These changes, brought about by the Union Budget 2026-27 and new RBI guidelines, will impact everything from your banking hours to how you identify financial spam calls. Meanwhile, domestic and commercial gas cylinder prices also saw a change on the first day of the month. Jet fuel prices also saw their first increase in 2026.

Today, March 1st, marks the beginning of the final month of the current financial year. This brings with it some significant financial changes. These changes, driven by the Union Budget 2026-27 and new RBI directives, will impact everything from your banking hours to how you identify financial spam calls. Meanwhile, the first day of the month also saw changes in the prices of domestic and commercial gas cylinders. Jet fuel prices also saw their first increase in 2026, significantly impacting your finances. Let us explore the financial changes that may impact your finances in March.

RBI directs banks to remain open on March 31

To facilitate year-end accounting, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has ordered all agency banks handling government business to remain open on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Although this day is Mahavir Jayanti – a public holiday – branches must remain open to process tax collections and government payments. This ensures that all transactions for the financial year 2025-26 are recorded before the books are closed.

New '1600' calling series for stockbrokers

To combat the rising tide of financial fraud and "vishing," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has set March 15, 2026, as the deadline for all qualified stockbrokers (QSBs) to migrate to the 1600 numbering series. Following the transition by banks and mutual funds earlier this year, this change helps investors quickly identify legitimate calls from their brokers. If you receive a "financial" call from a standard 10-digit mobile number after this date, it could be a scam.

Income Tax: New deadline for revised returns

A major relief from the Union Budget 2026-27 is taking effect this month. The deadline for filing revised income tax returns (ITRs) has been officially extended to March 31st. Previously, taxpayers had only until December 31st to correct errors in their filings. Now, you can use the month of March to correct any errors in your 2025-26 declarations for a nominal fee, helping you avoid potential penalties or scrutiny.

Easy rules of FASTag

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officially removed the "Know Your Vehicle" (KYV) requirement for cars from late February. Starting this March, travelers with existing FASTags will no longer need to undergo regular KYV verification unless there is a specific complaint. Additionally, for users of digital wallets like Bajaj Finserv, new FASTag sub-wallets will go live on March 3, 2026, to better segregate toll funds from the general balance.

Increase in the price of commercial gas cylinders

While IOCL hasn't made any changes to domestic gas cylinder prices, it has increased the price of commercial gas cylinders for the third consecutive month. In Delhi, the national capital, the price of commercial gas cylinders has increased by ₹188 during this period. Kolkata has seen the highest increase of ₹191.5. In Mumbai, the price of commercial gas cylinders has increased by ₹189. In Chennai, the price of commercial gas cylinders has increased by ₹189.5 over the past three consecutive months.

Jet fuel prices rise

On the other hand, jet fuel prices have seen a 5 to 6 percent increase. This is the first time jet fuel prices have risen since 2026. Following this increase, the price of jet fuel in the Chennai metropolitan area has exceeded ₹1 lakh. The surge in jet fuel prices will increase airline operating costs, which could lead to higher flight ticket prices. Fuel accounts for more than 40 percent of an airline's operating costs.