New Delhi: In a significant move to streamline the growing usage of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and ensure better system efficiency, a set of new rules came into effect from August 1, 2025, impacting millions of users on platforms such as PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm.
The new guidelines—rolled out by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)—introduce daily limits on balance checks, restrict viewing of linked bank accounts, and alter the timing of automatic payments. The changes come amid a surge in UPI transactions and growing pressure on banking servers due to frequent API requests.
Here’s What Has Changed
1. Balance Check Limit Capped:
Users will now be able to check their account balance only 50 times a day on each UPI app. This move is aimed at preventing server overloads that often result in transaction delays.
2. Linked Account View Limit:
Each user will be able to view bank accounts linked to their mobile number only 25 times a day. This limit was introduced after it was observed that repeated queries were burdening UPI servers.
3. New Time Windows for Autopay Transactions:
Recurring payments such as OTT subscriptions, SIPs, insurance premiums, and other autopay instructions will now be executed only during non-peak hours. The new slots are:
Before 10:00 AM
Between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM
After 9:30 PM
The change is intended to reduce traffic during busy transaction hours and ensure faster processing.
4. Limit on Transaction Status Checks:
When a transaction is pending, users can check its status a maximum of three times, with a mandatory 90-second gap between each attempt. NPCI says this will help prevent unnecessary strain on the network.
5. Real-Time Balance Display:
To reduce the need for repeated manual balance checks, users will now automatically see their updated balance after every transaction. This feature will be implemented by all UPI-supported banks and apps.
6. Beneficiary Name Display Before Transfer:
In a user-friendly addition aimed at curbing mistaken transactions, the receiver’s name will now be shown before confirming a payment, even before users hit the “Pay” button.
Why These Changes?
According to NPCI sources, these rules were introduced to counter recent UPI disruptions and system slowdowns, primarily caused by bots and frequent automated queries. “Unnecessary balance check requests and repetitive transaction status refreshes were flooding the system,” said an NPCI official, requesting anonymity.
The aim, officials say, is to strike a balance between user convenience and infrastructure stability as UPI continues to grow as India’s most preferred digital payment mode, processing over 14 billion transactions monthly.
What lies ahead?
NPCI is also said to be working with banks to ensure smoother transitions and better server infrastructure. For now, users are advised to stay updated with their UPI app notifications and avoid excessive status or balance requests to prevent hitting daily limits.
