The beginning of October will bring a series of important regulatory changes in India, affecting subsidised LPG consumers, delayed birth and death registrations and the way banking records are treated in legal proceedings. A separate change concerning UPI merchant payments will take effect later in the month, from October 15.
With October 1 approaching, these are the key changes consumers and businesses need to know.
LPG Subsidy: Aadhaar Biometric Authentication Becomes Mandatory
From October 1, 2026, domestic LPG consumers will need to have completed Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) to book refills at the regulated retail selling price with the applicable subsidy.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, 27.43 crore active domestic LPG consumers, or 89.9% of the total, had completed authentication as of September 19. Consumers who have already completed BAA do not need to repeat the process.
Consumers who have not yet completed authentication can do so during LPG delivery, at their distributor’s showroom or through the relevant Oil Marketing Company mobile application.
The government has clarified that the measure is not intended to deny LPG to genuine households. Consumers who do not wish to complete BAA can still receive LPG, but under the notified arrangement they will receive it at the applicable market price without subsidy. (Press Information Bureau)
UPI Change: New MDR Starts From October 15
The UPI change that has generated significant attention does not begin on October 1. The new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework is scheduled to take effect from October 15, 2026.
Under the notified framework, a 0.4% MDR will apply to specified person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions above ₹2,000, with the MDR capped at ₹300 for transactions of ₹75,000 and above.
However, this does not mean that consumers will start paying a 0.4% charge every time they use UPI.
Person-to-person UPI transactions remain outside the MDR, while P2M transactions up to ₹2,000 are also not covered by the new charge. The government has said that around 96% of P2M UPI transactions will remain unaffected.
The Supreme Court on September 28 declined to grant an interim stay on the new MDR arrangement, leaving the October 15 implementation date in place.
What does this mean for an ordinary UPI user?
For a person sending money to another individual, there is no new MDR. Similarly, a customer making a merchant payment of ₹2,000 or less will not face the new MDR.
The change primarily concerns the merchant side of specified higher-value transactions.
Banking Records Get a New Legal Framework
The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026 will come into force on October 1, replacing the 1891 legislation.
The new law updates the legal framework governing the use of banking records as evidence. It recognises records maintained in physical, electronic, digital, virtual and cloud-based forms.
It also provides a simplified and standardised certification process for banking records, including certification through manual, digital or electronic signatures.
The change primarily affects the treatment of banking records in legal proceedings. It does not mean that customers’ normal savings accounts, ATMs or everyday internet banking services will change from October 1.
Birth and Death Registration Rules Become Stricter
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 will also come into force on October 1.
The new provisions introduce additional approval requirements for delayed registration.
If a birth or death is reported more than one year but within two years after the event, registration will require approval from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an authorised Executive Magistrate.
If the delay is more than two years, registration will require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class. The designated authority must also verify the authenticity of the reported birth or death before approving delayed registration.
The changes are aimed at reducing delays and strengthening verification of official birth and death records.
October Has Two Important Dates to Remember
For consumers, October 1 is the key date for the LPG biometric authentication requirement, the new banking-record evidence law and the revised delayed birth and death registration framework. October 15 is the important date for the new UPI MDR framework covering specified person-to-merchant transactions above ₹2,000.
This distinction is important because the widely discussed UPI change should not be described as a new charge beginning on October 1.
What Changes for You From October?
For an LPG consumer receiving subsidy, the immediate priority is checking whether Biometric Aadhaar Authentication has been completed. For families dealing with delayed birth or death registration, the new approval requirements will become important from October 1. Bank customers are unlikely to notice a direct change in their everyday accounts because the new banking law mainly concerns the legal use of banking records.
For UPI users, the important date is October 15 rather than October 1. The new MDR applies to specified higher-value merchant transactions, while ordinary person-to-person UPI payments remain outside the framework.
The Bottom Line
October 2026 brings several rule changes, but they do not all start on the same day. LPG biometric authentication, the new banking evidence law and tighter delayed birth and death registration provisions begin on October 1, while the new UPI MDR framework starts on October 15.
For consumers, the key is not just knowing that rules are changing, but knowing which rule applies to them and the exact date on which it takes effect.