Page 6 - Upi

UPI MDR debate: Why ₹2,000 is in focus and what it means for users

The government has not notified ₹2,000 as an MDR threshold, but the existing incentive framework and transaction data explain why the number dominates the debate

WhatsApp Pay's UPI volumes doubled to 168 million in July, shows data

Moved ahead of players such as Cred, Amazon Pay

Street signs: To friends at a discount, NSE rolls out shorter SLB contracts

Promoter share transfers, shorter SLB contracts and mandatory @valid UPI IDs are among the latest changes drawing attention in India's capital markets

Best of BS Opinion: The case for keeping UPI free outweighs its infra costs

Today's columns examine the case for keeping UPI free, Punjab's shifting political landscape, General A S Vaidya's forgotten legacy and the rise of founders as brand ambassadors.

The case for keeping UPI free outweighs the costs of its infrastructure

It is worth seeing the argument from a perspective that does not limit itself to asking how UPI infrastructure costs ought to be funded

UPI has been free for 10 years: Why is India debating charges now? Digital payment

India’s UPI network has grown from just 373 transactions in its first month to more than 23 billion transactions in a single month. But as the system scales, a bigger question is emerging.

Payments firms mop up $5.8 billion via equity fundraise since 2021

Cred and PhonePe raised $1 billion each during the five-year period, while Pine Labs, Razorpay and BharatPe were among the other major recipients of equity funding

Kiwi broadens UPI credit play with Yes Bank partnership, Postpaid launch

The fintech expects at least 5 million users to get onboarded on the platform to access products like credit line on UPI or credit cards on UPI over the next five years, said Sumeet Basrani

Is free UPI viable? Pricing vital for digital public infra's future

The debate over UPI pricing is shifting as zero-MDR strains the ecosystem, raising questions over who should bear costs and whether a calibrated MDR can sustain digital public infrastructure

Govt weighing two models to offset UPI costs: FinMin tells Parl panel

Restoring MDR for high-threshold transactions/merchants; or a tiered incentive structure

Is UPI ending free payments? Here's what Finance Minister Sitharaman said

UPI users won't pay a transaction fee for now, but a proposed MDR framework could change how some merchant payments work.

MDR in future only on some merchant UPI transactions: FM Sitharaman

"No MDR framework has yet been finalised," Sitharaman said. She added that consumers would continue to make instant digital payments through UPI without paying a transaction charge

NPCI targets Indian diaspora to drive UPI growth across overseas markets

NPCI plans to use the country's vast diaspora to drive global expansion, while also exploring AI-enabled payments through platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini

Dropping this Oct: Apple Pay services set for India launch, no UPI yet

Apple Pay is set to launch in India by October, initially supporting Visa and Mastercard credit cards but not UPI, as Apple negotiates transaction fees with banks

Govt clarifies UPI to remain free; MDR may apply to large merchants later

The Ministry of Finance said UPI users will continue to pay no transaction charges, while a possible MDR could apply only to select merchant transactions above a threshold.

UPI to remain free for consumers, govt clarifies proposed MDR rules

The government reiterated that UPI will remain free for citizens, with no charges on everyday transactions for consumers

UPI is and will remain free for consumers: PhonePe CEO amid charge concerns

Sameer Nigam, CEO of PhonePe, on Saturday said in a social media post that consumers would continue to use UPI free of charge, even as questions around charges for consumers and merchants continued

Best of BS Opinion: Stock exchange closing auction system needs review

The day's opinion highlights flaws in closing auctions, the funding challenge in digital payments, humane KYC, cognitive warfare and everyday gender discrimination

Merchant discount rate on UPI: Small apps to bet on customer base

Potential UPI MDR could boost revenues for dominant players like PhonePe and Paytm, while giving smaller apps a viable path to profitability and customer acquisition

BS Explainer: MDR on UPI, existing fee structures and what may change next

The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, could pave the way for an MDR on UPI. Here's how MDR works, the current structure and what may change