‘UPI must remain zero MDR’: Mobile retailers announce October 2 protest
Mobile retailers in India have announced a 'No UPI Day' protest for October 2 to oppose a proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000. Retailers argue that the fee will significantly impact their profit margins and are calling for a zero-MDR structure to remain in place.
Why it matters
This protest highlights the tension between digital payment adoption and the financial burden of transaction fees on small business owners.
Mobile phone retailers across India plan to observe October 2 as a “No UPI Day”, protesting the proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified UPI merchant transactions above Rs 2,000.The protest has been called by the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), which said retailers will symbolically cover their UPI QR codes with black cloth and refrain from accepting UPI payments on Gandhi Jayanti.AIMRA vice president and Delhi NCR president Tarvinder Singh said the move was aimed at highlighting concerns over the additional cost that the MDR could impose on mobile retailers.“The All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) has called for a 'NO UPI DAY' on October 2, 2026, to highlight the concerns of mobile retailers regarding the 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applicable to eligible merchant UPI transactions,” Singh said in a statement.Retailers flag impact on marginsAccording to a representation submitted by AIMRA to finance minister…
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