Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Kerala Traders Plan UPI Boycott Over Proposed Charges
A traders’ group in Kerala plans to stop using UPI payments for one day.
The planned boycott is on October 15, 2026.
The group is unhappy about a proposed 0.4% charge on UPI transactions.
It says GST could make the cost even higher.
Small shops often have small profits, so extra fees could hurt them.
The group says traders started using UPI after the government encouraged digital payments.
It also says the Centre had earlier promised that UPI payments would not be charged.
The traders want the government to cancel the proposed charges and plan more protests.
The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi plans to boycott UPI transactions across Kerala on October 15, 2026.
The traders’ group is protesting a proposed 0.4% charge on UPI transactions.
State president Raju Apsara said GST could add to traders’ financial burden.
The Samithi said narrow profit margins and intense competition are already troubling small traders.
The group has demanded that the government withdraw the proposed charges and announced wider protests.
- Who
- The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, led in the state by president Raju Apsara.
- What
- A boycott of UPI transactions and broader protests against proposed transaction charges.
- When
- October 15, 2026; the announcement was published on September 20, 2026.
- Where
- Across the state of Kerala.
- Why
- The group opposes a proposed 0.4% charge and says GST and limited profit margins would increase small traders’ costs.
Traders’ Opposition
Centre’s Digital Payment Position
Transaction charges
Traders’ Opposition
The Samithi says a 0.4% charge, together with GST, would raise operating costs and worsen the difficulties faced by small traders.
Centre’s Digital Payment Position
The article describes the charge as a move by the Centre but does not provide a current response or justification from the government.
Earlier commitment
Traders’ Opposition
The traders’ group alleges that the Centre is reversing its earlier position that UPI transactions would remain free.
Centre’s Digital Payment Position
The article states that the Centre had previously called for digital transactions, but it does not include a government response to the allegation of backtracking.
- Boycott date
- October 15, 2026
- Location
- Kerala, India
- Transaction system
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
- Proposed charge
- 0.4% per transaction
- Organizing group
- Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi
- State president
- Raju Apsara
- Additional concern
- GST could create a further financial burden for small traders