Section 80C

Section 80C is the clause of the Income Tax Act that allows a deduction of up to ₹1,50,000 from your taxable income (old regime only). Eligible items include ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) units, life insurance premiums, Public Provident Fund contributions, principal repaid on a home loan, and tuition fees for two children. The ₹1,50,000 is a combined ceiling across all of them, not per item. The new tax regime does not offer this deduction, so the benefit only matters if you have chosen the old regime.