The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that the “collect request” feature for peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be discontinued starting October 1. This decision marks a shift in UPI’s transaction framework, pushing users toward more direct payment methods such as scanning QR codes or entering UPI IDs. The move is aimed at streamlining the payment process, reducing friction, and enhancing security. While the change will primarily impact individual users accustomed to requesting payments via UPI, the core P2P transfer and merchant payment functionalities will remain unaffected.
End of the ‘Collect Request’ Era
The “collect request” feature allowed users to send a payment request that the recipient could approve or decline, functioning as a convenient tool for reminders and small settlements. However, NPCI’s decision to phase it out reflects a broader strategy to simplify UPI’s interface, promote more direct payment methods, and reduce instances of incomplete or delayed transactions caused by pending requests.
Reasons Behind the Move
According to industry analysts, the discontinuation addresses concerns over security vulnerabilities, potential misuse, and operational inefficiencies associated with the collect request function. Direct transactions—whether via QR code scanning or entering UPI IDs—are considered faster, more secure, and more aligned with evolving consumer payment habits.
Impact on Users and Payment Ecosystem
For individual users, the shift will require adapting to alternative methods of payment solicitation. Businesses that relied on collect requests for quick settlements will need to transition to static or dynamic QR codes. UPI’s core capabilities, including instant transfers and merchant payments, will remain unaffected, ensuring continuity in overall functionality.
Industry Outlook
The change is expected to have minimal disruption in the long term, given that collect requests accounted for a relatively small share of UPI transactions. With UPI adoption continuing to surge, the focus is likely to remain on enhancing transaction speed, cross-border capabilities, and expanding integration into everyday commerce.
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