With the onset of festive season, there are several rules that will undergo changes from October. Some of the key changes include motor vehicle rules, Ujjwala scheme, health insurance, credit and debit card rules. Hence it is important to note the changes as it gets implemented from October 1. Also Read:
Alert For SBI Customers! Beware Of Fake WhatsApp Calls And Messages
- 1) RBI’s new credit and debit card rules
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new guidelines to offer more security in debit and credit card transactions. According to the new guidelines, card users will now be able to register opt-in or opt-out of services, spend limits, etc. for international transactions, online transactions as well as contactless card transactions.
- Get rid of physical verification of documents like Driving License and RC
You may be often worried at the time of driving if you have left behind the hard copy of documents like RC and driving licence. From October you will be relieved of this hassle and can drive a vehicle with a valid soft copy of these documents attached to the vehicle. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued notification in effect to several such amendments made in the Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. Apart from this, the central government is working to digitise documents including maintenance of vehicles, driving licences and e-challans that will now be done through an information technology portal. Going ahead drivers can maintain their vehicular documents on Central government’s portal like Digi-locker or m-parivahan.
As per the amendments made in the Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, you can now access mobile for route navigation in such a manner that it should not hamper the concentration of the driver at the time of driving.
3) Free LPG connection under PMUY scheme ends in September
Under the popular Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the time extended for getting a gas connection for free will end on 30 September. In view of the Covid-19 situation, the Union cabinet had extended the time for availing free cooking gas cylinders under PMUY.
4) Get ready for 5% tax to be levied on foreign fund transfer
Come October, any amount sent abroad to buy foreign tour packages, and any other foreign remittance made above ₹7 lakh, will attract a tax-collected-at source (TCS) unless tax is already deducted at source (TDS) on that amount. It is important to note that the tax on foreign tour packages will be 5% for any amount, but for other foreign remittances it will be applied only if the amount spent is above ₹7 lakh.
5) Now, expiry date on sweet too sellers as shops need to display 'best before date'
In order to ensure that consumers are eating fresh products, sweet shops will now have to declare the 'best before date' of non-packaged or loose sweets available in their shop. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed the sweet shop owners to follow the protocol from 1 October.
6) New health insurance rules to be implemented
Amid Covid-19 pandemic, there have been several changes in the health insurance cover forcing the prices for premium health services to rise. As per the new health insurance rules to be introduced post-Covid-19 inclusion will make 17 permanent illnesses outside the cover, as per the
India Today report. It means diseases that come under the exclusion category have been reduced to 17, which will lead to rise in the demand for premium cover.
Along with Covid 19, the new health insurance plan will be catering to rising health problems such as mental illnesses, genetic diseases, physochological illness etc. Neuro disorder, oral chemotherapy, robotic surgery, stem cell therapy etc may be included.
7) Looking to buy television? Prices likely to increase
Those planning to buy televisions, this festive season may not look great. Open cell panels will attract 5% import duty from 1 October, with the government saying that a duty exemption expiring at the end of this month will not be extended. Focusing on 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' the government is aiming to expand domestic production capacity for
open cell panels to curb imports. The one-year exemption given to the item expires 30 September.
8) No more blending of mustard oil with any other cooking oil
Also, to ensure purity in products, food regulator FSSAI has banned blending of mustard oil with any other cooking oil with effect from October 1. In a letter to commissioner of food safety of all states and Union Territories, FSSAI said the "blending of mustard oil with any other edible oil in India has been prohibited with effect from October 1, 2020."
