New UPI rules effective from August 1, 2025, and into 2026, implemented by the NPCI, focus on enhancing security and system efficiency. Key changes include capping daily balance checks at 50, limiting account views to 25, restricting auto-debit times, and increasing limits for specific high-value transactions (up to ₹5 lakh for education/health).
New Rules For UPI Payments: Key Takeaways
Starting in April 2026, UPI transactions will need to implement two-factor authentication that includes a minimum of one dynamic security measure. Daily UPI limits generally remain ₹1 lakh, with higher limits available only for select categories.
Key New Functionalities Introduced
Biometric Authentication: Allowing transactions up to ₹5,000 to be approved using on-device biometrics (fingerprint/face) and using UIDAI Face Authentication for UPI PIN setup/reset.
The NPCI has introduced updated UPI rules effective from 1 August 2026, across all UPI-enabled apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM. These changes aim to improve system efficiency and payment security: Balance Check Limit: You can check your bank balance for a maximum of 50 times per day per on your UPI app.
UPI Rules Are Changing from August 1
New usage limits will be introduced for UPI apps to improve system performance and reduce failed transactions, especially during high-traffic periods. Key Changes: Balance checks limited to 50 times/day. Account view limited to 25 times/day.
1,00,000. Additionally, you can make a maximum of 20 transactions through GPay or other UPI apps within a time frame of 24 hours. No, you cannot send Rs. 2 lakh through Google Pay at a time.
Most personal Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions remain free of charge for individual users, according to guidelines from NPCI and the RBI. This includes peer-to-peer and bank-to-bank transfers.
As of 2025, India has over 65 million active merchants on UPI, making it the largest digital payments network in the world.
Yes, you can send money abroad using GPay, PayTM and other UPI apps, but only to Singapore. As of now, Singapore is the only foreign country from and to UPI money transfers are possible. This 24/7 real-time, cross-border peer-to-peer transfer is possible due to the UPI-PayNow linkage.
This was highlighted in the PIB release: Foreign nationals and NRIs visiting India can make payments using UPI. Additionally, NPCI introduced UPI ONE WORLD, a solution for inbound travellers that enables them to pay Indian merchants using a prepaid wallet funded by their international debit/credit cards.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an Indian instant payment system and protocol developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
It uses USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) technology, which works on basic phones too. This service helps people across India do banking just by dialling *99# from their mobile.
UPI Transaction Limits (NPCI/RBI Guidelines)
Per transaction cap: ₹1 lakh (standard); ₹2 lakh for some sectors; ₹5 lakh for IPOs/Retail Direct. Daily limit: ₹1 lakh per day. UPI 123PAY: ₹5,000 per txn/day (P2P); ₹1 lakh daily for merchant. UPI Lite: ₹1,000/txn; ₹10,000/day; ₹5,000 wallet limit.
3: BHIM UPI has the added advantage of being backed by the government, so it is regarded as safer and secure compared to Google Pay. Though Google Pay has enhanced security features like biometric authentication as well as PIN or pattern, extensive data syncing makes it less secure.
Understanding the transfer limit of UPI
The NPCI has established a standard daily transaction limit of ₹1 lakh for UPI payments.
Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is currently accepted in eight countries— Bhutan, Singapore, Qatar, Mauritius, Nepal, UAE, Sri Lanka and France. Acceptability of India's digital payment network overseas enables Indian tourists to make UPI payments for transactions abroad.
UPI One World – A Simple Way for Foreigners and NRIs to Pay in India. UPI One World is a safe and easy digital wallet for NRIs and foreign tourists visiting India.
Google Pay Usage Either for Online Payments in Various Countries in 2023. As of Julay 2023, the largest number of people making online payments using Google Pay live in India (77%). In second and third place are Poland and the United States. 38% of Poles and 31% of Americans make online payments using Google Pay.
For bill payments, the convenience fee depends on the payment method: Credit, debit, or RuPay card: Convenience fee is applicable. Tip: Some bill payment categories don't allow card payments. UPI on Google Pay: No convenience fee.
Is UPI Being Shut Down? No. There is no shutdown or ban on UPI. Experts confirm this is a system cleanup + security upgrade, and services will stabilize soon.
The disadvantages of UPI include limitations on transaction amounts, which can restrict larger payments. Accessibility is affected by its dependence on a stable internet connection.
You can transfer large amounts of money, but transactions over $10,000, especially in cash or structured deposits, trigger mandatory reporting (like IRS Form 8300 or Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reports), not necessarily taxes, to fight money laundering. Banks file reports for cash over $10k (CTR) or suspicious activity (SAR) if they see patterns to avoid reporting (structuring), which can flag accounts even for smaller amounts like $200 if part of a pattern.
Based on transaction volume data, some of the top banks for UPI remittances include the State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank. Many banks, including HDFC and SBI, offer high UPI transaction limits, typically up to ₹100,000 INR per transaction.
Daily limits
You may reach a daily limit if: You try to send more than ₹1,00,000 in one day across all UPI apps. You try to send money more than 20 times per day and 150 per month for P2P transactions across all UPI apps. You request more than ₹2,000 from someone.