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NPCI Introduces Tighter UPI Regulations Starting February 1, 2025

Starting February 1, 2025, NPCI has enforced a new rule requiring all UPI transaction IDs to be strictly alphanumeric, disallowing special characters. Transactions containing special characters will be automatically rejected to improve security, maintain consistency, and avoid processing issues.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced new compliance measures for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, set to take effect on February 1, 2025. Under these updated rules, UPI transaction IDs must be strictly alphanumeric, and special characters such as @, #, $, and % will no longer be permitted.

This change is aimed at improving security, ensuring consistency, and enhancing transaction efficiency in India’s rapidly growing digital payments landscape.

Why Is NPCI Banning Special Characters in UPI Transaction IDs?

NPCI has mandated that UPI transaction IDs can only include letters and numbers, with special characters being disallowed. Any transaction ID containing these symbols will be automatically rejected by the central system. This change aligns with technical standards to streamline transaction processing.

By enforcing this rule, NPCI seeks to prevent errors, improve interoperability among financial institutions and payment providers, and reduce security vulnerabilities related to inconsistent transaction ID formats.

What Led to This Change in UPI Compliance?

The rule stems from an NPCI recommendation in March 2024 for UPI participants to adopt alphanumeric transaction IDs. However, inconsistencies continued, prompting NPCI to enforce full compliance starting in February 2025. The decision comes at a crucial time, as UPI transactions have surged rapidly.

In December 2024 alone, UPI recorded 16.73 billion transactions, an 8% rise from the previous month, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistency and reliability in processing.

How Will This Affect Banks and Payment Providers?

Banks, payment service providers, and fintech companies will need to update their systems to meet NPCI's new requirements. Transactions with non-compliant transaction IDs will be rejected, potentially causing delays and dissatisfaction among customers.

For users, this change will result in a smoother, more secure transaction experience by reducing the risk of errors and fraud. NPCI's enforcement is part of its broader strategy to strengthen India’s digital payment infrastructure and ensure UPI remains the country's leading real-time payment system.