UPI Rule, Minimum Bank Balance: Key Changes From April 1

Changes are coming in banks, stock markets, income tax, various investment schemes.

New Delhi: From the first day of the new financial year 2025-26, several rules are changing in the economic sector. Changes are coming in banks, stock markets, income tax, various investment schemes.

Income tax: Employees will not have to pay any income tax up to Rs 12 lakh in the financial year 2025-26. Tax rebate under Section 87A will be increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000.

UPI: All UPI numbers that have not been used for 12 consecutive months will be deactivated. If any of your phone numbers has not been used for a long time and if that number has UPI, then it will no longer work from April 1.

Bank services: Customers will have to maintain a prescribed minimum balance in their savings accounts of State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Canara Bank. Otherwise, they will face fines. The amount of the minimum balance will depend on the branch of the account. That is, the minimum balance in a branch of a bank in the city will be higher than the minimum balance that needs to be maintained in a branch in a rural area.

ATM services: From April 1, the maximum limit for free withdrawal from ATMs will also change. Only three transactions can be made free of charge from other bank ATMs per month. After that, a fee of Rs 20 to Rs 25 will be charged per transaction.

Credit cards: From April 1, Swiggy reward points on SBI's SimpleClick credit card will be reduced from 5 times to half. Air India Signature points will also be reduced from 30 to 10. IDFC First Bank is discontinuing the Club Vistara Milestone Rewards facility.

Stock market: If PAN is not linked with Aadhaar, no dividend will be available from April 1. If there is no PAN-Aadhaar link, TDS will be deducted at a higher rate for dividend capital gain.

GST: Hotels where the daily room rent exceeds Rs 7,500 will attract 18 per cent GST.