Lucknow, September 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad has opposed any increase in charges linked to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, saying additional costs should not become a burden on consumers.
Nishad was reacting to the new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework, under which a 0.4 per cent MDR will apply from October 15 to specified person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, subject to applicable exemptions and a maximum cap. The Centre has clarified that person-to-person UPI transactions will remain completely free and that the MDR is not a government tax or charge collected by the government or the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
“Today, there are international issues, whether related to inflation or anything else. We feel that such charges should not be increased,” Nishad told reporters, arguing that any additional burden affecting the public should be avoided.
The minister also welcomed the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet’s decision to convert 14,429 primary schools into smart schools at a cost of Rs 300 crore. He said the initiative should ensure that children from economically weaker families also have access to smart classrooms and modern educational facilities.
Referring to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s emphasis on development reaching the poorest sections, Nishad said children from poor families should also receive opportunities to study in smart classrooms and progress.
Nishad also commented on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav becoming president of the Lohia Trust, using the issue to question the importance of trust in political and personal relationships.
On Yadav’s remarks on the Uniform Civil Code, Nishad said social justice and equal rights required a common legal framework, arguing that rights are provided through laws, Acts and government notifications.
The UCC debate remains politically contested, with parties and organisations differing over its implications for personal laws, equality and religious freedom.
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