No PUC, No Fuel, UPI Merchant Charges: What Changes In October

Several rule changes take effect this month, touching drivers, shoppers, bank customers and cooking gas users.

No PUC, No Fuel

On September 26, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not get fuel from October 1, 2026. The campaign will cover all 500 fuel stations equipped with number plate recognition systems. The government plans a public awareness campaign in October and an upgrade of PUC centres in November. The rule is not nationwide. Reports say a Commission for Air Quality Management direction applies the system across the wider National Capital Region from October 1. Non-BS-VI vehicles from outside Delhi are to be barred from entering the city from 1 November.

Mumbai entry/exit toll for commercial vehicles to rise from October 1

The toll charges for commercial vehicles entering and exiting Mumbai will be hiked from October 1, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation said on Wednesday.

Transporters have opposed the decision, saying they will be forced to increase freight charges, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers.

The state corporation said that as per the revised toll rates, the charges will be Rs 90 for mini buses and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) instead of Rs 75. It will be Rs 180 for buses and trucks instead of Rs 150, and Rs 225 for heavy motor vehicles instead of Rs 190.

There is no toll for private cars or SUVs at Mumbai entry points, along with public transport buses, auto rickshaws and taxis.

The revised toll rates will apply at five entry points to Mumbai: Airoli, Mulund LBS, Mulund Eastern Expressway, Dahisar, and Vashi.

As per MSRDC, commercial vehicle owners can purchase 50 or 100 toll coupons in advance, and they will get 25 and 50 per cent discounts, respectively. Discount journey smart cards will be issued at toll plazas.

UPI merchant charges from October 15

A 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) will apply to UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000 from October 15, ending a zero-MDR policy that has run for six years. The charge is capped at Rs 300 per transaction for amounts above Rs 75,000. Person-to-person transfers stay free, as do merchant payments up to Rs 2,000. The government says about 96% of person-to-merchant transactions will be unaffected, though business groups say costs could rise. Merchant associations have also warned that the cost could be passed on to buyers. The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Reserve Bank of India and NPCI on a challenge to the fee, but refused an interim stay.

Other changes

From October 1, SBI Salary Package Account holders get five free transactions a month at other banks' ATMs, down from ten. Domestic LPG customers must complete biometric Aadhaar authentication to get subsidised cylinders, and those who have already done so need not repeat it. New NPS charges also begin, including a one-time Rs 200 per PRAN and a recurring 0.20% of assets under management. The RBI's policy decision is due on 7 October.

(Disclaimer: Readers should check the latest official notifications before acting, as dates and details can change.)