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Practical guides for India

26 step by step guides on identity documents, banking and driving licence and vehicles in India. Every guide names the documents, fee, time and official portal, and says when it was last checked.

Identity documents

Government identity documents and certificates.

  1. How to apply for an Aadhaar card in India

    You cannot apply for Aadhaar online. You enrol in person at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or other Aadhaar enrolment centre, with original proof of identity and proof of address, and your photo, fingerprints and iris scans are taken there. Enrolment is free, and UIDAI says the Aadhaar number normally comes within 30 days for under-18s and within 180 days for adults.

    Fee Free Time Adults: normally up to 180 days. Under 18: normally up to 30 days Checked

  2. How to apply for a PAN card in India

    An adult with Aadhaar, an Aadhaar-linked mobile and DigiLocker can get an instant e-PAN free on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. Everyone else, and anyone who wants a printed card, applies through Protean or UTIITSL for Rs 107 (Rs 101 if fully paperless). From 1 April 2026 the application form for Indian citizens is Form No. 93; the old Form 49A is no longer accepted.

    Fee Instant e-PAN free; Rs 107 with a printed card (Rs 101 paperless); Rs 72 or Rs 66 for e-PAN only Time Instant e-PAN near real time; Protean says normally two weeks for a printed card Checked

  3. How to apply for a passport in India

    Fill the form on the Passport Seva portal, pay the fee online, book an appointment and visit the Passport Seva Kendra in person with original documents. A fresh 36 page adult passport costs Rs 2,500, and Tatkaal costs Rs 2,500 more. The passport comes by Speed Post after police verification.

    Fee Rs 2,500 (36 pages) or Rs 3,500 (60 pages) for adults; Rs 1,750 for a minor; Tatkaal Rs 2,500 extra Time Normal: up to 30 working days, not counting police verification. Tatkaal: up to 3 working days if eligible Checked

  4. How to apply for a ration card in India

    Ration cards are issued by your state's food and civil supplies department, not by the Centre. You apply on the state portal, at a Common Service Centre or at the local supply office, and the state checks if your household qualifies as Antyodaya (AAY) or Priority (PHH). Fees, forms and timelines differ by state.

    Fee Varies by state, see Fees Time Varies by state; no national time limit Checked

  5. How to apply for a voter ID card in India

    Fill Form 6 on the Election Commission's portal voters.eci.gov.in, on its mobile app, or on paper through your Booth Level Officer. You need a photo, one age proof and one address proof. It is free. After verification your name enters the electoral roll and the voter ID (EPIC) comes by Speed Post.

    Fee Free Time No fixed period on ECI pages; depends on verification by the BLO and the ERO Checked

  6. How to download e-Aadhaar or order a PVC Aadhaar card

    e-Aadhaar is a free, password-protected PDF you download from the myAadhaar portal with an OTP on your Aadhaar-registered mobile. The password is the first 4 letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth. A PVC card costs Rs 75 and comes by Speed Post, and a lost Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID can be retrieved online, on 1947, or at an Aadhaar centre.

    Fee e-Aadhaar free; PVC card Rs 75; print at a centre Rs 30 Time e-Aadhaar instant; PVC card handed to India Post within 5 working days Checked

  7. How to link PAN with Aadhaar and check the status

    Linking is done on the Income Tax e-Filing portal under "Link Aadhaar/View Status", without logging in. You first pay a fee of Rs 1,000 through e-Pay Tax, then submit the link request with an OTP. An unlinked PAN is inoperative, which blocks income tax refunds and makes TDS and TCS apply at higher rates until you link it.

    Fee Rs 1,000 Time Fee can take 4 to 5 working days to reflect; request is then validated by UIDAI Checked

  8. How to update address, mobile or name in Aadhaar

    Address is the only detail you can change on the myAadhaar website, for Rs 75, and you need a mobile number already registered with Aadhaar. The Aadhaar app also changes address and, if you still hold the old number, the mobile number. Name, date of birth, gender, a first-time or lost mobile number, photo and biometrics are changed only at an Aadhaar centre.

    Fee Rs 75 for demographic updates; Rs 125 for biometrics Time Normally within 30 days; UIDAI says up to 90 days in some cases Checked

Banking

Bank accounts, cards, payments and complaints.

  1. How to block a lost or stolen ATM or debit card

    Tell your bank the moment the card is missing, through its app, net banking, SMS, helpline or branch. RBI requires the bank to block it at once and confirm the block. If money has already gone, report each unauthorised transaction immediately, because your liability depends on how fast you report.

    Fee RBI sets no fee for blocking; the replacement card charge varies by bank Time Block is immediate on reporting; fraud claims must be decided within 90 days Checked

  2. How to complain to the RBI Ombudsman against a bank

    Complain to your bank or NBFC first and keep proof. If there is no reply in 30 days, or you are not satisfied with the reply, file a free complaint on cms.rbi.org.in within 90 days. The Reserve Bank Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026 applies to complaints from 1 July 2026.

    Fee Free Time File within 90 days after the bank's 30 day reply period ends; the Scheme sets no deadline for the final decision Checked

  3. How to find and verify a bank's IFSC code

    The IFSC is an 11 character code that identifies one bank branch for NEFT, RTGS and other transfers. The first 4 letters stand for the bank, the 5th character is always 0 (zero) and the last 6 characters stand for the branch. You can read it off a cheque leaf, passbook or account statement, and verify it free on the Reserve Bank of India's own IFSC search page or its bank-wise list.

    Fee Free Time A minute or two Checked

  4. How to register for HDFC Bank NetBanking

    HDFC Bank NetBanking now opens at now.hdfc.bank.in. A new user chooses Register Now on the login page and enters the Customer ID and the security code shown. You then verify yourself and set a password. Resetting the password online is free, and five wrong passwords lock access for 24 hours.

    Fee Online password reset is free; Rs 100 plus taxes if requested at a branch Time Online in one sitting; transfers to others start 24 hours after third party transfer registration Checked

  5. NEFT, RTGS and IMPS, how to send money and which to use

    NEFT, RTGS and IMPS all move money between bank accounts using the account number and IFSC, and all three work 24x7. Use IMPS for instant transfers up to Rs 5 lakh, NEFT for any amount where a wait of up to two hours is fine, and RTGS for Rs 2 lakh and above in real time.

    Fee Online NEFT from a savings account is free; RTGS is capped at Rs 25 or Rs 50 plus tax; IMPS charge is set by your bank Time IMPS instant; RTGS within 30 minutes; NEFT within two hours of the batch Checked

  6. How to open a savings bank account in India

    Any resident individual can open a savings account at a branch, through a Bank Mitra, or online by Aadhaar OTP e-KYC or video KYC. You need proof of identity and address (Aadhaar or another officially valid document) plus PAN or Form 60. Every bank must also offer a zero balance Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) account, and a person with no documents at all can start with a restricted Small Account.

    Fee Free to open; a BSBD account has no minimum balance Time Varies by bank Checked

  7. How to register for SBI net banking (YONO Net Banking)

    SBI's personal internet banking now opens at yonoretail.sbi.bank.in and is called YONO Net Banking. A new user picks Register Now and proves the account with an SBI debit card, the YONO mobile app, or a visit to the branch. You need your account number and the mobile number in SBI's records.

    Fee No fee is mentioned on the SBI pages opened Time Online with debit card or YONO app: same sitting. Branch route: reference number valid 7 days Checked

  8. How to set, change or reset your UPI PIN

    You set a UPI PIN inside your UPI app after linking your bank account, using the last 6 digits and expiry date of your debit card plus an OTP from your bank. If you have no debit card, NPCI also provides Aadhaar OTP and Aadhaar face authentication routes where your bank and app support them. A forgotten PIN is reset the same way, and a known PIN is changed by entering the old PIN and a new one.

    Fee No fee listed by NPCI; your mobile operator may charge for the verification SMS Time A few minutes Checked

  9. How to update KYC (re-KYC) in your bank account

    Banks must refresh your KYC every 2 years if you are rated high risk, every 8 years for medium risk and every 10 years for low risk. If nothing has changed, RBI says a self-declaration is enough. Fresh documents are needed only when your details changed or the bank's papers are out of date.

    Fee No fee prescribed by RBI Time Self-declaration is instant to submit; when the bank updates its record varies Checked

Driving licence and vehicles

Driving licences, vehicle registration and challans at the RTO.

  1. Apply for a permanent driving licence after LL

    Once you have held a learner's licence for at least 30 days, apply for the permanent driving licence on Sarathi under New Driving Licence, pay the fee, book a DL test slot and pass the driving test at the RTO or testing track. The central fee is Rs 300 for the test of each class of vehicle plus Rs 200 for issue of the licence. A licence for a private vehicle issued before you turn 30 is valid until you are 40.

    Fee Rs 300 test fee per class plus Rs 200 issue fee (central fee; states may add charges) Time At least 30 days after the learner's licence; card delivery time varies by state Checked

  2. Apply for a learner's licence online (Sarathi)

    Apply for a learner's licence on the Sarathi portal of Parivahan, pay online, and pass an objective test with at least 60 per cent, from home where your state offers the Aadhaar based service or at the RTO. The central fee is Rs 150 per class of vehicle plus Rs 50 for the test. It is valid for six months.

    Fee Rs 150 per class of vehicle plus Rs 50 test fee (central fee; states may add charges) Time Same day with Aadhaar eKYC where offered; otherwise after the RTO test Checked

  3. Book an HSRP number plate and colour sticker

    Vehicles made on or after 1 April 2019 get the high security plate from the dealer at no separate charge. For an older vehicle, book through your state transport department's link, the SIAM page at siam.in, or your brand's dealer. Booking sites are run by plate makers, not by government, so never start from an ad.

    Fee Varies by state and vehicle type; shown on the booking portal Time Appointment date chosen at booking Checked

  4. Check and pay a traffic e-challan online

    Check and pay a traffic challan on the official eChallan portal by challan, vehicle or driving licence number. Since January 2026 you have 45 days from the date of issue to pay or contest it, after which it is treated as accepted. Never pay through a link sent by SMS or WhatsApp.

    Fee Free to check; you pay only the challan amount shown on the portal Time 45 days from issue to pay or contest; then 30 more days to pay Checked

  5. Check vehicle RC details and application status

    Use Know Vehicle Details on parivahan.gov.in. Log in with a mobile OTP and enter the registration number. It shows the registering authority, vehicle class, fuel, registration date, insurance and PUC validity and vehicle status, with the owner masked. Your own vehicle's full record is in mParivahan and DigiLocker.

    Fee Free to look up; the certified RC Particulars service on Vahan is paid Time A few minutes Checked

  6. Get your driving licence and RC in DigiLocker

    Sign in to DigiLocker with Aadhaar, pick Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and fetch your driving licence and vehicle RC by number. The copies in Issued Documents, and the virtual DL and RC in mParivahan, can be shown to police under rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. A photo or scan does not count.

    Fee Free Time A few minutes if your record is in the National Register Checked

  7. Duplicate driving licence or address change (Sarathi)

    Both are done on the Sarathi portal under Services on DL, using your licence number and date of birth. The central fee is Rs 400 for a duplicate licence and Rs 200 for a change of address, plus state charges. For a lost licence many RTOs ask for a police complaint copy; some faceless services ask for no documents.

    Fee Rs 400 duplicate, Rs 200 address change (central fees); states add charges Time Varies by state and RTO Checked

  8. Renew a driving licence online (Sarathi)

    Apply for renewal on the Sarathi portal under Services on DL, any time from one year before the expiry date to one year after it. The central renewal fee is Rs 200. If you are 40 or older, or hold a transport vehicle licence, you need a medical certificate in Form 1A; if the licence expired more than one year ago you must pass the driving test again.

    Fee Rs 200 (central fee); more if expired over a year; states may add charges Time Varies by state and RTO Checked

  9. Transfer vehicle ownership (RC transfer) on Vahan

    The seller reports the sale in Form 29 and the buyer applies in Form 30, both on the Vahan citizen portal. The buyer must apply within 14 days for a vehicle from the same state and within 45 days, with an NOC, for one from another state. The central fee is half the registration fee for that class, plus state charges.

    Fee Half the registration fee for the class (Rs 150 motor cycle, Rs 300 private car) plus state charges and tax Time Apply within 14 days (same state) or 45 days (other state); approval time varies by RTO Checked

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