Nagpur: Several business organisations across the country have called for a ‘No UPI Day’ on October 2 to protest the proposed 0.4% merchant discount rate (MDR) fee on UPI transactions. Many traders are preparing to stop accepting UPI payments that day and conduct transactions with customers in cash. They are also planning to cover QR codes displayed at their shops with black cloth as a mark of protest.
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Sept 29,2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
The government is reportedly set to impose a 0.4% fee on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 for merchants from October 15. However, the fee will not apply to peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions between two individuals or to small payments. Business organisations say the fee will directly affect traders.
Decision to be taken at September 30 meeting
Swapnil Ahirkar, president of the Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce, said the issue of MDR on UPI had been raised by some traders. The matter will be discussed and a decision taken at the chamber’s annual general meeting on September 30.
Appeal to cover QR codes with black cloth
Kailash Jogani, president of the Nagpur Chamber of Commerce, said traders were opposing the UPI fee. The organisation has appealed to traders to cover the QR codes at their shops with black cloth on October 2 to register their protest.
‘Why should traders pay the fee from their own pockets?’
Dnyaneshwar Rakshak, secretary of the Nagpur Chillar Kirana Retailers’ Association, said opposition to the UPI fee was justified. With change in short supply at present, UPI has become a convenient payment method for both traders and customers. In such a situation, it would not be उचित to place the burden of an additional fee on traders, he said. “No trader would want to pay this fee from their own pocket,” he added.
Trader protests are expected to affect UPI payments in several markets on October 2.
