From August 1st, auto-pays will be processed on schedule, balance check limits set to 50 times, failed transaction status will be available immediately, and adding new accounts will be more stringent—these rules will be implemented to reduce server load and enhance security.
UPI New Rule: Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has become the backbone of Digital India, is about to undergo a major technical change. If you frequently transact using BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe, or any other UPI-based app, this news is crucial for you. From August 1, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will implement some significant changes for UPI users. These changes aim not only to make the system more secure and efficient but also to alleviate server load issues during peak hours.
Auto-Pay Requests Will Now Be Processed According to a Timetable
If you use auto-debit systems for payments like Netflix, Hotstar, rent, EMI, or SIP, this feature will now only work at specific times.
The new schedule is as follows:
- Morning: Before 10:00 AM
- Afternoon: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Night: After 9:30 PM
Any auto-pay requests outside of these designated times will not be processed. The main reason for this is to prevent server overload during peak times.
Limits Will Now Be Applied to Balance Checks
Currently, most users check their account balance multiple times a day, especially using biometric authentication (fingerprint or face ID). This puts a tremendous load on the server. Now, NPCI has set a maximum limit of 50 times per day for checking balances. This means you can only check your balance through UPI-linked apps 50 times a day. This will improve server capacity and prevent processing delays.
Failed Transaction Status Will Now Be Available Immediately
Often, when a transaction fails, a 'Processing' or 'Pending' status remains displayed for an extended period. This confuses users about whether the money has been deducted or not. Now, from August 1st, the exact status of a failed transaction will be shown in a few seconds. Additionally, if a payment gets stuck, the user can check its status three times, with intervals of 90 seconds.
Account Verification Will Now Be More Stringent
When adding a new bank account, there will now be a stricter verification process. Confirmation from the bank will also be necessary. This will be an additional security layer to prevent fraudulent account linking.
New Rules Will Control Server Load
The primary objective of all these rules is to control server overload, enhance the reliability of UPI, and improve user experience. As the speed of digital payments has rapidly increased in India, NPCI aims to make the system more stable with these rules.
What Will Change for You?
- You will need to be mindful of auto-payment timings.
- You will not be able to check your balance frequently.
- You will receive the status of failed payments quickly.
- Adding a new account will take a bit more time.
- You will need to take UPI app notifications seriously.
What Will Be the Benefits?
- Faster transaction processing
- Reduced chance of server crashes
- Decline in fraud incidents
- Improved user trust and transparency
