Archive · 16 Sep 2026
BJP and Congress Clash Over Possible UPI Transaction Charges
The Indian government issued a notice about charges for some UPI payments.
It says UPI merchant payments up to Rs 2,000 will remain free.
Payments made with RuPay debit cards will also remain free.
Payments between people will stay free no matter how much money is sent.
The notice does not clearly say whether merchants might pay charges on larger payments.
Congress said this could eventually create fees connected to UPI.
Congress mentioned possible charges of Rs 25 on a Rs 5,000 payment and Rs 50 on a Rs 10,000 payment.
The BJP said those numbers were made-up examples and that consumers would not be charged.
A committee involving banks and payment groups may consider possible charges for larger merchant transactions.
The BJP accused Congress of spreading fake news about possible UPI transaction charges.
A government notification guarantees zero charges on UPI merchant transactions up to Rs 2,000 and RuPay debit-card payments.
The notification does not specify whether merchants could face charges on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000.
Congress leaders said the notification could eventually lead to fees and cited possible charges on larger payments.
The BJP said consumers would pay no charges and that any future MDR would apply only to specific merchant transactions.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Amit Malviya and Pradeep Bhandari.
- What
- They are disputing whether a government notification could lead to future UPI charges, particularly for merchant transactions above Rs 2,000.
- When
- The dispute followed a September 14 gazette notification and was reported on September 15.
- Where
- New Delhi, India; the leaders issued statements on X.
- Why
- The notification protects some UPI and RuPay transactions from charges but does not specify whether merchants could be charged for UPI payments above Rs 2,000.
Congress’ Concerns
BJP’s Response
Whether fees are being prepared
Congress’ Concerns
Congress said the notification appears to pave the way for fees on UPI transactions and questioned reports of charges on larger payments.
BJP’s Response
The BJP said Congress was spreading fake news and that no government order has fixed charges such as Rs 25 on a Rs 5,000 payment or Rs 50 on a Rs 10,000 payment.
Who could pay a future MDR
Congress’ Concerns
Congress raised concern that UPI users could ultimately face costs if charges are introduced for larger transactions.
BJP’s Response
The BJP said consumers would not pay MDR and that any future charge would apply only to specific merchant transactions.
Meaning of the notification
Congress’ Concerns
Congress viewed the notification’s Rs 2,000 limit as evidence that broader UPI charges could be considered later.
BJP’s Response
The BJP said the notification only clarified zero-charge protection up to Rs 2,000 and that most merchant transactions fall within that limit.
- Protected UPI payments
- UPI merchant transactions up to Rs 2,000 are specified as charge-free.
- RuPay payments
- Payments made through RuPay debit cards remain charge-free.
- Person-to-person payments
- The BJP said P2P UPI transactions remain free regardless of the amount.
- Transactions above Rs 2,000
- The notification does not specify whether merchants could face charges on these transactions.
- Congress figures
- Mallikarjun Kharge cited possible charges of Rs 25 on a Rs 5,000 payment and Rs 50 on a Rs 10,000 payment.
- BJP position
- The BJP said consumers will not pay MDR and that no specific charges have been fixed.
- Covered transactions
- The BJP said 96 percent of UPI merchant transactions are Rs 2,000 or below.
