UPI 1 August 2025 Rule Changes: 7 New Guidelines You Must Know

🚨 Lead: Major UPI Rule Changes Effective August 1, 2025

Figure 1

From 1 August 2025, NPCI’s seven new rules for UPI aim to reduce system overload, improve security, and boost transaction efficiency. These changes affect how often users can check balances, view linked accounts, process auto‑payments, and verify transaction status. (NPCIOfficial Circular, RBI Notification)

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1. Balance‑Check Limit: Max 50 Times per Day per App

Users can now initiate a manual bank balance check only up to 50 times a day per UPI app, helping reduce API traffic during peak hours. Still, every successful transaction will display the balance automatically. (NPCI Guidelines)

2. Linked‑Accounts API: Max 25 Views per Day

Retrieving the list of bank accounts linked to your UPI ID via the “List Account” API is capped at 25 requests per day per app. (NPCI UPI Developer Update)

3. Transaction Status Checks: Only 3 Attempts

If a transaction is pending, users can check its status only up to 3 times, with a minimum gap of 90 seconds between each attempt, preventing rapid repeated queries. (NPCI API Circular)

4. Scheduled Auto‑Pay Timing Windows

Autopay mandates (e.g. OTT, utility bills, EMI) will be processed only during non‑peak hours:

• Before 10:00 AM
• Between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM
• After 9:30 PM
  Auto‑debit triggers are prohibited during peak blocks of 10 AM–1 PM and 5 PM–9:30 PM. (NPCI e-Mandate Guidelines)

5. Mandate Retry and Limit on Attempts

If an auto‑pay mandate fails, retry attempts must obey the above slot rules, with restrictions on total retries allowed. (NPCI AutoPayCircular)

6. Beneficiary Details Displayed Before Confirmation

UPI apps must now clearly display the recipient’s registered bank name and transaction ID before authorizing payment, reducing fraud and mistaken transfers. (NPCI Security Guidelines)

7. Penalties & API Restrictions for Non‑Compliance

Non‑compliant PSPs or banks may face penalties such as restricted API access, suspension of onboarding new users, or other enforcement actions. (NPCI Compliance Circular)

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🔍 Why These Changes Matter

• Reduces server load and avoids outages during peak traffic, improving UPI uptime.
• Enhances security and transparency, especially in preventing wrong transfers or fraud.
• Optimizes user experience by smoothing scheduled payments and avoiding delays or duplicate checks.
• Standardizes compliance for PSPs and banks with enforceable limits.

📌 Summary Table at a Glance

Rule #	Feature	New Limit or Timing
1	Balance check	Max 50/day per UPI app
2	View linked accounts	Max 25/day per UPI app
3	Pending transaction status	3 attempts, 90 s gap
4	Auto‑pay processing windows	Before 10 AM, 1–5 PM, after 9:30 PM
5	Auto‑pay retries	Restricted to above windows
6	Beneficiary details visibility	Required prior to payment
7	API Compliance	Penalties for non‑adherence

🧾 What You Should Do

• Limit manual balance checks; rely on automatic post‑transaction balance updates.
• Schedule subscriptions and bill payments within the approved windows.
• Avoid repeated status refresh if a transaction is still pending.
• Always verify the displayed beneficiary name before confirming a transfer.

TL;DR in Inverted Pyramid Style

• New UPI limits and rules effective from 1 August 2025.
• Caps on balance checks (50/day), account‑list API calls (25/day) per app.
• Transaction status queries limited to 3 attempts with pause.
• Autopay now only during specific non‑peak slots.
• Beneficiary name must be displayed before payment confirmation.
• Non‑compliance may attract API restrictions or penalties.