NEW DELHI: We have bid farewell to 2018 and welcomed 2019. Some changes to be considered this year has been implemented in the country. The financial and social changes are

1) Debit, credit and ATM cards of magnetic tapes cannot be used from today. Cards issued before 2016 will be deactivated from January 1, 2019.

2) According to revised GST rates, prices of more than 23 items will be cheaper from today. The GST Council on December 22 decided to cut tax rates on 23 goods and services, including movie tickets, TV and monitor screens and power banks and exempted frozen and preserved vegetables from the levy. 3) Anyone having a personal accident cover of Rs 15 lakh for his vehicle need not take another insurance if buying a new vehicle.

4) Prices of luxurious cars to go up.

5) Prices of footwear to reduce.

6) Clinical Establishment Law to come into effect from today. Registration will be done accordingly in Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.

7) Traders having a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore need to pay return only once in three months.