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FM says proposed UPI MDR is not a tax and will not burden consumers

2 sources · first seen 13:26 25 Sept · updated 13:51 25 Sept

The brief

Written from 2 reports · check the source before you trade
  • MDR will not be passed on to consumers
  • The merchant payment ecosystem will bear the MDR
  • Payment firms and merchants must absorb MDR; consumer-facing UPI adoption is shielded

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Linked by the tag Nirmala Sitharaman

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Part of a developing story32 updates over 5 days

UPI MDR rollout and consumer protection

SBI plans to charge MDR on UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000 from October 15, while officials say MDR collections will not cover UPI’s full operating costs and the government and banks will decide a continuing subsidy. The Finance Minister says the fee will be borne within the merchant-payment ecosystem, not passed to consumers; the government is also discussing safeguards with banks.

Read the reports

2 reports · earliest 13:26
Business LineMerchant Discount Rate on UPI not a tax, cess or surcharge; will not burden consumers: FM13:26Fortune IndiaProposed UPI MDR not a tax, cess or surcharge; will not burden consumers: FM Sitharaman13:51