Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has made digital payment extremely easy and fast. Crores of people in India use UPI daily. But now from 1 April 2025, a big change is going to happen in UPI’s rules. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has issued new guidelines, which will be implemented to make UPI transactions more secure and effective. If you also use UPI, then this information is very important for you.
Overview of new UPI Guidelines (English)
| Feature | Details |
| Effective date | 1 April 2025 |
| Purpose | Safety and accuracy |
| Key changes | Mobile number update and consent mandatory |
| Inactive numbers | UPI ID of inactive numbers will be removed |
| Weekly updates | Mobile number data will be updated every week |
| User Consent | Consent is necessary before assigning UPI ID |
| Impact on users | Risk related to old numbers will be reduced |
UPI New Rules: What will change?
The following changes will be seen under the new rules to be implemented from 1 April 2025:
- Mobile number update: Banks and UPI apps will have to update information about mobile numbers in their system every week. This will reduce the chances of wrong transaction.
- Consent mandatory: Whenever a new UPI ID will be assigned to a user, it will be necessary to take a clear consent from it.
- Identification of inactive numbers: If your mobile number has been closed for a long time or is not being used, then the UPI ID related to it will be automatically deleted.
NPCI purpose
The main objective of NPCI is to make digital payment more secure. It is often seen that older or closed mobile numbers causes wrong transactions. From these new rules:
- The risks associated with old numbers will be low.
- Fraud and wrong transactions will be banned.
- The UPI system will become more reliable.
Who will be the loss?
New rules can affect users who:
- Has closed its old mobile number but has not removed it from UPI apps.
- The mobile number has not been updated.
In such cases, UPI ID of inactive numbers will be deleted, which can stop payment services.
UPI apps and instructions for banks
NPCI has given the following instructions to banks and UPI apps:
- Every month NPCI will have to send a report that they are managing mobile number data correctly.
- Mobile number canceled list (MNRL/DIP) has to be used.
- The data update process will have to be done regularly.
Mobile Number Revolution List (MNRL)
This will be a list in which there will be a record of mobile numbers which are no longer active. Its purpose:
- Stopping wrong transactions related to old numbers.
- To increase security.
Suggestions for UPI users
If you want your UPI services not interrupted, then keep in mind the following things:
- Always keep your mobile number active.
- Update your data regularly in bank and UPI apps.
- If you have taken a new mobile number, delete the old number UPI ID.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the new rules issued by NPCI. New guidelines are being implemented for the purpose of securing digital payment. If your mobile number is inactive, your UPI ID may be discontinued. So be sure to update your data on time.
