Will UPI transactions above Rs 10,000 fail? Here is what RBI is planning
Follow UsRBI may add a 1 hour delay for some UPI payments above Rs 10,000 to improve safety.
No change in limits, and shop or online payments will stay instant.
A trusted contacts option may skip the delay; rule is still under review.
India’s digital payments system may soon change in a small but important way. The Reserve Bank of India has suggested a plan to improve safety as online fraud cases keep increasing. Under this idea, some high-value transfers via UPI may not be completed instantly. Instead, there could be a short waiting period before the money reaches the receiver. This step will not affect how much money people can send. It will only affect the speed of delivery in certain cases. The proposal is still being reviewed. Banks, companies, and the public have been invited to give their feedback before any final decision is taken. This change could help reduce risks further.
SurveyCan I still send more than Rs 10,000 via UPI?
While the new proposed rule brings a one-hour cooldown period over UPI transactions above Rs 10,000, the proposal does not reduce your sending capacity. You can continue to transfer any amount over Rs 10,000 within your bank’s existing limits.
Does the one-hour delay apply to all UPI transfers above Rs 10,000?
No, the delay does not apply to every transaction. It mainly applies to person-to-person transfers made using UPI. These are payments sent directly to another individual’s bank account or UPI ID.
Furthermore, at the time of writing, the delay has only been proposed for payments made to a recipient for the first time or when the amount is considered high, that is, more than Rs 10,000. The government has stated that this new rule aims to curb digital financial fraud, particularly in cases where users are tricked into sending money.
Will grocery, fuel, or online shopping payments be delayed?
If you are planning to pay for your grocery purchases, fuel, or online shopping, which are more than Rs 10,000, then there will be no delay in such payments, as they will always be made instantly. Person-to-merchant payments include scanning QR codes at shops, paying at petrol pumps, or making purchases on websites and apps. RBI has currently kept such payments outside the scope of the proposal.
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How to avoid the one-hour delay for trusted contacts?
The government is also reportedly working on a way using which you can skip the one-hour delay in the payments over Rs 10,000. Users may be able to add people to a trusted list. However, it would be only applicable to the ones you often send money to, like a family member or service provider. You may get to see an option using which you can mark them as trusted, and once added, payments to these contacts will go through instantly, even if the amount is high.
When will the RBI UPI rule come into effect?
The RBI UPI rule is currently at the discussion stage and is not active yet. RBI is currently seeking feedback on the new rule from the public, and the deadline for that is set for May 8, 2026. RBI said that they’ll make a final decision after reviewing suggestions. Moreover, if the rule gets approved, then the banks will be given time to implement the changes before the rule becomes active.
