Summary of this article
Several rule changes take effect in August across sectors and services.
UPI rules now limit balance checks, account views, and retries.
SBI Card to remove air accident cover on select cards from August 11.
With the start of August 2025, a set of new rules and changes is coming into effect across various domains. Some changes could have minimal but significant effects on customers, services and financial choices. Here are some of the major changes that are occurring this month.
New UPI Rules Effective from August 1, 2025
From August 1, 2025, several new UPI regulations have been implemented. Users are now allowed to check their bank balance up to 50 times daily through one UPI app. Also, viewing the list of bank accounts linked to a mobile number is restricted to 25 times per day.
Autopay transactions such as for bills, subscriptions, and investments will now be processed only during off-peak hours, which include early morning, mid-afternoon, and late night. Users are only permitted to verify the status of a failed transaction three times per day, with a minimum of 90 seconds between each attempt.
PNB Sets August 8 Deadline for KYC Updates
Punjab National Bank (PNB) requires customers to complete their KYC (Know Your Customer) updates by August 8, 2025. To complete the update, customers must submit current documentation at any PNB branch, including evidence of identity, proof of address, proof of income, a recent photo, proof of PAN or Form 60, and, if not previously registered, a mobile number. This exercise is in line with regulatory guidelines to ensure the smooth functioning of accounts.
FASTag Annual Pass Launches August 15
From August 15, 2025, private car owners can buy NHAI’s new FASTag Annual Pass for Rs 3,000. It allows 200 toll-free trips or one-year validity (whichever comes first) on NHAI-operated national highways and expressways. For non-commercial four-wheelers like car, jeeps, and vans, this pass is valid and linked to a specific FASTag account and vehicle number.
It can be purchased via the Rajmarg Yatra app, NHAI, and MoRTH websites. However, tolls must still be paid on state-operated expressways such as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Samruddhi Mahamarg.
SBI Card to Drop Air Accident Insurance Benefit
SBI Card will discontinue the complimentary air accident insurance cover on several co-branded credit cards from August 11, 2025. This covers Rs 50 lakh on PRIME and some Platinum cards issued in collaboration with institutions such as UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, PSB, KVB, South Indian Bank, and others, and Rs 1 crore on ELITE variations.
RBI Extends Repo Market Trading Hours
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended trading hours for market repo and Tri-Party Repo (TREP) operations by one hour. These will now be open from 9 am to 4 pm, instead of 3 pm.
However, trading hours for other segments such as government securities, foreign exchange, and interest rate derivatives will remain unchanged. RBI had already extended the call money market timing to 9 AM–7 PM in July. Also, the RBI’s next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for August 6–8, 2025.
