UPI

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…

31 Mar

National highways to transition to 100% digital tolling starting April 1

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiadigital payment, FASTag, highway toll, UPI

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a significant shift in infrastructure policy by mandating the complete removal of cash transactions at all national highway toll plazas. Effective April 1, commuters across the country will be required to settle toll fees exclusively through digital platforms. This transition is designed to eliminate the delays often associated with manual cash handling, moving instead toward a fully automated system that utilizes FASTag and UPI technologies for seamless transit. Government officials emphasized that this move is a cornerstone of a broader national strategy to modernize highway infrastructure and…