Major Changes in UPI Payments in India from August 1, 2025

Major Changes in UPI Payments in India from August 1, 2025

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is the heart of digital transactions in India, and from August 1, 2025, a number of important updates will reshape the way users interact with UPI apps like Paytm, GPay, PhonePe, and more. These changes, announced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), aim to streamline operations, reduce server overloads, and improve the reliability and security of online payments, especially during peak times.

 Key Changes to UPI Starting August 1, 2025

1. Daily Cap on Bank Balance Checks

- New Rule: Users can check their account balance a maximum of 50 times per day per UPI app.

- Purpose: This cap is aimed at cutting down unnecessary load on UPI servers caused by users repeatedly checking balances, often during peak hours. Heavy users and businesses who frequently check balances may need to adjust their habits.

 2. Limit on Viewing Linked Bank Accounts

- New Rule: You can now view your bank accounts linked to your mobile number only 25 times per day per app.

- Purpose: This move aims to minimize backend strain caused by excessive account list checks and will help keep UPI platforms fast and responsive.

3. Autopay Transactions: Fixed Timing Slots

- New Rule: UPI AutoPay—used for subscriptions, utility bill payments, EMIs, etc.—will now be processed only in pre-defined time windows, instead of randomly throughout the day.

- Purpose: These time slots are intended to spread out system traffic and reduce congestion during peak hours, making both regular and automated transactions faster and more reliable.

4. No Change to Money Transfer Limits

- Daily Transaction Limit: The per-transaction cap for UPI remains unchanged—up to ₹1 lakh per transaction, and for select sectors like healthcare and education, up to ₹5 lakh per transaction.

- Purpose: Payment limits are unaffected to ensure seamless high-volume transfers for permitted categories.

 5. Account Deactivation for Inactive Numbers

- If your UPI-linked mobile number stays inactive for 90 days, your UPI account could be deactivated as per the new rulebook[9].

 Why Are These Changes Happening?

Recent months saw repeated transaction failures and outages in the UPI system, attributed to surges in backend requests and unregulated scheduling of auto payments. By introducing daily caps and timing windows for certain actions, NPCI hopes to reduce system slowdowns and outages, creating a smoother, faster, and more secure digital payment infrastructure for everyone.

What Should Users Do?

- Plan balance checks and account views—avoid unnecessary refreshes.

- Be aware that scheduled payments (autopay), like subscription renewals or bill payments, will now process only during allotted windows—track your reminders accordingly.

- Regular payments, merchant transactions, and QR scans remain unchanged; normal day-to-day use for most users will be unaffected.

- Ensure your UPI-registered mobile number remains active to avoid accidental deactivation.

Conclusion

These changes reflect India's focus on resilience, speed, and convenience in its digital payment ecosystem. For most users, the transition will be smooth. Only those who habitually check balances or account lists excessively—or rely on unscheduled autopayments—will need to adjust. Ultimately, these updates promise to keep India’s beloved UPI system snappy and stable for all.

Stay updated and adapt your usage to enjoy hassle-free digital transactions from August 1 onward!

Citations:

[1] UPI rules update on August 1: New limits, autopay timings ... click here

[2] New UPI Rules from August 1: Daily Limits, Autopay Time Slots, and ... click here