Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has transformed how India pays, but with increasing volumes and rising security concerns, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is introducing important structural changes effective August 1, 2025.
These updates aim to make UPI more secure, stable, and efficient for all users. Here’s a breakdown of the new rules and how they might affect your day-to-day transactions.
1. Daily Cap on Account Balance Enquiries
New Rule: You can check your UPI-linked bank account balance only 50 times per day per app.
Why this change: Many apps auto-refresh account balances in the background, generating high traffic that slows down the system.
What it means for you: After each transaction, your updated balance will be shown automatically. If you exceed the 50-check limit, you won’t be able to manually check your balance again until the next day.
2. Limit on Viewing Linked Bank Accounts
New Rule: You can view your list of linked bank accounts only 25 times per day per app.
Why this change: Frequent account list refreshes put unnecessary load on UPI infrastructure.
What it means for you: Apps will ask for your consent before refreshing the list if the limit is reached. This helps reduce unnecessary backend activity.
3. Changes to Autopay (Recurring Mandates)
New Rule: All recurring UPI payments such as subscriptions, EMIs, and utility bills will now be processed only during non-peak hours.
Scheduled timings for execution:
- Before 10 AM
- Between 1 PM and 5 PM
- After 9:30 PM
Retry Limit: A maximum of four attempts will be allowed for any failed autopay mandate (1 original attempt and 3 retries). After that, the payment will be cancelled.
Why this change: Reduces congestion during peak times and improves transaction success rates.
4. Cooling Period for Transaction Status Requests
New Rule: Apps must wait 45 to 60 seconds after initiating a payment before checking the status.
Why this change: Apps used to send repeated instant status requests, creating server traffic. This cooldown period avoids overload and ensures smoother processing.
5. Deactivation of Inactive UPI IDs
New Rule: UPI IDs linked to mobile numbers that have been inactive for over 12 months will be deactivated.
Why this change: Prevents fraud that may occur if mobile numbers are reassigned or recycled.
What you should do: If you haven’t used your UPI ID in a while, make a small transaction to keep it active.
6. Faster API Response Time
New Rule: UPI APIs must now respond within 10 seconds, down from the earlier 30 seconds.
Why this change: Faster responses mean more reliable and seamless transactions, even during high traffic hours.
7. Enhanced Verification for New or Linked Bank Accounts
New Rule: Adding a new bank account or linking an existing one will now require stricter KYC and validation checks.
Why this change: To block fraudulent, fake, or unauthorized accounts from entering the UPI ecosystem.
What it means for you: Keep your PAN, Aadhaar, or other documents ready when linking new accounts.
8. UPI via Credit Line Available from August 31, 2025
New Feature: You will soon be able to make UPI payments using a pre-approved credit line from your bank or NBFC.
How it works: Similar to a credit card or overdraft facility. Banks or NBFCs will define the credit limit, repayment terms, and eligibility.
Launch Date: August 31, 2025
9. Penalties for Non-Compliance
Deadline for Implementation: All payment service providers and third-party apps must comply with these rules by July 31, 2025.
Failure to comply may result in:
- Penalties
- API restrictions
- Suspension of new customer onboarding
Why Is NPCI Making These Changes?
Massive Scale: UPI processes more than 18 billion monthly transactions, with a value exceeding 24 lakh crore rupees.
Need for System Stability: High server loads from balance checks, frequent API calls, and unregulated autopay activities can delay or disrupt payments.
Fraud Prevention: Removing inactive IDs, introducing tighter KYC, and slowing down excessive requests improves system safety.
What Is Not Changing?
These changes are mostly related to backend infrastructure, not your core UPI experience. You can continue to:
- Transfer money
- Pay merchants
- Scan QR codes
- Pay bills
- Use UPI Lite
without any disruption.
Summary of Key Changes (Effective August 1, 2025)
| Feature | New Rule |
| Account Balance Checks | Max 50 per day, per app |
| Linked Bank Accounts View | Max 25 per day, per app |
| Recurring Autopay | Scheduled to non-peak hours only |
| Payment Status Requests | 45–60 sec cooldown after payment |
| Inactive UPI IDs | Disabled after 12 months inactivity |
| API Response Time | Reduced to 10 seconds |
| KYC for New Accounts | Enhanced authentication required |
| UPI via Credit Lines | Available from August 31, 2025 |
| Compliance Deadline | July 31, 2025 for all PSPs |
Final Thoughts
UPI has become the foundation of India’s digital payments ecosystem. These rule changes by NPCI are timely interventions aimed at improving efficiency, reducing fraud, and ensuring system stability as UPI scales further.
As a user, you may notice minor restrictions on how frequently you check balances or view linked accounts, but your overall payment experience will likely improve, with fewer failures, faster responses, and stronger security.
Stay updated, make informed transactions, and continue to enjoy the benefits of India’s most powerful payment system.
FAQs – You Asked, We Answered
1. Will I still be able to make payments normally?
Yes. Transfers and QR scans are unaffected.
2. What happens if I hit my daily balance check limit?
You won’t be able to check balance again that day on that app. Use another UPI app if urgent.
3. Can I still view my account list after the 25-time limit?
Only with explicit consent, apps will show a popup before retrying.
4. I have a UPI ID I haven’t used in a year. What should I do?
Make at least one small transaction before August 1 to keep it alive.
5. Will autopayments now fail more often?
No, actually the opposite! Scheduled timings and retry limits are meant to improve success rates.
6. Can I still add a new bank account in my UPI app?
Yes, but the verification process will be stricter.
7. What’s this UPI via credit line all about?
It’s like paying with a pre-approved credit limit. Rollout starts August 31.
8. Will my money transfers be delayed due to new rules?
No. In fact, faster API responses should make them quicker.
9. Are there any changes to UPI Lite?
No updates have been announced for UPI Lite yet.
10. Which apps are affected?
All UPI apps – including Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, and bank apps.
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