Loan Transfer vs. Loan Pre-payment: Which Method is More Effective for Reducing Debt

 Eager to reduce your debt faster? Learn the key differences between Loan balance transfer and principal pre-payment.

When considering debt reduction, borrowers frequently evaluate two common options: Loan balance transfers and loan principal pre-payments. Both methods can alleviate your financial strain, yet the appropriate selection is contingent upon your specific situation and the terms of your loan.

Loan Balance Transfer vs Principal Pre-payment: How both options work?

A loan balance transfer is the process of moving your existing loan or credit card debt from one lender to another, usually to take advantage of lower interest rates. Many lenders provide loan balance transfer offers on their credit cards with attractive rates and flexible repayment terms, making it an appealing choice for those burdened by high interest rates.
For example, if you're paying 20% interest on a personal loan and find a lender offering 14% interest through a balance transfer, switching your loan can save you a significant amount in interest over time.

How does Loan Balance Transfer work?

When you choose to transfer your loan balance, the new lender will settle your current loan on your behalf. Subsequently, you will start repaying the new lender according to the agreed terms and interest rates. It is important to note that some lenders may impose a small processing or transfer fee, so it is crucial to consider these expenses.

You can utilize a loan balance transfer calculator to gauge potential savings prior to making a decision. This tool enables you to input your existing loan amount, interest rate, duration, and the specifics of the new offer to evaluate the total costs.

In numerous instances, loan balance transfer promotions also include attractive benefits such as waived processing fees or free insurance, which can be particularly advantageous for borrowers aiming to alleviate their financial obligations.

Loan Principal Pre-payment

Loan principal pre-payment involves settling a portion of your loan prior to the designated due date. This action decreases your principal balance, thereby reducing the interest obligation for the remaining duration of the loan.

Pre-payment can take the form of partial pre-payment, which entails paying off a segment of the loan, or full pre-payment, which means paying off the entire outstanding amount. Certain lenders may apply pre-payment penalties, particularly for fixed interest rate loans, so it is prudent to review the terms in advance.

How does pre-payment work?

When you make a pre-payment, the paid amount is reduced from the principal balance of your loan. This decreases the principal, and since interest is computed on the remaining principal, you ultimately save on interest throughout the duration of the loan.

Depending on your lender's policy, prepayment may either shorten your loan term while maintaining your EMIs, or lower your monthly EMI while keeping the term the same. The effect can be considerable, particularly if you prepay early in your loan term when the interest portion is greater.

Why someone chooses loan balance transfer?

A loan balance transfer is effective if:

• Your current loan has a high interest rate.
• You find a loan balance transfer offer with a significantly lower rate.
• The transfer fees and charges do not outweigh the savings.

By lowering your interest rate, a balance transfer reduces your overall interest cost and may even offer better repayment flexibility. This works best when the new lender provides additional benefits, like waived fees or top-up loan options.

Why someone chooses principal pre-payment?

Loan pre-payment might be the better choice if:
• You have surplus funds in hand without any comitments.
• Your loan tenure is relatively short.
• The lender doesn't impose heavy pre-payment penalties.
Pre-paying your loan allows you to reduce your principal faster, saving on interest and possibly freeing you from debt earlier. This can be an ideal route if you're financially comfortable and want to prioritise becoming debt free.

Conclusion
Before arriving at a decision in haste, it is essential to assess your overall financial situation and the reasons for considering a balance transfer or loan prepayment. This evaluation will assist you in preventing any future defaults, which could result in an increased debt load. It is wise to thoroughly examine all factors, compare various options, and subsequently select the most appropriate choice for consolidating debt.

Over 5,000 typewriting institutes across Tamilnadu to close

More than 4,500 government recognised typewriting institutes and more than 1,000 non registered institutes across Tamil Nadu are on the final stage of closure as the Higher Education Department has decided to scrap the traditional typewriting lower and higher exams.

Accordingly, in near future the typewriting examinations will be conducted through computers.

A senior official from the Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE), seeking clarity, said that the Higher Education Department had already issued an order in which the rules and regulations for the certificate course in Computer on Office Automation (COA) are modified.

It combines the typewriting examination and certificate course in COA as a single certificate course as a prerequisite qualification for getting appoitment to the TN State and Subordinate services. “To meet the challenges, the State government decided to implement a computer-based online exam platform. A suitable software firm will be engaged to develop the online-based exam,” he added.

Since, today's modern age office employees and employers use computer for typing which in turn urges the young IT, Computer science aspirants of the necessity to learn computer based typing.

TN Typewriting Computer Institutes Association (TNTCIA) members have staged a protest demonstration in Chennai urging the State government to retain the existing model of conducting typewriting exams. “Rural students might be affected as they may not be able to join computer centres to learn typewriting skills since those institutions might charge more,” he pointed out. 

Moreover, In all offices either Government or Corporate offices including small private companies use computer as single mode of typing any form of documents. 

The olden day courts were using typing machines to document the actions and orders passed at court. In this there was a major drawback noticed as in typing machine the typist should not make any single mistake while typing, even a single letter mistake within a document causes huge stress for the typist as well as the majestrate/judge. Since, long ago foreign countries were already changed over to computer based typing in courts.

 And henceforth indian courts also started using stenography machines of shorthand where a software is utilized to convert the transcript into a document and corrects mistakes in spelling.

In near future stenography might also be scrapped and computers will replace the use of stenography to utilize the potential of AI documenting.

Is your Gmail hacked? Look what happened in attack of 2025 and Google's response

Gmail users face a phishing scam using verified Google email addresses and faked support pages. The attack bypasses authentication, looks legitimate. Google urges users to enable 2FA and use passkeys.

Google has issued an important warning to all Gmail users. The warning highlights a new phishing campaign that uses legitimate-looking emails to bypass security checks and trick recipients into handing over their account credentials.
Google has acknowledged the threat and the cyber security team working to roll out protections. Still, users are urged to stay vigilant, especially when responding to emails that appear to come from trusted sources like Google itself.

What is this scam?

The attack came to light when software developer Nick Johnson posted on X about receiving an official-looking email from “no-reply@google.com” that claimed a subpoena had been issued for his Google Account data. The email included a link to what appeared to be a legitimate Google support page. In reality, the page was a phishing site hosted on Google's own platform, sites.google.com.
What made the email particularly convincing was that it passed Google's authentication checks, including DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM). The phishing message was also delivered in the same Gmail conversation thread as real Google security alerts, adding to its perceived legitimacy.

Clicking the link led users to a cloned Google sign-in page hosted on a Google subdomain. The page was designed to download login credentials. If entered, those credentials would give attackers full access to the user's Gmail and associated personal sensitive data.

Google's response

Google has acknowledged the phishing campaign and confirmed that it exploited OAuth and DKIM mechanisms in a novel way. In a statement, the company said it is “rolling out protections” to stop this specific threat and expects the fix to be “fully deployed” soon. Google is also encouraging users to enable two-factor authentication and adopt passkeys to strengthen account security.

Why is this important for webdesign service providers?

The incident highlights how hackers are increasingly using legitimate infrastructure, like Google's own domains, to make phishing attempts harder to detect. Even advanced security features can be bypassed when the source appears trustworthy and familiar.

Not only google, well known service providers such as godaddy, wordpress, weebly, website, yahoo, odoo and so on. Are needs to be on high alert and protect customers from such incidents.

What Gmail and other email platform users should do?

Until Google's update is fully rolled out, Gmail users are advised to avoid clicking on links in unsolicited security alerts. The same goes to other email platforms which is in-house service for domain purchasers. Users should verify suspicious emails by logging into their accounts directly through the official Google website. Activating two-factor authentication and passkeys adds a further layer of protection against credential theft.

தமிழர் ஆண்டுப்பிறப்பு வரலாறு - கலியாண்டு 5126

History of Tamil New Year- 5126 as per planetary positions and sun solstice.

தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு 5126 ஆம் கலியாண்டில், மேழம்/மேடம் (சித்திரை) மாதம் முதல் நாளில் (14.4.2025) தொடங்குகிறது. கலியாண்டு என்பது தமிழர்களின் தொடராண்டு முறை. பொது ஆண்டுடன் 3101 ஐக் கூட்டினால் கலியாண்டு கிடைக்கும் (3101 + 2025 = 5126). கலியாண்டு என்பது ஞாயிறு ஆண்டு முறையை பின்பற்றி 5000 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பே பழந்தமிழர்களால் உருவாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 

சங்ககாலப் பெரும்புலவர் நக்கீரன் (கி.மு. 3ஆம் 2ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு) பத்துப்பாட்டில் ஒன்றான நெடுநெல்வாடையில் 

”திண்ணிலை மருப்பின் ஆடு தலையாக விண்ணூர்பு திரிதரும் வீங்கு செலல் மண்டிலம்”        (வரி: 160 – 161).

எனப் பாடுகிறார். ஆடு என்பது மேழம்/ மேடம் (சித்திரை) என்பதைக் குறிக்கிறது. ஆகவே மேழத்தை முதன்மையாகக் கொண்டு ஞாயிற்றின் சுழற்சி நடைபெறும் என்பதை இப்பாடல் உறுதிப்படுத்துகிறது. ஆகவே ஆண்டின் தொடக்கநாள் என்பது மேழத்தின் தொடக்க நாள் எனத் தமிழர்கள் கருதி வந்தனர். ஆகவே அதுதான் தமிழர்களின் ஆண்டுப்பிறப்பு நாளாகும். 

ஞாயிறு மேழம் மாதத்தின் முதல் நாளில் மேழம் இருக்கையில் (இராசியில்) நுழைகிறது. அதுவே ஆண்டின் முதல் நாள் என்பதால் மேழம் (சித்திரை) நாளின் முதல் நாளே தமிழர்களின் வருடப் பிறப்பு நாளாகும். ஆகவே கலியாண்டு முறையைப் பின்பற்றி வருகிற மேழம் (சித்திரை) மாதத்தின் முதல் நாளை (14.4.2025), 5126ஆம் கலியாண்டின் வருடப்பிறப்பு நாளாகக் கொண்டு தமிழர்களின் புத்தாண்டு நாளாக அதனைக் கொண்டாடுவோம். 

தமிழர்கள் இன்றைக்கு 5345 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பே இரும்பை உருக்கி இரும்புப்பொருட்களை தாயாரித்து உலகின் முதல் இரும்புக்கால நாகரிகத்தைக் கொண்டவர்கள் என்பதால் அன்றே அவர்கள் தங்கள் தொடராண்டு முறையான கலியாண்டு முறையைத் தொடங்கி விட்டார்கள். ஆகவே மேழம் (சித்திரை) முதல்நாள்தான் தமிழர்களுக்கான வருடப்பிறப்பு நாளாகும். 

தை மாதத்தை திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டாகப் பின்பற்றலாம். ஆனால் தமிழர்களின் வருடப்பிறப்பு என்பது கலியாண்டுக்கான மேழம் முதல் நாள்தான் எனக் கொண்டு அதனையே விழா எடுத்து கொண்டாடுவோம். 

கலியாண்டு தமிழ் மாதங்கள் 

1. மேழம் (சித்திரை)

2. விடை

3. ஆடவை

4. கடகம் 

5. மடங்கல் 

6. கன்னி 

7. துலை

8. நளி 

9. சிலை

10. சுறவம் 

11. கும்பம்

12. மீனம் (பங்குனி)  

வான மண்டலத்தில் உள்ள 27 நாள்மீன்களைக் (நட்சத்திரங்கள்) கொண்ட 12 இருக்கைக் (இராசி) கட்டங்களின் வழியே ஞாயிறு பயணம் செய்து முடிக்க ஒரு வருடம் எடுத்துக்கொள்கிறது. இந்தப் பயணவழியைத்தான் ஞாயிறு மண்டலம் எனத் தமிழர்கள் கருதினர். ஒவ்வொரு இருக்கைக் (இராசி) கட்டத்திற்கும் ஞாயிறு ஒருமாதம் எடுத்துக் கொள்கிறது. 

இந்தக் கலியாண்டு தொடராண்டு என்பதால் அந்த 60 ஆண்டுகள் இனித்தேவை இல்லை.

 கலி தூய தமிழ் சொல். கலி என்பதற்கு மகிழ்ச்சி என்று பொருள். பழந்தமிழ் இலக்கியங்களில் கலி என்ற சொல் பரவலாக பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. கலித்தொகை, குறிஞ்சிக் கலி, மருதக் கலி, நெய்தல் கலி , முல்லைக் கலி, பாலைக் கலி என் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. கலிப்பா என்பது தொல்காப்பியர் கூறிய பா வகை. மகிழ்ச்சிக்கான பா வகை. ஆகவே கலி என்பது அழகிய தமிழ் சொல். வட மொழியினர் இதை எடுத்து பயன்படுத்தினர் என்பதால் அது வடமொழிச் சொல் ஆகாது .

கி.மு. முதல் நூற்றாண்டில் வாழ்ந்த சோழன் நலங்கிள்ளி குறித்து அதே காலகட்ட உறையூர் முதுகண்ணன் சாத்தனார் பாடிய புறநானூற்றின் 30ஆம் பாடலோ ஞாயிற்றின் இயக்கம் குறித்தும் அது செல்லும் பாதை குறித்தும் அந்த இயக்கத்தைச் சுற்றியுள்ள மண்டலம் குறித்தும் தனித்து நிற்கும் வெளி எனும் ஆகாயம் குறித்தும் பேசுகிறது.

செஞ் ஞாயிற்றுச் செலவும்

செஞ் ஞாயிற்றுப் பரிப்பும்

பரிப்புச் சூழ்ந்த மண்டிலமும்

வளி திரிதரு திசையும்

வறிது நிலைஇய காயமும் என்று இவை

சென்று அளந்து அறிந்தார் போல

என்றும் இனைத்து என்போரும் உளரே – (புறம்-30)

இந்த ஞாயிறு மண்டலம்தான் 12 இருக்கைகளாக இருக்கைக் (இராசி) கட்டத்தில் காட்டப்படுகிறது.

குறிப்பு:

தை மாதம் வட செலவை தொடங்கும் ஞாயிறு, ஆடி மாதம் தென்செலவை தொடங்கும். 

தை மாதத்தில் ஞாயிறு வட செலவை தொடங்கும்  என்பதால் தை மாதம் முதல் நாளில் வருடப்பிறப்பு தொடங்கும் எனில், ஆடி மாதத்தில் தென் செலவை ஞாயிறு தொடங்கும் என்பதால் ஆடி மாதம் முதல் நாளில் வருடப்பிறப்பு தொடங்கும் எனக் கூற முடியாது என்பதால் இந்த இரண்டுமே வானியலின்படி பொருத்தமற்றது. 

ஞாயிறு, ஐப்பசி மாதம் நீச்சம் அடையும், சித்திரை மாதம் உச்சம் அடையும். ஆகவே அப்படி உச்சம் அடையும் சித்திரையே தமிழருக்கு புத்தாண்டு. 

பத்தாம் நூற்றாண்டு சோழர் கல்வெட்டில் இச்செய்தி சொல்லப்பட்டு அதன் அடிப்படையில் தான் சோழர்கள் சித்திரை மாத முதல் நாளை வருடப்பிறப்பாக ஏற்று செயல்படுத்தினர.

ஞாயிறு மண்டல இருக்கைக் (இராசி) கட்டம்.

எழுத்தர்!

கணியன் பாலன்

Four months old baby from India (AP state) holds world record

A four months old child has achieved a world record with her remarkable ability on identifying many objects.

Let's look at detailed information:

UGC next action: Followed by HEI now MPHIL is not a recognised degree

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notice reiterating its advice to students to not take admission in the MPhil programme since it is not recognised by them.

UGC also directed the universities to stop admissions to the MPhil programme for the 2023-24 academic year. It has raised a doubt on the validity of old MPHIL degree holders. UGC yet to clarify the same in the due course.

“It has come to the notice of the UGC that a few universities are inviting fresh applications for MPhil (Master of Philosophy) programme. In this regard, it is to bring to the notice that the MPhil degree is not a recognised degree. The Regulation No 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations 2022 clearly states that higher educational institutions shall not offer the MPhil programme,” read the notice.

The university authorities, therefore, are requested to take immediate steps to stop admissions to the MPhil programme for the 2023-24 academic year. Further, students are advised not to take admission in the MPhil programme,” the notice said.

Earlier, the UGC mandated that no foreign higher educational institution (HEI) will offer any programme in India without the prior approval of the commission.

The regulations also mandate that the HEls shall not offer programmes under any franchise arrangement and that such programmes shall not be recognised by the UGC. This includes twinning programmes, joint degree, and dual degree programmes.

“The University Grants Commission has observed and has been informed that many HEls/colleges have entered into collaborative agreements/arrangements with foreign-based educational institutions/providers not recognised by the Commission and have been facilitating the issuance of degrees to the students enrolled in those institutions/college from such foreign-based educational,” the notice read.

Does UGC Shuts door for Foreign Universities from offering courses under franchise arrangement?

University Grant Commission (UGC) of India has mandated that no foreign higher educational institution (HEI) will offer any programme in India without the prior approval of the commission.

The regulations also mandate that the HEls shall not offer programmes under any franchise arrangement and that such programmes shall not be recognised by the UGC. This includes Twinning Programmes, Joint Degree, and Dual Degree Programmes.


“University Grants Commission has observed and has been informed that many HEls and colleges have entered into collaborative agreements/arrangements with foreign-based educational institutions not recognized by the Commission and have been facilitating the issuance of degrees to the students enrolled in those institutions/college from such foreign-based educational,” the notice by UGC read.

Any such kind of collaboration/ arrangement is not recognized by the University Grants Commission and accordingly the degrees issued subsequent to such collaboration arrangement are also not recognized by the Commission,” it added.

UGC also noted that edtech companies that are giving advertisements for offering degree and diploma programmes in online modes in association with some foreign universities/institutions, are not permissible under the franchise agreement and any such programme or degree will not have UGC recognition.

“Action will also be taken against all the defaulting EdTech companies as well as the HEls under applicable laws/rules/regulations. Therefore, Students/general public are advised to exercise due caution and are made aware that such courses/degrees/diplomas do not have UGC recognition and that they would be doing at their own risk and consequences,” the notice said.

Further updates upon the decisions/actions will be added here.