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UPI MDR: What Changes for Merchants, Consumers and Payments Above Rs 2,000 From October 15
Banks will charge merchants a 0.4% fee on eligible UPI payments above Rs 2,000, while customers and person-to-person transfers stay free.
Starting October 15, 2026, India will impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000, though customers remain Exempt from any fees.
The zero-MDR regime cost roughly Rs 20,000 crore annually, prompting RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra to say 'someone has to pay the cost' to sustain UPI infrastructure.
While the standard rate is 0.4% capped at Rs 300, Small traders and payments below Rs 2,000 remain Exempt; mutual fund payments face 0.02%, while Petrol and Certain utility payments carry a fixed Rs 5 charge.
The Payments Council and NPCI have prohibited platform fees, requiring the Industry to ensure Merchants do not pass MDR costs directly to customers using UPI.
To support adoption, 5 per cent of total MDR collections will fund UPI expansion for Small Merchants, balancing the financial needs of the Industry with continued growth across India.
NPCI has changed the rules regarding UPI. Starting October 15th, a new framework for UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will be implemented for select merchant transactions. A 0.4% charge will apply to UPI payments exceeding 2,000. The maximum charge per transaction will be approximately ₹300. For transactions of ₹75,000 or more, the MDR will be a maximum of ₹300 per transaction. However, for payments up to ₹2,000, no fees will be charged. See...