Starting February 1, 2025, UPI transaction IDs containing special characters like #, @, $, or * will be automatically rejected by the central system. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced updated guidelines for UPI transactions to enhance security and compliance.
NPCI Implements New Guidelines for UPI Transaction IDs
The NPCI, which regulates retail payment systems in India, has introduced strict new regulations regarding the format of UPI transaction IDs. As of February 1, 2025, any UPI ID containing special characters such as #, @, $, or * will be blacklisted. Special characters, including punctuation marks, accent marks, and other symbols, will no longer be allowed in UPI IDs. The new rules mandate that all UPI transaction IDs must be composed of alphanumeric characters only.
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In a circular issued on January 9, NPCI advised all stakeholders in the UPI ecosystem to comply with these guidelines and ensure that transaction IDs are formatted correctly to avoid automatic rejection. The move aims to standardize UPI transactions and enhance compliance with technical specifications.
What Does This Change Mean for UPI Users?
From today, users making UPI transactions need to ensure that their IDs only contain numbers and letters, with no special characters. Transactions that contain special characters will be rejected by the central system, which could result in delayed payments or failed transactions. This change will affect all UPI payment apps and systems, which must comply with the new rules to maintain operational standards.
NPCI emphasized the importance of adhering to these updated guidelines and urged all entities within the UPI ecosystem to take action and ensure that their systems are aligned with the new standards.
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UPI’s Growing Share in India’s Digital Payments
The rise of UPI has been a key driver of India’s digital payment growth. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) payment system report, UPI’s share of digital payments in India has surged dramatically from 34% in 2019 to a massive 83% in 2024. This growth is a result of UPI’s user-friendly interface, convenience, and widespread adoption, contributing to its status as the dominant payment method in India.
In contrast, the share of other payment methods such as RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, credit cards, and debit cards has decreased significantly, dropping from 66% to just 17% over the same period.
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The Impact of UPI’s Growth
UPI’s rapid growth has been reflected in both transaction volumes and values. From 375 crore transactions in 2018, the volume surged to 17,221 crore in 2024. The total value of UPI transactions also saw a massive increase, rising from ₹5.86 lakh crore in 2018 to ₹246.83 lakh crore in 2024. This growth highlights UPI’s pivotal role in revolutionizing digital payments in India, making it more accessible and efficient for millions of users across the country.
As UPI continues to expand, the latest guidelines on transaction IDs aim to further streamline the process and ensure a secure, consistent experience for all users.
