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Can UPI become commercially self-sustaining with MDR?

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Can UPI become commercially self-sustaining with MDR?

A new MDR on high-value merchant payments will create a sizeable revenue pool, but current estimates suggest it may not be enough to cover the full cost of running India's UPI ecosystem.

About 96% of P2M transactions will remain outside the MDR framework, while P2P payments will continue to be free. Around 80% of MDR value is expected to come from businesses with annual digital payment collections above Rs 1,000 crore. The Rs 2,000 crore FY27 government incentive will continue supporting low-value UPI and RuPay transactions.UPI is moving towards a hybrid model, with high-value merchant payments generating revenue while low-value transactions continue to receive government support.

The new Merchant Discount Rate on high-value UPI merchant payments is expected to generate Rs 13,000-15,000 crore in its first year, covering about 62-71% of the payment system's estimated annual cost of around Rs 21,000 crore. The revenue will reduce the gap between the cost of operating UPI and the income generated by the ecosystem, but will not make the payment system fully self-sustaining through MDR. From October 15, a 0.4% MDR will apply to specified person-to-merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, subject to a maximum charge of Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above. About 96% of P2M transactions will remain outside the MDR framework, while person-to-person transactions will continue to be free. Advt

The National Payments Corporation of India expects the new MDR framework to generate Rs 13,000-15,000 crore in the first year against an estimated annual UPI infrastructure cost of about Rs 21,000 crore.


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