Hyderabad, September 16: The Telangana BJP on Wednesday welcomed the clarifications issued by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the recent changes relating to UPI transactions, and accused the Congress-led Opposition of deliberately creating misleading narratives around a measure aimed at strengthening India’s digital payments ecosystem.
State BJP Chief Spokesperson and Media In-charge N. V. Subash said the clarifications had exposed the misinformation being spread over the new UPI framework and urged the Opposition not to mislead people for political purposes.
“It is unfortunate that the Congress and its allies are opposing every initiative of the NDA government without even understanding its implications. Instead of examining the facts, they are manufacturing narratives and attempting to create confusion among ordinary citizens,” Subash said.
He welcomed the clarification from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that UPI will continue to remain completely free for person-to-person transactions, irrespective of the amount transferred. Payments to merchants up to ₹2,000, along with transactions covered under the zero-MDR framework for small merchants, will also remain free. The Finance Ministry has clarified that about 96 per cent of all person-to-merchant UPI transactions will remain unaffected.
Subash said the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) should not be confused with a tax or a charge imposed on consumers. The Finance Ministry has specifically stated that MDR is neither a tax nor a government or NPCI charge, but a mechanism for distributing revenue among participants in the payment ecosystem to support the operation, security and continued expansion of UPI.
He said the clarification was particularly important because UPI has become one of the most visible achievements of India’s digital public infrastructure. The Finance Ministry has stressed that the framework is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of UPI while protecting individuals and small merchants from additional charges.
Subash also appreciated Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s efforts to take India’s digital payment capabilities to the global stage. Addressing the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, Goyal urged BRICS member and partner countries to link their instant payment systems, promote trade in local currencies and make digital commerce more accessible globally. He noted that UPI is already accepted in 11 countries and has crossed 250 billion transactions annually.
“From the humble QR code at a neighbourhood shop to a payment platform with international ambitions, UPI represents a major transformation in India’s digital economy. The fact that India is now discussing interoperability of payment systems and local-currency trade with BRICS partners demonstrates the scale of this transformation,” Subash said.
He said the Opposition should welcome India’s technological and financial innovations instead of attempting to turn every policy initiative into a political controversy.
“Constructive criticism is welcome in a democracy, but deliberately spreading misinformation and creating apprehension among citizens serves neither the country nor the people. The Congress and other Opposition parties should place facts before the public instead of resorting to politically motivated narratives,” Subash said.
He said the Narendra Modi government would continue to strengthen India’s digital public infrastructure, expand financial inclusion and position Bharat as a global leader in technology-driven public services.
