Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Yes. As of the Government of India’s 28 August 2024 advisory, queer partners in India face no restriction on opening a joint bank account, and an account holder may nominate a person in a queer relationship to receive the balance when the account holder dies. Those are specific banking protections, not recognition of same-sex marriage or a general set of spouse-equivalent rights. The Supreme Court’s 17 October 2023 judgment left succession, maintenance, tax, pension, insurance and other family-finance questions for further consideration.
What is legally confirmed
Same-sex marriage was not recognized by the Supreme Court
In Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v Union of India, decided on 17 October 2023, the Supreme Court did not extend statutory marriage recognition to same-sex couples. The judgment recorded the government’s assurance that a Cabinet Secretary-chaired committee would examine how queer couples in unions could access particular entitlements. Recording an issue for committee consideration did not itself grant that entitlement.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Court’s list included family treatment for ration-card purposes, joint bank accounts with partner nomination, consultation with a partner in certain terminal-illness situations, jail visitation, access to a deceased partner’s body and last rites, and legal consequences involving succession, maintenance, income tax, gratuity, family pension and insurance. Each item must therefore be treated as a separate legal question unless a later rule or decision clearly provides otherwise.
Recommended Free Tools
The 2024 banking advisory is the clearest practical protection
A Department of Financial Services advisory dated 28 August 2024 states:
#1 Best Overall
- Compact & Portable Design: This Small Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Windows Cheat Sheet Mouse Pad measures 11.8" x 9.8", offering a portable mouse pad. Its compact size fits in bags or laptop cases, suitable for professionals, students, or travelers.
- Multi-Software Shortcut Guide: Featuring essential shortcut keys for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Windows, this small mouse pad provides a quick reference for frequently used shortcuts, offering a reference designed to support workflow efficiency
- Smooth & Precise Surface: The finely-textured surface ensures precise mouse control, allowing for smooth and accurate movement during work or gaming sessions.
- Durable & Non-Slip Design: This Multi-Software Shortcut Mouse Pad features stitched edges to reduce fraying. The non-slip rubber base helps keep it securely in place, and the water-resistant fabric allows for easier maintenance.
- Clear Print Quality: Displays high-resolution printing intended to remain legible through regular use and cleaning
“there are no restrictions for persons of the Queer community to open a joint bank account and also to nominate a person in queer relationship as a nominee to receive the balance in the account, in the event of death of the account holder.”
The advisory says the Reserve Bank of India issued a clarification to all scheduled commercial banks on 21 August 2024. This means a bank should not reject a joint-account application merely because the applicants are an unmarried same-sex couple, and an account holder can name a partner in a queer relationship as nominee for the account balance.
The clarification is narrow. It does not state the operating mandate a bank must use, decide whether a particular account has a survivorship feature, determine tax treatment, transfer a partner’s separately owned assets, or settle every dispute among heirs. Do not treat it as a substitute for a will or a complete estate plan.
Rank #2
- [MULTIFUNCTIONAL]You'll get 2 pieces computer monitor memo boards that you can stick on the left and right edges of your monitor, and they're the perfect office desk organizers and accessories. Computer monitor side panels desktop organizer are suitable for home work or office,bringing convenience. Desktop memo is used to organize meeting memos, important messages, business cards, planning notes.Paste on the message board to keep track of important things and to-do items to prevent forgetting.
- [🌟HIGHLY QUALITY] The material of computer screen side note holder is transparent acrylic. Durable, simple, stylish, light weight, easy to use, not easy to fall off or break. This cute office supplies for women desk can be used for a long time. This computer desk accessories is waterproof and dirt resistance, and look simple and stylish. The transparent acrylic sticky note holder as cubicle accessories is easy to notice the context of your sticky notes.
- [📋Easy to use] Office must haves cool office gadgets for desk ready to tear, easy to install and remove, not easy to leave traces. You only need to peel off the protective film on the surface of the computer side board memo, wipe off the dust on the edge of the computer monitor, and then stick the desk essentials for women office on the right or left side of the tape, and you're done. A perfect gift for your colleagues, friends or classmates and family members or relatives
- [🏢MULTI-SCENE USE] This desk supplies computer memo board can be applied to home and office, clear your office decor for women, suitable for most computer monitors, screens and cabinets, you can put it where you think, this cute office decor serve as a reminder. Stick on the computer side. It’s a good office gadgets can remind work improve office productivity. Pasted cabinets, dressers, refrigerators, walls, etc as cubicle accessories. To make life more orderly.
- [💌NOTE] The adhesive force of the computer sticky note holder is very strong. It can not be directly pasted on the computer screen. It should pasted on the black edge of the screen. Narrow edge not recommended!!! If you are not satisfied with your purchase, or if the product is damaged or broken in transit, please let us know immediately. We will promptly solve your problem.
How to use the joint-account protection
1. Decide what the account is for
Agree whether the account will hold household contributions, rent and utility money, an emergency reserve, or another defined purpose. Keep a written record of each person’s deposits and withdrawals. Clear records do not create marriage rights, but they can help explain what money was intended for if the relationship ends or a dispute arises.
2. Ask for a joint account under the bank’s normal process
Apply through the bank’s ordinary joint-account channel and complete the required identity and address checks for each applicant. Ask the branch or account-opening team to state the proposed operating mandate in writing—for example, whether either holder can operate the account alone or whether both signatures are required. The Finance Ministry advisory confirms eligibility for queer couples, but it does not prescribe one mandate for every bank or account type.
3. Submit the partner nomination
Complete the bank’s nomination form and identify the partner in the relationship. Keep a copy of the form, the acknowledgement and the final account-opening documents. If an employee says an unmarried same-sex partner cannot be nominated, show the 28 August 2024 Department of Financial Services advisory and ask the bank to check the RBI clarification dated 21 August 2024.
Rank #3
- Stay Organized with Ease: Our To Do List Notepad provides multiple sections with plenty of space to jot down all of your important tasks.A versatile office supply perfect for daily task management, helping you keep track of everything that needs to be done and prioritize effectively.
- Achieve Your Productivity Goals: Begin each day on a positive note, reminding you of your potential, strength, and the significance of staying focused on your goals. Our Daily Checklist Notepad is the ultimate tool to streamline your daily planning and elevate your productivity. With a clear and concise overview of your tasks, you can effortlessly prioritize what truly matters and make consistent strides towards achieving your goals.
- Reliable and Stylish: Our to do list planner combines functionality with durability. With a transparent PP cover, the inner pages are well-protected from dirt and wear. Additionally, the back cover is crafted with thick paperboard, offering a stable surface for your writing needs. Each notepad includes 52 pages of high-quality, 100gsm paper, which is thick and non-bleeding, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable writing experience.
- Versatile Use: This daily checklist notepad, suitable for teacher supplies and a wide range of applications, proves invaluable in various settings including work, school, and home. Whether you need to organize your daily tasks, plan a project, or create a grocery list, this notepad serves as the ideal tool. Its compact size ensures easy portability, allowing you to conveniently carry it with you throughout your day.
- Perfect Present for Anyone: Our Daily To-Do List Notepad is the perfect present for those who value organization and productivity. With its stylish design and versatility, this office desk accessory is also a practical addition to school supplies. Suitable for students, professionals, and homemakers alike, it helps keep tasks and priorities in check effortlessly.
4. Confirm the records after opening
Check that both names, the operating mandate and the nomination appear correctly in the account records. Ask how the bank will contact the nominee and what documents it would require after a death. The advisory confirms the right to nominate a queer partner for the balance; it does not list a single nationwide document checklist for every bank or account.
5. Review after major life changes
Recheck the mandate and nomination after a change of address, a new account holder, a breakup, a marriage to someone else, or a change in estate plans. A nomination that no longer reflects the account holder’s wishes should be updated through the bank’s formal process.
Joint holder and nominee are different protections
| Arrangement | What it addresses | What the official material establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Joint bank-account holder | Access and operation of that account while the account is active, subject to the bank’s mandate. | The Finance Ministry says queer persons face no restriction on opening a joint account. The advisory does not standardize mandates or resolve every ownership dispute. |
| Nominee for the account | The person recorded to receive the account balance when the account holder dies, under the bank’s process. | The advisory expressly permits nominating a person in a queer relationship. It does not say that nomination transfers every other asset or overrides succession law. |
| Property titled in one partner’s name | Legal title to that specific property. | The 28 August 2024 advisory and the Supreme Court’s 17 October 2023 judgment do not provide a general rule giving an unmarried same-sex partner an automatic share after death or separation. |
| Insurance, gratuity or family pension | Benefits under the relevant policy, employment scheme or statute. | The Supreme Court listed these as matters for committee consideration; relationship status alone is not confirmed as sufficient entitlement. |
| Will or other estate instructions | The account holder’s intentions for assets covered by the document. | The sources do not establish a single form or a marriage-equivalent succession result. An India-qualified lawyer should tailor documents to the assets and applicable law. |
A joint holder is connected to the account during its operation. A nominee is the person recorded for the account balance after the account holder’s death. Neither label should be casually extended to a partner’s separate bank accounts, investments or property.
Rank #4
- 【Adjustable & Ergonomic】：This laptop stand can be adjusted to a comfortable height and angle according to your actual needs, letting you fix posture and reduce your neck fatigue, back pain and eye strain. Very comfortable for working in home, office and outdoor.
- 【Sturdy & Protective】 ：Made of sturdy metal, it can support up to 17.6 lbs (8kg) weight on top; With 2 rubber mats on the hook and anti-skid silicone pads on top & bottom, it can secure your laptop in place and maximum protect your device from scratches and sliding. Moreover, smooth edges will never hurt your hands.
- 【Heat Dissipation】 ：The top of the laptop stand is designed with multiple ventilation holes. The open design offers greater ventilation and more airflow to cool your laptop during operation other than it just lays flat on the table.
- 【Portable & Foldable】：The foldable design allows you to easily slip it in your backpack. Ideal for people who travel for business a lot.
- 【Broad Compatibility】：Our desktop book stand is compatible with all laptops from 10-15.6 inches, such as MacBook Air/ Pro, Google Pixelbook, Dell XPS, HP, ASUS, Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer, Chromebook and Microsoft Surface, etc.Be your ideal companion in Home, Office & Outdoor.
What happens if one partner dies?
The nominated account balance
For the account covered by the advisory, the bank can record the queer partner as nominee to receive the balance if the account holder dies. Follow the bank’s death-claim procedure and provide the documents it requests. Keep the nomination acknowledgement with other financial records so the surviving partner can locate it.
Other assets are a separate succession question
The advisory refers to “the balance in the account.” It does not declare that a surviving partner automatically inherits an individually owned home, land, securities, business interest, deposits at another bank or personal effects. The Supreme Court separately identified succession rights as a wider issue for committee consideration. Do not describe the account nomination as a universal inheritance right.
Estate planning should match the assets
List accounts, property, investments, insurance, retirement-related benefits and debts. Record how title is held and where the latest documents are kept. For a substantial estate, obtain advice from an India-qualified lawyer familiar with LGBTQ+ family, property and succession matters. The applicable result can depend on the asset, the governing statute, the documents and the relevant state or Union Territory.
Best Value
- Twin-Ball Design : Hiacry gel pen features a double ball conical tip that reduces writing resistance and provides a stable and smooth writing experience. 0.7mm quick drying black ink ensures no jumping, leakage or seepage.
- Quick-Dry Long Lasting Ink：0.7mm black ink can slide effortlessly, dry immediately, & is not easily dirty. It has a high-capacity reservoir (up to 1300 meters), which is very suitable for left-handed & right-handed users.
- Sleek Design for Journaling & Planning: Engineered with a low center of gravity and precision tip for steady ink flow, these journaling pens excel at note-taking, sketching, planning, and more. They combine stylish pens with top-tier performance.
- Rolling Ball Design：The pocket clip with roll ball design can be easily attached to notebook pockets and binders, in addition, the fidget on the pen clip is also a small toy for your daily thinking to relieve stress.
- Comfortable Non-Slip Grip：The ergonomic pen barrel has a soft rubberized coating for a comfortable, non-slip grip, so you won't get fatigued even after long hours of writing.
What if the couple separates?
The 28 August 2024 advisory and the Supreme Court’s 17 October 2023 judgment do not establish a uniform national separation regime for unmarried same-sex partners. There is no confirmed rule that shared money is automatically divided equally, that one partner can take the other’s separate assets, or that a relationship itself determines ownership.
Separate the practical questions
- Who owns the account? Check the account mandate and transaction history rather than assuming that a relationship creates an equal share.
- Who contributed what? Preserve transfer records, bills, loan payments and written agreements about household expenses.
- What happens to recurring payments? Move salaries, subscriptions, rent and loan debits before closing or changing an account.
- What liabilities remain? Review joint loans, guarantees, credit cards and unpaid bills with the lender or provider.
- How is the account changed? Ask the bank for its procedure to remove a holder, alter the mandate or close the account; the advisory does not prescribe one process.
For a home, business, large investment or contested contribution, obtain individual legal advice before transferring title or withdrawing disputed funds. The sources do not support a one-size-fits-all answer.
Benefits that remain unresolved or fact-specific
The Supreme Court’s judgment is important because it identifies the financial and family questions that were raised, but the list is not a grant of benefits. The following status applies to the categories named in the judgment:
| Issue | What can safely be said |
|---|---|
| Succession and inheritance | No general spouse-equivalent inheritance right for an unmarried same-sex partner is established by the reviewed sources. |
| Maintenance | The Court listed maintenance for committee consideration; the sources do not establish a universal maintenance entitlement based solely on a queer relationship. |
| Income-tax benefits | The judgment names financial benefits under the Income Tax Act 1961 as a subject for consideration, not as an automatic benefit for unmarried partners. |
| Gratuity and family pension | These employment-linked benefits remain governed by their relevant schemes and rules; the reviewed material does not confirm spouse treatment for every unmarried queer partner. |
| Insurance | Policy terms, nomination rules and governing law matter. The judgment’s inclusion of insurance in the committee remit is not proof of automatic partner eligibility. |
| Ration-card family status, medical consultation, jail visits and last rites | The Court recorded these as matters the committee was asked to examine. The 17 October 2023 judgment and 28 August 2024 advisory do not establish one nationwide, automatic entitlement covering all of them. |
What to do if a bank refuses the request
- Ask the bank to identify the precise rule or eligibility condition on which it relies.
- Show the Department of Financial Services advisory dated 28 August 2024 and point out that it expressly covers joint accounts and nomination of a queer partner.
- Ask the branch to verify the RBI clarification issued to scheduled commercial banks on 21 August 2024.
- Request the refusal and the bank’s proposed remedy in writing, and keep copies of all forms and correspondence.
- If the issue concerns a disputed account, ownership claim or death claim rather than eligibility to open the account, consult an India-qualified lawyer; the advisory does not decide those broader disputes.
National guidance does not eliminate state-level questions
The advisory is a national banking clarification, but it should not be read as a complete code for every financial or family benefit. The Supreme Court’s institutional materials note that laws in state and concurrent spheres can vary between states, while Supreme Court decisions bind courts across India. A benefit administered by a state department, employer, insurer or statutory scheme may therefore require a separate eligibility check.
Before relying on a partner’s status for a major transaction, ask the responsible institution for its current written rule. If the answer affects a home, business, substantial savings, employment benefit or estate, obtain advice specific to the state, asset and documents involved.
A practical protection checklist
- Open a joint account if shared access is useful, and obtain the bank’s written operating mandate.
- Nominate the partner for the account balance and retain the acknowledgement.
- Keep an inventory of accounts, property, investments, insurance and debts.
- Record ownership, contributions and payment responsibilities for major assets.
- Review beneficiary and nomination records after a breakup or major life change.
- Do not assume that a bank nomination controls separately owned property or benefits.
- For estate or property decisions, use an India-qualified lawyer who handles LGBTQ+ family, property and succession matters.
The confirmed protection is real but limited: an unmarried same-sex couple can use a joint bank account, and a partner can be nominated for that account’s balance on the account holder’s death. Wider rights involving inheritance, separation, tax, insurance, gratuity and pensions require separate legal and administrative analysis.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
