{
  "id": 14157807,
  "title": "UPI MDR on select merchant transactions shall be implemented post Diwali",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/upi-mdr-on-select-merchant-transactions-shall-be-implemented-post",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-13T08:46:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/business/upi-mdr-on-select-merchant-transactions-shall-be-implemented-post-diwali/article71578558.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced that the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on person-to-merchant UPI payments would be implemented after Diwali. This decision was made by the UPI and Services Steering Committee during their meeting on October 13, 2026, keeping in mind the festive season. NPCI stated that the MDR on select Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI transactions will be implemented immediately on a date to be notified separately after Diwali.\n\nEarlier, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra had expressed his opinion on the matter. On October 7, 2026, he said that levying a \"small fee\" in the form of merchant discount rate (MDR) would not have a \"major impact\" on UPI transaction volumes. Speaking to reporters at the central bank headquarters in Mumbai, Malhotra assured that \"as of now, we do not see any drop in volumes\" and personally believed that \"a small fee will have a major impact on the volumes.\"",
  "summary": "Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select Person-to-Merchant UPI transactions shall be implemented post-Diwali immediately on a date to be notified separately, says NPCI",
  "key_points": [
    "NPCI announced MDR implementation post Diwali for P2M UPI transactions.",
    "MDR on select Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI transactions to be implemented immediately after Diwali.",
    "Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra assured no major impact on UPI transaction volumes."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Merchant fee on Rs 2,000-plus UPI payments to be imposed after Diwali",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/merchant-fee-on-rs-2-000-plus-upi-payments-to-be-imposed-after-diwali",
        "published": "2026-10-13T08:03:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}