In a major update for UPI users, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has said that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services will not work on numbers that are inactive or reassigned to new users. The new regulations will be effective from April 1, 2025.
To prevent fraud and unauthorised transactions, mobile numbers not in use for 90 days will be delinked from associated bank accounts. The move is aimed at enhancing security and reducing the risk of fraud associated with such mobile numbers, according to NPCI.
Inactive mobile numbers pose risks to the banking system
Keeping in view increasing instances of cybercrime, the NPCI has taken this step. The NPCI feels that inactive mobile numbers pose risks to the banking systems because telecom providers reassign mobile numbers not in use by previous users to new subscribers, which can lead to unauthorised access to UPI accounts.
With this new initiative, bank accounts linked to inactive mobile numbers will not be able to facilitate UPI services, and as a result, transactions through popular payment apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm will be turned down.
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Get the inactive mobile number reactivated or update your bank account with a number in use
So, if you have an inactive mobile number linked to any of your bank accounts, it is important to check the status of your mobile number with your telecom provider. After checking with the service provider, if you find that the number is inactive, you should either get the number reactivated or update the bank account with a number that you are currently using. The NPCI has asked banks and platforms facilitating UPI services to constantly update their records of inactive mobile numbers every week. This has been done to make sure that banks and users both comply with new regulations to check fraudulent activities.
Going ahead, users will be asked to give their explicit consent for linking or updating mobile numbers linked with UPI IDs, which will help in enhancing user security.
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