Politics · India Bureau
Trade bodies withdraw from UPI protest after government talks
Two major trade associations have called off their planned October 2 protest against proposed UPI merchant discount rates following discussions with the Finance Ministry. The groups are pushing the government to defer the policy and raise transaction thresholds.
LSN India ·
The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) and All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) have decided to withdraw from the planned protest on October 2, signalling a shift in their stance after meeting with senior government officials. The withdrawal comes after the trade bodies pressed the government to reconsider its proposed UPI merchant discount rate (MDR) policy, a move that has triggered significant concern across the retail and distribution sectors. During their meeting with the Finance Ministry, representatives urged officials to defer implementation of the MDR structure and increase the transaction threshold limit to ₹5 lakh, a key demand that reflects concerns about the policy's impact on small retailers and neighbourhood shops. The trade associations have indicated their willingness to engage further with the government on the matter rather than proceed with street-level protests. The decision to call off the October 2 demonstration represents a tactical shift, suggesting both groups see room for negotiation with policymakers on the contentious issue of digital payments charges.