NPCI Rejects Rahul Gandhi's Claims on UPI Merchant Charges

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the government has opened the door to levying fees on UPI transactions exceeding ₹2,000, claiming such transactions represent 65% of total UPI transaction value despite being only 5% in number.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) responded that person-to-person transactions constitute 70% of total UPI value and remain completely free, regardless of amount. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges apply only to merchant transactions above ₹2,000. NPCI stated Gandhi's claim that merchants would pass on costs through price increases lacks factual basis, noting that traders treat payment processing charges as ordinary business expenses.

NPCI cited August 2026 data showing 24.5 billion UPI transactions processed, emphasizing that MDR rules support infrastructure investment needed for secure, competitive digital payments.