Every change to Indian card rewards in 2016

12 changes: 8 worse for you, 3 better.

Newest first. Each change links its story, with the before and after and the source · This year’s changes

8 Nov 2016 Demonetization forces India onto plastic overnight Better for you · Improvement · RBI / Indian Banks
23 Sep 2016 Marriott swallows Starwood, becomes world's biggest hotelier Changed · Partner change · Marriott
1 Aug 2016 Hyatt reshuffles award categories, Grand Hyatt Mumbai gets cheaper Worse for you · Devaluation · Hyatt Gold Passport
16 Jul 2016 JetPrivilege rips up flat-rate miles, goes full fare-class Worse for you · Devaluation · JetPrivilege
1 Apr 2016 IndusInd JetPrivilege card kills weekend miles bonanza Worse for you · Devaluation · IndusInd Bank / JetPrivilege
1 Apr 2016 HDFC Diners Club shutters its 10x rewards blowout Worse for you · Devaluation · HDFC Bank
1 Apr 2016 Citi Prestige strips Etihad Guest Gold and partner perks Worse for you · Devaluation · Citibank
14 Mar 2016 SBI's Air India co-brand card doubles the goalposts Worse for you · Devaluation · SBI Card / Air India
26 Feb 2016 JetPrivilege hikes partner award chart, kills cheap short-hops Worse for you · Devaluation · JetPrivilege
17 Feb 2016 SpiceJet launches SpiceClub, first prepaid airline loyalty card Better for you · Launch · SpiceJet
26 Jan 2016 Air India Flying Returns drops a Star Alliance devaluation bomb Worse for you · Devaluation · Air India Flying Returns
20 Jan 2016 Starwood floods India with hotels, The St. Regis Mumbai debuts Better for you · Launch · Starwood Preferred Guest