Major changes from July 1: Aadhaar updates, LPG prices, railway fines, passport fees & more

New Delhi: July 1 will bring a series of changes that could affect everything from your household budget and travel plans to banking, identity documents and tax compliance. Several government notifications and policy revisions are set to take effect from the start of the month, including free Aadhaar updates, higher passport application fees, stricter railway penalties and revised credit card benefits.

Consumers should also keep an eye on the latest LPG, CNG, PNG and aviation fuel prices, which are expected to be revised at the beginning of the month.

Here's a look at the key changes taking effect from July 1 and what they mean for you.

Free Aadhaar updates begin

Updating your Aadhaar details will become easier for many users. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced that demographic details, including name, address, date of birth, gender, mobile number and email ID, can be updated free of cost from July 1 until December. Earlier, users had to pay ₹75 for these updates.

Passport applications to become costlier

Applying for a passport will cost significantly more from July 1 after the Centre revised the fee structure under the Passports Rules, 1980.

Some of the key revisions include:

A 36-page ordinary passport will cost ₹2,500 instead of ₹1,500.

Tatkal fee for the same category rises to ₹5,000 from ₹3,500.

A 60-page passport will now cost ₹3,500, up from ₹2,000.

Tatkal applications for a 60-page passport will cost ₹6,000.

Fees for replacing lost or damaged passports have also been increased across categories.

Railway fines set to increase

Passengers violating railway rules could face steeper penalties from July 1 as amended provisions linked to the Jan Vishwas Act come into force.

The minimum penalty for travelling without a valid ticket will double from ₹250 to ₹500.

Authorities will also impose stricter action against:

• Travelling using another person's ticket
• Entering sleeper coaches with only a general ticket
• Men travelling in women-reserved coaches, where fines can go up to ₹2,500
• Unauthorised hawking
• Begging inside trains
• Public intoxication, abusive behaviour and creating nuisance
• Trespassing on railway property
• Improper carriage of dangerous goods

LPG, CNG and PNG prices likely to be revised

State-owned oil marketing companies are expected to announce revised domestic and commercial LPG cylinder prices on July 1, in line with international fuel prices and market conditions.

Prices of CNG, PNG and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) may also be revised, potentially affecting transportation costs, airfares and household fuel expenses.

Credit card users face new spending conditions

Several banks are changing reward and lounge access policies from July.

1. HDFC Bank

Users of the Regalia Gold credit card must spend at least ₹60,000 in a calendar quarter to qualify for complimentary domestic airport lounge access in the following quarter.

2. YES Bank

YES Bank has raised the quarterly spending requirement for complimentary domestic lounge access to ₹35,000, up from ₹10,000. The revised rule applies to several premium card variants, including Marquee, Select, Reserv, First Preferred and Elite.

3. HSBC

HSBC will discontinue reward points on several categories, including: Government payments, Insurance premiums, Fuel purchases, Utility bill payments, Tax payments and wallet loading transactions

Customers who frequently spend in these categories could see a reduction in reward earnings.

4. Citi card migration

The migration of Citi credit cards to Axis Bank will be completed by July 15. Existing card numbers, PINs, expiry dates, billing cycles and payment due dates will remain unchanged, while rewards and applicable interest rates will move to the Axis Bank platform.

Key tax deadlines in July

July is also an important month for taxpayers.

The deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) for salaried individuals and non-audit cases for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, is July 31. Eligible taxpayers filing ITR-1 and ITR-2 should ensure returns are submitted before the due date.

Meanwhile, July 7 is the due date for depositing Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) for the April-June quarter in cases where quarterly deposit approval has been granted under the Income Tax Act, 2025.