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Business
Indore Merchants Observe 'No UPI Day' to Protest Proposed Merchant Fees
✍️ Amar Ujala · Indore
🗓 23 Sep 2026, 03:16 PM
👁 12
Merchants in Indore covered UPI QR codes with black cloth and urged cash payments, protesting a slated merchant fee of over ₹2,000.
On a day dubbed "No UPI Day," shop owners across several markets in Indore, including the bustling Rajbada area, staged a coordinated protest against a newly announced UPI merchant levy. The fee, projected to exceed ₹2,000 per transaction, sparked concerns that small traders would face untenable cost pressures.
To make the message visible, merchants draped black cloth over the QR codes displayed at their counters, effectively disabling the digital payment option. Signage and verbal appeals encouraged customers to settle bills in cash, highlighting the perceived unfairness of the fee structure.
The demonstration reflects growing unease among the retail sector about the financial impact of mandatory digital transaction charges. While the government and payment networks have not yet responded, the protest underscores the need for dialogue before the fee is implemented.
Local authorities monitored the event, reporting no violence or disruption to public order. Traders indicated they would revisit the protest if their concerns remain unaddressed.
The episode adds to a broader national conversation on balancing the push for digital payments with the economic realities of small businesses.
To make the message visible, merchants draped black cloth over the QR codes displayed at their counters, effectively disabling the digital payment option. Signage and verbal appeals encouraged customers to settle bills in cash, highlighting the perceived unfairness of the fee structure.
The demonstration reflects growing unease among the retail sector about the financial impact of mandatory digital transaction charges. While the government and payment networks have not yet responded, the protest underscores the need for dialogue before the fee is implemented.
Local authorities monitored the event, reporting no violence or disruption to public order. Traders indicated they would revisit the protest if their concerns remain unaddressed.
The episode adds to a broader national conversation on balancing the push for digital payments with the economic realities of small businesses.