UPI Major Change: NPCI to End ‘Money Request’ Feature from Oct 1, 2025; What Users Must Know

The way you use UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is about to change. Starting October 1, 2025, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will officially retire the P2P (peer-to-peer) money request feature, citing rising incidents of cyber scams and fraudulent transactions. While the move might slightly inconvenience some users, the broader goal is to make India’s most popular digital payment system more secure and fraud-resistant.

What Was the UPI Money Request Feature?

The money request tool was designed to simplify payments. Instead of verbally reminding someone about pending dues, you could raise a payment request through your UPI app. For instance, splitting a restaurant bill or asking a friend to repay a small loan could be handled with just a tap. The recipient then had the option to approve or reject the request.

While it seemed convenient, the same simplicity made it a prime target for fraudsters.

Why NPCI Decided to Remove It

According to NPCI, fraudsters exploited the feature by sending fake UPI collect requests, tricking users into authorising payments they never intended to make. Many victims mistook these requests for genuine payment approvals, leading to direct account debits.

In its new directive, NPCI clearly stated that from October 2, 2025, no P2P collect transaction should be initiated, routed, or processed. All UPI apps, banks, and payment providers have been instructed to disable the feature entirely.

This means the feature will no longer exist in apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and others.

What Will Still Work on UPI?

It’s important to note that UPI itself isn’t going away. Most core features remain unchanged, including:

Instant transfers via UPI ID, mobile number, or linked bank account.

QR code scanning for quick payments at shops or to friends.

Merchant requests (e.g., from delivery apps or online services), which will still be valid and come with higher transaction limits.

The removal only applies to P2P collect requests.

Safety Over Convenience

By removing this feature, NPCI aims to strengthen consumer trust and reduce vulnerabilities in India’s digital payments ecosystem. Fraudsters have long targeted UPI users through phishing, fake OTPs, and impersonation of bank officials. The collect request tool was simply another loophole in their fraud toolkit.

This move prioritises security over convenience, ensuring fewer ways for scammers to trick unsuspecting users.

What This Means for Everyday Users

For genuine users, the change means losing a handy shortcut. Instead of raising a request inside your UPI app, you’ll now need to:

Share your UPI ID directly.

Generate and send a QR code.

Simply remind friends or family through a WhatsApp or SMS message.

While this may feel slightly inconvenient, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, as it significantly reduces fraud risks.

The Bigger Picture: UPI’s Future

UPI has become the backbone of India’s digital payments, handling billions of transactions every month. Its speed, simplicity, and zero cost have made it a global benchmark for payment systems. However, its ease of use also made it attractive to cybercriminals.

With this new step, NPCI is ensuring UPI continues to evolve as a secure, reliable, and fraud-proof platform, keeping user safety at its core.

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