New Delhi, Sept 1: October 1, 2026 brings several changes affecting everyday financial transactions, banking services, LPG subsidies and digital payments. From Aadhaar biometric authentication for subsidised LPG refills to revised SBI ATM limits and new rules for bulk fixed deposits, consumers need to know what has changed.
Here are the key rules taking effect from October:
Also Read: Major rules & changes you need to know before Oct 1
LPG subsidy: Aadhaar biometric authentication mandatory
From October 1, domestic LPG consumers seeking refills at the regulated retail price with applicable subsidy must have completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication. The government has said the authentication can be completed during delivery, at the distributor's showroom or through the mobile apps of oil marketing companies.
SBI ATM withdrawal rules changed
SBI has revised the number of free monthly transactions at other banks' ATMs for its salary package account holders. The limit has been reduced from 10 to five transactions from October 1.
For SBI Basic Savings Bank Deposit accounts, the first four cash withdrawals in a month remain free. Withdrawals beyond the limit will attract a charge of ₹15 plus GST.
New bulk FD interest-rate disclosure rules
The Reserve Bank of India has introduced revised rules for bulk fixed deposits. Banks are required to update and disclose bulk-deposit interest rates daily by 10 am, with uniform rates across branches subject to specified exceptions. The changes are aimed at improving transparency for depositors.
NRI property purchases
Rules related to tax compliance for purchases of property from non-resident Indians have also changed, with PAN-based reporting replacing the earlier requirement for buyers to obtain a TAN in the specified cases.
NPS charges revised
The National Pension System has also seen changes in the charges collected by Points of Presence (PoPs), which provide various NPS-related services to subscribers.
UPI charge from October 15
A major digital-payment change is scheduled for October 15, rather than October 1. Under the new framework, a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will apply to specified person-to-merchant UPI transactions above ₹2,000, subject to a ₹300 cap per transaction. Person-to-person payments remain outside this MDR.
The MDR is a merchant-side charge; NPCI's framework does not allow it to be passed on directly to customers.
WhatsApp Business messages
Some messages sent through WhatsApp Business services will also attract revised charges, depending on the type of business messaging and the applicable category.
With several of these changes taking effect from October 1 and the UPI MDR revision coming into force later in the month, consumers and businesses should check the applicable rules before making financial transactions.
