UPI Transaction Limits to Change from September 15: Everything You Must Know

by Jobuza Team | Sep 8, 2025 | BLOG, Trending News

UPI Transaction Limits for Special Merchants to Increase from September 15: All You Need to Know

UPI Transaction Limits: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced a major change to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system. Starting September 15, 2025, verified merchants in select categories will be allowed to process higher-value UPI transactions, making digital payments even more seamless.

Under the new guidelines, eligible merchants can now accept UPI payments up to ₹5 lakh per transaction, depending on their sector. The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, crossing 20 billion transactions in August 2025, worth over ₹25 lakh crore.

Higher UPI Limits from September 15

According to an NPCI circular issued on August 28, 2025, the increased UPI limits will apply to multiple categories, but only for verified merchants who comply with NPCI’s guidelines.

Acquiring member banks will be responsible for enabling these enhanced limits. However, banks will have the right to set their own internal ceilings within the NPCI-prescribed range.

Updated UPI Transaction Limits by Category

₹5 Lakh Per Transaction

The following sectors can process UPI payments of up to ₹5 lakh per transaction:

• Capital markets

• Insurance

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

• Travel bookings

• Credit card bill payments

• Collections and business/merchant payments (including pre-approved payments)

• Foreign exchange retail transactions via BBPS

• Digital account openings for term deposits

₹2 Lakh Per Transaction

A transaction limit of ₹2 lakh will apply to:

• Jewellery purchases

• Digital account openings for initial funding

Cumulative UPI Limits

In addition to per-transaction limits, NPCI has also set cumulative limits for specific categories:

• Capital markets, insurance, travel, collections, and government e-marketplace: ₹10 lakh cumulative limit

• Credit card bill payments: ₹6 lakh cumulative limit

These measures are designed to maintain security while allowing users and merchants greater flexibility for high-value UPI transactions.

Implementation and Compliance

NPCI has directed all banks, payment apps, and service providers to update their systems by September 15, 2025 to comply with the new transaction limits.

This update reflects the rapid evolution of India’s digital payment ecosystem. UPI’s record-breaking 20 billion transactions in August 2025 demonstrates its growing importance in everyday payments, business transactions, and high-value purchases.

Key Takeaway

From September 15, 2025, verified merchants in several sectors will benefit from higher UPI transaction limits — up to ₹5 lakh per transaction for select categories and ₹2 lakh for others.

With UPI crossing ₹25 lakh crore in monthly transaction value, this move strengthens India’s position as a global leader in digital payments while giving merchants and consumers more flexibility for big-ticket purchases.

GST 2.0 New Rates: Find Out What Will Cost More and Less from September 22

by Jobuza Team | Sep 8, 2025 | BLOG, Trending News

GST 2.0 Gets the Green Light: What Becomes Cheaper and Costlier from September 22

GST New Rates: The 56th meeting of the GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on September 3, 2025, has paved the way for one of the biggest overhauls in India’s indirect tax system.
The revised GST structure, effective September 22, 2025, introduces major rate cuts on essential goods and services, making many daily-use items cheaper, while a few categories face higher taxation.

GST 2.0: What Becomes Cheaper

The new GST rates aim to provide relief to households, businesses, and consumers across various sectors.

1. Food and Daily Essentials

• Milk and dairy products: UHT milk will now be tax-free, while condensed milk, butter, ghee, paneer, and cheese have been reduced from 12% to 5% or nil.

• Staple foods: Malt, starches, pasta, cornflakes, biscuits, chocolates, and cocoa products now fall under the 5% GST slab, down from 12–18%.

• Dry fruits and nuts: Almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, and dates have moved from 12% to 5%.

• Sugar and confectionery: Refined sugar, sugar syrups, toffees, candies, and confectionery products are now taxed at 5%.

• Packaged foods: Vegetable oils, edible spreads, sausages, meat preparations, fish products, and malt extract-based packaged foods now attract just 5%.

• Namkeens and snacks: Popular snacks like bhujia, mixture, chabena, and similar items are down from 18% to 5%.

• Packaged waters: Natural and mineral water without added sugar or flavours has been reduced from 18% to 5%.

2. Agriculture and Fertilisers

• Fertilisers: GST on fertilisers has been reduced from 12% and 18% to just 5%.

• Agricultural inputs: Seeds, crop nutrients, and select farming essentials are now taxed at 5%.

3. Healthcare and Education

• Medical products: Life-saving drugs, essential health products, and certain medical devices now fall under the 5% or nil tax bracket.

• Educational materials: Books, learning aids, and other educational services have moved from 5–12% GST to nil or 5%, reducing costs for students.

4. Consumer Goods

• Electronics: Entry-level appliances and mass-use electronics now attract 18% GST, down from 28%.

• Footwear and textiles: GST reduced from 12% to 5%, making them more affordable.

• Paper products: Certain paper grades are now tax-free.

• Personal care: Hair oil, shampoo, dental floss, and toothpaste now fall under the 5% slab, down from 18%.

5. Auto Sector

• Small cars now attract 18% GST, down from 28%.

• Motorcycles up to 350cc are reduced to 18%, from 28%.

• GST on electric vehicles remains unchanged at 5%.

• Car parts are now taxed uniformly at 18%.

• Luxury cars and high-end motorcycles remain at 40% GST, with no additional cess.

6. Other Sectors

• Renewable energy devices: GST cut from 12% to 5%.

• Construction materials: Key inputs used in housing and infrastructure are reduced from 12% to 5%.

• Sports goods and toys: Now taxed at 5%, down from 12%.

• Leather, wood, and handicrafts: Brought under the 5% slab, boosting affordability and demand.

GST 2.0: What Becomes Costlier

While GST 2.0 offers significant relief, a few categories continue to remain under higher taxation.

1. Sin and Luxury Goods

• Products like pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, zarda, and bidi remain under high GST rates, along with the compensation cess, until pending cess-linked loans are repaid.

• The valuation of these products has shifted to Retail Sale Price (RSP) instead of transaction value, ensuring stricter compliance.

• A new 40% GST slab is applicable to sin goods, aerated beverages, and luxury products such as premium liquor, high-end cars, and imported luxury sedans.

2. Energy and Fuels

• Coal, which was previously taxed at 5%, will now attract 18% GST, impacting coal-based industries and power generation costs.

3. Services Sector

• Restaurants operating within “specified premises” will no longer qualify for the 18% with ITC benefit, leading to higher bills for premium dining.

• Certain lottery services and intermediary operations will face revised valuation rules, keeping their tax liability intact or higher.

Key Takeaway

The introduction of GST 2.0 marks a major shift in India’s indirect tax landscape. While a wide range of goods and services — from groceries and fertilisers to electronics, footwear, and renewable energy products — will become more affordable, high-end luxury items, sin goods, and coal-based products remain under heavier taxation.

For households, businesses, and consumers, these changes are expected to bring relief in essential spending while maintaining strict taxation on non-essential and luxury products.

New GST Rules From September 22: Everything Explained

by Jobuza Team | Sep 8, 2025 | BLOG, Trending News

GST Overhaul 2025: New GST Rules From September 22 — Full Guide

New GST Rules From September 22 : The GST Council has announced one of the biggest reforms since the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax in India. Starting September 22, 2025, the country will switch to a simpler GST structure with just two main slabs — 5% and 18%, plus a special 40% slab for luxury and sin goods.

Everyday essentials like milk, paneer, roti, and pizza bread are exempted. Insurance policies are now tax-free, and prices of construction materials, household items, and farming equipment will come down.

This guide explains all the important changes in clear and simple language.

When Will the New GST Rates Start?

The new GST rates will be effective from September 22, 2025, across India.
Exception: Tobacco products and gutkha will continue under the old GST rates until further notice.

New GST Slabs at a Glance

From September 22, GST will follow three categories:

• 5% Slab → Essential goods, basic services, agriculture items

• 18% Slab → Consumer goods, electronics, travel, telecom, banking, etc.

• 40% Slab → Luxury and sin goods such as high-end cars, SUVs, casinos, betting, aerated drinks, and alcohol substitutes

Essential Food Items — Tax-Free

Good news for households! Everyday food items remain GST-exempt:

• Milk and paneer

• Roti, chapatti, and pizza bread

• Unbranded staples like rice and wheat

Insurance Premiums Are Now GST-Free

All life and health insurance policies are completely tax-free from September 22. This includes:

• Term insurance

• ULIPs

• Family health policies

• Senior citizen plans

Medicines and Healthcare Under GST

• Medicines → Now taxed at 5%

• Medical devices → Reduced to 5% to make healthcare cheaper

• Hospital services → Basic hospital services stay exempt, but certain value-added services may attract 18% GST

GST on Vehicles and Automobiles

• Small cars → Up to 1200cc petrol/LPG/CNG or 1500cc diesel → 18% GST

• Luxury cars & SUVs → 40% GST

• Motorcycles → Up to 350cc → 18%, above 350cc → 40%

• Buses and trucks → 18% GST (reduced from earlier rates)

Farming and Agricultural Equipment

• Agricultural machinery → 5% GST on items like sprinklers, drip systems, and harvesters

• Tractors → Not exempt, but taxed at lower rates to maintain input tax credit

• Fertilizers → 5% GST

• Seeds → Exempt from GST

GST on Common Household Items

• Soaps, shampoos, talcum powder → 5%

• Toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss → 5%

• Sanitary napkins → Exempt

• Packaged snacks, biscuits, chocolates → 18%

• Edible oils → 5%

• Bottled drinking water → 18%

GST on Electronics and Technology

• TVs, ACs, dishwashers, and refrigerators → 18%

• Mobile bills and internet services → 18%

• Software, OTT subscriptions, and cloud services → 18%

• IT consultancy and digital services → 18%

Hotels, Travel, and Entertainment

• Hotels → Rooms up to ₹7,500/night → 5%, above ₹7,500 → 18%

• Air travel → Economy class 5%, business class 18%

• Rail and bus fares → 5%

• Tour packages → 5% GST

• Cinema tickets → Up to ₹250 → 5%, above ₹250 → 18%

• Casinos, betting, and IPL tickets → 40% GST

GST on E-commerce and Digital Platforms

• Online products and services → Taxed at the same rates as offline

• Digital streaming, gaming, and subscriptions → 18%

• E-commerce platforms must collect and pay GST on behalf of sellers

Real Estate and Construction

• Under-construction flats → 5% GST (no ITC)

• Affordable housing projects → Continue at concessional rates

• Ready-to-move flats and resale properties → Outside GST

• Stamp duty and registration fees → Unchanged

Energy, Fuel, and Utilities

• Domestic LPG → 5% GST

• Commercial LPG → 18% GST

• Electricity → Exempt

• Renewable energy equipment → 5% GST

• Petrol, diesel, and natural gas → Not under GST (continue under VAT & excise)

Key Highlights of GST Overhaul 2025

• Simplified two-slab GST structure: 5% & 18%

• Luxury and sin goods taxed at 40%

• Insurance premiums are completely tax-free

• Everyday essentials remain GST-exempt

• Medicines and medical devices become cheaper

• Digital services taxed uniformly at 18%

• Travel, hotels, and entertainment see reduced rates in many cases

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GST Overhaul 2025: New GST Rules & Rates Effective September 22

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From September 22, 2025, India adopts a simplified GST structure with 5%, 18%, and 40% slabs. Get the full list of new GST rates, exempted items, and their impact on food, travel, insurance, real estate, and e-commerce.

Protect Your Privacy: 10 Things Not to Share with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Other AI Bots

by Jobuza Team | Sep 4, 2025 | BLOG, Trending News

10 Things You Should Never Share with AI Chatbots Like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI chatbots are transforming the way we interact with technology. Platforms like ChatGPT-5, Perplexity AI, and Grok have made life easier by assisting with everything from writing emails and summarizing reports to giving relationship tips and even medical insights. For many users, having an AI assistant feels like living in a sci-fi movie.

However, as much as AI brings convenience, it also comes with serious privacy and security risks. What feels like a private conversation with an AI chatbot may not be as private as you think. Most AI platforms collect and store user data to train their models, which means anything you share might be stored, analyzed, or even exposed.

To protect your privacy, here are 10 types of information you should never share with AI chatbots.

1. Personal Information

Never share personal details like your full name, home address, phone number, or email with AI chatbots. While it may seem harmless, exposing such information can lead to identity theft, phishing attacks, or online scams.

AI systems are not built to provide complete anonymity. Hackers and malicious actors can piece together small details to track your identity, so it’s best to keep personal information private.

2. Financial Details

Your bank account numbers, credit card information, UPI IDs, or social security numbers should never be shared with chatbots.

Once entered, this data can be stored or intercepted, putting you at risk of fraud and identity theft. Even if an AI platform claims to be secure, it’s better to share financial information only on trusted and encrypted channels like official bank portals, never on AI chats.

3. Passwords and Login Credentials

One of the most common mistakes users make is sharing their passwords with AI chatbots or even asking them to generate one.

Cybersecurity experts strongly advise against this practice because your login details could be misused or compromised. Instead, always store your passwords in secure password managers like Google Password Manager or 1Password, never in AI chats.

4. Secrets and Personal Confessions

Many people use AI chatbots for late-night “therapy sessions” to share secrets or vent about personal issues. While AI might seem like a safe listener, these conversations are not truly private.

AI platforms often log chat data for training and monitoring purposes. Sharing deeply personal secrets or confessions could lead to unexpected privacy risks. If you need to talk, it’s better to confide in a trusted person or a licensed therapist.

5. Health and Medical Information

AI chatbots can simplify medical jargon, but they are not certified doctors. Sharing medical records, prescriptions, test reports, or insurance details with AI platforms can compromise your privacy.

Additionally, AI-generated medical advice might be inaccurate or misleading, which can negatively affect your health. For any medical concerns, always consult a qualified healthcare professional instead of relying on chatbots.

6. Explicit or Inappropriate Content

AI chatbots are programmed to flag explicit material, but that doesn’t mean your data isn’t stored. Sharing sexual content, offensive remarks, or illegal information could not only get your account flagged or suspended but may also leave behind permanent digital traces.

To protect your privacy and online reputation, it’s safer to avoid sharing explicit or inappropriate content with AI altogether.

7. Work-Related Confidential Data

Many employees unknowingly upload confidential company documents into AI chatbots for summarization, report generation, or spreadsheet formatting.

This is risky because AI models may store and use this data for training, which could lead to data leaks or corporate espionage. Always confirm your organization’s AI policies and avoid sharing internal reports, business strategies, or trade secrets with AI platforms.

8. Legal Matters and Disputes

AI chatbots can provide basic legal definitions but should never replace a qualified lawyer. Avoid discussing details of lawsuits, contracts, disputes, or agreements with chatbots.

Leaking sensitive legal information could affect your legal standing if it becomes exposed or misused. For anything beyond general knowledge, consult a licensed legal professional.

9. Sensitive Documents and Private Images

Uploading passports, Aadhaar cards, driver’s licenses, ID proofs, or private photographs to AI platforms is a major security risk.

Even if a chatbot claims to delete your files, digital traces may remain on their servers. These documents can be exploited for identity theft or fraud, so it’s best to store sensitive files in encrypted storage solutions rather than AI platforms.

10. Anything You Don’t Want Made Public

The golden rule of digital safety: if you wouldn’t post it on social media, don’t share it with AI chatbots.

While AI may seem private, your conversations could be stored, analyzed, and even reviewed by human moderators in some cases. Always assume that anything you type could be made public and think twice before sharing sensitive details.

Final Thoughts

AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Grok are becoming an integral part of daily life, but your privacy and security should always come first.

To stay safe:

• Avoid sharing personal, financial, or sensitive data.

• Regularly review the privacy policies of the AI platforms you use.

• Use AI only for general queries, not for private or confidential discussions.

In an era where AI is evolving rapidly, your best defense is staying informed and vigilant. The less personal information you share with AI, the safer you’ll be.

ITR Filing to UPS Deadline: Key Financial Updates You Need to Know

by Jobuza Team | Sep 2, 2025 | BLOG, Trending News

Money Rule Changes from September 2025: Key Financial Updates You Must Know

ITR Filing: From September 2025 onwards, several important financial rules and deadlines will come into effect, impacting both individuals and businesses. These changes include updates on income tax return filing, the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), silver hallmarking, SBI credit card rules, and special FD rates.

Here’s a complete breakdown of all the major money rule changes you should be aware of:

1. ITR Filing Deadline Extended

The Income Tax Department has extended the last date for filing income tax returns (ITR) for FY 2024-25.

• New deadline: September 15, 2025

• Previous deadline: July 31, 2025

This extension, announced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on May 27, 2025, gives taxpayers more time to file their returns without penalties. If you haven’t filed your ITR yet, make sure to complete the process before the new due date.

2. Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) Deadline Extended

The government has extended the deadline for Central Government employees to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

• New deadline: September 30, 2025

• Old deadline: June 30, 2025

The extension gives employees additional time to decide whether they want to switch from the National Pension System (NPS) to UPS.

As per Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, by July 20, 2025:

• 31,555 employees had enrolled in UPS.

• 7,253 claims were received.

• 4,978 claims were processed for benefit payments.

If you’re a Central Government employee, evaluate both plans carefully before making a decision.

3. Silver Hallmarking Becomes Voluntary

Starting September 1, 2025, customers will now have the option to buy hallmarked or non-hallmarked silver jewellery.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced silver hallmarking facilities but has kept the process voluntary for now.

This means:

• You can choose hallmarked silver for better quality assurance.

• Or, you can still buy non-hallmarked jewellery if you prefer.

This change follows a similar move that was earlier introduced for gold jewellery.

4. New SBI Credit Card Rules

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced changes to its credit card policies, effective September 1, 2025.

Key updates:

• No reward points on digital gaming platform transactions, merchant purchases, and government payments for cardholders of:

  • Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card

  • Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card SELECT

  • Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card PRIME

• CPP (Card Protection Plan) SBI Card customers will be migrated automatically to new plan variants based on their renewal due dates, starting September 16, 2025.

Updated renewal prices for CPP plans:

• Classic Plan: ₹999

• Premium Plan: ₹1,499

• Platinum Plan: ₹1,999

If you’re an SBI credit card user, review these changes to manage your spending and rewards effectively.

5. Special Fixed Deposit (FD) Rates Ending Soon

Banks like Indian Bank and IDBI Bank are currently offering special tenor FD schemes, but the deadline to invest is approaching.

Indian Bank FD Plans:

• Tenure options: 444 days and 555 days

• Last date to invest: September 30, 2025

IDBI Bank FD Plans:

• Tenure options: 444 days, 555 days, and 700 days

• Last date to invest: September 30, 2025

If you’re looking to lock in attractive FD rates, make sure to invest before the deadline.

Final Thoughts

September 2025 brings several key financial updates that can impact your money, savings, and investments. From ITR filing deadlines to UPS enrollment, silver hallmarking, SBI credit card rules, and special FD schemes, staying informed will help you make better financial decisions.

Make sure to check all deadlines carefully and plan ahead to avoid missing out on benefits or facing penalties.