New Delhi: There is a possibility of an increase in the salaries of employed people and pensions of retired people in the new year. CNG and domestic PNG becoming cheaper will save some money. However, the
interest rate on some small savings schemes may come down. Also, income up to ₹12 lakh will now be tax-free. Know the 7 major changes that will happen in the year 2026…
Salaries may increase due to the 8th Pay Commission
The central government has announced the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission. Its timeline has not been announced, but it is believed that it can be implemented from January 2026. According to the government, its aim is to improve the salaries, pensions and allowances of central employees.
Suppose your current basic salary is ₹35,400 as per the 7th Pay Commission, then after DA and HRA, it becomes about ₹65,500. After the 8th Pay Commission, it can increase by more than ₹110,000.
CNG and domestic PNG will become cheaper
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has decided toreduce gas transportation charges from January 1, 2026. Due to this, the prices of CNG and domestic piped natural gas (PNG) will be reduced by ₹2-3 per unit in different states of the country.
New ITR slabs save money
Under the new tax regime for the financial year 2025-26, no tax will be paid on income up to ₹12 lakh. For employed people, the exemption limit will be ₹12.75 lakh with a standard deduction of ₹75,000. Earlier, this limit was ₹7 lakh.
According to tax expert CA Anand Jain (Indore), now people with an annual income of ₹12 lakh will save ₹60,000 in tax, while those with an income of ₹10 lakh will save ₹40,000.
In addition, a new tax slab of 25% has been added to the new regime for annual income between ₹20 and ₹24 lakh. Earlier, 30% tax was levied on income above ₹15 lakh. This change will provide relief to the middle and upper-middle classes.
Reduction in interest rates of small savings schemes
A reduction in interest rates of small savings schemes may be announced by December 31. RBI has reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, so the interest rates of government savings schemes are likely to come down.
Car prices may increase by 2–3%
Cars from companies like Maruti, Tata, MG and Hyundai may become costlier from January 1. MG has already announced a price hike. Due to increase in input costs, MG Motor has increased car prices by up to 2%, due to which the MG Hector will become costlier by around ₹38,000. Apart from MG, Mercedes and BMW in the luxury segment have announced a price hike of 2-3%.
Aadhaar mandatory for railway reservations during the day from January 12
From January 12, users whose IRCTC account is not linked to Aadhaar will not be able to book tickets from 8 am to 12 midnight. This rule is only for the first day of opening of reserved ticket booking.
Reservations open 60 days before the date of departure of the train. The day on which this booking opens is considered the first day. The purpose of this is to give maximum passengers the opportunity to book tickets online on the opening day and to stop bookings made through fake accounts.
New Income Tax Act to come into effect
The new Income Tax Act 2025 will come into effect from 1 April 2026. It will replace the old law of 1961. According to the government, this law will simplify the tax system. It will not change the tax rate.
