The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified revised due dates for filing income tax returns for the Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27, with different deadlines depending on the return form applicable to the taxpayer. According to reports from Mint, salaried individuals filing ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-2 have until 31 July 2026 to submit their returns. ITR-1 applies to eligible resident individuals with annual income of up to ₹50 lakh from sources such as salary, pension and specified other income. ITR-2 covers individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) that do not have business income but earn income from sources including capital gains, multiple house properties, foreign assets or agricultural income beyond the prescribed limit. Meanwhile, taxpayers required to file ITR-3 and ITR-4 have until 31 August 2026 to submit their returns. Missing the applicable due date could result in late filing fees, interest on tax dues and restrictions on carrying forward eligible losses.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has enabled residents to add or update their email IDs in Aadhaar directly through the Aadhaar App, eliminating the need for physical visits to update centres. According to the Ministry of Electronics & IT, over 2.5 lakh residents updated their email IDs within the first two days of the facility's launch on July 1, 2026. The service is being offered free of cost through the Aadhaar App for a period of six months, making it easier for residents to keep their Aadhaar information up to date. Linking an email ID with Aadhaar enables residents to receive real-time email alerts whenever an Aadhaar authentication request is carried out, enhancing transparency and adding an extra layer of security. The facility is part of the government's Digital India vision and Viksit Bharat initiatives, with UIDAI urging residents to download or update the Aadhaar App, which is available on both Android and Apple iOS platforms. The new Aadhaar app has recorded over 3.1 crore downloads since its launch five months ago, with more than 40 lakh people updating their mobile numbers and 10 lakh people updating their addresses using the platform.
The Ministry of External Affairs has revised passport service charges effective July 1, 2026, with significant increases across all categories. According to latest reports, the fee for a fresh or reissued 36-page passport has increased to ₹2,500, while the Tatkaal fee has gone up to ₹5,000. For 60-page passports, the normal application fee has risen to ₹3,500, with the Tatkaal fee increasing to ₹6,000. These revised charges apply to fresh applications, passport renewals and several other passport-related services in India and overseas. The changes affect both domestic and international travelers requiring passport services. As reported by TOI, these represent the first passport fee revision since 2012, marking a significant increase in passport-related costs for Indian citizens.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has implemented a comprehensive framework to curb the mis-selling of financial products by banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and other regulated entities. According to reports from Mint, under the framework, banks must ensure products are suitable for customers before selling them. If a customer is mis-sold a financial product through unfair practices, the bank will have to provide a full refund. Customers who suffer financial losses due to such mis-selling may also be entitled to compensation. The regulator has underlined that sales incentives cannot take precedence over customer interest, with financial products requiring appropriate assessment for buyers, clear communication of risks and benefits, and explicit consent before sale. Effective January 1, 2027, the updated rules will prohibit financial institutions from introducing compensation models that encourage staff or intermediaries to prioritise sales over customer interests, with requirements also covering influencers and digital marketing partners working on behalf of banks and financial institutions.
Businesses using commercial cooking gas have experienced significant cost relief after oil marketing companies cut the price of commercial LPG cylinders by ₹183.50 in Delhi. Following the revision, a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi is priced at ₹2,930, while the 5-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinder now costs ₹808.50, down by ₹13. The price revision applies only to commercial cylinders, with domestic LPG cylinder rates remaining unchanged. This development offers substantial relief to hotels, restaurants and other commercial users who rely on commercial LPG for their operations.
