digital payments

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…