Petrol Pumps to Stop Accepting UPI Payments Above ₹2,000 Amid Centre's Move to Impose Fee on Transactions

Thiruvananthapuram: Petrol pump owners have decided not to accept UPI payments above ₹2,000 following reports of the Centre's move to impose a fee on transactions exceeding the limit. The decision is aimed at preventing customers who regularly purchase petrol worth larger amounts through UPI from incurring an additional financial burden. Dealers are demanding that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions at petrol pumps be completely waived. Meanwhile, some have pointed out that such a move could cause considerable inconvenience to consumers. A report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, submitted in August, had recommended imposing a commission on UPI transactions. Six Congress MPs on the committee, including former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, did not record their dissent against the recommendation. Kerala MP N K Premachandran, who is also a member of the committee, did not register his opposition either. The Congress's failure to protest against what it describes as anti-people measures of the Centre is also evident in its position on the UPI fee issue.