Key Points:
- Daily balance check capped at 50 per UPI app; separate limits for each app (e.g., GPay, PhonePe).
- Auto-balance notifications: After every UPI payment, your remaining bank balance will be sent via SMS/app alert.
- Linked account details: Viewable only once daily per UPI app, and only with user authentication.
- AutoPay rescheduled: Automatic payments now processed only during non-peak hours to reduce congestion.
- Transaction status checks: Can be refreshed only 3 times/day, with a 90-second wait before the first check and mandatory gaps between.
- Annual audit mandatory for all UPI-enabled banks, with the first compliance report due by August 31, 2025.
- Chargeback limit: Payment reversal requests allowed only 10 times in 30 days.
- Routine payments, money transfers unaffected.
New Delhi: A sweeping update to the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system takes effect August 1, aiming to cut technical failures, reduce server strain, and make digital payments smoother for millions of users across India. If you routinely use apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm, here’s what you need to know about the new ground rules:
1. Daily Limit on Balance Checks
- 50 checks per app per day: You can now check your bank account balance only 50 times daily on each UPI app. Use Paytm and PhonePe? The 50-check cap applies to each app separately.
- Peak hours restriction: Limitations may further tighten during busy times (10am-1pm, 5pm-9:30pm) to prevent server overload.
2. Automatic Balance Alerts
- No more repetitive checks necessary: After every successful UPI payment, the bank will send your updated balance via SMS or notification, so you don’t need to keep refreshing the app.
3. Viewing Linked Bank Accounts
- Once-a-day limit: You can now see your list of UPI-linked bank accounts only once per day in each app. This action requires you to authenticate and select the bank manually.
4. AutoPay Processed Off-Peak
- Scheduled Autopay only in non-peak hours: Recurring payments for streaming platforms, SIPs, bills, and subscriptions will now be deducted only during off-peak slots typically outside 10am–1pm and 5pm–9:30pm.
5. Transaction Status Checks
- Limited to 3 refreshes/day: If a payment fails, you have to wait at least 90 seconds before your first status check. Afterwards, you can check only 2 more times that day, with 45–60 seconds between attempts.
6. Compliance and Chargeback Rules
- Annual system audits: Every UPI-participating bank must complete a yearly audit, with the initial deadline set for August 31, 2025.
- Chargeback request cap: You can seek reversal of UPI payments just 10 times in a rolling 30-day period.
7. No Changes to Day-to-Day Payments
- Transferring funds or making merchant payments? Standard payments and daily purchases are unaffected. All new rules focus on “background” queries and automation, not your essentials.
Why These Changes?
These regulatory upgrades follow two major outages of the national UPI system earlier this year, which disrupted millions of transactions and sparked widespread user complaints. The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) notes that repetitive balance checks and auto-triggers from popular apps have been overloading servers, resulting in failed or delayed transfers. By introducing these smart-caps and off-peak scheduling, the NPCI aims to ensure reliability and resilience as UPI transactions continue to surge across India.
If you use UPI for frequent payments or track your finances closely, make sure to familiarize yourself with these limits to avoid disruptions from August 1.
