 2-3 days she comes with new demand. And I am sure, if I broke this relationship she will again go to wrong path as she is getting divorce. Pls give some tips how to reply her to stop these expenses from me.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I just want to tell you one thing: since you are married happily, it would be best if you limit your interactions with this woman. She is consistently showing interest in marrying you, asking for an inappropriate amount of gifts and has demands from you like one has from their partner. Everything seems a little off. And also, it is not your responsibility to keep her from going in the wrong direction. She is a grown adult and should be able to handle it herself. The best decision is to distance yourself from her. If you can’t, you might want to still set some boundaries like telling her that you cannot continue speaking to her if she keeps telling you that she wants to marry you. I am sure your wife also doesn’t appreciate it. Let her know that you are in a happy marriage and you are not comfortable with her behavior. Also, you have every right to say no to all her demands. I understand that you two have a friendship, but there should be boundaries even in that.

Hope this helps

..Read more

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |12506 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Aug 12, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 12, 2026
Career
my daughter has secured admission in CSE-AI at IGDTUW .Going by the reputation of the institute she withdrew from BITSAT,JOSAA, LNMIIT and MHT-CET counselings. But now after attending the college for few days, she has been completely put off by the real bad infra and attitude of teachers there.Only viable option left now for her is COMEDK, where she can get CSE in MSRIT.We are delhi based and budget is not a issue. Please suggest further course of action.
Ans: Your daughter may consider switching to MSRIT CSE through COMEDK if her initial experience at IGDTUW has led her to reassess her choice. MSRIT offers good industry exposure and the advantage of Bengaluru’s strong technology ecosystem. However, it would be advisable to visit MSRIT and interact with current students before making the final decision.

Please also verify the current COMEDK counselling and reporting status, as deadlines and eligibility can vary by round. Before proceeding, confirm that her specific counselling status permits admission/reporting at MSRIT.

At the same time, it is important to remember that no institution is perfect; every college has its own strengths and areas for improvement. The decision should therefore consider academics, campus environment, faculty interaction, placements, peer group, location and overall student experience.

Finally, ensure that your daughter is comfortable and mentally prepared to relocate from Delhi to Bengaluru, and that you as parents are also equally comfortable with the transition. If MSRIT appears to offer a better overall fit after this evaluation, switching can be a reasonable option. If possible, it may be worthwhile to keep RVCE CSE as a preference until the final counselling round, provided your daughter has already included RVCE CSE among her choices. If the option remains available in the subsequent rounds, she can consider it based on the seat availability and her merit position. All The Best for Your Daughter's Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11390 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 11, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 28, 2026
Money
I am a 49 year old working as an E-Surveillance engineer at a Service provider in Chennai. I am on notice period. I am planning to start my own consulting services as free lancing in the same field. I have also got one contract worth 13 lakhs on which I will start working on from August onwards. These are just my annual consulting charges which will be paid by the customer on monthly basis after deducting 10% TDS. I need to understand how will my Tax liability be calculated for this FY. I am expecting one more contract worth 3-4 lakhs. Do I need to register for GST number? I have always done a job for 27 years. This is the first time I am doing something on my own. Hence these queries.
Ans: You have taken a good step by moving towards consulting. Having a Rs.13 Lakhs contract already is a strong starting point. Since this is your first year as a freelancer, keeping tax and compliance organised is important.

» Your Income For This FY

Your consulting receipts will generally be treated as professional income.

Your expected receipts are:

– First contract: Rs.13 Lakhs
– Possible second contract: Rs.3–4 Lakhs
– Total expected professional receipts: around Rs.16–17 Lakhs

The 10% TDS deducted by your customer is not an additional tax.

It is advance tax already collected on your behalf.

The TDS will be available as credit while filing your ITR.

» How Your Taxable Income Works

You will not normally pay income tax on the entire billing amount.

Eligible business or professional expenses can be considered while calculating taxable professional income.

For example:

– Laptop and computer expenses.
– Internet and communication costs.
– Software and subscriptions.
– Professional services.
– Office-related expenses.
– Travel related to consulting work.
– Other genuine business expenses.

Keep proper bills and payment records.

Personal expenses should not be claimed as professional expenses.

» Presumptive Tax Option

You may also check whether the presumptive taxation provisions applicable to specified professionals can be used.

This can simplify compliance for eligible professionals.

However, eligibility depends on the exact nature of your consulting activity and your receipts.

Your CA should confirm this before you choose the method.

» TDS Deduction

Your customer deducting 10% TDS does not mean your final tax rate is 10%.

It only represents tax deducted from your payment.

Your final tax liability will depend on your total taxable income for the year.

You will receive TDS credit while filing your income-tax return.

If the TDS is higher than your final liability, the excess can generally be claimed as refund.

» GST Registration

This needs careful attention.

GST registration is generally linked to aggregate turnover and the nature of services.

For service providers, the normal threshold is generally Rs.20 Lakhs in many states.

However, GST rules have several exceptions.

The place of supply and nature of your customer can also matter.

If your expected consulting turnover is around Rs.16–17 Lakhs, you may be below the normal threshold.

But do not decide only based on turnover.

Your exact consulting arrangement should be checked.

» Important GST Point

If your customer is located outside India, the GST treatment can be different.

Export of services has separate conditions.

Similarly, certain services supplied to customers in other states can require additional review.

Therefore, share the following with your CA:

– Customer location.
– Your location.
– Contract terms.
– Nature of E-Surveillance services.
– Annual contract value.
– Payment terms.
– Whether the customer is Indian or overseas.

» Advance Tax

This is another important point.

TDS may not cover your final tax liability.

If your estimated total tax payable crosses the applicable advance-tax threshold, advance tax may be required.

Do not wait until ITR filing to arrange the full tax amount.

Keep a separate bank balance for tax payments.

This will prevent cash-flow pressure later.

» Business Setup

Since you are starting freelancing after 27 years of employment, keep the setup simple initially.

Maintain:

– Separate bank account for consulting receipts.
– Proper invoices.
– Expense records.
– Customer contracts.
– TDS certificates.
– GST records if registration becomes applicable.
– Advance-tax payment records.

This will make future tax filing much easier.

» Transition From Salary To Consulting

Your first year needs extra care.

You may have salary income for part of the year.

You will then have professional income from consulting.

Both incomes will form part of your overall taxable income.

Also consider your final salary, notice-period payments, leave encashment and other employment-related receipts.

These should be included correctly.

» Retirement And Insurance

At age 49, your retirement planning should continue even after leaving employment.

EPF contributions may reduce or stop after leaving the job.

Therefore, create a separate retirement investment plan from your consulting income.

Also review your health insurance.

Do not depend only on your employer's medical cover after leaving the company.

Maintain adequate personal health insurance.

» Final Insights

Your Rs.13 Lakhs contract gives you a good base for starting consulting.

The possible Rs.3–4 Lakhs additional contract can strengthen your cash flow.

For GST, your expected Rs.16–17 Lakhs turnover appears below the normal service threshold.

Still, GST applicability depends on your customer and service details.

For income tax, the 10% TDS is only a tax credit.

Your final liability depends on your total taxable income and eligible expenses.

Since this is your first year as a consultant, I strongly suggest having a CA set up your invoicing, GST position and advance-tax schedule correctly.

Once the structure is set, managing your consulting income should become quite straightforward.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

AMFI-Registered MFD – ARN 4188

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11390 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 11, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 27, 2026
Money
I have invested in the following MFs 1) ICICI prudential BHARAT 22 FOF direct growth ₹210000 2) quant multi asset allocation find ₹318000 3) ICICI prudential multi asset fund ₹210000 4) kotak multi cap fund direct growth ₹150000 5) nippon india large cap fund direct growth ₹150000 6) nippon india multi cap fund direct growth ₹130000 7) HDFC balanced advantage fund direct growth ₹130000 8) ICICI prudential large cap fund direct growth ₹ 120000 9) HDFC flexi cap direct plan growth ₹ 90000 10) parag parikh flexi cap fund direct growth ₹92000 11) motilal oswal large and midcap fund direct growth ₹ 80000 12) motilal oswal BSE enhanced value index fund direct growth ₹ 80000 13) nippon india multi asset allocation fund direct growth ₹ 70000 14) HSBC value fund direct growth ₹ 55000 15) HDFC mid cap fund direct growth ₹ 50000 16) HDFC multi cap fund direct growth ₹ 55000 17) motilal oswal midcap fund direct growth ₹ 58000 18) SBI contra plan direct growth ₹ 54000 19) HDFC focused fund direct growth ₹ 43000 20) kotak debt hybrid fund direct growth ₹ 32000 21) ICICI prudential short term fund direct plan growth ₹ 20000 22) nippon india small cap fund direct growth ₹ 16000 23) HDFC short term debt fund direct plan growth ₹15000 . Please tell me which among them I should continue paying for SIP and which of them I should stop payment for SIP. Some of these are one time investment. I am 50 years old. These investments I have made since November 2024 till June 2026.
Ans: You have made a serious effort to diversify. However, 23 funds at age 50 is more than needed. The bigger issue is overlap, not lack of funds.

» Overall Assessment

Your portfolio has many funds doing similar jobs.

You have several:

– Flexi-cap and multi-cap funds.
– Large-cap funds.
– Multi-asset funds.
– Balanced advantage funds.
– Mid-cap funds.
– Debt funds.
– Value and contra strategies.
– A small-cap fund.
– A Bharat 22 themed exposure.
– An index-based value fund.

This makes monitoring difficult.

At age 50, I would prefer a simpler portfolio.

» SIPs I Would Continue

Based on the information provided, I would retain SIPs mainly in these categories:

– One good flexi-cap fund.
– One good multi-cap fund.
– One mid-cap fund.
– One balanced advantage fund.
– One multi-asset allocation fund.
– One small-cap fund, but with limited allocation.
– One short-duration debt fund, if debt exposure is required.

You do not need multiple funds within each category.

» SIPs I Would Stop

I would stop fresh SIPs in overlapping categories.

Specifically, review and stop SIPs in:

– Additional large-cap funds beyond one.
– Additional multi-cap funds beyond one.
– Additional flexi-cap funds beyond one.
– Additional multi-asset funds beyond one.
– Focused fund.
– Contra fund.
– Value-oriented fund if your core portfolio already has sufficient value exposure.
– Bharat 22 themed exposure.
– Index-based value fund.
– Debt hybrid fund if the balanced advantage and multi-asset allocation already provide enough stability.
– Additional short-term debt fund if one debt fund is sufficient.

Stopping an SIP does not mean selling the existing investment.

That distinction is very important.

» Your Large-Cap Exposure

You currently have multiple large-cap funds.

This creates unnecessary duplication.

One well-selected large-cap strategy is sufficient.

If you already have a strong flexi-cap and multi-cap allocation, even a separate large-cap fund may not be essential.

Therefore, I would stop fresh SIPs in the extra large-cap exposures.

» Your Multi-Cap And Flexi-Cap Exposure

You have several funds across these categories.

There is significant overlap here.

For future SIPs, keep only one core flexi-cap or multi-cap strategy.

You can retain another existing holding temporarily.

But avoid adding fresh money to all of them.

» Your Multi-Asset Exposure

You have multiple multi-asset funds.

This is another clear area of duplication.

Choose one suitable multi-asset strategy for future SIPs.

Stop fresh SIPs in the others.

The existing money need not be sold immediately.

» Mid-Cap Exposure

You have more than one mid-cap-oriented fund.

Keep one strong mid-cap strategy.

Stop SIPs in the additional mid-cap holding.

Mid-cap exposure can still be useful at age 50.

But it should not become an excessive part of your portfolio.

» Small-Cap Exposure

Your small-cap investment is currently relatively small.

A limited small-cap allocation can be retained if your retirement goal is still many years away.

I would not increase it aggressively.

At age 50, portfolio stability becomes more important.

» Bharat 22 And Index-Based Exposure

Your Bharat 22 FOF is a specialised exposure.

It should not be treated as a core diversified equity holding.

The index-based value fund also follows a rules-based index approach.

I would not use either as a core SIP allocation.

For the core portfolio, I prefer actively managed funds.

An active manager can change sector and stock exposure based on valuations and business conditions.

An index strategy generally follows its predefined rules.

It has less flexibility when market conditions change.

» Direct Plans

You have invested mostly through direct plans.

Direct plans have a lower expense ratio.

But there is no distributor-level portfolio service attached.

This becomes more important when you have 23 funds.

Managing overlap, rebalancing and goal allocation can become difficult.

Regular plans through an MFD have a higher expense structure.

But you also get ongoing portfolio review and service support.

For a portfolio of this size and complexity, proper monitoring can be more valuable than simply focusing on the lower expense ratio.

» One-Time Investments

Do not automatically sell one-time investments just because you stop the SIP.

Stopping SIP and redeeming are separate decisions.

First consolidate the future SIP structure.

Then review existing holdings based on:

– Current valuation.
– Tax impact.
– Holding period.
– Portfolio overlap.
– Retirement requirement.
– Exit load, if applicable.

This can avoid unnecessary taxation and unnecessary switching.

» Suggested Portfolio Structure

At age 50, I would aim for a much simpler structure.

A possible structure could have:

– 1 flexi-cap or multi-cap fund.
– 1 mid-cap fund.
– 1 balanced advantage fund.
– 1 multi-asset fund.
– 1 limited small-cap fund.
– 1 suitable debt fund.

That is enough for most investors.

You do not need 23 schemes to achieve diversification.

» Important Point About Your Age

You have around 10–15 years before retirement, depending on your retirement plan.

Therefore, equity should still remain an important growth component.

But taking unnecessary risk is not required.

Your portfolio should gradually become more stable as retirement approaches.

Start reducing equity risk well before the actual retirement date.

» Final Insights

Your biggest improvement will come from consolidation.

Do not keep adding funds simply because each fund looks attractive individually.

A good portfolio is not a collection of good funds.

It is a collection of funds that work well together.

I would stop most duplicate SIPs now.

Retain a small number of core categories.

Then review the existing Rs. amounts separately before deciding what to redeem.

At age 50, simplicity, diversification and retirement readiness should take priority over having many funds.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

AMFI-Registered MFD – ARN 4188

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11390 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 11, 2026

Money
Sir, A friend of mine sold his land recently. Even though the land registration was done based on state govt's fair value of 20 lakhs, the actual sum received by the above seller was 40 lakhs. At the time of ITR filing, can he show the full sale value of 40 lakhs and pay whatever tax due, or is he obliged to pay only based on the applied fair value ?
Ans: This is an important tax point. The registered value and actual consideration can have different tax implications.

» Actual Sale Consideration

If your friend actually received Rs.40 Lakhs, he should not simply report Rs.20 Lakhs as the sale consideration.

The actual transaction value should be properly disclosed.

The fact that registration happened at the government guideline value does not automatically make Rs.20 Lakhs the actual sale consideration.

» Stamp Duty Value

For income-tax purposes, the stamp duty value can become relevant when it is higher than the declared sale consideration.

There are specific provisions for immovable property transactions.

Therefore, the tax calculation may not be based only on the amount written in the sale deed.

» Your Example

Here, the facts are:

– Government fair value: Rs.20 Lakhs
– Actual amount received: Rs.40 Lakhs

If Rs.40 Lakhs was genuinely paid and received, proper documentation is very important.

The sale agreement, payment records and bank statements should support the actual consideration.

If Rs.40 Lakhs was received outside the documented transaction, the matter becomes more sensitive.

He should not create or alter documents merely to match the tax return.

» Capital Gains

Capital gains are generally determined after considering the applicable sale consideration, acquisition cost and eligible improvement expenses.

The holding period also matters.

The tax treatment can differ depending on whether the land is rural agricultural land or other land.

Therefore, the exact nature and location of the land should be checked.

» What I Would Suggest

Before filing the ITR, your friend should get the following reviewed:

– Registered sale deed.
– Sale agreement, if separate.
– Actual payment received.
– Bank statements.
– Stamp duty value.
– Purchase documents.
– Improvement expenses.
– Holding period.
– Whether the land qualifies as agricultural land.

If the actual consideration was Rs.40 Lakhs, he should disclose the transaction truthfully.

He should not voluntarily report only Rs.20 Lakhs just because that was the registration value.

» Final Insights

The government fair value and actual sale consideration are two different things.

The correct tax treatment depends on the applicable income-tax provisions and transaction facts.

Since there is a Rs.20 Lakhs difference here, professional tax review before filing is advisable.

This is especially important if the additional Rs.20 Lakhs was received outside the registered documentation.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

AMFI-Registered MFD – ARN 4188

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11390 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 11, 2026

Money
When our money invested is managed by the experts of AMCs, why should we aim to diversify the portfolios? Also why to aim for something else when the goal of any investment is only to get best vslue? Mukhtar Ahmad, Lucknow
Ans: Professional fund managers do manage portfolios carefully. But diversification is still important for investors.

» Why AMC Expertise Is Not Enough

An AMC manages money within a particular investment mandate.

The fund manager cannot freely invest everywhere.

Each fund has its own:

– Investment objective.
– Asset allocation.
– Market-cap exposure.
– Risk level.
– Investment limits.

So, one fund manager cannot control every risk in your complete portfolio.

» Diversification Has A Different Purpose

Diversification is not about finding more funds.

It is about reducing dependence on one investment style.

Even an excellent fund manager can face:

– Wrong sector allocation.
– Temporary investment mistakes.
– Market cycles.
– Valuation problems.
– Changes in economic conditions.

A diversified portfolio reduces the impact of any one mistake.

» Why Not Simply Chase Best Value?

The phrase "best value" sounds simple.

But value can mean different things.

An investment can be cheap today and remain cheap for many years.

Another investment can look expensive but continue growing strongly.

Therefore, chasing only the cheapest opportunity can create concentration risk.

The better objective is risk-adjusted wealth creation.

» Return Is Not The Only Goal

Two investors may earn the same return.

But their experience can be very different.

One may face large temporary losses.

Another may experience smaller fluctuations.

The second investor may stay invested more comfortably.

This behaviour can improve long-term investment results.

» Diversification Does Not Mean Diluting Returns

This is an important point.

Good diversification does not mean buying 15–20 mutual funds.

It means combining suitable investment categories.

For example:

– Large companies for stability.
– Mid-sized companies for growth.
– Some smaller companies for additional growth potential.
– Suitable fixed-income assets for stability.

The exact mix depends on the investor's goal and risk capacity.

» Fund Manager Versus Investor

The fund manager manages the fund.

The investor manages the overall wealth plan.

These are two different responsibilities.

A fund manager cannot know:

– When you need the money.
– Your retirement date.
– Your child's education requirement.
– Your emergency needs.
– Your other investments.
– Your ability to tolerate losses.

This is why portfolio-level diversification remains important.

» A Simple Example

Suppose one excellent fund manager invests heavily in technology companies.

The manager may be doing everything correctly.

But if technology goes through a long weak cycle, that fund can suffer.

Another fund with a different investment approach may perform better.

Having both can make the overall portfolio more balanced.

» Final Insights

The goal should certainly be wealth creation.

But "best value" should not mean chasing the highest possible return.

The better goal is sustainable wealth creation with controlled risk.

AMC expertise helps manage individual funds.

Diversification helps manage the investor's complete portfolio.

Both have an important role.

A well-designed portfolio should be simple, diversified and aligned with your goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

AMFI-Registered MFD – ARN 4188

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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