Guides
Free Indian Tools blog
20 in-depth guides on Indian food, finance, tax and daily-life tools.
Daily · 2
Indian pincode format explained — what each digit means (with examples)
Indian PIN codes are 6 digits. The first identifies the postal region (1-9), the second the sub-region, the third the sorting district, and the last 3 the specific post office. Full guide with examples.
22 May 2026 · 5 min read
AQI levels in India explained — what to do at each band (with health advice)
India's AQI uses 6 bands: Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), Moderate (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), Severe (401+). Full action guide for each level.
21 May 2026 · 5 min read
Tax · 2
Income tax on ₹15 LPA salary — old vs new regime (FY 2025-26)
Old regime tax on ₹15L salary with full deductions: ~₹1.4L. New regime tax: ~₹97k. New wins for ₹15 LPA earners without 80C+24b. Full math comparison.
20 May 2026 · 6 min read
GST on restaurant bills — 5% vs 18% explained (and how to extract net price)
Restaurant GST in India is 5% (without ITC) or 18% (in 5-star hotels). Learn how to extract the net food price from a tax-inclusive bill, and when service charge is and isn't legal.
19 May 2026 · 5 min read
Finance · 5
PPF vs ELSS vs NPS — which 80C investment is best for you?
Three popular 80C investments compared: PPF (7.1%, 15-yr lock-in), ELSS (12% expected, 3-yr lock-in), NPS (10% expected, locked till 60). Which one suits your goals.
18 May 2026 · 5 min read
Home loan tax benefits — 80C, 24(b) & 80EEA explained for FY 2025-26
Home loan tax benefits in India: principal deduction up to ₹1.5L under 80C, interest up to ₹2L under 24(b), additional ₹1.5L under 80EEA for first-time buyers. Old regime only.
17 May 2026 · 6 min read
SIP vs lump sum — which is better for ₹50 lakh? (real math)
Lump sum ₹50L invested today vs ₹83,333/month SIP for 5 years — over 20 years, lump sum wins by ~₹95L on average. But SIP wins in volatile markets. Full math with both scenarios.
16 May 2026 · 5 min read
Home loan prepayment — how much interest you actually save (with examples)
Prepay ₹5L on a ₹50L home loan in year 2 — save ₹14L interest over the loan tenure. Full math with examples on a 20-year ₹50L home loan at 8.5% — and when prepayment is the wrong move.
15 May 2026 · 4 min read
What is a step-up SIP and why does it nearly double your wealth?
A step-up SIP raises your monthly investment by a fixed % every year. ₹10,000/mo for 20 years at 12% gives ₹1 Cr — but with 10% annual step-up, the same plan returns ~₹2 Cr.
14 May 2026 · 5 min read
Health · 11
Are parathas making you fat? The carb-and-ghee math behind paratha weight gain
A 70 g plain paratha is 224 kcal — equivalent to 1.9 chapatis. An aloo paratha is 348 kcal. If you eat 2 parathas at breakfast 5 days/week, that is +6.5 kg per year over chapatis.
13 May 2026 · 5 min read
PCOS Indian diet plan — what to eat, what to skip (with carbs)
Practical PCOS diet for Indian women. Daily targets: 100 g carbs, 80 g protein, 30 g fibre, low-GI focus. Sample meal plan with chana, paneer, eggs, fish and millets.
12 May 2026 · 5 min read
Net carbs vs total carbs for Indian foods — what to count and when
Net carbs = total carbs − fibre. For Indian foods this matters most for ragi roti (net 11 g), rajma (net 9 g) and chana dal — the fibre cuts the effective carb load by 30–50%.
11 May 2026 · 5 min read
Sugar in Indian sweets — gulab jamun vs jalebi vs rasgulla compared
A 30 g gulab jamun has 18 g sugar; one jalebi has 14 g; one rasgulla has 16 g. Full breakdown of 20 popular Indian mithai by sugar, calories and what diabetics can occasionally enjoy.
10 May 2026 · 5 min read
High-protein Indian vegetarian foods — 25 best sources ranked
The highest-protein Indian vegetarian foods per serving — paneer, soya chunks, dals, sprouts, dahi, eggs (if lacto-ovo). Hit 80–100 g protein per day on a vegetarian Indian diet.
9 May 2026 · 5 min read
How many calories in Hyderabadi biryani? (chicken vs mutton vs veg)
A 300 g plate of chicken Hyderabadi biryani is ~720 kcal with 27 g protein; mutton biryani is ~750 kcal; veg biryani is ~600 kcal. Full breakdown by ingredient and serving size.
8 May 2026 · 4 min read
Idli vs dosa — which is better for diabetes? (full breakdown)
Three small idlis (90 g) have 28 g carbs; one plain dosa has 28 g carbs; one masala dosa has 45 g carbs. Which is best for diabetics — and how to make either of them healthier.
7 May 2026 · 4 min read
Carbs in 1 katori dal — toor vs moong vs masoor vs urad vs rajma
A katori (150 g) of toor dal has 21 g carbs and 9 g protein. Full comparison of every Indian dal, plus which one is best for diabetes, weight loss and muscle gain.
6 May 2026 · 5 min read
Glycemic index of Indian foods — full chart for diabetics & keto eaters
GI chart for 60+ Indian foods. White rice is high (73), basmati is medium (58), ragi roti is low (54). Use this to choose lower-spike versions of dal, rice, chapati, fruits and sweets.
5 May 2026 · 6 min read
Low-carb Indian breakfast ideas for diabetics (under 30 g carbs)
Twelve diabetic-friendly Indian breakfasts under 30 g carbs each — from besan chilla to vegetable upma, idli swaps and high-protein options that hold blood sugar steady till lunch.
4 May 2026 · 5 min read
How many carbs are in 1 chapati? (with diabetic-friendly swaps)
A medium 40 g whole-wheat chapati has about 22 g carbs and 119 kcal. Here is the full breakdown by size, plus low-carb swaps for diabetics and weight loss.
3 May 2026 · 6 min read