New Delhi | 1 Oct 2026
Several financial and consumer rules came into effect across India on 1 October 2026, affecting LPG users, State Bank of India customers, large fixed deposits and National Pension System subscribers. Commercial LPG prices have also increased, while a separate UPI merchant-payment framework will become effective on 15 October.
Commercial LPG Cylinder Price Rises by ₹62.50 in Delhi
Public-sector oil marketing companies have increased the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi by ₹62.50, taking the retail price from ₹2,747.50 in September to ₹2,810 from 1 October.
Commercial cylinder prices have also been revised in other cities, although the increase varies because of local taxes and transportation costs. These cylinders are primarily used by restaurants, hotels, caterers and other businesses.
The price of the standard 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder has not been increased under the October revision. Commercial and domestic LPG prices should not be treated as interchangeable.
Aadhaar Authentication Mandatory for Subsidised LPG
Domestic LPG consumers who have not completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication must now do so before booking a refill at the regulated selling price with the applicable government subsidy.
Consumers who have already completed the authentication process do not need to repeat it. Those yet to authenticate can complete the process during cylinder delivery, at their LPG distributor’s showroom or through the official applications of IndianOil, Bharatgas and HP Gas.
Failure to complete authentication does not automatically cancel a household’s LPG connection or permanently stop cylinder delivery. However, the consumer will not be able to obtain a refill with the applicable subsidy until verification is completed.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has said the measure is intended to identify duplicate or ineligible connections and prevent subsidised domestic cylinders from being diverted for commercial use.
SBI Reduces Free Transactions at Other Banks’ ATMs
State Bank of India has revised the number of free monthly transactions available to salary-package customers using the ATMs and Automated Deposit-cum-Withdrawal Machines of other banks.
From 1 October, the allowance has been reduced from 10 to five free transactions per month across all centres. The limit covers both financial transactions, such as cash withdrawals, and non-financial services, including balance enquiries.
Unlimited free access at SBI’s own ATMs will continue for eligible salary-package customers, subject to the conditions attached to their accounts.
Charges for Basic Savings Deposit Accounts
SBI has also revised withdrawal charges for Basic Savings Bank Deposit accounts. Cash withdrawals beyond four free transactions in a month may attract a charge of ₹15 plus GST, depending on the transaction channel and applicable account conditions.
RBI Changes Disclosure Rules for Bulk Fixed Deposits
Banks must now disclose the interest rates applicable to bulk deposits in advance and publish the rates on every working day. The change is principally relevant to deposits of ₹3 crore or more and is unlikely to affect ordinary retail fixed deposits directly.
Under the revised framework, comparable bulk deposits booked on the same day should generally receive consistent rates across branches. Banks must make their applicable rates publicly available instead of negotiating undisclosed branch-specific returns for otherwise similar deposits.
New NPS Point-of-Presence Charges Take Effect
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has revised the charges that Points of Presence may collect from subscribers under the National Pension System and NPS Lite.
A subscriber opening an NPS account through a Point of Presence may now be charged a one-time onboarding fee of ₹200 for each Permanent Retirement Account Number. Subscribers should check the complete fee schedule because transaction and service charges may differ according to the channel used.
UPI Merchant Payment Rules Change From 15 October
A Merchant Discount Rate of 0.4% will apply from 15 October to specified person-to-merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000. The charge applies to covered merchants and payment participants, not to ordinary person-to-person transfers.
The government has clarified that MDR is neither a government tax nor a fee collected by the National Payments Corporation of India. UPI applications cannot impose hidden platform charges, while merchants are not permitted to pass the MDR directly to customers.
Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month through eligible QR-code payments are exempt under the announced framework. Consumers therefore should not assume that every UPI payment above ₹2,000 will attract a charge.
What Consumers Should Check in October
LPG customers should confirm their Aadhaar authentication status only through their distributor or an official oil-company application. SBI customers should check their exact account category before assuming that the revised ATM limit applies to them.
UPI users should also distinguish between transfers to another individual and payments made to a merchant. Any business attempting to add an unexplained “government UPI tax” to a customer’s bill would be misrepresenting the new framework.
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