Be prepared for major rule changes starting July 1, 2025.
From mandatory Aadhaar for PAN applications to revised train fare and ATM charges, several sectors—including banking, railways, and taxation—will implement new rules from July 1. These changes will affect the daily lives and finances of millions of Indians. Let’s take a look at what’s changing:

1. Banking Sector Rule Changes

SBI Card

• Free Air Accident Insurance Ends: From July 15, SBI Card will discontinue free air accident insurance on some premium cards like Elite and Prime.

• New Calculation Method for Minimum Amount Due: The new formula will now include GST, EMI processing fees, and other charges.

HDFC Bank

• New Service Charges on Digital Transactions:
  From July 1, HDFC Bank will levy a 1% service fee on specific high-value transactions via credit card, including:

  • Utility bill payments above ₹50,000

  • Gaming transactions over ₹10,000

  • Wallet reloads exceeding ₹10,000

  • Rent payments

  • Maximum service charge per transaction: ₹4,999

ICICI Bank

• ATM and IMPS Charges Updated:

  • Additional fees will be levied for exceeding ATM transaction limits.

  • IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) charges will change based on transaction amount.

Axis Bank

• ATM Fee Hike for Selected Account Types:

  • Savings, NRI, Trust Priority, and Burgundy account holders will see increased ATM charges for transactions beyond the free monthly limit.

2. RBI Rule Update

• Extended Trading Hours for Call Money Market:

  • From July 1, RBI has extended the interbank call money market window from 9 AM–5 PM to 9 AM–7 PM, providing banks 2 extra hours for daily lending and borrowing.

3. GST Filing Change

• GSTR-3B Return to be Locked Post Filing:

  • After submission, GSTR-3B returns cannot be edited.

  • Returns will now be auto-filled using GSTR-1/1A data.

4. Aadhaar-PAN Linking Mandatory

• From July 1, Aadhaar verification is mandatory for all PAN cardholders.
  Earlier, applicants could use documents like birth certificates and voter IDs, but Aadhaar is now compulsory for new applications and updates.

5. Income Tax Return (ITR) Deadline Extended

• New Deadline: September 15, 2025

  • The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the due date to file income tax returns for AY 2025–26 from July 31 to September 15, 2025.

6. Indian Railways Rule Changes

• Fare Hike:

  • Starting July 1, Indian Railways will increase passenger fares:

    • Non-AC coaches: ₹0.01 per km hike

    • AC coaches: ₹0.02 per km hike

• IRCTC Verification Now Mandatory:

  • From July 1, only verified users can book Tatkal train tickets on the IRCTC website or app.

  • Verification will be done using Aadhaar, DigiLocker, or government-approved IDs.

• OTP-Based Verification Coming Soon:

  • By the end of July, IRCTC plans to implement OTP-based verification for Tatkal bookings.

• Reservation Chart Timing Updated:

  • Now the reservation chart will be prepared 8 hours before train departure, instead of the current 4 hours.

7. Ban on Fuel for Old Vehicles in Delhi

• From July 1, overaged vehicles will not be allowed to refuel at petrol or diesel stations in Delhi-NCR.

  • All 520 fuel stations in Delhi will be equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

  • These cameras will identify overaged vehicles and deny them fuel as part of Delhi’s pollution control efforts.

Summary

From bank charges and GST return rules to fuel bans and railway updates, these 8 changes coming into effect from July 1, 2025, will have a direct impact on your finances and day-to-day life. It's essential to stay informed and prepare accordingly to avoid inconvenience.