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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 6:07:15 pm

Five Action Points for July

With the first half of 2026 now behind us, July becomes an important checkpoint in the financial calendar. The beginning of July is the right time to move from reflection to action. Here are five important financial action points to focus on. 1. Inflation-Beating Assets One of the most important principles of long-term investing is to ensure that your portfolio is designed to beat inflation. Inflation silently reduces the real value of your money over time. This is why your long-term...

Five Action Points for July

With the first half of 2026 now behind us, July becomes an important checkpoint in the financial calendar. The beginning of July is the right time to move from reflection to action. Here are five important financial action points to focus on. 1. Inflation-Beating Assets One of the most important principles of long-term investing is to ensure that your portfolio is designed to beat inflation. Inflation silently reduces the real value of your money over time. This is why your long-term investments must be in assets that have the potential to deliver inflation-adjusted returns. For long-term financial goals, investors should consider assets such as equity mutual funds, direct stocks and gold. For short-term financial goals, especially those required within the next three years, options such as bank fixed deposits, recurring deposits or suitable debt mutual funds can be considered. If a large portion of your money is lying in low-return instruments, July is a good time to review and reshuffle your portfolio. 2. Increase Your SIPs Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) remain one of the most disciplined ways to build wealth. SIPs help you invest regularly, avoid timing the market and benefit from long-term compounding. However, simply having SIPs is not enough. Your SIP amount must also be sufficient. Ideally, investors should aim to invest at least 30 percent of their in-hand monthly income. A common mistake is not increasing SIPs even when income goes up. Whenever your income goes up, your SIPs should also increase. An annual SIP increase can make a significant difference to your long-term wealth creation. 3. Make Lumpsum Investments While SIPs provide discipline, they should not be your only investment strategy. Besides SIPs, it is important to do extra lumpsum investments voluntarily, every few months. Also, if you have received a bonus, incentive or any unexpected inflow, consider investing it as a lumpsum. The idea is simple: do not let surplus money remain idle for too long. Staying invested gives your money the opportunity to grow. 4. Secure Insurance Cover Health insurance and term life insurance are essential pillars of financial planning. A single hospitalization can disturb your finances if you are not adequately covered. Do not depend only on your employer’s health insurance. Buy a sufficient personal health insurance policy with the right features. Similarly, term life insurance protects your family’s financial security in case of an unfortunate event. Your cover should be based on your income, loans, dependents and future responsibilities. 5. Consult a Financial Advisor If you have not yet made a proper financial plan, July is a good time to do so. Even if you already have a plan, it should ideally be reviewed every year. Consult a well-educated, full-time financial advisor for your financial goal planning and execution. It takes years of education, experience, expertise and wisdom to write a prescription. Please do not self-medicate when it comes to your wealth. The first half of 2026 is over, but the second half still gives you the opportunity to realign your finances. Take action, stay disciplined and move steadily towards your financial goals. (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Ceasefire Duplicity and the Challenge of Military Diplomacy

India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC). However, the reality on the ground tells a different story – marked by continued cross-border shelling, terror attacks, and propaganda warfare. The recent terror strike in Pahalgam and Pakistan's immediate violation of the ceasefire agreement raise serious concerns about the credibility of Islamabad's commitments and the sustainability of peace in South Asia.


Parallel to its military posturing, Pakistan has unleashed an aggressive information warfare campaign, spreading fake news, fabricated videos, and social media propaganda aimed at discrediting the Indian Armed Forces and destabilizing India internally. From misrepresenting conflict zones to amplifying communal narratives, Pakistan’s digital tactics are designed to tarnish India’s global image.


Moral struggle

Across India, public sentiment has reached a tipping point. The collective mood is one of resolve and clarity, with citizens demanding a firm and lasting solution to crossborder terrorism and internal radicalization. The repeated provocations have also sparked a broader reflection on national unity, as people from diverse backgrounds call for greater vigilance against divisive narratives and misinformation – whether they originate externally or from within.


Defining aspect

India’s fight against terrorism is now a defining aspect of its global identity, and the events unfolding now will serve as a milestone in the country’s evolving stance: zero tolerance for terror, unwavering pursuit of national security, and a clear moral compass in the face of persistent threats.


In my view, agreeing to a ceasefire at this stage may have been premature, especially considering the strategic advantages India had already gained. The momentum was clearly in our favor, and sustained pressure might have compelled Pakistan to concede more comprehensively.


There was an opportunity to send a strong and lasting message that any aggression against India would be met with decisive and overwhelming force. Leadership in such moments, as seen in other global contexts, often involves resisting external pressures to ensure long-term national security objectives are achieved.


Familiar Pattern

On paper, Pakistan agreed to a so-called ceasefire, rearming the 2003 agreement with India. However, in less than 10 hours, Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire, launching unprovoked shelling on Indian territory.


This pattern of duplicity is neither new nor surprising. Over the past two decades, Pakistan has routinely broken ceasefire agreements soon after signing them – more than 5,000 ceasefire violations were recorded in 2020 alone.


This time, their ceasefire plea came only after facing increasing military pressure and internal instability. Reports indicate that a call was made from the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart, seeking immediate de-escalation after Pakistan realized the consequences of further escalation. But can such a plea be taken seriously, especially when it's followed by another violation?


A Moment of Strategic Strength for India India’s current position of military and moral strength has sent a powerful message across the region and beyond. The ability to swiftly neutralize threats, counter aggression with precision, and maintain strategic restraint despite provocation demonstrates India's evolving doctrine in the face of cross-border terrorism.


Many believe that had the ceasefire not been agreed upon, Pakistan – facing operational setbacks and international isolation – would have found itself with little choice but to deescalate or surrender. The limited tactical support Pakistan reportedly received from foreign allies failed to bolster its standing, further underlining India’s superior strategic posture.


Terrorism as State Policy

Despite international pressure and FATF scrutiny, Pakistan continues to harbor UNdesignated terrorists and provide sanctuary to organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and others. These groups not only plan and launch attacks on Indian soil but also serve Pakistan’s objective of creating unrest and undermining Indian sovereignty, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir.


India has repeatedly presented dossiers and intelligence to international bodies, detailing Pakistan’s involvement in state-sponsored terrorism, yet tangible punitive action has been limited.


Strategic Resolve

India has shifted its posture from one of strategic restraint to one of deterrence and assertive diplomacy. From the 2016 surgical strikes to the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, New Delhi has demonstrated it will not tolerate cross-border terrorism. At the same time, India has chosen to pursue military diplomacy to avoid unnecessary escalation, engaging DGMOs, maintaining hotline communications, and leveraging multilateral pressure.


The new Indian war doctrine, reportedly accepted by key global players including the U.S., defines any terror attack as an act of war—a stark warning to those who underestimate India’s resolve.


(The author is a resident of Mumbai. Views personal.)

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