Introduction of new rules

Many important changes have been seen in the beginning of December 2025. Indian Railways, Department of Telecommunications, GSTN and State Bank of India (SBI) have implemented new rules from today, which will have a direct impact on passengers, bank customers and merchants. The most prominent change among these is the mandatory OTP based system for Tatkal ticket booking, which aims to prevent fake bookings and give priority to genuine passengers.

Mandatory requirement of OTP verification

Experts believe that this change is not only for the convenience of passengers, but will also help in increasing the transparency and security of the entire system. Along with this, the rules to banking charges, mobile caller name and tax returns have also completely changed.

New digital code in Tatkal ticket booking

OTP verification mandatory
Railways has made OTP verification mandatory in Tatkal ticket booking. This process has been implemented in Shatabdi Express from Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad from today.

Now when the ticket is booked, an OTP will be sent to the user’s registered mobile number, only after entering which the booking will be completed.

Railway officials say that
• Many agents and bots used to block Tatkal tickets using fake mobile numbers.
• Genuine passengers could not get tickets.
• OTP system will bring transparency in the system and prevent misuse.

New system applicable on all booking platforms

This OTP rule is not limited to online ticketing only (IRCTC website and app). It has been applied to all of the following:
• Computerized Railway Ticket Counter
• Authorized Railway Agent
• Railway Service Center
• IRCTC platform

This means that whether you buy the ticket from the counter or from the mobile app, it will be mandatory to enter the OTP. With this, every ticket will be linked to a real identity and tracking will be easy.

It will be necessary to update mobile number

Railways has advised passengers to update their active mobile number in their IRCTC account before booking tickets.

If the OTP goes to a wrong or old number, the ticket will not be issued and changing the number will not be possible at the same time. This strictness has been done so that tickets with fake identities can be completely eliminated.

Changes in SBI’s ATM and banking rules

State Bank of India has changed the rules of ATM and ADWM transactions for customers. These new charges have come into effect from today.

For salary account holders
• Now only ten free ATM transactions
• After this Rs 23 on every transaction

For savings account customers
• Only five free transactions
• Non-financial transaction charges have been increased from Rs 10 to Rs 11.

The bank says that the purpose of these changes is to encourage digital payments and balance the increasing load on ATMs.

SBI stopped mcash service

From December 1, SBI has decided to remove mCash facility available on YONO Lite and Online SBI platform.

Customers will no longer be able to send or receive money through this feature. The bank has suggested that people use secure options like UPI, IMPS, NEFT and RTGS.

Cybersecurity experts say the move was necessary to make the digital payments ecosystem more secure.

GST return rules become more stringent

GSTN has announced that businesses who have not filed tax returns for three years or more will no longer be allowed to file returns.

This strictness has been imposed so that tax compliance is better and traders with long pending returns maintain discipline in the system.

Business organizations say that this will reduce tax evasion and improve government revenue.

Now the real name of the caller will be visible on the phone

The Department of Telecommunications is implementing CNAP i.e. Caller Name Presentation System from December 15.

Now whenever a call comes on your mobile or landline, the same name that the caller has entered in his KYC document will appear on the screen.

The major benefits of this change will be:
• Huge reduction in spam and fake calls.
• Immediate identification of fraud callers
• Dependence on apps like Truecaller will reduce

Why are these changes important

• Railway ticketing system will become more secure and transparent.
• Banking customers will have to plan their transactions carefully.
• Discipline and transparency will increase in the GST system.
• There will be a huge reduction in the threat of spam calls.

The beginning of December has brought many such updates which will have a direct impact on the everyday lives of common people.