UPI merchant payments up to ₹2,000 remain free; MDR review planned for higher values

The government said merchants will continue to face no MDR on UPI transactions up to ₹2,000. A panel will determine the fee framework for higher-value payments, a policy signal for retailers’ digital-payment acceptance costs.

— Source publishedWed, 16 Sept, 2026, 07:00 IST·First seen Wed, 16 Sept, 2026, 07:07 IST·Source The Hindu BusinessLine

What happened

RBI filed a caveat in Tata Sons’ listing dispute after rejecting its CIC-registration surrender request. Separately, the government said UPI merchant payments

Key facts

  • ₹2,000
  • 96%

What changed

RBI filed a caveat in Tata Sons’ listing dispute after rejecting its CIC-registration surrender request. Separately, the government said UPI merchant payments up to ₹2,000 remain free, while a panel will determine MDR treatment for higher-value transactions.

Why this matters

Retailers retain zero UPI acceptance costs on transactions up to ₹2,000, while preparing for possible MDR exposure on higher-value baskets.

What to watch

  • Panel composition, consultation timeline and whether recommendations distinguish online, offline, QR, intent and credit-on-UPI transactions.
  • Any announced MDR cap, threshold basis per transaction versus cumulative merchant volume, and effective-date transition period.
  • Government budget allocations or payment-industry subsidy commitments for UPI infrastructure.
  • Statements from RBI, NPCI, banks, payment aggregators and large merchant associations on sustainable economics.
  • Changes in PSP incentives, settlement terms, transaction limits or merchant onboarding fees.