Customers won’t pay UPI charges, it’s not a tax or cess: Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new MDR on eligible UPI transactions will not be charged to consumers, while payments below ₹2,000 will remain exempt. She clarified that MDR is neither a tax nor a cess, and collections will not go to the government. From October 15, a 0.4% MDR will apply to eligible merchant UPI transactions above ₹2,000.