Congress disputes Parliamentary panel chief’s claim on levying UPI MDR

The Congress on Friday (September 18, 2026) contested Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance chairperson Bhartruhari Mahtab’s reported assertion that Opposition members had supported the panel’s recommendation to explore a merchant discount rate (MDR) on high-value UPI transactions, calling the claim “erroneous and fallacious”.

Congress MP Manish Tewari, a member of the committee, said the suggestion that Opposition members had endorsed the proposal by not recording a dissent was “unfounded and unfortunate”.

“With great respect, this is both erroneous and fallacious and therefore facetious,” Mr. Tewari said, referring to the BJP MP’s assertion that the Congress MPs on the panel endorsed the move.

Responding to reports quoting Mr. Mahtab as saying that the presence of Opposition members and their participation in the panel’s report were matters of record, Mr. Tewari said the committee’s recommendation was only to “explore” a revenue model for sustaining the UPI ecosystem.