WhatsApp SIM Rule, Costlier LPG and ATF: What Changes for You From March 1

New Delhi, 1st March 2026: Four major changes have come into effect from March 1, 2026, impacting household expenses, digital communication, rail travel and air fares. The revisions include a hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices, higher aviation fuel rates, stricter rules for messaging apps, and the shutdown of Indian Railways’ UTS ticketing app.

From Sunday, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has increased by up to ₹31, while domestic LPG prices remain unchanged. The steepest hike has been recorded in Kolkata, where the cylinder now costs ₹1,875.50, up from ₹1,844.50. In Delhi, the price has risen by ₹28 to ₹1,768.50, while Mumbai and Chennai have seen increases of ₹28.50 and ₹29.50 respectively. The rise is expected to impact hotels, restaurants and small businesses that rely heavily on commercial gas cylinders.

Another significant change affects digital communication. Under new “SIM-binding” rules, messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal will now function only if the SIM card used to create the account remains active in the phone. If the SIM is removed, the app will automatically log out. Additionally, users accessing WhatsApp on desktops or laptops will now be logged out every six hours, unlike earlier when sessions remained active for weeks. The government has introduced this measure to curb cyber fraud, as criminals often misused messaging apps through Wi-Fi after removing SIM cards.

Rail passengers will also see a change from today, as the unreserved ticketing system (UTS) app has been discontinued. Booking of general, platform and local train tickets will now be done exclusively through the new RailOne app launched in July 2025. According to Indian Railways, passengers need not worry about the balance in their UTS R-Wallet, as the amount will be automatically transferred to RailOne, provided the same mobile number is used for registration. RailOne offers multiple services, including unreserved ticket booking with a 3 percent discount via R-Wallet, real-time train tracking, and additional facilities such as food ordering, porter booking and taxi services.

Air travel may also become costlier in the coming days following a sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. Oil marketing companies have raised ATF rates by up to ₹5,500 per kilolitre. The highest hike has been recorded in Chennai, where prices rose from ₹94,781.99 to ₹1,00,280.49 per kilolitre. Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai have also seen increases ranging between ₹4,900 and ₹5,200. Airlines are expected to pass on the higher fuel costs to passengers through increased ticket prices. Petrol and diesel prices, however, remain unchanged.

With these changes taking effect simultaneously, consumers are likely to feel the impact across daily expenses, travel plans and digital usage from the start of March.