Starting August 1, 2025, there are major changes to the policies concerning Unified Payments Interface (UPI) usage. New instructions from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will apply broadly to all UPI apps, including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. The stated purpose behind these changes is to alleviate pressure on the UPI system by ensuring swifter and more secure transaction processes. Let’s go through the new rules.
Balance Check Limit
From now on, a user can check their account balance from a UPI app a maximum of 50 times a day. Any attempt to check the balance beyond this limit will fail. This step has been taken to reduce the additional load on the server. Balance Check Limit: From now on, a user can check their account balance from a UPI app a maximum of 50 times a day. Any attempt to check the balance beyond this limit will fail. This step has been taken to reduce the additional load on the serve.
Linked Bank Account Viewing Limit:
The list of bank accounts linked to a user’s mobile number can now be viewed only 25 times a day. This new rule is designed to reduce unnecessary API calls generated by repeatedly viewing this list.
New timings for auto-pay transactions:
Auto-pay transactions for bills, subscriptions or investments will now be processed only during specific off-peak hours. These time slots are: Before 10:00 AM From 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM After 9:30 PM
Limit to checking the status of failed transactions:
If a transaction fails, its status can be checked only 3 times a day, with a 90-second interval between each check. This rule is intended to reduce server load and speed up the process of refunding money from failed transactions.
Account holder name verification:
This rule has been implemented since June 30th. Before any UPI transaction, the registered name of the recipient is now displayed on the screen. This measure increases the security of the transaction and reduces the chances of sending money to the wrong account.
Advice for general users
Be careful: Being aware of these new rules will make using UPI easier.
Avoid unnecessary checks: Avoid checking the balance or list of linked accounts repeatedly. Auto-Pay Timing: Your auto-pay transactions will be processed as per the new schedule, so be prepared accordingly. It is hoped that these new rules will contribute to making the UPI system more stable and reliable. NPCI has directed all banks and payment system operators to strictly implement these rules.
