{
  "id": 310622,
  "title": "No charges for UPI users: Govt clarifies person-to-person transactions to remain free",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/no-charges-for-upi-users-govt-clarifies-person-to-person-transactions",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-08T14:07:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/no-charges-for-upi-users-government-clarifies-person-to-person-transactions-to-remain-free-top-points/articleshow/133054004.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Indian government has clarified that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions will remain free for users despite a bill being passed in the Lok Sabha that allows banks to charge merchants a fee. The Ministry of Finance stated that UPI payments, particularly person-to-person (P2P) transactions, will continue to be free. The government explained that if an MDR is introduced in the future, it will only apply to a limited category of merchant transactions above a certain threshold and will be levied at a nominal rate. Routine payments, such as those for groceries, auto-rickshaw rides, and taxi fares, are not expected to be affected. The government aims to ensure the UPI ecosystem becomes financially self-sustaining and affordable as it expands, particularly into rural and semi-urban areas.",
  "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."
}