Don't Kill Digital India! Roll Back UPI Transaction Charges Now
Don't Kill Digital India! Roll Back UPI Transaction Charges Now
The Issue
The Petition Goal
We are petitioning the Ministry of Finance and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to completely withdraw the decision to implement Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on high-value UPI transactions.
The Petition Body
India achieved a global miracle with UPI. We went from a cash-heavy country to a world leader in digital payments. From local street vendors to large showrooms, scanning a QR code became second nature because it was fast, seamless, and 100% free.
Now, a dangerous new order threatens to undo all of this progress. The decision to levy transaction charges on high-value UPI payments is a massive step backward.
Why this order is a disaster for India:
It will force India back to cash: If businesses face a fee for accepting digital payments, they will stop using QR codes for larger sales. They will demand cash, dragging us backward into a shadow economy.
It wastes thousands of crores on printing paper money: Digital transactions save the government immense amounts of money. Over the last decade, managing paper currency has drained public funds. According to RBI data, the government has spent upwards of ₹4,000 to ₹7,000+ crore every single year just on security printing charges to produce physical notes. Why penalize a digital system that saves taxpayers this massive expense?
Consumers will ultimately pay the price: Even if the government claims these charges are only for "merchants," we know the reality. Businesses will quietly hike prices or pass the transaction fee onto the everyday consumer.
UPI is not a commercial luxury product; it is a public utility—just like roads, water, and electricity. It belongs to the people of India.
Charging money for UPI transactions will kill the momentum of Digital India, encourage under-the-table cash deals, and explode the government’s own costs for printing and distributing physical currency notes.
Call to Action
Sign this petition to tell the Ministry of Finance and the NPCI: Keep UPI 100% free. Protect Digital India and roll back this order immediately!
26
The Issue
The Petition Goal
We are petitioning the Ministry of Finance and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to completely withdraw the decision to implement Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on high-value UPI transactions.
The Petition Body
India achieved a global miracle with UPI. We went from a cash-heavy country to a world leader in digital payments. From local street vendors to large showrooms, scanning a QR code became second nature because it was fast, seamless, and 100% free.
Now, a dangerous new order threatens to undo all of this progress. The decision to levy transaction charges on high-value UPI payments is a massive step backward.
Why this order is a disaster for India:
It will force India back to cash: If businesses face a fee for accepting digital payments, they will stop using QR codes for larger sales. They will demand cash, dragging us backward into a shadow economy.
It wastes thousands of crores on printing paper money: Digital transactions save the government immense amounts of money. Over the last decade, managing paper currency has drained public funds. According to RBI data, the government has spent upwards of ₹4,000 to ₹7,000+ crore every single year just on security printing charges to produce physical notes. Why penalize a digital system that saves taxpayers this massive expense?
Consumers will ultimately pay the price: Even if the government claims these charges are only for "merchants," we know the reality. Businesses will quietly hike prices or pass the transaction fee onto the everyday consumer.
UPI is not a commercial luxury product; it is a public utility—just like roads, water, and electricity. It belongs to the people of India.
Charging money for UPI transactions will kill the momentum of Digital India, encourage under-the-table cash deals, and explode the government’s own costs for printing and distributing physical currency notes.
Call to Action
Sign this petition to tell the Ministry of Finance and the NPCI: Keep UPI 100% free. Protect Digital India and roll back this order immediately!
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 15 September 2026