These changes follow a series of technical glitches earlier this year that temporarily halted the UPI ecosystem, raising concerns about its scalability amid surging digital adoption.
What’s Changing in UPI from August 1?
NPCI has directed banks and payment service providers (PSPs) to tighten controls over the 10 most frequently used APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) by July 31, 2025. These APIs manage essential tasks like balance checks, linked account lists, transaction status updates, and autopay functionality.
Here’s what users need to know:
1. Daily Limit on Balance Checks
Users will now be allowed to check their account balance a maximum of 50 times per day on any UPI app. This cap is aimed at reducing unnecessary API calls and easing the load on the infrastructure.
Impact: Those accustomed to frequently checking balances will need to moderate usage to stay within the new limit.
2. Cap on Linked Account Checks
Viewing the list of bank accounts linked to a UPI ID will be restricted to 25 times per day. This is to prevent misuse and reduce backend load.
Impact: Routine users are unlikely to be affected, but repeated queries for linked accounts will be limited.
3. New Autopay Time Slots
Autopay services such as SIPs, OTT subscriptions, and utility bill payments will now only be processed during off-peak hours — before 10 am, between 1 pm and 5 pm, or after 9:30 pm. Each autopay request will be allowed one main attempt and up to three retries.
Impact: The timing of your regular payments may shift. Ensure sufficient balance during these time windows to avoid failed transactions.
4. Restriction on Transaction Status Checks
To control the overuse of the “Check Transaction Status” API, NPCI has implemented new timing rules. A maximum of three status checks per transaction will be allowed, with a mandatory 90-second gap between each attempt.
Impact: If a transaction is pending, users will need to wait patiently for the next status update. Instant repeated status checks will no longer be permitted.
Why These Changes Are Necessary
UPI currently handles 83% of India’s digital transactions, with over 18 billion transactions valued at ₹25.14 lakh crore recorded in May 2025 alone. However, between March 26 and April 12, the platform experienced four service outages, including a five-hour crash on April 12 — mostly due to excessive strain from repeated API calls.
An internal investigation revealed that some PSPs were overusing the “Check Transactions” API, even for older records, which further strained system capacity. The new rules are intended to curb such practices, regulate TPS (Transactions Per Second), and keep the system agile during peak loads.
How This Affects Everyday Users
For most users, the changes will result in a more stable and faster UPI experience. While minor behavioral adjustments — like reducing balance checks — may be required, the overall benefit is uninterrupted access to the country’s most widely used digital payment system.
With over 40 crore active UPI users, even a one-minute system disruption can impact as many as four lakh transactions. Hence, these regulatory updates are critical for maintaining trust and scalability in India’s fintech backbone.
Author Profile
- My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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