Starting August, new rules will apply to all Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps, including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. The National Payments Corporation of India announced these changes to ease server load and reduce payment failures, aiming for a more stable and efficient UPI experience.
With UPI usage soaring—even for purchases under ₹5—the system is under heavy strain. To manage this, key restrictions will be introduced: Bank balance checks will be limited to 50 times per day. During peak hours (10 am –1 pm and 5 pm –9:30 pm), balance checks will be restricted. Viewing account information linked to mobile numbers is capped at 25 times per day and requires manual bank selection and consent. Auto-debits (e.g., Netflix, SIPs) will be processed only before 10 am, between 1–5 pm, and after 9:30 pm. Payment status checks for failed/stuck transactions can be made only 3 times daily, at 90-second intervals.
Due to these limits, small purchases via QR codes may be affected. It's now advisable to carry some cash as backup instead of relying solely on UPI.
