The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that person-to-person “collect” requests on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be discontinued from October 1, 2025. In a directive to banks, payment service providers, and UPI apps, NPCI instructed that no such transactions should be initiated, routed, or processed beyond this date.
The “collect” feature enables a user to request money from another, with funds transferred once the recipient approves. Initially intended for scenarios like splitting bills or sending payment reminders, it has increasingly been exploited by fraudsters. Scammers often disguise these requests as legitimate incoming payments, tricking users into approving unintended transfers.
NPCI Chief of Products Kunal Kalawatia emphasised that all member entities must update systems and operational processes to comply with the change. The move follows a rise in security concerns, aligning with broader regulatory calls for a zero-trust approach to combating cyberfraud.
UPI usage continues to surge in India, hitting a record 19.47 billion transactions in July 2025, with a total value of ₹25.08 lakh crore—the second-highest monthly value after May. July’s transaction value marked a 21% increase year-on-year and a 4.3% rise from June.
UPI is currently operational in seven countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius. Its expansion into France is a notable milestone, marking UPI’s entry into Europe and enabling Indians abroad to make seamless payments without foreign transaction hurdles.