Short definitions for finance, tax, and measurement terms that appear in our calculators and Indian form-upload guides. This single page replaces thin per-term URLs so each definition sits in one place with its formula and related tools.
Calculators linked below are illustrative only — not tax, medical, or lending advice. Confirm figures with official sources or a qualified professional before filing returns or making decisions.
A fixed monthly payment toward a loan that includes principal and interest.
EMI is the uniform monthly amount a borrower pays to a lender until a loan is fully repaid. Each EMI includes a portion of the principal and accrued interest. The EMI formula uses the loan amount, annual interest rate, and tenure in months.
EMI = P × r × (1+r)^n / ((1+r)^n − 1)
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A ratio of weight to height squared used as a general health screening metric.
BMI compares body weight to height. It is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. WHO categories classify adults as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese based on BMI ranges.
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)²
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India's unified indirect tax on supply of goods and services.
GST replaced multiple indirect taxes in India. Intra-state supplies attract CGST and SGST (each half the rate). Inter-state supplies attract IGST at the full rate. Rates are notified by the GST Council.
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Central Goods and Services Tax on intra-state supplies.
CGST is the central component of GST when both seller and buyer are in the same state. It is levied at half the applicable GST rate, with SGST making up the other half.
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State Goods and Services Tax on intra-state supplies.
SGST is the state component of GST collected on supplies within the same state. Revenue goes to the state government. Combined with CGST, it equals the total GST rate.
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Integrated GST on inter-state supplies and imports.
IGST applies when goods or services move across state borders. The full GST rate is charged as IGST, which is later apportioned between central and state governments.
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The cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage per year.
Interest rate is the price a lender charges for use of capital. For EMI calculations, the annual rate is divided by 12 to get the monthly rate applied to the outstanding balance.
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The original loan amount borrowed, excluding interest.
Principal is the initial sum lent or the remaining balance of a loan. Each EMI payment reduces the outstanding principal over the loan tenure.
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Total annual compensation including salary, benefits, and employer contributions.
CTC represents the total cost an employer bears for an employee per year. It includes basic salary, allowances, bonuses, and employer PF contributions. It is not the same as in-hand or net salary.
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Take-home pay after deductions like PF, tax, and professional tax.
Net salary is the amount credited to an employee's bank account after statutory and voluntary deductions. It is always lower than gross salary and CTC.
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Income tax withheld by the employer before salary is paid.
TDS on salary is deducted by employers based on estimated annual tax liability. The deducted amount is credited against the employee's final income tax for the financial year.
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Mandatory retirement savings contribution for eligible employees in India.
Employee Provident Fund is typically 12% of basic salary (employee share). Employer also contributes. PF reduces take-home pay but builds long-term savings.
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Income tax system allowing deductions under sections like 80C, 80D, and HRA.
The old regime offers higher slab thresholds with deductions for investments, insurance, home loan interest, and HRA. Taxpayers choose this when deductions significantly reduce taxable income.
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Simplified tax structure with lower rates but fewer deductions.
The new tax regime (default from FY 2023-24) offers reduced slab rates but disallows most Chapter VI-A deductions. Taxpayers compare both regimes to pick the lower liability.
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International system using meters, kilograms, and liters.
The metric system (SI) is the standard for scientific and most international measurements. Unit converters translate between metric and imperial units using fixed conversion factors.
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A fraction expressed as parts per hundred.
A percentage represents a proportion out of 100. Common uses include discounts, tax rates, markups, and growth rates. Percent of X = (percentage / 100) × X.
% of X = (P / 100) × X
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A calendar year with 366 days, adding February 29.
Leap years occur every four years (with century exceptions) to keep calendars aligned with Earth's orbit. Age and date calculators account for leap days when computing intervals.
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JavaScript Object Notation — a text format for structured data.
JSON uses key-value pairs and arrays to represent data. Developers format and validate JSON for APIs and config files. A formatter adds indentation for readability.
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The number of words in a text document or passage.
Word count measures text length for essays, SEO content, and social posts. Counters typically split on whitespace and report words, characters, and sentences.
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Translating a measurement from one unit to another using a fixed factor.
Unit conversion multiplies a value by the ratio between unit definitions. For example, 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Temperature conversions require offset formulas, not simple multiplication.
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