July 1 rule changes: Passport fees rise, Aadhaar email updates free, EPFO services resume

Several government services and financial rules have changed from Wednesday, July 1, bringing updates for millions of people across India. The changes affect EPF account holders, Aadhaar users, passport applicants and income taxpayers, while a rule related to LPG and PNG connections is also expected to come into effect.

The updates have been announced by various government departments through official notifications and circulars.

EPFO online services to resume after maintenance

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to restore its online services after completing a scheduled system migration and database consolidation process.

According to a notice on the EPFO portal, online services are expected to resume from July 2.

Aadhaar email update becomes free until December

Aadhaar holders will not have to pay any charges for updating their email address linked to Aadhaar through the Aadhaar mobile application.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced the fee waiver through an official memorandum issued on June 19. The exemption will remain valid from July 1 to December 31, 2026.

Earlier, users were required to pay the applicable fee for updating email details through the app.

Passport application fees revised

Passport applicants will now have to pay higher fees after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revised charges from July 1.

The revision is the first major increase in passport fees since 2012.

Under the new fee structure, the cost of a standard 36-page passport booklet has increased from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500. The Tatkaal service fee for the same booklet has been raised to ₹5,000.

The MEA has also revised charges for 60-page passports, minor passports and police clearance certificates. The new rates apply to passport services within India as well as overseas.

Income tax return deadline approaches

Taxpayers filing Income Tax Returns under ITR-1 and ITR-2 must submit their returns by July 31, 2026, to avoid penalties.

ITR-1 is generally applicable to salaried individuals with limited additional income sources such as bank interest.

ITR-2 is used by taxpayers with income from capital gains, multiple house properties or those earning above ₹50 lakh annually.

Tax experts have advised taxpayers to complete the filing process early to avoid technical issues near the deadline.

LPG and PNG connection rule

A change related to domestic gas connections is also expected to take effect from July.

People who have both LPG and PNG connections were required to shift completely to PNG by June 30. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the complete discontinuation of LPG supply.

The rule states that if a person later moves to an area without PNG availability, they may be allowed to reactivate their surrendered LPG connection.