FM says UPI MDR, if levied, would apply to merchants—not users

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said merchant discount rate charges apply to merchants rather than UPI end users. A proposed legal amendment would let the government exempt notified electronic payment modes from charges, while NPCI’s steering committee has yet to decide on UPI MDR.

— Filed Thu, 6 Aug, 2026, 22:41 IST · Source The Hindu BusinessLine · Updated

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said MDR applies to merchants, not UPI users. The proposed amendment would allow the government to exempt notified electronic payment modes from charges; NPCI’s steering committee has yet to decide on UPI MDR.

Why this matters

The statement follows analysis arguing UPI merchant MDR below 0.25% could fund the payments ecosystem and Lok Sabha’s passage of a bill that could enable MDR on UPI merchant payments.

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