UPI Can't Remain Cost-Free Indefinitely: Malhotra

Reserve Bank governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday said even as popular unified payments interface (UPI) remains free for users, it is not free as someone is already covering the cost and it can't remain cost-free indefinitely.

- BENN KOCHUVEEDAN @ Mumbai

Reserve Bank governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday said even as popular unified payments interface (UPI) remains free for users, it is not free as someone is already covering the cost and it can't remain cost-free indefinitely. He added the government will ultimately decide who bears the operational expenses.

Addressing reporters at the customary post-policy presser here Wednesday, the governor, in response to a query on his earlier statement, which alluded to him saying UPI can't be free forever, clarified that "I never said UPI can't stay free forever. What I said was there are costs (associated with UPI transactions), and they need to be paid for by someone."