{
  "id": 7761901,
  "title": "‘PM Modi has decided to prostrate before Trump’: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘UPI tax’ jibe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/pm-modi-has-decided-to-prostrate-before-trump-rahul-gandhis-upi-tax",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T10:14:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/upi-charges-row-rahul-gandhi-modi-mdr-framework-10880543/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rahul Gandhi, a senior member of the Congress party, criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for imposing a charge on UPI payments exceeding Rs 2,000. In a video message, Gandhi remarked, \"Modiji has chosen to lie down straight and bow before US President Donald Trump.\" This came following the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announcing a revised merchant pricing framework. Under this framework, a 0.4 percent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will be applicable to eligible person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, starting October 15, 2026. The charge will be borne by the merchant and capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. Gandhi contended that the new pricing structure equates to a \"tax\" on Indian citizens, as it will generate significant revenue for the United States. He urged Modi to abandon this stance and stand up against the United States.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Rahul Gandhi criticized Modi for UPI transaction charge",
    "Modi prostrates before US President Trump, per Gandhi",
    "New pricing framework imposes 0.4% MDR on P2M UPI > Rs 2,000"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Rahul Gandhi asks PM Modi to roll back 'UPI tax' immediately, invokes Indira",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/rahul-gandhi-asks-pm-modi-to-roll-back-upi-tax-immediately-invokes",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:37:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "‘PM Modi has decided to prostrate before Trump’: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘UPI tax’ jibe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/pm-modi-has-decided-to-prostrate-before-trump-rahul-gandhis-upi-tax-7764263",
        "published": "2026-09-16T10:14:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}