New UPI Rules Come into Effect from 1 August: What Users Need to Know

Starting today, users of India’s widely adopted digital payment platform, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), will see a host of new regulations take effect. Rolled out by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the changes are aimed at improving platform efficiency, reducing system strain, and enhancing user safety—especially during peak transaction hours.

Daily Balance Enquiry Cap Introduced

To prevent system overload, a daily cap of 50 balance enquiries per app has been introduced. The move is expected to ease pressure on backend infrastructure, especially during high-traffic periods. In addition, UPI apps will now display the user’s available balance immediately after each transaction, minimising the need for manual checks.

Timed Windows for Autopay Transactions

Recurring payments under the UPI Autopay feature—covering expenses like bills, EMIs, and subscriptions—must now be executed during specific time slots. These include early mornings (before 10 a.m.), mid-afternoons (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and late evenings (post 9:30 p.m.). If an autopay transaction fails repeatedly, the mandate will be automatically cancelled after a limited number of retries.

Restrictions on Viewing Linked Bank Accounts

Users can now view bank accounts linked to their UPI ID or mobile number only 25 times per day, per app. Each access attempt will require user consent, and providers may introduce time-based restrictions to manage system loads effectively.

Faster Resolution for Pending Transactions

Another key update mandates that pending transaction statuses—whether successful or failed—must be resolved quickly, typically within a few seconds. Users will be allowed up to three status checks, spaced out at predefined intervals, to avoid unnecessary traffic spikes on payment servers.

Pre-Transaction Recipient Name Verification

To enhance transparency and curb fraudulent transfers, UPI platforms will now display the recipient’s registered name and the unique transaction ID before a payment is confirmed. This step is designed to help users double-check transfer details and prevent money from being sent to unintended beneficiaries.

These updates reflect the NPCI’s broader mission to maintain UPI’s reliability at scale, especially as daily transactions increasingly cross the 50 crore mark. By introducing limitations on non-essential actions like repeated balance checks or frequent account views, the regulator is steering the platform towards greater operational sustainability without compromising on user experience.

Financial service providers and payment platforms are expected to implement these changes promptly, with any non-compliance potentially attracting regulatory scrutiny. As digital payments continue to be the backbone of India's financial ecosystem, these refinements aim to support its next phase of growth—secure, efficient, and user-friendly.