UPI New Rules from February 2026 Starting February 2026, new rules for UPI (Unified Payments Interface) will come into effect across India. These changes aim to improve system stability, enhance security, and reduce transaction failures.
If you use UPI apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or any other UPI-enabled application, these updates may affect how certain features work.
Below is a detailed explanation of the new rules and what they mean for users.
Table of Contents
1. Daily Balance Check Limit UPI New Rules from February 2026
From February 2026, users can check their bank account balance up to 50 times per day per UPI app.
This step has been introduced to reduce unnecessary server load and improve overall performance during peak hours.
2. Limit on Viewing Linked Bank Accounts
Users will be allowed to view their linked bank account details up to 25 times per day per app.
Previously, there was no defined limit. The new restriction helps improve system efficiency and reduce repeated API requests.
3. New Rules for AutoPay Transactions
Recurring payments such as:
- Subscriptions
- EMIs
- Utility bills
Will now be processed only during non-peak hours to avoid congestion.
Each auto-payment request will have:
- 1 primary attempt
- Up to 3 retry attempts
This ensures better success rates while reducing system overload.
4. Deactivation of Inactive UPI IDs
If a UPI ID remains unused for 12 months, it may be automatically deactivated.
This step is taken for security reasons because mobile numbers are often reassigned. Deactivation helps prevent misuse of old UPI IDs.
Users can reactivate their ID by verifying details through their UPI app.
5. Stronger Verification for Adding Bank Accounts
Linking a new bank account to a UPI app will now require stronger authentication and verification.
This is aimed at reducing fraud and improving user protection.
6. Faster API Response Time
The response time for UPI transaction APIs will now be reduced to 10 seconds (earlier it was up to 30 seconds).
This means:
- Faster payment confirmation
- Reduced pending transactions
- Better user experience
7. Credit Line Payments via UPI
From mid-February 2026, users will be able to make payments using a pre-approved credit line provided by banks or NBFCs through UPI.
This feature allows:
- Payments using credit
- Access to short-term funds
- Better financial flexibility
Why These Changes Are Important
The main objectives behind the new UPI rules are:
- Improve transaction speed
- Reduce server congestion
- Enhance user security
- Minimize payment failures
- Strengthen digital payment infrastructure
Most regular users will not notice major changes in daily payments. The impact will mainly be seen in balance checks, auto-pay scheduling, and account management activities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Will normal UPI payments be affected?
No. Regular person-to-person and QR code payments will continue as usual.
Q2. What happens if I exceed the balance check limit?
You may not be able to check your balance again through that app until the next day.
Q3. Can I reactivate my UPI ID after deactivation?
Yes. You can reactivate it by verifying your details through your UPI application.
Q4. Are transaction limits changed under these new rules?
No. These changes mainly focus on performance, verification, and system management, not transaction amount limits.
Disclaimer
The above information is based on the announced updates for February 2026. Users should check their respective UPI apps for official notifications and exact implementation details.
