Latest news with #Lemonn
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"Rs 2 Lakh Fee For Class 3": Coinswitch CEO Highlights Major Issue Of Rising School Fees In India
Ashish Singhal, co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn, weighed in on the major issue of rising school fees for primary classes as he highlighted a report which stated that the fees are increasing by 10-30% every year, outpacing middle-class income growth. In a LinkedIn post, Mr Singhal claimed that school expenses now consume nearly 19% of household income, and parents are even taking EMIs for kindergarten fees. "Started having conversations about school for my daughter. Shocked to hear what's going on. In Bangalore, parents are now paying Rs 2.1 lakh for 3rd standard. That's not an international school. That's regular CBSE," he further wrote. "Class 4 fees in Ahmedabad are around Rs 1.8 lakh annually." "One parent called out the Rs 2L fee for Class 3, saying even an engineering degree costs less," Singhal argued. Middle-class incomes have grown only 0.4% per year over the past decade, widening the gap between school costs and family incomes. Parents are juggling rent, transport, books and uniforms while trying to give their children the best future, leading to erosion of savings, sanity and family dreams. "The official data says education inflation is just 4%. But try telling that to the mom comparing 5 school brochures, or the dad doing mental math between rent and bus fees," Mr Singhal wrote. Mr Singhal urged fintech companies and policymakers to find ways to support middle-class families struggling with rising school fees, emphasising that education is becoming a luxury many can no longer afford. His post resonated with social media, with users flooding the comment sections with their own experiences. On user wrote, "This is the reality of schools in all the metros in India. Parents are silently struggling with high school fees." "And what do students get after 15-18 years of so-called education? Lost childhood to end up in jobs they hate because they did not get a chance to explore," another said. "Education, is becoming a burden even for middle-class families these days. Monetary growth is negligible versus growth in other necessity expenses," a third user said.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rs 2.1 lakh for class 3 in "regular CBSE"? CoinSwitch co-founder explains how rising school fees are forcing parents to take 'EMIs for nursery'
Sending children to school has become one of the biggest financial pressures for middle-class families today. The co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn Ashish Singhal recently raised the issue in a LinkedIn post, calling out the high school fees in India. '30% fee hike. If this isn't theft, what is?' he wrote, summing up the frustration felt by many parents. Rs 2.1 lakh for class 3? Ashish shared his personal experience while looking into schools for his daughter. He was shocked to learn that many parents in Bengaluru are paying around Rs 2.1 lakh per year for Class 3, and not even at an international school, just a regular CBSE one. 'One parent told me the Class 3 fees are more than the cost of an engineering degree,' he added. This isn't an isolated case. Across Indian cities, school fees are rising every year, often between 10% and 30%, far outpacing salary increases. School fees growing faster than salaries Official data says education inflation is around 4%, but parents are seeing a much bigger impact on their wallets. In cities like Ahmedabad, annual fees for Class 4 are close to Rs 1.8 lakh. Meanwhile, middle-class incomes have only grown by 0.4% per year over the past decade. Live Events The result? Families are now taking out EMIs just to pay for nursery or primary school fees. 'Forget saving for college,' Ashish said. 'Parents are now borrowing money for nursery.' Families under pressure This growing gap between school costs and family incomes is pushing many to cut down on other expenses or dip into savings. Parents are juggling rent, transport, books, and uniforms while trying to give their children the best future. 'This isn't just inflation,' Ashish wrote. 'It's erosion, of savings, of peace of mind, and of family dreams.' Once seen as the pathway to better opportunities, education is now becoming one of the biggest monthly bills for families. Ashish urged those working in banking, fintech, and policymaking to take notice. 'This is your user,' he said. 'Struggling quietly, cutting corners, still showing up. Find ways to make them win.'
India Today
16-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Think you're exempt from filing ITR? Your lifestyle may say otherwise
Many taxpayers believe that if their annual income falls below the basic exemption threshold, they are off the hook when it comes to filing their Income Tax Return (ITR). But as Ashish Singhal, co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn, highlighted in a LinkedIn post that tax compliance is not just about how much you earn, it's also about how you spend.'You thought Income Tax Return was about income? That's cute,' Singhal said. Drawing attention to a lesser-known aspect of India's income tax rules, he explained that even those reporting zero taxable income on paper may still be required to file an ITR based on their lifestyle and financial activities. advertisementThe thresholds are surprisingly easy to cross, indicated Singhal. A foreign vacation that costs more than Rs 2 lakh, an electricity bill exceeding Rs 1 lakh in a year, or large deposits in a bank account, even without formal income, can all trigger the need to file a return. The logic, Singhal pointed out, is simple: if you're spending like someone with taxable income, the tax department wants a closer look. His post also serves as a timely reminder as the ITR deadline for FY25 (AY 2025-26) approaches. The deadline for filing ITR was recently extended to September also warned that many people inadvertently meet one or more of these criteria without realising it, especially professionals and freelancers who may not fit into traditional salaried brackets. 'So check your slips,' he wrote, 'and don't let lifestyle trip up your compliance.'Trending Reel
Mint
06-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Shareholding moves in Q4: Did retail investors' small-cap love fizzle out?
After two blistering years of runaway gains, small-cap stocks finally met their reckoning in Q4FY25. As markets wobbled under global pressures and stretched valuations, retail investors and foreign funds beat a tactical retreat while domestic mutual funds doubled down, scooping up discounted shares, Mint's shareholding analysis showed. Retail investors—those holding shares worth up to ₹ 2 lakh—reduced their stakes in 51.5% of the 932 small-cap companies listed on the BSE SmallCap index. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), often seen as sentiment drivers, also pulled back, trimming exposure in 53.5% of these stocks. But while individuals and foreign investors hesitated, domestic mutual funds stood firm, increasing their holdings in 41% of small-caps. This divergence raises a key question: Were retail investors spooked by the quarter's turbulence, or did they simply chase safer havens? "Many retail investors treated small-caps as 'get-rich-quick' tickets, piling in without fully understanding the risks," explains Anand K. Rathi, co-founder of MIRA Money. "But by late 2024, reality hit—earnings couldn't justify sky-high valuations. Stocks plunged 30-50%, and inexperienced investors, often lacking deep research, sold in panic." Also read Q4 shareholding moves: Institutional appetite for post-correction mid-caps grows 'While retail investors fled, mutual funds stayed put. "Fund managers invest after rigorous analysis," says Rathi. "They understand volatility comes with the small-cap territory and trust the long-term fundamentals." Despite the Q4 jitters, zooming out reveals a more tempered picture. Over the past 12 months, retail investors have actually grown their share in small-caps by 140 basis points, from 15% to 16.4%. But the momentum has clearly slowed, with a 10-basis-point fall sequentially. Mutual funds have increased their exposure by 40 basis points (bps) in small-caps over the year, while FPIs stakes inched up just 10 bps and showed zero movement in Q4. The slowdown, especially on the retail front, underscores caution rather than capitulation. The recent market correction brought some much-needed sanity to overheated valuations. The BSE SmallCap index, after tumbling 16% in the March quarter, now trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.6x—well below its five-year average of 44x. While that may comfort value seekers, analysts caution against getting too excited. Also read Shareholding moves in Q4: Retail investors jump ship in choppy waters 'Corrections in 2025 have helped cool speculative froth in small-caps," said Gaurav Garg, research analyst at the Lemonn markets desk. 'But many stocks still appear overvalued when you consider the tepid earnings growth. This is the sixth part of a series of data stories on the latest shareholding pattern. Read previous parts of our shareholding series here .
