Prices of commercial LPG up to ₹218 from today:Rules for rail ticket refund revised; in-hand salary may drop; 15 changes in April

The new financial year has started with several key changes impacting daily life, including higher prices for commercial LPG cylinders, stricter rail ticket cancellation rules, and revisions in tax, banking, and employment policies. Category 1: Kitchen and travel Commercial LPG costlier, no change in domestic cylinders Oil companies have increased the price of commercial gas cylinders by up to ₹218. In Chennai, prices have reached ₹2246.50, while in Delhi they stand at ₹2078.50. However, domestic LPG cylinder prices remain unchanged. The hike is expected to increase operational costs for restaurants and catering services, which may lead to higher food prices. Meanwhile, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have more than doubled, raising the possibility of costlier air travel. Prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel increased in metros Prices of ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) increased in metros with effect from 1st April 2026. Delhi: Rs 207,341.22/Kl
Kolkata: Rs 205,953.33/Kl
Mumbai: Rs 194,968.67.Kl
Chennai: Rs 214,597. 66/Kl Rail ticket cancellation window extended Passengers can now cancel train tickets only up to 8 hours before departure, compared to 4 hours earlier. However, boarding stations can still be changed up to 30 minutes before departure. This move is likely to reduce last-minute cancellations and improve chances of confirmed tickets, but may cause losses for passengers missing the deadline. FASTag annual pass gets costlier The National Highways Authority of India has increased FASTag annual pass prices by 2.5%. The pass will now cost ₹3,075 instead of ₹3,000. Toll plazas go fully digital Cash payments have been discontinued at toll plazas nationwide. Payments can now only be made via FASTag or UPI, which may create inconvenience for users without digital payment options. Vehicle prices rise Prices of commercial and passenger vehicles have increased by 2–3% from April 1. Buyers who booked vehicles earlier but were not billed before March 31 will have to pay the revised rates. Category 2: Tax, banking and market ‘Tax Year’ replaces assessment year Under the new Income Tax Act 2025, the term “Tax Year” will replace “Financial Year” and “Assessment Year,” simplifying tax terminology for taxpayers. Returns to be filed under revised tax regime The revised tax slabs introduced last year will now apply to returns filed this year. Salaried individuals can claim tax rebate up to ₹12.75 lakh under Section 87A, while others can claim exemption up to ₹12 lakh. Form 130 and 131 replace Form 16 New forms, 130 and 131, have replaced Form 16 and 16A, offering more detailed information for tax filing and reducing errors. HRA exemption rules tightened Employees must now submit rent receipts to claim HRA exemption. For annual rent above ₹1 lakh, the landlord’s PAN is mandatory. More cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad, have been added to the 50% exemption category. PNB sets ATM withdrawal limits Punjab National Bank has capped daily ATM withdrawals at ₹25,000 for Classic Debit Cards and ₹50,000 for Platinum Cards to curb fraud. STT increased on FO trading Securities Transaction Tax on futures has increased to 0.05% from 0.02%, while on options premiums it has risen to 0.15% from 0.1%, raising trading costs. Tax rule changed for sovereign gold bonds Tax exemption on maturity will now apply only to bonds purchased directly from RBI. Bonds bought from the secondary market will attract capital gains tax. Category 3: Other major changes Basic salary must be 50% of CTC Under the new wage code, basic salary must constitute at least 50% of total CTC. While this may reduce take-home salary, it will increase provident fund and gratuity benefits. Faster full and final settlement Companies must now clear all dues within 2 working days of an employee’s last working day, replacing the earlier timeline of up to 90 days. PAN card rules updated Aadhaar will no longer be accepted as proof of date of birth for PAN applications. Applicants must provide alternative documents such as a birth certificate or Class 10 marksheet.