Sources & Research Methodology
How we research, verify, and calculate data for our student personal finance guides.
๐ Grounded in Primary Indian Financial Sources
TeenBucks does not rely on secondary blog rehashes. We base our calculations, interest rates, and regulatory explanations strictly on official government portals, statutory authorities, and institutional filings.
Primary Regulatory Authorities We Cite
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI): For digital payments security, UPI transaction guidelines, KYC norms, and savings bank regulations (rbi.org.in).
- Income Tax Department of India (CBDT): For Section 44ADA presumptive taxation, ITR-1/ITR-4 filing rules, TDS slabs under Section 194J/194C, and e-filing portal procedures (incometax.gov.in).
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) & AMFI: For mutual fund expense ratios, SIP regulations, and direct vs regular fund guidelines (sebi.gov.in, amfiindia.com).
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI): For UPI safety, transaction limits, and dispute resolution workflows (npci.org.in).
- Credit Information Companies (CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, CRIF): For credit scoring models, credit utilization ratios, and inquiry impact guidelines.
Banking Data Collection Methodology
When compiling bank account comparisons (such as zero-balance student accounts), our team inspects:
- General Schedule of Features & Charges (GSFC): The legally binding fee document issued by each respective bank.
- ATM & Debit Card Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC): Verification of physical vs virtual debit card costs and replacement fees.
- IMPS, NEFT & RTGS Transfer Charges: Online vs branch transaction costs.
Editorial Review Cycle
All core pillar guides are reviewed quarterly or immediately following central government budget announcements and RBI monetary policy reviews.