UPI Users Alert: With over 350 million users in India, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized the way we send and receive money. Whether you’re scanning a QR code at a local tea stall or paying for groceries online, UPI has become the go-to method for fast, secure digital payments.
However, beginning August 1, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is implementing seven major changes aimed at improving UPI’s performance and reducing network strain. These new rules will affect users of popular UPI apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and more.
Let’s take a look at these upcoming changes and how they may impact your daily digital transactions.
1. API Usage Limits Imposed on Banks and PSPs
One of the biggest reasons behind UPI downtime and payment failures is the excessive usage of system APIs. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow apps to perform tasks like checking your bank balance or verifying transaction statuses.
From August 1, NPCI is restricting how frequently these APIs can be used by banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs). This will reduce unnecessary server overloads and improve the overall reliability of the UPI ecosystem.
2. Daily Balance Check Limit Set at 50 Times
Do you frequently check your account balance using your UPI app? That habit is about to be restricted.
Users will now only be allowed to perform 50 balance checks per day. If you exceed this limit, further balance inquiry requests will be automatically blocked for the next 24 hours.
This move aims to reduce excessive load on the UPI system, especially during peak hours.
3. Limit on Accessing Bank Account List – 25 Times Per Day
Every time you try to view the list of your linked bank accounts via a UPI app, it sends a request to the UPI server. NPCI has now limited this activity to 25 times per app, per day.
This cap is particularly aimed at power users or those using multiple UPI apps on the same number.
4. Restrictions on Checking Transaction Status
We’ve all been there—your UPI payment is pending, and you keep checking the status again and again. Well, this behavior is now discouraged.
From now on, you can check the status of a pending transaction only three times, and there must be a minimum 90-second gap between each attempt.
This measure is designed to avoid server flooding due to repetitive transaction status checks.
5. UPI AutoPay to Be Processed in Fixed Time Slots
Recurring payments like EMIs, utility bills, OTT subscriptions, and insurance premiums done through UPI AutoPay will now be executed in pre-set time windows instead of being processed randomly throughout the day.
This change is a strategic move to control network traffic, making recurring transactions faster and more predictable.
6. New Rules Apply to All UPI Platforms Equally
It doesn’t matter if you’re using Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, or any other UPI-enabled app—these new rules apply to everyone. They are not app-specific.
So whether you’re a light user or someone making 20+ UPI payments a day, you will be affected by these changes—especially if your usage involves repeated balance checks, status inquiries, or bank list retrievals.
7. You’ll Now Receive Balance Info After Every Transaction
Here’s some good news—you no longer need to check your balance after every transaction manually.
After each financial transaction, your bank will automatically send a notification with your available balance. This ensures better financial transparency and avoids the need for frequent balance inquiries, thus helping reduce load on UPI systems.
Why These Changes Matter for Every UPI User?
These updates might feel restrictive at first, but they’re meant to create a more stable and reliable UPI ecosystem for all users. With UPI crossing 10 billion transactions per month, system overload has become a common issue.
By introducing daily caps and structured time slots, NPCI is trying to streamline the entire process, making sure that your payments go through without failure—even during peak hours like salary credit day or festival shopping rush.
Final Thoughts
These 7 new UPI rules effective August 1 are a major shift in how India’s most used digital payment system operates. While some users may find the limits inconvenient initially, these steps are essential for maintaining a robust, scalable UPI infrastructure.
If you’re a heavy user of apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, or Paytm, it’s time to adjust your habits and stay informed to avoid interruptions.
