Letters to The Editor — September 17, 2026

It is strange that at a time when India’s UPI has gained wide acceptance both at home and abroad, a 0.4% charge is being introduced on merchant transactions above ₹2,000. The government says about 96% of merchant transactions will remain free, leaving only 4% to bear the new charge. This raises a basic question: what sizeable amount is expected to be gained from this measure? The answers are not clear.