UPICharges
New NPCI framework · effective October 15, 2026

UPI charges,
without the confusion.

The new UPI transaction charges, the ₹2,000 rule, MDR and daily limits — explained in simple language.

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Latest UPI update

Reported

0.4%

MDR on specified merchant UPI payments above ₹2,000

₹2,000

Threshold

₹300

Maximum MDR

  • Starts October 15, 2026
  • Consumers and P2P transfers remain free
Read the explanation

Quick facts

The whole change in four numbers

Everything the headlines get wrong, on one card.

₹2,000

Threshold

Merchant payments above this

0.4%

MDR rate

Paid by the merchant, not you

₹300

Maximum MDR

Cap for ₹75,000+ payments

Oct 15

Effective date

2026, as reported

Good to know

  • Person-to-person (P2P) transfers stay free.
  • Consumers are not directly charged for UPI payments.
  • MDR applies only to specified person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions.

Calculator

See the MDR on any payment

Drag the slider or type an amount. Consumers always pay ₹0 extra.

Payment type
Up to ₹1,00,000

Estimated MDR

₹40

Paid by the merchant. The customer is not charged.

Transaction amount
₹10,000
MDR rate
0.4%
Merchant receives
₹9,960
Customer pays extra
₹0

Informational only. Actual fees depend on transaction category, applicable NPCI rules and merchant/payment-provider arrangements.

Timeline

What changed?

How UPI merchant charges moved from zero to the new framework.

  1. 1

    Before

    Zero-MDR regime

    UPI merchant payments largely operated without a merchant discount rate since January 2020.

  2. 2

    September 2026

    New framework announced

    NPCI outlines a 0.4% MDR for specified P2M transactions above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300.

  3. 3

    October 15, 2026

    Implementation

    Specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000 become subject to MDR. P2P remains free.

  4. 4

    Going forward

    Review and updates

    The framework can be reviewed and revised. Every official change will be tracked here.

News

Latest UPI news

Every update answers what changed, who is affected and when it starts.

View all
Explainer

New UPI transaction charges 2026: the new rules explained simply

Are there new charges on UPI transactions? Yes — but only for specified merchants on payments above ₹2,000. Consumers and P2P transfers stay free.

· 6 min read

Update

UPI charges above ₹2,000: what the new rule means for you

The ₹2,000 figure is the threshold above which a merchant fee applies. Here's exactly what happens above and below it.

· 4 min read

Guide

What is MDR? UPI MDR charges explained in plain language

MDR stands for Merchant Discount Rate. It is what a business pays to accept a digital payment — and it is never billed to the customer.

· 5 min read

Payments

UPI merchant charges: who pays the new fee and how much

Following the money on a ₹10,000 UPI payment: what the merchant receives, what the provider keeps, and why the customer's side never changes.

· 4 min read

FAQ

Common questions

Straight answers on fees, limits and who pays. No jargon, no hedging.

See all 9 questions
Is there any charge on UPI transactions?

Not for consumers. The new 0.4% MDR announced for October 15, 2026 is a merchant-side fee on specified merchant payments above ₹2,000. Person-to-person transfers remain free.

Will I pay more when using UPI?

No. Your account is debited the exact bill amount. The MDR is deducted from what the merchant receives, not from what you pay.

What is MDR?

Merchant Discount Rate is the fee a merchant pays its bank or payment provider for accepting a digital payment. It is deducted from the amount settled to the merchant.

What is the charge on UPI payments above ₹2,000?

For specified merchants, 0.4% of the transaction, capped at ₹300, from October 15, 2026, as reported. Payments of ₹2,000 or less are not affected.

Who will pay the new UPI transaction charges?

The merchant, through its payment provider. Customers and people sending money to each other pay nothing extra.

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