Particle.news
Download on the App Store

India Rolls Out April 1 Overhaul of Tax Code, Banking Fees, Rail Refunds and LPG Policies

The package signals lighter income-tax bills for many earners and tighter rules on cash access, ID documents, and ticket refunds that change day-to-day costs.

Overview

  • - A cross-sector rules package taking effect April 1 will change how people in India file taxes, withdraw cash, cancel train tickets, and pay for cooking gas.
  • - The Income Tax Act, 2025 replaces the 1961 law and introduces a single “Tax Year,” with a higher Section 87A rebate that leaves individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh with no income-tax liability.
  • - PAN documentation tightens as Aadhaar will no longer count as proof of date of birth for PAN applications or updates, which will now require documents like a birth certificate, passport, or Class 10 certificate, and even minor PANAadhaar mismatches can trigger rejection.
  • - Banks will count UPI-based ATM cash withdrawals toward the monthly free limit and then charge ₹23 plus GST per withdrawal after the cap, with lenders like PNB also cutting daily card cash limits to curb fraud risk.
  • - Indian Railways has doubled the zero-refund window to cancellations within 8 hours of departure, and earlier cancellations follow a stepped schedule, while LPG prices remain elevated after a ₹60 March hike and could be revised on April 1 under the extended ₹300 Ujjwala subsidy.