From Railways To Gas Cylinders: Check How July’s Policy Changes Will Affect Your Wallet
New Delhi, 1st July 2025: Starting 1st July, several new financial rules and price changes have come into effect, directly impacting household budgets across India. These include revisions in railway fares, LPG cylinder prices, ATM withdrawal charges, and credit card payment policies.
Indian Railways, a primary travel mode for the middle class, has implemented fare hikes across different coach categories from 1st July. Second class tickets have increased by half a paisa per kilometre, sleeper class tickets by one paisa, and air-conditioned (AC) class tickets by two paise per kilometre. Additionally, passengers booking Tatkal tickets will now be required to provide Aadhaar details at the time of reservation. The Railway Chart will also see a change, with the chart being displayed eight hours before, instead of the previous four.
Credit card users, particularly those using HDFC Bank cards, will now face an additional one percent charge if payments are made through third-party platforms such as PhonePe or Paytm.
ICICI Bank has also revised its ATM cash withdrawal charges. From 1st July, customers withdrawing cash beyond the free limit will be charged ₹23 in non-metro cities and ₹25 in metro cities. The monthly withdrawal limit remains at three transactions in non-metro areas and five in metro areas, beyond which the charges will apply.
Meanwhile, the government has made Aadhaar linkage mandatory for obtaining a PAN card. Those who have not yet linked their PAN and Aadhaar are advised to do so before 31st December 2025.
In some relief, prices for commercial LPG cylinders (19 kg) have been reduced. However, domestic LPG cylinder rates remain unchanged across major cities. As of 1st July, the cost of domestic cylinders stands at ₹853 in Delhi, ₹879 in Kolkata, ₹852.50 in Mumbai, and ₹868.50 in Chennai.
