31st March 2025: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced new guidelines for the numeric UPI ID solution, set to take effect from April 1. These guidelines are designed to enhance the user experience and improve the efficiency of UPI-based transactions.
As per the new rules, UPI IDs linked to inactive mobile numbers will be deactivated. If the mobile number linked to a user’s UPI account remains inactive for an extended period, the associated UPI ID will be unlinked, preventing the user from accessing UPI services. To avoid any issues, users are advised to ensure that the mobile number registered with their bank remains active.
Additionally, UPI apps and member banks will be required to update mobile number records on a weekly basis to prevent issues related to recycled or reassigned numbers. Users must also actively opt in for numeric UPI IDs, as this feature will not be enabled by default.
These steps are intended to ensure the smooth functioning and security of UPI transactions, benefiting both users and service providers.