From August 1, 2025, These 5 Financial Rule Changes Will Impact Your Wallet – UPI, Credit Cards, EMI and More

Starting August 1, 2025, several key financial changes will come into effect that could directly impact your daily transactions, EMIs, and monthly budget. From UPI transaction rules to credit card benefits, fuel price revisions, and trading hour changes, the new regulations could affect how you manage your money. Additionally, an upcoming RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting may influence EMI rates if there is a repo rate cut.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the five major changes you need to know about:

1. UPI Rules to Change from August 1

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is introducing new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) regulations to reduce system load and improve user experience.

Key changes include:

• Balance check limit: Users can check account balance up to 50 times per day per UPI app.

• Account list check limit: Linked bank account details can be viewed up to 25 times per day per app.

• Autopay transactions: Scheduled only during non-peak hours (before 10:00 AM, 1:00–5:00 PM, and after 9:30 PM) to reduce system congestion.

• Peak hour usage advisory: Users are advised to avoid balance checks between 10:00–1:00 PM and 5:00–9:30 PM.

Failure to comply with NPCI instructions may lead to penalties, UPI restrictions, or limits on adding new customers.

2. Changes in SBI Credit Card Insurance Benefits

State Bank of India (SBI) has announced that free air accident insurance coverage on several co-branded credit cards will be discontinued from August 1.

Affected cards include:

• UCO Bank SBI Card PRIME

• Central Bank of India SBI Card PRIME

• PSB SBI Card PRIME

• KVB SBI Card PRIME and Signature

• Allahabad Bank SBI Card PRIME

Previously, these cards offered ₹50 lakh complimentary air accident insurance, which will no longer be available.

3. LPG, CNG, and Fuel Price Revisions

Fuel prices, including CNG, PNG, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), and LPG cylinders, are reviewed monthly. A price revision is expected on August 1, 2025, which could affect household budgets and transportation costs.

Any change in LPG or CNG rates will directly impact monthly expenses, especially for households relying on gas cylinders.

4. Trading Hours to be Extended

As part of a phased rollout of new market timings, the RBI has implemented changes in call money, market repo, and triparty repo (TREPs) markets.

• From August 1, 2025, the trading hours for market repo and TREPs will be 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• Call money market has already been operating 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM since July 1, 2025.

This extension will allow longer trading sessions for market participants, potentially impacting liquidity and interest rates.

5. EMI Impact – Repo Rate Review by RBI

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India is scheduled to meet from August 4 to 6, 2025.

• Current repo rate: 5.5%

• Cumulative rate cut since February 2025: 1% (100 basis points)

If the RBI announces a further cut, it will reduce lending rates for banks and lower EMIs for home, auto, and personal loans. Conversely, if the rate remains unchanged, borrowers will see no immediate EMI relief.

Bottom Line

From August 1, 2025, these financial changes could influence your spending, borrowing, and saving habits:

• UPI transactions will have new balance check and autopay restrictions.

• SBI credit cardholders will lose complimentary air accident insurance.

• Fuel price adjustments could affect your monthly expenses.

• Trading hours for money markets will extend, influencing liquidity.

• EMIs could reduce if RBI cuts the repo rate during its August MPC meeting.

Staying updated on these changes will help you plan your finances better and avoid last-minute surprises.