• Source:JND
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UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has quickly become one of the most widely utilised digital payment methods in India. From splitting bills, purchasing groceries and sending instantaneous transfers of funds – UPI has made transactions seamless. But with an update from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) scheduled to go into effect July 31, 2025, NPCI will limit how often users can check their bank balance via UPI apps to increase system efficiency and reduce server congestion.

What Is the New Rule?

According to an NPCI circular issued May 21st 2025, UPI users will now only be allowed to check their bank balance 50 times daily across apps and platforms, after which time any further balance checks will be restricted until the next morning.

This rule will apply across all banks and UPI-enabled apps, with particular emphasis placed on the 10 most-used APIs that account for significant UPI traffic volumes.

Why Has NPCI Placed a Cap on Balance Checks?

The decision by NPCI to place restrictions on balance checks stems from increased strain placed upon UPI systems during peak usage hours, where users would refresh their balance multiple times, which placed an unnecessary load on servers, resulting in reduced performance as well as delays for transactions.

By restricting balance cheques, NPCI aims to streamline UPI traffic and enable smoother operations during high usage periods.

Changes in Peak Hour Operations

Banks and payment service providers have been directed to monitor and limit unnecessary balance check requests especially during peak traffic periods:

  • 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

  • 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM

During these hours, the focus will be on processing actual payment transactions, while non-essential requests like balance checks may be restricted.

What About Auto Payments?

Auto-payments such as Netflix subscriptions, SIP deductions and other recurring debits will now primarily be processed during non-peak hours to decrease processing delays and improve reliability for users. This adjustment aims to minimize processing delays while maintaining reliability for users.

Final Thoughts

While the new National Payments Corporation of India rule limiting UPI balance checks to 50 a day may appear restrictive, it's an effective measure that should ensure smoother digital transactions for all. As UPI continues its dominance of India's digital payment space, such optimizations are necessary in order to accommodate rising volumes without incurring system slowdowns. Users are advised to be mindful when conducting balance checks to avoid hitting their daily limit and ensure uninterrupted use of payment services.