The Centre has “quietly opened the door” to imposing fees on UPI transactions above ₹ 2,000, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Tuesday. Merchants could eventually pass the cost on to consumers, the Lok Sabha Opposition leader said.
On X, Rahul Gandhi said transactions above ₹ 2,000 may account for only about 5% of UPI transactions by volume but represent nearly 65% of their total value.
He said that even if customers were not directly charged, merchants could recover the fee by increasing prices.
What the government has changed
But where will the fees imposed on shopkeepers ultimately come from? He also accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government of responding to pressure from American payment companies. “American payment companies have long opposed India’s zero-MDR policy. Now, the Modi government has opened the path to changing the policy in exactly that direction. Just like with the US Trade Deal, Compromised PM Modi is once again surrendering to American pressure,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X. “Instead of providing relief to the inflation-weary public, the Modi government is searching for a new way every day to rob their pockets!! President Donald Trump. Gandhi alleged that the Modi government has quietly paved the way for imposing fees on UPI.
“The government says no fees will be charged to customers. Gandhi said, alleging that this was aimed at changing India’s zero-MDR policy. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government changed its “no fees on UPI” policy to allow charges on transactions above ₹ 2,000. Kharge said on X. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier said in the Rajya Sabha that the amendment was only an “enabling provision” and did not impose any tax or transaction charge on UPI users. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Compromised PM Modi again surrendering to U.S. pressure’: Rahul on government’s UPI move Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) alleged that the Modi government has quietly paved the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions and that a “compromised” Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “once again surrendering” to American pressure. Earlier reporting noted: The Congress raised questions over the government’s notification on UPI transactions, claiming that the stage is clearly being set for people to pay a fee for such transactions and asking whether this is being done to open digital payments for American firms to “appease” U.S.
Earlier reporting noted: In a post in Hindi on X, Mr.
