{
  "id": 11474985,
  "title": "Ulhasnagar Traders Observe ‘No UPI Day’, Cover QR Codes With Black Cloth Over New MDR Charges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ulhasnagar-traders-observe-no-upi-day-cover-qr-codes-with-black-cloth",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-02T15:37:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/ulhasnagar-traders-observe-no-upi-day-cover-qr-codes-with-black-cloth-over-new-mdr-charges"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ulhasnagar traders staged a 'No UPI Day' protest on Friday to voice their opposition to a proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding ₹2,000. The Ulhasnagar Shopkeepers Association organized the demonstration in advance of the new MDR framework's implementation on October 15. Shopkeepers covered their UPI QR scanners with black cloth, refusing to accept digital payments, leaving customers scrambling for cash. The protest targeted the new MDR structure, which would levy a merchant-side charge on high-value P2M UPI transactions, with a cap for larger amounts. Shopkeepers argued that the new charge would increase their operating costs and impact narrow profit margins. Some customers supported the traders, criticizing the additional transaction costs imposed by the government. Others, however, expressed concerns that consumers should not bear the inconvenience caused by the dispute between traders and authorities. The protest highlighted the rapid adoption of cashless payments in Ulhasnagar while also exposing the challenges faced by everyday shoppers during the transition.",
  "summary": "Ulhasnagar: The growing dependence on digital payments came under the spotlight in Ulhasnagar on Friday as traders observed a local ‘No UPI Day’ to protest the proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified UPI transactions above ₹2,000. Several shopkeepers covered their UPI QR scanners with black cloth and stopped accepting digital payments, leaving many customers scrambling for cash to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}