New Rules From October 1, 2026: 8 Changes That Hit Your Wallet
LPG subsidy, FD rates, SBI ATM limits, UPI fees, NPS, birth certificates and more. Here’s everything changing this month, who it affects, and what you need to do.
The new rules from October 1, 2026 touch almost every Indian household in some way. If you cook with a subsidised LPG cylinder, keep money in a fixed deposit, draw salary into an SBI account, run a shop that takes UPI, or plan to open an NPS account, at least one of these changes applies to you. Here’s the full list, in plain language, with exactly what to do.
New Rules From October 1, 2026 at a Glance
| # | Rule | Starts | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LPG subsidy needs biometric Aadhaar | Oct 1 | HIGH |
| 2 | Same FD rate at every branch | Oct 1 | MEDIUM |
| 3 | SBI salary accounts: fewer free ATM uses | Oct 1 | HIGH |
| 4 | ₹200 one-time NPS onboarding fee | Oct 1 | LOW |
| 5 | 0.4% UPI merchant fee above ₹2,000 | Oct 15 | MEDIUM |
| 6 | Stricter late birth/death registration | Oct 1 | LOW |
| 7 | Digital bank records valid as evidence | Oct 1 | LOW |
| 8 | New PPF, Sukanya, SCSS rates for Oct–Dec | Oct 1 | MEDIUM |
✅ Which new rules from October Affect You?
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The new rules from October Changes, Explained
LPG subsidy now needs biometric Aadhaar authentication
From October 1, you get the subsidised LPG rate only if your connection has passed biometric Aadhaar authentication. Without it, you still get cylinders, but at full market price. That’s roughly ₹210 more per 14.2 kg cylinder based on September’s subsidy. About 89.9% of consumers had already done it by September 19.
What to do: Check your status in IndianOil ONE, HelloBPCL or HP PAY, or call 1800-2333-555. If it’s not done, authenticate at your next delivery or at your distributor.
One FD rate across every branch of your bank
Under RBI’s new deposit rules, banks must offer the same interest rate across all branches for similar deposits on the same day, and publish rate schedules on their website before offering them. Rates for bulk deposits (₹3 crore and above) must be disclosed daily by 10 AM. Existing FDs aren’t affected.
What to do: Before booking a new FD, check the bank’s published rate card. That’s now the rate you’re owed. Compare across banks, not branches.
SBI cuts free ATM withdrawals at other banks
SBI salary package accounts get 5 free transactions a month at other banks’ ATMs, down from 10, across all salary package variants. For Basic Savings Bank Deposit accounts, 4 free cash withdrawals a month continue, after which each one costs ₹15 plus GST.
What to do: Use SBI’s own ATMs or UPI where you can, and keep a count of other-bank ATM withdrawals each month.
₹200 one-time fee to open an NPS account
The pension regulator PFRDA has introduced a one-time ₹200 onboarding fee per PRAN for subscribers who register through a Point of Presence, such as a bank branch or intermediary. Existing subscribers aren’t charged again.
What to do: Nothing if you already have NPS. If you’re signing up, factor in the ₹200.
0.4% UPI merchant fee on payments above ₹2,000 (from Oct 15)
From October 15, a 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) applies to UPI payments to merchants above ₹2,000. Payments up to ₹2,000, and small traders under the zero-MDR framework, stay free. It’s charged to the merchant, not added to your payment, and affects around 4% of person-to-merchant UPI transactions.
This is also what’s behind rumours that some petrol pumps will refuse UPI above ₹2,000. Indian Oil has called those claims fake.
What to do: Customers: nothing. Merchants: check your bank or payment provider’s new charges before October 15.
Late birth and death registration gets stricter
If a birth or death is registered 1–2 years late, authorities must verify the information before processing. If it’s more than 2 years late, you’ll need an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class.
What to do: If a family birth or death isn’t registered yet, do it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more paperwork you’ll need.
New law makes digital bank records valid evidence
The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026 replaces the 1891 law. It formally recognises electronic, digital and cloud-based bank records, and allows them to be certified with digital or electronic signatures. For most people, day-to-day banking doesn’t change. It mainly matters when bank statements are needed in court.
What to do: Nothing. It just makes getting certified digital statements for legal use simpler.
New small savings rates for October–December
The government reviews small savings interest rates every quarter. The October–December 2026 rates are due on September 30, after being left unchanged for nine quarters in a row. Current rates:
What to do: SCSS and NSC lock in the rate on the day you invest, so if you were planning to invest and rates might fall, invest before October 1. PPF and Sukanya rates change every quarter for everyone.
Your October 2026 Money Calendar
Small savings rates for Oct–Dec announced
LPG, FD, SBI ATM, NPS, birth/death and bank evidence rules kick in. LPG cylinder prices are also revised on the 1st of every month.
RBI Monetary Policy Committee meets. Repo rate currently 5.25%, with the decision on October 7
Flipkart Big Billion Days and Amazon festive sales expected to begin
0.4% UPI merchant fee on payments above ₹2,000 begins
Last date for FAST-DS 2026 foreign asset disclosure and revised ITR for AY 2026-27
The Bottom Line
Most of new rules from October won’t cost you anything, if you act on the two that do. Check your LPG Aadhaar status today, and if you have an SBI salary account, plan your ATM use around the new 5-withdrawal limit. Everything else, from FD transparency to digital bank records, quietly works in your favour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: inkl, Goodreturns, Business Today, Upstox, Organiser, Zee Business. Last updated September 29, 2026.
