Goa, June 4 -- Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the breakout stars of IPL 2026, reportedly building a fortune of nearly Rs 7 crore before even turning 16. While his rise has impressed fans, it has also sparked curiosity about whether minors are required to pay income tax.

Under Indian tax laws, a minor's income is typically added to the income of the parent with the higher earnings. Known as the clubbing provision, this rule generally applies to returns generated from investments made in a child's name, including bank deposits and mutual funds.

Yet there is a crucial exception. Income earned through a child's own talent, skill, knowledge or specialised work is not clubbed with parental income. Instead...