Starting August 1, UPI users on GPay, PhonePe, and Paytm will be restricted in how often they can check balances, view linked accounts, or verify failed payments. New NPCI rules also limit mandate retries and ensure recipient names appear before sending money, aiming to ease server load and improve transaction reliability.
The following is the list of things UPI users won't be able to do this after August 1:
No More Unlimited Balance Checks on UPI Apps
From August 1, users of popular UPI apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm will no longer be able to check their bank balance as often as they like. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has imposed a cap of 50 balance enquiries per day per app. Those using multiple UPI apps will have the same limit applied separately on each. This step aims to reduce excessive backend traffic and improve system efficiency.
You Can’t Fetch Linked Bank Accounts Beyond 25 Times Daily
Users will also be limited in how often they can retrieve the list of bank accounts linked to their mobile number. The “List Account” feature will now have a daily cap of 25 requests per app, after which the function will be temporarily restricted for the day. This restriction is intended to cut down on redundant API calls during peak transaction hours.
No Multiple Retries for Autopay and Scheduled Mandates
EMIs, subscription fees, and SIPs processed via UPI will be attempted only once, during non-peak hours. If the transaction fails, only three retry attempts will be allowed. This change means UPI apps won’t keep retrying payments throughout the day as before, which could affect users relying on auto-deductions.
No More Instant Status Checks for Failed Transactions
Users will no longer be able to continuously refresh to check the status of a failed transaction. Starting August, only three status checks per failed transaction will be allowed each day, with a mandatory 90-second gap between each attempt. The goal is to prevent strain on UPI systems from frequent status queries.
You Won’t Be Able to Send Money Without Seeing the Recipient’s Name First
Before sending money, UPI users will now always be shown the recipient’s name—whether it’s a business or an individual—before the payment is processed. Though already in place on some apps, this will now be mandatory across all UPI platforms, adding a layer of verification to prevent accidental or fraudulent transfers.
Why UPI Users Are Losing These Features
With UPI processing over 13 billion transactions a month, the NPCI says these new restrictions are necessary to address server overload and system slowdowns. The changes aim to reduce unnecessary requests, ensure smoother functioning during busy hours, and maintain stable service across apps.
Users don’t need to manually enable or disable these rules—they will be enforced automatically through app updates. Regular users may not notice much difference, but frequent checkers and power users will likely encounter new limits after August 1.
