In a major update for UPI users, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has said that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services will not work on numbers that are revoked or surrendered. The new regulations will be effective from April 1, 2025.
Banks and payment service providers (PSPs) have been asked to update their databases before March 31 to remove recycled or churned numbers utilising Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) available on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), according to NPCI.
The move is aimed at enhancing security and reducing the risk of fraud associated with mobile numbers.
Keeping in view increasing instances of cybercrime, the NPCI has taken this step. The NPCI feels that recycled mobile numbers pose risks to the banking system and users.
With this new initiative, bank accounts linked to such mobile numbers will not be able to facilitate UPI services, and as a result, transactions through popular payment apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm will be turned down.
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The NPCI has asked banks and platforms facilitating UPI services to constantly update their records. This has been done to make sure that banks and users both comply with new regulations to check fraudulent activities.
Going ahead, users will be asked to give their explicit consent for linking or updating mobile numbers linked with UPI IDs, which will help in enhancing user security.