January 2025 Updates: Commercial Cylinder Price Cut, Car Prices Rise, Farmers Get ₹2 Lakh Loan Without Guarantee & More Changes
The new year, 2025, has brought several changes that will affect your life and finances. Car prices from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Kia India, and JSW MG Motor India have increased.
On the other hand, the price of a 19 kg commercial gas cylinder has dropped by 16 rupees and will now be available for 1811 rupees in Kolkata. There has been no change in the prices of domestic cooking gas cylinders. Additionally, now you can send up to 10,000 rupees via UPI from a feature phone.
10 Changes Happening in January
Commercial Gas Cylinder Becomes Cheaper:
Starting today, the 19 kg commercial gas cylinder has become 16 rupees cheaper. In Delhi, its price has dropped by 14.50 rupees, now costing 1804 rupees, down from the previous price of 1818.50 rupees. In Kolkata, after the 16 rupee reduction, it is available for ₹1911, previously priced at ₹1927.
In Mumbai, the price of the cylinder has decreased by 15 rupees, now costing ₹1756, down from ₹1771. In Chennai, the cylinder is priced at ₹1966.
However, there has been no change in the price of the 14.2 kg domestic gas cylinder. It remains priced at ₹803 in Delhi and ₹802.50 in Mumbai.
UPI Payment Limit Increased: Now Pay Up to ₹10,000 via Feature Phones
The UPI payment limit has been increased, allowing users to pay up to ₹10,000 via feature phones. The RBI has raised the UPI 123 limit from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000. With the help of UPI123Pay, users can now make UPI payments from feature phones.
This allows all types of transactions, except for Scan and Pay. As a result, an internet connection is not required for payments. To use this service, users must link their mobile number and bank account.
Car Prices Increase: Maruti, Hyundai, and Other Companies Raise Vehicle Costs
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Kia India, and JSW MG Motor India have all increased the prices of their vehicles. Maruti Suzuki’s cars have become 4% more expensive, Mahindra & Mahindra’s cars have risen by 3%, and Kia’s cars are now 2% costlier.
Bank Account Closure: RBI’s Guidelines for Dormant, Inactive, and Zero Balance Accounts
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to close three types of accounts under its new guidelines. These include dormant accounts, inactive accounts, and zero balance accounts.
- Dormant Account: An account that has not seen any transactions for two years or more.
- Inactive Accounts: Accounts that have been inactive for 12 months or more will also be closed.
- Zero Balance Account: Accounts that have had a zero balance for a long period will also be closed.
Amazon Password Sharing: Sign In Allowed on Up to 5 Devices
Amazon has introduced a new rule for password sharing among its Prime members in India. Starting from January 2025, Prime members will be allowed to sign in on a maximum of 5 devices, including up to 2 TVs.
Farmers to Get Loans Without Guarantee: Limit Increased to ₹2 Lakh
The RBI has increased the loan limit for farmers without a guarantee to ₹2 lakh. Previously, this limit was ₹1.60 lakh. In 2010, the Reserve Bank set a limit of ₹1 lakh for providing loans to the agricultural sector without any guarantee.
Later, in 2019, the limit was raised to ₹1.6 lakh. Now, farmers can avail of loans up to ₹2 lakh from banks for agricultural or other needs without providing any guarantee.
New Rules for Pensioners: Now You Can Collect Pension from Any Bank
The Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has introduced new rules for pensioners. Under these guidelines, pensioners will now be able to collect their pension from any bank in the country without the need for additional verification.
F&O Expiry: Revision of Expiry for Four F&O Contracts
After the closure of the weekly contracts for Nifty Bank, FinNifty, Midcap Select, and Nifty Next 50, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has made revisions to the expiry of these four F&O contracts. Starting from January 1, 2025, these contracts will expire on the last Thursday of the month.
Previously, the monthly and quarterly contracts for Nifty Bank expired on the last Wednesday of the month, FinNifty expired on Tuesdays, Midcap Select expired on Mondays, and Nifty Next 50 expired on Fridays.
WhatsApp to Stop Working: Will Not Function on Smartphones with Android Version 4.4 and Below
Starting from January 1, WhatsApp will no longer work on smartphones running Android 4.4 (KitKat) and earlier versions. In addition to WhatsApp, other Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram will also stop functioning on these smartphones.
The company has made this decision for security reasons, as older technologies lack essential security features, increasing the risk of hacking.
ATF Price Cut by ₹1,560.77: Air Travel May Become Cheaper
Oil marketing companies have reduced the price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which could lead to cheaper air travel. According to the Indian Oil website, the price of ATF in Delhi has dropped by ₹1,401.37, now costing ₹90,455.47 per kiloliter (1000 liters).
Here are the updated ATF prices across major cities, showing the price reduction:
| City | New ATF Price (₹ per kiloliter) | Previous ATF Price (₹ per kiloliter) | Price Reduction (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 90,455.47 | 91,856.84 | 1,401.37 |
| Kolkata | 93,059.79 | 94,551.63 | 1,491.84 |
| Mumbai | 84,511.93 | 85,861.02 | 1,349.09 |
| Chennai | 93,670.72 | 95,231.49 | 1,560.77 |
No Change in Petrol and Diesel Prices: Petrol at ₹94.72 per Liter in Delhi
On January 1, there has been no change in the prices of petrol and diesel. Currently, petrol is priced at ₹94.72 per liter and diesel at ₹87.62 per liter in Delhi. In Mumbai, petrol costs ₹103.44 per liter, while diesel is priced at ₹89.97 per liter.
