# Congress MPs backed UPI fee framework, Centre says

2026-09-17T05:07:07+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Five Congress MPs, including former finance minister P Chidambaram, were present when the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance approved a report recommending a tiered revenue mechanism for UPI on August 12, with no dissent recorded, the government said. The committee pressed for a tiered Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 and said it should be implemented without delay, citing the need for financial sustainability of the payments ecosystem. The government questioned why Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was opposing the framework that his own party MPs had supported. Gandhi had demanded an immediate rollback of the new UPI fee rule, alleging the decision was taken under US pressure. The government rejected the claim as baseless, saying MDR is not a consumer charge and will not affect person-to-person transactions or payments up to Rs 2,000. The MDR of 0.4% will apply only to specified merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 1.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Times Now and Hindustan Times lead with the Congress MPs' support for the MDR framework, framing Rahul Gandhi's opposition as contradictory, while Free Press Journal reports the same fact without partisan commentary. The pro-government framing emphasises the party's internal inconsistency, omitting that committee members can back policy recommendations while opposing specific implementation. The critical framing would focus on the consumer impact. The balanced reading: the panel's report preceded the government's notification, and Gandhi's objection is to the timing and alleged foreign pressure, not the principle of a revenue model. The finance ministry's clarification that 96% of transactions remain free will shape the public debate. The committee's report noted the Rs 2,000 crore subsidy covers only 11% of industry costs, leaving a structural gap that the tiered MDR aims to address. The government must notify the framework by April 1.

## Coverage

- timesnownews.com (pro government) <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/5-congress-mps-including-p-chidambaram-gaurav-gogoi-backed-upi-mdr-framework-in-parliament-article-156172169>
  Leads with Congress MPs backing MDR, frames Rahul Gandhi as isolated, omits his concerns
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-is-rahul-opposing-govt-says-chidambaram-4-congress-mps-backed-upi-revenue-framework-101789613911694.html>
  Presents government's rebuttal and committee report without editorialising
- freepressjournal.in (neutral report) <https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/congress-mps-backed-tiered-upi-revenue-model-in-parliamentary-panel-meeting-says-govt>
  Reports facts and statements from both sides without slant

Tags: merchant discount rate, P Chidambaram, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, Rahul Gandhi, UPI
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