New NPCI Rules for UPI: What Users Need to Know from August 1
Did you know UPI handled over 13 billion transactions in June 2025 alone? That’s more than 4 crore transactions every day! With so many payments happening around the clock, it’s no surprise that India’s digital payment system needs some updates. Starting August 1, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is rolling out new rules for UPI. These changes aim to reduce system overload, improve security, and make things smoother for all of us.
Now, if you’re someone who checks your balance often or has set up recurring payments, these rules directly affect you.
Let’s explore what these new UPI rules mean for you, why they matter, and how we can adapt to them with ease.
Why are These Changes Coming?
UPI usage has been leaping ahead. In June 2025, UPI processed around 18.4 billion transactions worth over ₹24 lakh crore. That is about 613 million transactions per day.

This growth put a lot of pressure on UPI systems. APIs often slowed down or failed, especially during busy hours. There were outages and delayed payments.
NPCI issued a circular on May 21 and related updates by May 26-31. The goal is to limit background API calls. They want smoother flow and fewer failures.
Balance‑Check Limits
From August 1, 2025, you can check your bank balance via any UPI app only 50 times per day per app. That count applies to manual checks only; no auto‑refresh or background polling allowed. UPI apps need to block or slow down balance checks during peak hours: 10 AM-1 PM and 5 PM-9:30 PM.
Now, banks must show your available balance right after every successful transaction. That reduces the need to check manually.
Bank Account Listing Controls
When you open the “List Account” feature in a UPI app, you can only do this 25 times per day per app. This helps cut down repeated API hits.
Such a list must load only after you actively pick your bank. If the list fails to appear, the app should ask your permission before retrying.
Autopay / E‑mandate Execution Windows
Recurring payments like EMIs, subscriptions, or utility bills must be processed only during non‑peak hours:
- Before 10 AM
- Between 1 PM-5 PM
- After 9:30 PM
Autopay mandates get up to four total attempts: one main try and three retries if needed. If all fail, the mandate is cancelled.
Transaction‑Status Queries
If a payment shows “pending,” you can query its status only up to 3 times. Each check must wait at least 90 seconds after the last one. Apps must aim to show the final status, either success or failure, within seconds. This reduces repeated checks and system load.
This rule became critical after a major UPI outage on April 12, 2025, triggered by endless status checks from banks.
Additional Policy Updates
Beyond those main rules, NPCI also added other policies:
- UPI IDs that stay inactive for over 12 months will be deactivated automatically. This helps prevent misuse if a mobile number is reassigned.
- Adding a new bank account now needs stronger authentication and validation steps.
- Core UPI APIs must now respond in under 10 seconds (down from 30 sec earlier). This ensures smoother operations.
- From August 31, 2025, UPI via credit lines becomes available. Limits include ₹100,000 for payments, ₹10,000 for withdrawals, and up to 20 P2P transfers per day.
Impact on Users and Payment Apps
For most regular users, these rules mean minor changes. If you don’t check your balance too often or rely on autopay, you will not notice much.
But if you are a heavy user or switch between multiple UPI apps, you will need to watch your usage. Limits on balance checks and account listing matter more.
Autopay subscribers should note that payments due in peak hours might shift to off-peak windows. Watch your payment timing carefully.
Banks and Payment Service Providers must ensure full compliance by July 31, 2025. Non-compliance could result in penalties, restricted API access, or suspension of onboarding new customers.
Tips for Adapting to the Rules
We suggest these steps to adapt smoothly:
- Do not check your balance too often. Let the auto‑display after transactions serve you.
- Use autopay if needed, but know it will run only during allowed hours.
- Check status only when you must, and space the checks by 90 seconds.
- Use your UPI ID at least once a year to keep it active.
- Keep your UPI apps updated. Providers will release versions that follow NPCI rules.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the NPCI rules starting August 1, 2025, aim to make UPI more stable, secure, and efficient. The limits may feel restrictive at first. But for most users, habits need only slight tweaks like fewer balance checks and smarter autopay scheduling.
For banks and apps, strict compliance is critical. But for users, the benefits will be clear: smoother payments, fewer timeouts, and better uptime. We can all adapt and ensure that UPI stays reliable and secure for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. From February 1, 2025, NPCI requires all UPI transaction IDs to be alphanumeric. This rule helps improve tracking, reduce fraud, and strengthen overall payment security.
UPI is a digital system that lets us send and receive money easily. NPCI sets the rules and guidelines to keep UPI safe, fast, and fair for everyone.
The new UPI method allows payments through credit lines, starting August 31, 2025. It adds a new way to pay, using pre-approved credit instead of a bank balance.
For new users, UPI limits may be lower at first. Most banks keep daily limits between ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 until users build trust over time.
Disclaimer:
This is for information only, not financial advice. Always do your research.