digital payments Archives - National Times

18 Sep

AAP Stages Protests in Punjab Against Additional Charges on UPI Transactions

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, digital payments, Jalandhar, Narendra Modi, Pawan Kumar Tinu, Punjab protest, UPI charges

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday held protests in Jalandhar and Sujanpur in Pathankot against the BJP-led Central Government’s decision to impose additional charges on certain UPI (Unified Payments Interface) merchant transactions. During the protests, angry people raised slogans against the Central Government and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A massive protest was organised at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk in Jalandhar under the leadership of senior AAP Punjab leader Pawan Kumar Tinu. Addressing party volunteers, Pawan Kumar Tinu said, “The decision of the BJP-led Central Government to impose additional charges on UPI transactions…

16 Sep

Retail Bodies Warn New 0.4% UPI Charge Could Trigger Shift Back to Cash Ahead of Festive Season

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabCash transactions, digital payments, Festive season, Merchant fee, Retailers Association, UPI MDR

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Retail and apparel industry bodies have raised serious concerns over the government's decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions exceeding ₹2,000, warning that the added operational expense could stall digital adoption and push small retailers back toward cash transactions ahead of the peak festive shopping season. The new fee structure, which marks the end of nearly six years of fully zero-MDR payments on UPI, is scheduled to take effect on October 15. While ordinary person-to-person transfers and low-value transactions below ₹2,000 remain completely exempt, the cost…

07 Aug

UPI Will Remain Free for Consumers and Small Merchants, Clarifies Payments Council of India

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiadigital payments, Kirana Stores, Payments Council of India, UPI

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Payments Council of India (PCI) has issued a statement clarifying that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions will continue to be completely free for everyday consumers and that small businesses, including local kirana stores, will not face any payment acceptance charges. The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions regarding the long-term sustainability of the payment infrastructure and the potential introduction of merchant charges for select commercial categories. PCI reaffirmed that UPI was originally engineered to make digital transactions accessible to micro-enterprises, and safeguarding small merchants remains central to maintaining inclusive growth across the digital economy. Addressing concerns…

13 Nov

New Toll Policy from November 15: Double Toll Without FASTag, Digital Payments to Get 25% Rebate

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiadigital payments, FASTag, highways, India transport, MoRTH, toll rules

New Delhi, November 13, 2025 — Beginning November 15, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will implement revised toll collection rules aimed at promoting digital payments and easing traffic flow across India’s highways.Under the new guidelines, any vehicle not equipped with a valid FASTag will be charged twice the normal toll rate if the payment is made in cash. In contrast, those who opt for UPI or other digital payment modes at toll plazas will pay only 1.25 times the standard amount. Vehicles using FASTag will continue to be charged the regular fee.For instance, if a vehicle’s standard…