Sweeping UPI Rule Changes: What PhonePe, GPay, and Paytm Users Need to Know
From August 1, UPI users face new rules: balance checks, transaction limits, and account safety measures for deactivation prevention.
August 1: A New Era in UPI Usage
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced sweeping changes to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) rules, set to take effect on August 1. These updates will streamline processes, enhance security, and notably affect how frequently users interact with their mobile payment platforms, including PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm. These transformations aim to keep the UPI system efficient and less congested during peak times.
Daily Interaction Limits: Balance Checks and Account Views
Users will now face a limit on how often they can check their bank balance daily. Capped at 50 times per day per app, this measure intends to alleviate the backend servers’ load during high-peak traffic windows. Similar restrictions apply to viewing linked bank accounts, now limited to 25 times a day. These changes oblige users to be more mindful of their interactions, especially those using multiple UPI platforms.
Autopay Adjustments: Time Slot Allocations
Recurring payments such as OTT subscriptions, EMIs, and other utility bills will adhere to newly assigned autopay windows. Processed during off-peak hours specifically before 10:00 AM and between 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, these adjustments hope to balance traffic across the day. If you’re prone to set-and-forget bills, be conscious of these new schedules.
Stuck Transactions: Limited Status Checks
Should transactions encounter delays or not immediately process, the revision now only permits checking the status three times per transaction with a 90-second minimum gap between each. This prevents server overload, ensuring a smoother experience for all.
No Change to Transaction Limits
Although the transaction cap of Rs. 1 lakh per transaction remains unchanged, specific sectors, like healthcare and education, maintain higher thresholds up to Rs. 5 lakh. This consistency reassures users while underscoring financial prudence.
Mobile Activity & UPI Account Deactivation
In a move to tighten security, mobile numbers inactive for 90 consecutive days will result in automatic deactivation of the UPI account. Users are encouraged to regularly use their UPI-linked numbers to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Adapting to Make UPI Run Smoothly
For regular users, these updates may go unnoticed in everyday transactions. However, frequent balance checkers, businesses, and backend-heavy API users will need to adapt. This concerted effort by NPCI aims to keep UPI fast, efficient, and congestion-free during high-volume times. According to Goodreturns, these changes reflect NPCI’s forward-thinking approach to managing one of the world’s largest digital payment ecosystems.
