Santrupt Misra urges alternative funding for UPI upgrades
Biju Janata Dal leaders call on the Central government to fund UPI upgrades without burdening consumers and small shopkeepers.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Santrupt Misra on Saturday called on the Central government to explore alternative methods of funding for infrastructure upgrades and cybersecurity in the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Speaking to reporters, Misra acknowledged that UPI is a very important innovation, but he stressed that any approach to financing its growth must prioritize the protection of small businesses and regular consumers.[1][2]
The remarks follow concerns raised on Friday by Odisha Leader of the Opposition and BJD President Naveen Patnaik regarding the recently announced 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. Patnaik stated that the Central government must safeguard the financial interests of the common man and small traders, including local shopkeepers, rather than imposing added costs on digital transactions.[1][2]
