Cigarette prices rise up to 40% from today:FASTag KYV verification waived; commercial cylinder prices up ₹50 – 6 key changes

Cigarettes and tobacco products have become more expensive from today. Also, for new cars, jeeps, and vans, the FASTag issuance will no longer require the KYV (Know Your Vehicle) process. Additionally, from 1 February, a 19-kg commercial gas cylinder has become up to ₹50 more expensive. Six major changes that will impact our lives… 1. GST increase: cigarettes to become up to 40% more expensive 2. FASTag users don’t need KYV verification From today, KYV (Know Your Vehicle) process will not be required while issuing FASTag for new cars, jeeps and vans. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to discontinue the KYV process for new cars. Also, vehicle owners who already have FASTag installed will no longer need to undergo routine KYC. This means vehicle owners won’t have to wait for lengthy verification processes despite having valid documents. Investigation only upon receiving complaints According to the authority, the KYC process hasn’t been completely eliminated, but rather made ‘need-based’. Now KYC will only be requested when there are complaints about FASTag misuse, incorrect issuance, or if it becomes loose. For normally functioning FASTags, no documents will be requested again. 3. Commercial cylinder prices increased by up to Rs 50 From today, the 19 kg commercial gas cylinder has become more expensive by up to Rs 50. In Delhi, its price has increased by Rs 49 to ₹1740.50. Earlier it was available at ₹1691.50. In Chennai, it will now be available at Rs 1899.50, after a price increase of Rs 50. 4. RBI meeting from February 4-6, interest rate may decrease by 0.25% The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be held from February 4 to 6. This will be the last meeting of the financial year 2025-26. It is expected that in this meeting RBI may reduce the interest rate by 0.25% to 5%. If this happens, loans will become cheaper and your EMI may also decrease. Earlier, RBI had reduced the repo rate by 0.25% to 5.25% in its previous MPC meeting held from December 3 to 5. This year, no changes were made to it in meetings held only in August and October. 5. Air tickets may become cheaper due to reduction in aviation fuel prices Air travelers are expected to get relief in February. Oil companies have reduced aviation fuel prices by about 1 thousand rupees. In Delhi, fuel prices have decreased from ₹92,323.02 to ₹91,393.39 per kiloliter. This reduction in prices will lower the operational costs of aviation companies, which may directly benefit passengers in the form of reduced airfare prices. 6. Aadhaar authentication mandatory for property buying-selling The Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka governments have made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for property registration from February 1, 2026. Now during registration, buyers, sellers, and witnesses will have to verify their identity through fingerprint or face verification on the biometric machine present at the sub-registrar office. The main objective is to curb fraudulent land transactions and control ‘benami’ properties. Under the central government’s ‘One Nation, One Registration’ scheme, this is planned to be implemented across the country soon.