Revised Passport Fees from July 1
The Ministry of External Affairs has revised the service charges for normal and tatkaal passport applications in India and overseas. The new fees will take effect from July 1, 2026. For a 36-page passport, the fee has increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800, while the tatkaal fee has been raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500. For overseas applications, the fee revision varies by country.
ITR Filing Deadline for FY 2025-26
The Income Tax Department has set July 31, 2026, as the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) for the financial year 2025-26. Taxpayers must file their returns by this date to avoid late filing fees under Section 234F. The penalty for late filing ranges from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000, depending on the taxpayer's income.
Aadhaar Card Update: Mandatory Biometric Refresh
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made it mandatory for Aadhaar cardholders to update their biometric data every 10 years. This rule takes effect from July 1, 2026. Cardholders can visit any Aadhaar enrollment center to update their fingerprints and iris scans free of cost. Failure to update may lead to deactivation of the Aadhaar card.
HDFC Bank and SBI Card Changes
HDFC Bank has revised its savings account minimum balance requirement from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,500 for metro branches, effective July 1. Non-maintenance will attract a penalty of Rs 600 per month. Similarly, SBI Card has introduced a new fee structure for its credit cards, including an annual fee waiver on spending above Rs 2 lakh per year.
Other Key Changes
From July 1, the government has also implemented changes in GST rates for certain goods and services. The GST on electric vehicles has been reduced from 12% to 5%, while the GST on luxury goods has been increased from 18% to 20%. Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India has introduced new guidelines for digital payments, including a cap on transaction charges for UPI payments.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the passport fee revision is aimed at covering the cost of enhanced security features and faster processing. Tax experts advise taxpayers to file their ITR early to avoid the last-minute rush and potential penalties.
