Gamified Financial Literacy — Free, in English, Hindi & Marathi
Play the Game →Paisa Lingo is a free interactive web and Android game designed to make financial literacy accessible and fun. Instead of reading textbooks, you catch falling financial terms, answer a quick quiz to confirm you understood it, and add it to your personal Fin-Dex — a growing financial glossary you build as you play.
Earn points with every correct answer, build streaks for score multipliers, and climb the global leaderboard from Intern all the way to Wall St. Legend.
These are terms you will encounter and learn while playing Paisa Lingo. Definitions are written in plain English for everyday Indian investors.
Investing a fixed amount at regular intervals (weekly, monthly, quarterly) into a mutual fund. Averages your purchase cost over time (rupee cost averaging) and builds wealth through compounding. A SIP of ₹500/month over 20 years at 12% p.a. grows to over ₹4.9 lakh.
The per-unit price of a mutual fund, calculated as: (Total Assets − Liabilities) ÷ Number of Units. NAV is published daily. When you invest in a mutual fund, you receive units at the current NAV. A higher NAV does not mean a fund is expensive — what matters is growth rate, not absolute NAV.
A tax-saving equity mutual fund with a mandatory 3-year lock-in. Investments up to ₹1.5 lakh per year qualify for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. ELSS has the shortest lock-in among all 80C options and historically delivers higher returns than PPF or NSC due to equity exposure.
An investment vehicle that pools money from many investors and invests it in a diversified portfolio of securities (stocks, bonds, money market instruments) managed by a professional fund manager. Regulated by SEBI in India.
A unit of ownership in a company. Shareholders are entitled to a share of profits (dividends) and a claim on assets. Equity offers higher long-term returns than debt but with higher volatility. Suitable for investors with a 5+ year horizon.
The annual fee a mutual fund charges, expressed as a percentage of AUM. Covers fund management, administration, and distribution costs. An expense ratio of 0.1% means ₹100 per year on ₹1 lakh invested. Index funds typically have very low expense ratios (under 0.2%), while active funds range from 0.5% to 2%.
A passively managed mutual fund that replicates a market index — like Nifty 50 or Sensex — by buying the same stocks in the same proportions. Does not try to beat the market. Very low cost, transparent, and ideal for long-term investors who want market returns without active fund risk.
Like an index fund, but traded on the stock exchange throughout the day at market prices (unlike mutual funds which are priced at end-of-day NAV). Requires a demat account to buy. Offers very low expense ratios and real-time pricing flexibility.
A mutual fund that invests mainly in bonds, debentures, government securities, and money market instruments. Lower risk than equity funds. Returns are more stable but lower. Suitable for shorter investment horizons of 1–3 years or for the debt portion of a balanced portfolio.
A mutual fund that invests in a combination of equity and debt. Provides balance between growth and stability. Examples include Balanced Advantage Funds, which dynamically shift allocation based on market valuations, and Aggressive Hybrid Funds (65–80% equity).
The rate at which an investment grows on average per year, assuming profits are reinvested. The standard measure to compare fund performance across different periods. Formula: CAGR = (Ending Value / Beginning Value)^(1/Years) − 1. If ₹1 lakh grows to ₹2 lakh in 7 years, CAGR ≈ 10.4% p.a.
A debt instrument where an investor lends money to a company or government for a fixed period. In return, the issuer pays regular interest (coupon) and repays the principal at maturity. Bonds are generally lower risk than equities and form the "debt" component of a diversified portfolio.
A portion of a company's profits distributed to shareholders, usually as cash. Companies that pay regular dividends are typically mature, stable businesses. Dividend yield = Annual Dividend per Share ÷ Share Price. In mutual funds, the "IDCW" (Income Distribution cum Capital Withdrawal) option is the equivalent.
The first time a private company sells its shares to the general public via a stock exchange. Companies use IPOs to raise capital. Investors can apply via ASBA (Application Supported by Blocked Amount) through their bank or broker. After listing, shares trade freely on the secondary market.
A dematerialised account that holds shares and securities in electronic form. Opened with a Depository Participant (DP) linked to NSDL or CDSL. Required to buy or sell shares on Indian stock exchanges. Eliminates physical certificates and the associated risks of loss, forgery, or damage.
A lump sum deposited with a bank for a fixed tenure at a predetermined interest rate. Guaranteed returns, insured up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank by DICGC. Returns are fully taxable. Lower returns than equity over the long term, but zero market risk.
A 3-digit score (typically 300–900) that indicates how reliably a person repays debt. Generated by credit bureaus like CIBIL, Equifax, or CRIF. A score above 750 is considered good and helps get loans at lower interest rates. Maintained by paying EMIs on time, keeping credit utilisation low, and limiting hard enquiries.
Money set aside in a liquid account (savings account or liquid mutual fund) to cover 3–6 months of essential expenses. Protects you from having to sell long-term investments at a loss during a crisis — job loss, medical emergency, or major repair. The foundation of any sound financial plan.
Your financial snapshot: Total Assets (what you own — investments, property, savings) minus Total Liabilities (what you owe — home loan, car loan, credit card dues). A positive and growing net worth is the goal of sound financial planning. Review it annually.
Spreading investments across different asset classes (equity, debt, gold, real estate), sectors, geographies, and instruments to reduce risk. If one investment falls, others may hold steady or rise. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is the core principle. Achieved easily through mutual funds.
More terms are available inside the game, including PMS, AIF, NCD, Market Capitalisation, Arbitrage, and more.
What is SIP and how does it work?
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) lets you invest a fixed amount regularly in a mutual fund — as low as ₹100/month. On the chosen date, the amount is auto-debited from your bank and mutual fund units are allotted at that day's NAV. Over time, you buy more units when markets are low and fewer when markets are high, averaging out your cost. The returns compound over years, building significant wealth.
Is Paisa Lingo free to play?
Yes, Paisa Lingo is completely free. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions. It is available on the web at metainvestment.in/paisa-lingo/ and as an Android app.
What languages does Paisa Lingo support?
Paisa Lingo supports English, Hindi (हिंदी), and Marathi (मराठी). You can switch languages from within the game at any time. Financial terms are sourced from databases in all three languages.
What is the difference between NAV and share price?
NAV (Net Asset Value) is the per-unit price of a mutual fund, calculated daily from the fund's total assets. Share price is the market price of a company's stock, set by supply and demand on the stock exchange and changes throughout the trading day. A mutual fund's NAV is set once per day after market close.
How many financial terms are in the game?
The game currently includes over 100 financial terms in English and a growing set in Hindi and Marathi. Terms span personal finance, mutual funds, equity, fixed income, trading, and alternative investments across 10 difficulty levels.
What is ELSS and is it better than PPF for tax saving?
Both ELSS and PPF qualify for Section 80C deduction (up to ₹1.5 lakh/year). ELSS has a 3-year lock-in (shortest among 80C options) and invests in equity, offering higher growth potential but with market risk. PPF has a 15-year lock-in, offers tax-free guaranteed returns (~7–7.5%), and is risk-free. ELSS is better for long-term wealth creation; PPF is better for guaranteed, risk-free returns.