New Delhi: Starting October 1, a series of important regulatory and financial changes have come into effect, impacting railway passengers, digital payments, pension contributors, and households using LPG cylinders.

The measures, announced by the Railway Board, Reserve Bank of India, SBI Cards, and other government agencies, aim to strengthen security, streamline services, and check misuse.

Railways: Aadhaar Verification for Online Tickets

In a bid to curb black marketing, the Railway Board has made Aadhaar verification mandatory for booking train tickets online during the first 15 minutes after the reservation window opens.

The rule, earlier applicable only to Tatkal tickets, will now apply to all online reservations. Bookings through PRS counters remain unaffected. Railway officials said the system will help track the number of tickets booked on a single Aadhaar card and prevent tout activity.

UPI Transactions: Limit Raised, Features Modified

Digital transactions under the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will also undergo significant changes. The daily transaction limit has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh, reducing the need for frequent bank visits.

However, the “collect request” or pull feature has been discontinued to curb online fraud. Additionally, an auto-pay option will now appear during bill payments, allowing customers to set up automatic debit facilities.

SBI Card Charges

Holders of SBI cards will see revised charges from today. A 1% fee will be levied on education-related payments made through third-party apps. The same charge will apply to wallet loads above ₹1,000, as part of the bank’s new policy framework.

Pension Contributions and Fees

The minimum monthly contribution under the National Pension System (NPS) has been raised from ₹500 to ₹1,000, aimed at strengthening retirement savings.

At the same time, the fee for opening a new Permanent Retirement Account (PRA) number under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) and NPS has been fixed at ₹18. The overall fee structure has also been simplified for government employees.

LPG, CNG, and PNG Price Revisions

Households and commercial users will face revised rates for LPG cylinders, as well as changes in CNG and PNG prices. Importantly, LPG subsidy benefits will only be credited if the consumer’s bank account is linked with Aadhaar. Without linkage, no subsidy will be transferred.

These sweeping reforms — spanning railway bookings, digital payments, pension systems, and fuel subsidies — are expected to affect millions of consumers across India. Authorities said the changes are aimed at improving transparency, enhancing security, and plugging loopholes in existing systems.