Bengaluru, NFAPost: Following India’s first paperless Union Budget on 1 February this year, we are going to see some interesting changes from new ATM withdrawal rules to digital voter ID cards and IRCTC’s new e-catering services that will invariably affect our daily lives.
Furthermore, the LPG cylinder prices are expected to be revised by the oil marketing companies in the coming months as subsidies on food, fertilisers, and petroleum is expected to fall by 43 percent to Rs.3.36 lakh crore in the next financial year from the revised estimate of Rs.5.96 lakh crore for the current fiscal.
Nevertheless, the govt. has extended free cooking gas LPG scheme Ujjwala for 1 crore more beneficiaries through the Union Budget 2021.
Mumbai Local Trains Resume Services
The general public in Mumbai can now travel before 7am, between 12 noon and 4pm, and after 9pm as per the new time restrictions imposed on local trains, following the govt. approval on resuming the railway services.
Digital Voter ID
Starting 1 Feb, all voters who have registered their mobile numbers with the Election Commission can download their digital voter ID card in PDF format. The card can be self-printed and laminated by the user when needed.
IRCTC’s e-Catering Services
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) resumed its e-catering services starting 1 Feb. 2021. The services will be initially limited to 62 stations in the first phase and then extended to other regions gradually.
The stations chosen for the first phase of e-catering services include Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Pune, Surat, Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Howrah, Vijayawada, Ernakulam, Ujjain and Panvel.
New Rules for ATM Withdrawal
Punjab National Bank customers are restricted from withdrawing money from non-EMV automated machines (ATMs) starting 1 February. “To protect our esteemed customers from fraudulent ATM activities, PNB will be restricting transactions (financial and non-financial) from Non-EMV ATM machines from February 1, 2021, Go Digital, Stay Safe!” the bank tweeted its customers on 14 January.
NOTE: Non-EMV ATMs are those which do not hold the ATM card during the transaction, but read data directly through magnetic strips.
Cinema Halls Get New Covid-19 SOPs
The Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cinema halls have been revised by the government starting 1 February. The seating capacity is now extended up to 100 percent to accommodate houseful shows as opposed to the earlier limit of not exceeding 50% of the hall capacity. Furthermore, the general public are now allowed to enter swimming pools with no restrictions.
