📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Caddy, Alexander E., 1895
Business
Shopkeepers in Sasaram, Bihar put up ‘Cash Only’ signs over UPI fee hike
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bihar
🗓 18 Sep 2026, 08:45 PM
👁 11
Merchants in Sasaram, Rohtas district, Bihar have started displaying ‘No UPI, Cash Only’ signs to protest proposed changes to UPI rules and a possible MDR tax.
Several shop owners in the historic town of Sasaram have begun hanging placards that read “No UPI, Cash Only” outside their premises. The move is a direct response to the Reserve Bank of India's recent proposal to revise UPI transaction norms and introduce a merchant discount rate (MDR) that could be passed on as a tax on small businesses.
According to local reports, merchants fear that the new MDR fee will erode thin profit margins, especially for low‑value sales that rely heavily on digital payments. They argue that the added cost will ultimately be borne by consumers, pushing many back to cash transactions.
The protest has so far remained peaceful, with shopkeepers urging customers to pay in cash while they await clarification from authorities. The state commerce department has been approached for a meeting, but no official response has been issued yet.
Industry analysts note that similar dissent has been observed in other parts of the country, reflecting broader concerns about the financial impact of digital payment reforms on small traders.
The situation remains fluid, and the outcome will likely influence how quickly the new UPI framework is rolled out across Bihar and beyond.
According to local reports, merchants fear that the new MDR fee will erode thin profit margins, especially for low‑value sales that rely heavily on digital payments. They argue that the added cost will ultimately be borne by consumers, pushing many back to cash transactions.
The protest has so far remained peaceful, with shopkeepers urging customers to pay in cash while they await clarification from authorities. The state commerce department has been approached for a meeting, but no official response has been issued yet.
Industry analysts note that similar dissent has been observed in other parts of the country, reflecting broader concerns about the financial impact of digital payment reforms on small traders.
The situation remains fluid, and the outcome will likely influence how quickly the new UPI framework is rolled out across Bihar and beyond.