UPI Payments Still Free, Says Government ; Social Media Rumours Are False

The Indian government has made it clear that there are no extra charges on UPI payments. This comes after many people on social media started sharing messages claiming that UPI payments would soon have fees. The government has now said these messages are completely false and misleading.

Through a fact-check post, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said that UPI is free to use for both customers and shopkeepers (merchants). You do not have to pay anything extra when you send money using UPI apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, or BHIM.

Some people thought that a charge called MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) would be added to UPI payments. But the government has confirmed that MDR does not apply to UPI. This means shopkeepers will not be charged, and they should not ask customers to pay extra for using UPI.

The government also said that UPI is a public digital service, and it wants to keep it free to promote digital payments across India. The cost of running the system is taken care of by the government through support to banks and payment companies.

UPI has become the most popular method of sending and receiving money in India. Millions of people use it every day for simple tasks like buying groceries, paying bills, and transferring money to friends and family.

The government is asking everyone to not believe fake messages shared on WhatsApp or other platforms. Always check official sources before believing or forwarding such claims.