National traders’ organisation calls reports of ‘No UPI Day’ fake:There has been no such announcement; some local organisations may protest on 2 October

The Confederation of All India Traders, or CAIT, has called media reports that a ‘No UPI Day’ would be observed across the country on 2 October false. The national traders’ organisation said it had made no such announcement. CAIT said that the digital payments ecosystem was essential to strengthening India’s economy and that the organisation supported it. It said it had nothing to do with the protest. Reports emerged two days ago that traders and shopkeepers across the country would not accept UPI payments on 2 October. Traders’ organisations had announced that they would observe a ‘No UPI Day’ on that day to protest the government’s 0.4% charge on transactions above ₹2,000. On that day, traders would cover the UPI QR codes, scanners, sound boxes and other digital payment devices installed at their shops with black cloth as a mark of protest. The traders are demanding that the charge, which is scheduled to come into effect from 15 October, be withdrawn. Key points from the Confederation of All India Traders’ statement 1. Nothing to do with No UPI Day: CAIT said the organisation had not passed any proposal to boycott UPI or observe a No UPI Day on 2 October. Reports being circulated in CAIT’s name are completely false. 2. Individual opposition by regional organisations: CAIT said some regional or local traders’ organisations might stage protests over the issue of MDR charges on UPI. This is their own individual decision and should not be considered CAIT’s position in any way. 3. Appeal to the Media and the Public: CAIT has appealed to the media to ensure that facts are confirmed through official sources before publishing any news in the organisation’s name. Traders and the general public have also been advised to rely only on official statements. Maharashtra organisation had said: 500 organisations from across the country would join the protest Earlier, Ravindra Mangave, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), had said that the movement would not remain limited to Maharashtra, but more than 500 prominent traders’ organisations from across the country would participate in it. What is the traders’ organisations’ argument against UPI charges? New MDR Rules for Merchants on UPI What is the Merchant Discount Rate? The Merchant Discount Rate, or MDR, is the fee a merchant or shopkeeper pays to banks and payment service providers for using debit/credit cards or digital payment (UPI) facilities through a point-of-sale machine or payment gateway. This fee is collected to cover the cost of properly operating digital infrastructure and the transfer network. The merchant has to pay this charge, not the customer.