August 2025 Financial Changes: New UPI rules, SBI Credit Card updates, LPG price cut and airfare hike; how it affects your pocket?

From August 1, 2025, today, several new rules have come into effect that directly impact digital payments, banking benefits, fuel costs and household budgets. These changes include new UPI restrictions, revised SBI credit card features, cheaper commercial LPG cylinders, and increased aircraft fuel prices, potentially affecting airfares.

1. New rules for UPI users

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced measures to make UPI payments faster and more reliable:

• Balance Check Limit: You can now check your account balance only 50 times a day on apps like Google Pay or PhonePe.
• Auto-Pay Changes: Automatic payments for SIPs, OTT subscriptions, and EMIs will only process during non-peak hours (before 10 AM, between 1 PM to 5 PM, and after 9:30 PM).
• Linked Account Views: Limited to 25 times a day.
• Failed Transaction Status: Can be checked only three times a day with a 90-second gap.
• Payment Reversal Requests: Restricted to 10 chargebacks a month, with a maximum of 5 per merchant or individual.

2. Changes for SBI Credit Card holders

SBI has discontinued complimentary air accident insurance on premium cards like ELITE and PRIME. Earlier, these offered coverage of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The removal of this benefit is a setback for travelers who relied on free insurance protection.

3. Commercial LPG cylinder price cut

Oil marketing companies have reduced commercial LPG cylinder prices by Rs 33.50, offering relief to restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses.

• Delhi: Rs 1,631.50
• Kolkata: Rs 1,734.50
• Mumbai: Rs 1,582.50
• Chennai: Rs 1,789.00

There’s no change in domestic LPG cylinder prices.

4. ATF Price Hike – Air travel to get costlier

Aviation turbine fuel prices have increased for the second straight month by Rs 2,677.88 per kilolitre:

• Delhi: Rs 92,021.93
• Kolkata: Rs 95,164.90
• Mumbai: Rs 86,077.14
• Chennai: Rs 95,512.26

This rise is expected to push up airfares in the coming weeks.

5. RBI policy decision this week

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee will meet from August 4–6, where key decisions on interest rates will be announced. Any changes could directly impact loan EMIs and borrowing costs.