New Delhi, October 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Tuesday welcomed the government’s decision to defer the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, saying it would protect traders’ interests and support digital payments during the festive and wedding season.
CAIT thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the decision, saying additional transaction costs could have burdened traders and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), many of which operate on thin margins. The proposed levy could also have discouraged wider adoption of digital payments.
The decision follows a September 30 meeting between a delegation of around 20 trade leaders, led by CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal, and the Finance Minister at Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi. CAIT said it had also coordinated with trade associations nationwide to convey merchants’ concerns to the government.
Khandelwal said CAIT supports digital payments but stressed that the system must remain affordable and sustainable, particularly for small businesses. He said the deferment would strengthen traders’ confidence and reinforce the government’s partnership with the trading community in building a stronger Digital India.
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