{
  "id": 7809446,
  "title": "UPI still free, but there's a catch: Who ultimately pays & could cash make a comeback?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/upi-still-free-but-theres-a-catch-who-ultimately-pays-could-cash-make",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T13:59:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/upi-still-free-but-theres-a-catch-how-new-mdr-works-could-cash-payments-make-a-comeback/articleshow/134285783.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Recent updates to UPI regulations have introduced a Merchant Discount Rate for certain transactions. While consumers will not incur any fees for their UPI payments, merchants will face a 0.4% charge on transactions above two thousand rupees. However, person-to-person UPI transfers and payments from small merchants continue to be free. This initiative is designed to foster sustainability and…",
  "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."
}