3 hrs ago
Omar Abdullah Supports UPI Levy, Seeks Consumer Protection Measures
Omar Abdullah said some UPI payments may need charges to help pay for the system that runs them.
He said maintaining digital payments is expensive.
However, he wants ordinary people to be protected from these charges.
He said person-to-person transfers currently have no charge.
He also said individuals should not be charged unless they cross a specific limit.
Abdullah discussed an upcoming seven-day Assembly session in Jammu and Kashmir.
The session will include government business and questions from elected representatives.
He also said work is underway to fix old drainage problems affecting water bodies.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah supported a Centre-backed levy on some UPI transactions.
Abdullah said maintaining and operating digital-payment infrastructure requires substantial funding.
He urged the government to protect ordinary consumers, particularly from charges on person-to-person transfers and transactions below set limits.
The upcoming seven-day Assembly session will address legislative business, constituency issues and MLAs’ questions.
Abdullah said projects are being developed to address longstanding drainage problems and protect and rejuvenate water bodies.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Government of India.
- What
- Abdullah supported a levy on some UPI transactions while urging protections for ordinary consumers.
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- Abdullah made the remarks on Wednesday; the Assembly’s upcoming session will last seven days.
- Why
- He said digital-payment infrastructure is costly to maintain, while consumers should be protected from charges, especially on ordinary transfers.
Support for UPI Charges
Consumer Protection
Who should pay
Support for UPI Charges
Charges can help fund the costly maintenance and operation of digital-payment infrastructure, and Abdullah said he has no objection to companies being charged because they profit through UPI.
Consumer Protection
Ordinary individual consumers should be spared from fees, especially for person-to-person transfers and transactions below specified limits.
Value of free payments
Support for UPI Charges
Abdullah argued that services offered completely free may not be properly valued, supporting the broader case for a levy.
Consumer Protection
The government should ensure that the introduction of charges does not burden ordinary citizens.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
- Payment issue
- A levy is being considered or applied to some UPI transactions
- Consumer protection
- Person-to-person transfers carry no charge, and individuals are not charged below a specific ceiling, according to Abdullah
- Infrastructure rationale
- Maintaining and operating UPI infrastructure requires substantial funding
- Assembly session
- The upcoming session will last seven days
- Environmental work
- Projects are being drafted to address drainage and protect, rejuvenate and expand water bodies
Quotes
Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
“The reality is also that when something is offered completely free, we often fail to value it properly. That said, the Government of India must ensure that ordinary citizens are spared from these fees. If companies are charged, then I have no objection, as companies profit substantially through UPI anyway.”
rediff.com
“However, work is underway. Projects are being drafted under various schemes -- whether under the SASCI or other initiatives. Continuous efforts are being made not only to protect our water bodies but also to rejuvenate and expand those.”
rediff.com
Sources
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