In the new tax regime, if we do trading for a whole year and earn a profit below 12 lakhs, then in that case, will I have to give tax to the government?

I know PPF is a safe bet because of its tax-free returns policy, but I want to know: Do all banks offer the same rate of interest on PPF? Should I choose a bank or Indian Post Office to open my PPF account? I want to earn maximum returns with less hustle.

I am about to buy a house, and for that I need a large down payment. Most of my investments are in equity mutual funds and stocks. I need clarification on a few points: should I sell stocks or mutual funds to cover my down payment, and which option will have the least impact on my future growth?