Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

From UPI to Cash? Retailers Warn New MDR Could Hit Small Merchants Ahead of Festive Season

Retailers warn the fee on merchant payments above Rs 2,000 could push small businesses back to cash and slow digital adoption.

  • On Tuesday, the Indian government announced a 0.4% fee on UPI merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15, while exempting small payments and person-to-person transfers from any charge.
  • Ending nearly six years of free UPI payments, the policy shift prompts concern from retailers that new costs could reverse digital adoption gains just before the festive season.
  • The Merchant Discount Rate is capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above, placing the cost burden on merchants, many of whom operate on thin margins.
  • Retailers Association of India CEO Kumar Rajagopalan warned the tax "could undo years of progress in digital payment adoption," arguing the state should underwrite costs rather than taxing small retailers.
  • Seeking a graded MDR structure, RAI plans to consult the National Payments Corporation of India and the Ministry of Finance to differentiate debit-linked transactions from credit-linked ones.
Insights by Ground AI

26 Articles

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 62% of the sources lean Right
62% Right

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

uniquetimes.org broke the news on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal