Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, arrived in Bhubaneswar today after concluding a 10-day visit to Delhi.
Upon landing at the Biju Patnaik International Airport, Patnaik raised concerns regarding the new UPI transaction charges, emphasising that the welfare of everyday citizens and small business owners must remain a priority.
When asked by reporters for his reaction on the UPI issue, Naveen Patnaik stated, “The interest of the common man and small traders should be protected.” He urged the administration to prioritise the financial security of small shopkeepers and street vendors.
Grand Welcome at Bhubaneswar Airport
Senior BJD Vice President Debi Mishra confirmed that Patnaik returned following a personal 10-day stay in Delhi, where he also held discussions with senior leaders. A large crowd of party workers and supporters gathered at the airport to welcome the BJD supremo. Key leaders present at the airport included Debi Mishra, Ashok Panda, Pratap Jena, Ananta Narayan Jena, and Sulochana Das.
Key Guidelines on the New UPI Rules
The reaction comes alongside updated government and banking rules regarding UPI fees:
-
Free Limit: Transactions up to Rs 2,000 remain completely free for merchants, with no charges applied.
-
MDR Charges for Large Merchants: Transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 incur a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for large businesses, capped at a maximum of Rs 300.
-
Special Sectors: A flat Rs 5 charge applies to transactions above Rs 2,000 in specific sectors, including railways, fuel, insurance, and telecom.
-
Exemptions for Small Vendors: Small vendors and street shopkeepers falling under the P2PM category with monthly collections under Rs 1 lakh are exempt from these charges.
-
Peer-to-Peer (P2P): Personal money transfers between friends and relatives remain entirely free.
According to guidelines, merchants are strictly prohibited from passing these MDR charges onto consumers, and UPI applications are banned from levying hidden platform fees.
