AGENCY
New Delhi: Petrol, railway tickets and insurance policies of PSU companies will cost less if bought through debit/credit cards or other digital modes, government said today while announcing a slew of measures to incentivise cashless payments.
It also waived service tax for payments up to Rs 2,000 made through cards and decided to do away with transaction fee for payment to central government departments and PSUs.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that a discount of 0.75 per cent will be offered on purchase of petrol and diesel through either credit/debit cards, e-wallets and mobile wallets. This would translate into a discount of 49 paise per litre of petrol that is currently sold at Rs 66.10 in Delhi.
Similarly on diesel, it would mean a saving of 41 paise on every litre bought at Rs 54.57.
Similarly, 10 per cent and 8 per cent discount will be offered in case of general and life insurance for buying new policy or paying premium online via PSUs websites.
Announcing 11 decisions to promote digital transactions, he said that monthly and seasonal suburban railway tickets purchased through digital mode will get 0.5 per cent discount from January 1.
Online booking of railway tickets will get up to Rs 10 lakh of free accidental insurance cover. Those using digital mode to pay for railway catering, accommodation, retiring room will be entitled to discount of 5 per cent. The minister further said 10 per cent discount will be available on use of digital mode for paying for RFID or fast-tags for highway toll.
The cost of these discounts, Jaitley said, “will be borne by each of the organisation because most of these discounts are offered by the bodies which are run by central government or are PSU units”.
