New rules impacting Aadhaar, train bookings, and ITR
Big changes are coming to taxes, banking, and travel in India starting July 1, 2025.
The income tax return deadline for salaried folks is now September 15, thanks to updates in tax forms and systems.
Expect some new hoops to jump through if you're dealing with PAN cards or planning big transactions.
Aadhaar mandatory for new PAN applications
You'll still need to pay self-assessment tax by July 31.
But from July, Aadhaar will be a must for all new PAN applications.
If you already have a PAN card, make sure it's linked with your Aadhaar by December 31—this is all about making taxpayer identification smoother and more secure.
Banking and travel updates
Heads up: SBI has dropped air accident insurance from some premium credit cards.
HDFC Bank is adding a 1% fee on rent payments, wallet reloads over ₹10k, and online gaming spends over ₹10,000, with a fee cap of ₹4,999 per transaction.
ICICI Bank has tweaked ATM charges if you go over your free limit.
On the travel side, Indian Railways's booking system can now handle over 1.5 lakh bookings per minute—so snagging tickets should get easier!