Industry Odisha Bureau, Jul 1: With effect from today onwards, certain significant changes are reportedly going to be experienced by the citizens and general public in India so far, the passport fees, dealing with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Aadhar email updates, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s new consumer protection rules and certain other changes are concerned.
As per reports, “The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revised the fee structure for the passport services in India from July 1, 2026. a 36-page adult (18 years & above) passport will cost Rs 2,500 for normal processing and Rs 5,000 under Tatkal, while
Fresh/Reissue Passport (60 pages): ₹3,500 (Normal), ₹6,000 (Tatkal),
Lost/Damaged Passport (36 pages): ₹5,000 (Normal), ₹7,500 (Tatkal)
Lost/Damaged Passport (60 pages): ₹6,000 (Normal), ₹8,500 (Tatkal)
Minors (below 18 years):
Fresh/Reissue Passport (36 pages): ₹1,750 (Normal), ₹4,250 (Tatkal)
Lost/Damaged Passport (36 pages): ₹4,250 (Normal), ₹6,750 (Tatkal)
Other Services:
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): ₹750 (Normal)
Certificate of Identity: ₹1,000
Emergency Certificate: $15 abroad
Miscellaneous passport-related certificates: ₹750
Discounts:
10% discount on normal fees for fresh applications (not reissues) for children up to 8 years and senior citizens above 60 years
Validity:
Adult passports: up to 10 years
Minor passports: 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier
Fees for Applications Abroad
Fresh 36-page passport: $125 (Normal), $250 (Tatkal)
Emergency Certificate: $15
Certificate of Identity: $50
Police clearance, surrender, and other certificates: $40
Applicants should confirm the exact local-currency fees with their nearest Indian mission, as rates may vary by country.
Key Notes
The fee hike is effective from July 1, 2026; applications submitted before this date will be charged at the old rates.
The increase affects fresh, reissue, Tatkal, lost/damaged passports, and PCCs.
The revision is the first major update in over 14 years and applies to both domestic and overseas applications.
For precise calculation, applicants can use the Passport Seva Fee Calculator on the official portal to determine the exact fee for their case.
This update ensures travelers are aware of the new costs and can plan applications accordingly to avoid last-minute fee surprises.”
So far “EPFO going digital” is concerned: “Bona fide members can withdraw money from their Provident Fund (PF) accounts instantly via UPI apps and UPI-enabled ATMs.
Claims up to Rs 5 lakh will be automatically approved without human intervention, reducing times.
Members can fix (digital corrections) their PF details online without needing employer approval, ensuring accuracy and convenience.
The new systems link everything to a single UAN number, simplifying the process of transferring PF funds when changing jobs.”
So far, the “free Aadhaar email update” is concerned: “The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) has announced that there will be no fee charged to the Aadhaar card holders for the next six months from July 1 to December 31, 2026 for updating their registered email address through the Aadhaar mobile application.”
Another significant change w.e.f July 1, 2026 is that, “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is introducing a comprehensive framework to curb mis-selling, enforce explicit consent, and enhance accountability in the sale of financial products.”
So far, the implications of this RBI new framework are concerned, it has been reported that, “It is expected to significantly enhance consumer protection, improve transparency in financial product sales, and promote fair business practices across banks and NBFCs. It represents a shift from a “buyer-beware” approach to a more accountable, customer-centric model, ensuring that financial products are sold appropriately and ethically.”
