📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann Forget
Politics
Madhya Pradesh to Observe ‘No‑UPI Day’ on Sept 23, Capping Digital Payments at ₹2,000
✍️ bhaskarenglish.in
🗓 22 Sep 2026, 11:16 AM
👁 10
The Madhya Pradesh government announced a symbolic ‘No‑UPI Day’ on September 23, restricting electronic transactions above ₹2,000 and covering QR‑code scanners as a protest against perceived policy pressures.
The state administration of Madhya Pradesh has declared September 23 as a ‘No‑UPI Day’ to stage a symbolic protest against recent pressures on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system. Under the directive, merchants and service providers are instructed not to accept digital payments exceeding ₹2,000 and to cover QR‑code scanners in their premises.
Officials said the move is intended to highlight concerns over the growing dominance of UPI and to urge the central government to address issues raised by local traders. The directive will be communicated to all commercial establishments across the state, and compliance will be monitored by the department of commercial taxes.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While some business owners welcome the temporary relief from high‑value digital transactions, consumer groups warn that the restriction could inconvenience shoppers who rely on cashless payments for larger purchases. The state has not indicated any penalties for non‑compliance, emphasizing that the day is meant as a protest rather than a punitive measure.
The ‘No‑UPI Day’ follows a series of regional protests in other parts of India where local authorities have expressed dissatisfaction with national digital payment policies. Madhya Pradesh’s decision adds to the ongoing debate about the balance between financial inclusion and regulatory oversight.
The government has pledged to review the impact of the protest and to engage with the central finance ministry after the event, aiming for a constructive dialogue on the future of digital payments in the state.
Officials said the move is intended to highlight concerns over the growing dominance of UPI and to urge the central government to address issues raised by local traders. The directive will be communicated to all commercial establishments across the state, and compliance will be monitored by the department of commercial taxes.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While some business owners welcome the temporary relief from high‑value digital transactions, consumer groups warn that the restriction could inconvenience shoppers who rely on cashless payments for larger purchases. The state has not indicated any penalties for non‑compliance, emphasizing that the day is meant as a protest rather than a punitive measure.
The ‘No‑UPI Day’ follows a series of regional protests in other parts of India where local authorities have expressed dissatisfaction with national digital payment policies. Madhya Pradesh’s decision adds to the ongoing debate about the balance between financial inclusion and regulatory oversight.
The government has pledged to review the impact of the protest and to engage with the central finance ministry after the event, aiming for a constructive dialogue on the future of digital payments in the state.