Major Financial Overhaul in Jan 2026: Pay Commission, Credit Cards, Tax Rules Change

• 8th Pay Commission replaces 7th from Jan 1, 2026, increasing pay and DA for central and state government employees.
• Credit bureaus will update customer data weekly; PAN-Aadhaar linking becomes mandatory for banking services.
• New ITR forms will be pre-filled, and UPI transactions will face stricter checks to curb fraud.
• Farmers in states like Uttar Pradesh need unique IDs for PM-Kisan; crop insurance now covers wild animal damage.
• SBI Card, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank introduce major credit card changes affecting lounge access, reward points, and transaction fees.

Why It Matters: January 2026 brings significant financial changes impacting salaries, credit, taxes, and banking for all.