Starting August 1, 2025: Major UPI Rule Changes You Must Know

The UPI system in India is expanding more quickly than before. As of August 1, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has put new regulations into place to preserve dependability, stop fraud, and lessen system overload. These modifications impact how we display connected accounts, use autopay mandates, check balances, and more.

Why This Matters Now

• In June 2025, UPI processed more than 18 billion transactions, establishing digital payments as the foundation of the Indian economy.
• Slowdowns and failed mandates had resulted from increased system pressure at peak hours.
• Increased fraud risk necessitated improved control over erroneous transfers, phoney identification documents, and unintentional errors.

The new guidelines seek to: 

Maintain server efficiency

Enhance the user experience

Boost transaction security

Rule‑by‑Rule Breakdown: What Has Changed

1. Balance‑Check Limit: Maximum 50 per App, per Day

Only fifty times a day may you check the balance of your bank account using any UPI app. If you use Google Pay and PhonePe, each app will receive 50 checks because this is applicable per app.

Smart tip: You hardly ever go above this, so don’t worry about regular usage. Additionally, you will no longer need to manually check your balance because it will now appear automatically after every transaction.

You will not be able to check using that app for 24 hours if you go above this limit.

2. Linked‑Account/View‑Account API: Capped at 25 Times Daily

This rule restricts how often a UPI app can display the list of bank accounts linked to your mobile number. The cap is now 25 views per user per app per day. This reduces unnecessary server queries and strengthens account security.

3. Pending Transaction Status Checks: 3 Attempts Only, 90‑Second Gap

If a UPI transaction shows as “pending”, you can check its status only three times, with at least 90 seconds between each check. This stops API overuse and provides system breathing space.

4. Autopay / Recurring Mandates: Only During Non‑Peak Hours

UPI autopay (for utility bills, OTT subscriptions, EMIs) can now execute only during designated off‑peak windows:

• Before 10 AM, or
  
• Between 1 PM and 5 PM, or
  
• After 9:30 PM
  

No mandates will run during morning and evening peak hours to avoid system overload.

Additionally, each mandate can retry up to a total of four times (1 original + up to 3 retries) if it fails.

5. Payee Verification: Name & Bank Displayed Before You Confirm

The app must now prominently display the recipient’s bank name and registered name prior to executing any UPI transfer. By taking this extra precaution, fraud and improper transactions are prevented.

6. Deactivation of Dormant UPI IDs

The UPI ID will be immediately terminated if the mobile number associated with it is dormant for a period of 12 months or longer. When numbers are reassigned, this helps avoid abuse.

7. Enhanced Bank‑Account Onboarding Verification

More stringent identity checks are now required when connecting a new bank account to UPI. Prior to authorising new connections, banks must guarantee appropriate authentication and validation.

8. Penalties & Enforcement for Non‑Compliance

Apps, banks, and PSPs that were part of the UPI ecosystem were required to conform by July 31, 2025. If this isn’t done, NPCI/RBI may take regulatory action, throttle the API, or prohibit onboarding new users.

Here’s What It Means for Everyday Users

• You can relax! 50 balance checks per app is plenty for normal usage.
  
• No more endless “pending” status refreshes—three checks with a wait is sufficient.
  
• Autopay will run reliably during off‑peak hours, so ensure your dues are scheduled accordingly.
  
• You’ll see the payee name and bank, giving peace of mind before confirming transfers.
  
• Dormant UPI IDs are disabled automatically—good hygiene if you lost your old number.
  

Businesses, Merchants & App‑Developers: What You Should Do Now

1. To enforce the balance and account-view limits, make changes to your UI/UX flows.
2. Create tests for the frequency of status enquiries (3 tries + 90 seconds).
3. Set up autopay windows just during the hours that are allowed.
4. Prior to payment confirmation, make sure the payee’s name and bank are displayed.
5. Boost authentication during onboarding when customers connect new bank accounts.
6. After a year, wipe up old UPI IDs and keep an eye on dormant user accounts.

Quick Summary Table

Feature	New Rule (From 1 Aug 2025)
Balance Checks	Max 50 per app per day; automatic balance shown post-transaction
View Linked Bank Accounts	Max 25 views per app per day
Pending Transaction Checks	Max 3 attempts per transaction; 90-second gap required
Auto-pay / Recurring Mandates	Only processed before 10 AM, between 1–5 PM, or after 9:30 PM; max 4 execution attempts
Payee Info Display	Recipient name + bank name required before final confirmation
Dormant UPI ID Deactivation	IDs inactive for over 12 months auto-disabled
Bank Account Onboarding	Enhanced authentication when linking new accounts
Non-compliance Consequences	API blocks, suspension of new user onboarding, penalty actions possible

Bottom‑Line Advice

• Users should continue using their devices normally; if they don’t frequently reach the cap limitations, don’t worry.
• For autopay settings, avoid peak-hour limits by scheduling e-mandates early or late.
• Before confirming any transfer, double-check the payee names; errors will be more difficult to undo later.
• Additionally, deactivate your UPI ID or risk losing it if you have an outdated number that is dormant.

Final Thoughts

The goal of these new UPI regulations, which go into effect on August 1, 2025, is to strike a balance between user ease, fraud resistance, and system efficiency.

• Benefits for users include quicker payments, fewer hold-ups, and more transparent transfers.
• Benefits for security include name-verified transfers, cleaning up dormant IDs, and more stringent onboarding.
• Benefits of the system include better autopay flows, more consistent uptime, and less load during peak hours.

Users should be aware of the new autopay timings and caps. To prevent interruptions, developers and fintech companies should be careful to adhere to NPCI compliance deadlines.

I would be pleased to assist you if you would want a condensed infographic, frequently asked questions sheet, or social media post that summarises these guidelines!