New Delhi, July 31, 2025: Starting August 1, 2025, the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) will introduce seven revamped UPI (Unified Payments Interface) regulations to bolster the performance of digital transactions across systems such as Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, and BHIM. These measures are designed to mitigate challenges like payment delays and system downtimes by implementing constraints on API (Application Programming Interface) usage for balance inquiries, transaction status verifications, and linked account displays. These transformations will affect all UPI users and are intended to ensure uninterrupted and efficient payment experiences. Here is a detailed look at the changes to ensure seamless transactions.
4 Key Changes to UPI Operations
1. API Utilization Controls for System Stability: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced new regulations for banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), capping the usage of high-traffic APIs. This includes APIs for balance inquiries, autopay mandates, and transaction status checks, aimed at alleviating network congestion and minimizing system downtimes.
2. Daily Balance Inquiry Limit Implemented: Starting August 1, the NPCI has set a cap of 50 balance checks per UPI app per day for users. This limit, intended to manage peak-hour loads more effectively, will be enforced separately for each application such as Paytm and GPay.
3. Daily Limit on Linked Account Views: A new restriction has been placed on the number of times users can view their linked bank accounts through UPI apps. From now on, they will only be able to do so 25 times daily per app, in an effort to decrease the volume of unnecessary API calls and enhance system efficiency.
4. Transaction Status Checks Regulated: In a move to prevent system overloading, the NPCI has limited the number of times users can check the status of a single transaction. The new rule allows for only three checks per transaction with a mandatory waiting period of 90 seconds between each inquiry.
These measures are part of the NPCI's ongoing efforts to maintain the robustness and reliability of the UPI infrastructure, ensuring a seamless experience for users during peak transaction periods.
3 Impact on Users and Autopay Features
1. Fixed Autopay Windows Implemented for UPI: In a move to reduce disruptions, UPI autopay transactions, such as EMIs and utility bill payments, have been scheduled to process during designated non-peak periods: prior to 10:00 AM, between 1:00 and 5:00 PM, and post 9:30 PM.
2. Uniform UPI Regulations Across Apps: The new guidelines affect all UPI users regardless of their preferred platform—Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, or BHIM. Regular users accustomed to frequently checking balances and transaction statuses may need to adapt their routines.
3. Banks Introduce Mandatory Post-Transaction Balance Notifications: To bolster transparency, financial institutions are now required to send balance updates to customers following each UPI transaction, keeping them informed about their account status in real-time.
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