UPI Rules Changing from October 1: P2P 'Request Money' Feature to be Discontinued, Know the Impact on Users

From October 1, 2025, significant changes will come into effect in the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has officially announced that the “request money” feature for person-to-person (P2P) transactions will be discontinued. This decision has been taken to curb rising cases of online frauds and scams associated with the feature.

What Was the UPI ‘Request Money’ Feature?

The “request money” button in UPI made small payments between individuals extremely convenient. For example, if you had lunch with a friend and wanted to split the bill, or if someone owed you ₹500, you could simply send a request. The receiver could then approve or decline it.

While this feature simplified personal transactions, it soon became a target for cybercriminals. Fraudsters began sending fake payment requests, tricking people into authorizing debits from their bank accounts. Many unsuspecting users thought they were approving a payment but ended up losing money.

Why Is NPCI Removing This Feature?

According to NPCI, the step has been taken purely for user safety. Scammers were misusing the “request money” option to exploit users’ lack of awareness. With just a single wrong tap, individuals lost thousands of rupees.

To prevent such cases, NPCI has instructed all banks, UPI apps, and payment service providers to remove this feature by October 1, 2025. This ensures that no P2P request-based transactions will be possible.

What Remains Unchanged in UPI?

Despite this change, the core functions of UPI will continue as usual. Users can still:

• Instantly send money using UPI ID, registered mobile number, or linked bank account details.

• Make payments by scanning QR codes at shops, restaurants, or with friends.

• Approve valid merchant requests from delivery apps, e-commerce platforms, and service providers.

It is important to note that the change only impacts P2P request transactions. Merchant requests will continue without any restrictions. Moreover, merchant request limits are generally higher than the previous P2P request limit of ₹2,000.

Will This Affect Daily Users?

For most people, this update will not cause a major disruption. Sending money remains fast, free, and hassle-free on UPI. The only difference is that users will no longer be able to send a payment request to friends or family directly.

Instead, users will need to rely on alternatives such as:

• Sharing their UPI ID or mobile number.

• Sending a QR code to the payer.

• Reminding friends or colleagues manually via chat apps like WhatsApp.

Though this may seem slightly inconvenient, NPCI believes that removing the option will significantly reduce fraud attempts and make UPI safer.

Why This Move Matters?

UPI has become the backbone of India’s digital payments system, with billions of transactions happening every month. Trust and security are key to its growth. By removing the risky feature, NPCI aims to restore confidence and protect users’ hard-earned money.

Bottom Line

From October 1, 2025, UPI will no longer support P2P “request money” transactions. While this takes away some convenience, it strengthens user security. For individuals, the change means adopting new habits like directly asking contacts for money or sharing their payment details.

In the long run, this step ensures that UPI remains a safe, secure, and trusted digital payment ecosystem.