From October 1, 2025, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is set to change the way we send and receive money in India. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has confirmed that the money request feature for P2P transfers will be discontinued. This decision has been taken to curb frauds and scams that have increasingly misused this option.
Why is the Money Request Feature Being Removed?
The money request button was originally introduced as a handy tool for splitting bills or reminding someone to pay back borrowed money. Instead of asking directly, users could simply send a request and the other person could approve or decline it.
But over time, fraudsters turned this convenience into a loophole. Many unsuspecting users approved fake requests, thinking they were verifying genuine payments, and ended up losing money. To close this gap, NPCI has now made it mandatory that from October 2, 2025, “no P2P collect transaction should be initiated, routed, or processed.”
What Stays the Same on UPI
While the removal of peer-to-peer collection requests changes one aspect of UPI, most features remain untouched. Users will still be able to:
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Send money instantly via UPI ID, mobile number, or bank account.
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Scan QR codes for payments to friends, family, or shopkeepers.
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Approve merchant collection requests, such as payments to e-commerce platforms, food delivery apps, or subscription services.
Unlike peer-to-peer collection requests, merchant collection requests will continue to function with higher transaction limits. Previously, P2P requests were capped at ₹2,000 per transaction.
Safety Comes First
According to NPCI, this change is about strengthening trust in Unified Payments Interface. The money request option had become one of UPI’s weakest security links, as a single careless tap could drain money from an account.
By retiring this feature, NPCI is prioritising user safety over convenience. Genuine users may find it slightly inconvenient since they now need to share their UPI ID, generate a QR code, or simply send a reminder message. But the bigger picture is clear—removing peer-to-peer collection requests makes the platform harder for scammers to exploit.
What It Means for Users
For the average user, very little will change. UPI will still be instant, free, and accepted everywhere from small shops to big retailers. The only difference is that you’ll no longer be able to send a money request to friends or family for small amounts.
Yes, it means you’ll have to ask directly or share a QR code when splitting bills, but the trade-off is greater security. NPCI wants to ensure that every tap and swipe on UPI is safe.
The Future of UPI
The Unified Payments Interface has grown into India’s crown jewel of digital payments, processing billions of transactions each month. Its success comes from being fast, simple, and cost-free. But those same strengths also made it a target for fraudsters.
Scams have ranged from phishing messages to fake OTP requests, and the money request feature was just another tool for fraud. By removing it, NPCI is ensuring that UPI evolves with stronger safeguards—focusing less on shortcuts and more on long-term security.
