RBI’s Discussion Paper Asks If UPI Transactions Should Be Charged

The Reserve Financial institution of India launched a dialogue paper on prices in cost methods.

The dialogue paper, launched on Wednesday, follows an announcement by the regulator in December 2021, the place it had stated that it will search public feedback on how prices ought to be levied on digital cost methods.

“In any financial exercise, together with cost methods, there doesn’t appear to be any justification for a free service, until there is a component of public good and dedication of the infrastructure for the welfare of the nation,” the central financial institution stated in its dialogue paper.

Nonetheless, the RBI didn’t specify whether or not it’s in favour of or in opposition to levying prices on clients in its dialogue paper.

As a substitute, the regulator has requested the respondents a collection of questions, relying on the cost system in dialogue.

The dialogue separates cost methods into two classes: fund switch cost methods, which allow peer-to-peer transactions, and service provider cost methods, which facilitate the acquisition of products and providers.

Fund switch cost methods primarily embrace real-time gross settlement system, nationwide digital fund switch system and fast cost providers.

Service provider cost methods primarily embrace card networks and pay as you go cost devices.

In fund switch cost methods, prices are normally added on high of the quantity to be transferred, on a flat price foundation. The costs are recovered from both the originator or the receiver, relying on the kind of system.

In case of service provider funds, prices are normally recovered from the retailers, by way of a service provider low cost charge.

The dialogue paper delves into the construction of prices relevant proper now and whether or not they should be amended to make sure that cost system operators and different stakeholders are adequately compensated for his or her investments.

The RBI has sought feedback from numerous stakeholders by Oct. 3, after which it should determine on the ultimate tips.