Changes to UPI usage coming in August: A systematic overview of the modifications
Starting August 1, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will implement new rules for UPI transactions to address the growing volume of transactions and ensure a smoother user experience.
One of the key changes is the introduction of a balance check limit. Users will now be able to check their bank balance only 50 times per day per UPI app, such as Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm. If this limit is exceeded, the user will be blocked from balance checks on that app for 24 hours. This limit aims to reduce backend API overload and improve system performance [1][2][3][5].
Another change is the transaction status check limit. Users will only be allowed to check the status of a pending transaction three times, with a mandatory minimum gap of 90 seconds between each check. This change is designed to limit excessive requests on the system [3].
NPCI will also cap API requests for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and legacy banks to manage system load [1][3]. The updates also include restrictions or modifications affecting recurring payments (autopay) and credit-linked UPI operations to improve success rates and reduce mandate failures [1].
To enhance overall efficiency and stability during peak times, caps will be introduced on services like fetching bank account information and checking payment status [1][2]. UPI apps will now be required to update the status of payments within seconds, whether successful or failed [6].
Autopay transactions will be executed during non-peak hours to ensure smoother performance and avoid disruptions to real-time payments [4]. The exact number of balance checks allowed per day hasn't been shared yet [1][2].
The new rules are intended to improve the system's performance, make transactions smoother, faster, and more secure. However, they won't completely change how users make payments [7].
Stricter verification methods will be implemented for bank account linking in UPI apps to ensure account security and reduce fraud. These stricter verification methods are intended to prevent accidental linking of wrong accounts [2].
It's important to note that no new information was provided regarding Mark Zuckerberg's belief that people without AI glasses may face a disadvantage in the future [8]. Additionally, no further information was provided regarding any policy changes proposed by Google for real-money games on the Play Store in India [9][10].
These updates to UPI transactions aim to balance high transaction volumes with a smoother user experience and greater security [1][2][5]. The updates come in response to the massive growth in UPI transactions, which reached 18.4 billion transactions in June 2025 alone, causing system strain and delays [1].
[1] NPCI Circular, August 2025 [2] ETtech, August 2025 [3] Livemint, August 2025 [4] The Economic Times, August 2025 [5] Business Standard, August 2025 [6] The Hindu, August 2025 [7] Financial Express, August 2025 [8] TechCrunch, July 2025 [9] Gadgets360, July 2025 [10] Android Central, July 2025
With these new UPI transaction rules, effectiveness and security are prioritized, as users will only be allowed to check their transaction status three times, with a 90-second gap between checks [7]. The finance industry will see a technological shift, as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will implement these updates to manage high transaction volumes and improve system performance [1].
