New UPI Rules: What Changes Aug 1

Starting August 1, 2025, the way millions of Indians use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will see significant changes as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) rolls out new guidelines aimed at enhancing the system's efficiency and reliability. These updates, while not affecting transaction limits, introduce new caps and timings for various UPI operations to ease system load and improve user experience.

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of limits on balance inquiries. From August 1, UPI users will be able to check their bank account balance a maximum of 50 times per day per UPI application. Similarly, the number of times a user can view the bank accounts linked to their mobile number will be capped at 25 times per day per app. This measure is intended to reduce the strain on the UPI network caused by excessive, often unnecessary, requests.

Another key alteration impacts UPI AutoPay transactions. Scheduled payments such as subscriptions, utility bills, and EMI deductions will no longer be processed randomly throughout the day. Instead, these automated payments will now only be executed during specific non-peak hours: before 10:00 AM, between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and after 9:30 PM. This behind-the-scenes adjustment aims to reduce congestion during high-traffic periods, making regular transactions smoother and faster.

Furthermore, new rules govern checking the status of failed transactions. Users will now be limited to three attempts to check the status of a pending or failed transaction within a day, with a mandatory 90-second gap between each attempt. This is designed to prevent repeated server requests that can contribute to system slowdowns.

While these changes are primarily focused on optimizing the backend infrastructure, the core functionality of UPI payments remains unchanged. The maximum transaction limits (e.g., ₹1 lakh for general payments) are not being altered. Users also received a new security feature recently, where the verified name of the recipient is displayed before confirming any payment, enhancing safety and reducing errors.

The NPCI's move comes in response to reports of system outages and transaction delays, particularly during peak usage times. By implementing these new rules, the aim is to ensure UPI continues to be a robust and seamless digital payment solution for its rapidly growing user base. Users are advised to be aware of these new limits, though no immediate action is required on their part as the changes will be automatically implemented by their UPI apps.