📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann Forget
Business
Madhya Pradesh Merchants Plan ‘No UPI Day’ on Sept 23 Over Proposed 0.4% MDR
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 22 Sep 2026, 06:15 PM
👁 10
Merchants across Madhya Pradesh are set to observe a ‘No UPI Day’ on September 23, protesting a proposed 0.4% merchant discount rate on UPI transactions exceeding ₹2,000.
Madhya Pradesh’s retail community is preparing to shut down UPI payments for a day on 23 September, branding the move as a “No UPI Day”. The coordinated action is being organized by merchant associations who say the upcoming 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 will erode their profit margins.
The government’s recent proposal to levy a 0.4% fee on higher‑value UPI merchant payments is intended to broaden the revenue base of the digital payments ecosystem. However, traders argue that the charge is disproportionate, especially for small and medium enterprises that rely on frequent, mid‑range transactions.
While the protest is still in its planning stage, officials from the state’s finance department have been approached for clarification. Industry bodies hope the demonstration will prompt a reconsideration of the MDR before it is finalized, fearing that the fee could push customers back to cash or alternative payment methods.
The government’s recent proposal to levy a 0.4% fee on higher‑value UPI merchant payments is intended to broaden the revenue base of the digital payments ecosystem. However, traders argue that the charge is disproportionate, especially for small and medium enterprises that rely on frequent, mid‑range transactions.
While the protest is still in its planning stage, officials from the state’s finance department have been approached for clarification. Industry bodies hope the demonstration will prompt a reconsideration of the MDR before it is finalized, fearing that the fee could push customers back to cash or alternative payment methods.