A plan to introduce Merchant Discount Rate charges on Unified Payments Interface transactions above Rs 2,000 may be delayed. The implementation was initially set for October 15, 2026, but could be shifted to January 2027. This proposed delay is being considered to avoid disruptions during a major shopping season and to give payment companies more time to prepare.

The proposed charge is 0.4 percent, and its rollout coincides with a period of increased retail transactions. No official announcement has been made to confirm the postponement.

Further details on this potential delay are available from regulatory and industry sources.