The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the central government to permit banks and payment service providers to levy charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other notified electronic payment modes.

The amendment changes provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, removing the existing legal restriction that barred banks and payment system providers from charging Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified electronic payment methods.

The Bill was passed by voice vote after the House resumed proceedings at 2 pm following an earlier adjournment.

What changes under the Bill?

The amendment replaces the reference to electronic payment modes prescribed under Section 269SU of the Income Tax Act with a provision allowing the central government to notify one or more electronic payment modes for which charges may be permitted.

The revised provision states that the government may specify the applicable electronic payment modes through an official notification after the law comes into force.

At present, Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act prohibits banks and payment system providers from imposing any direct or indirect charges on prescribed electronic payment modes.

Meanwhile, Section 269SU of the Income Tax Act requires businesses with an annual turnover exceeding ₹50 crore to provide specified digital payment options, including BHIM-UPI QR codes and RuPay debit cards.

UPI remains free for now

While RTGS and NEFT transactions already attract service charges in certain cases, UPI payments have so far remained exempt from Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).

The amendment itself does not immediately introduce charges on UPI transactions. Instead, it authorises the government to notify eligible electronic payment modes and permit charges in the future.

Government cites sustainability of digital payments ecosystem

According to the government, the proposed changes aim to create a sustainable revenue model for banks, payment service providers (PSPs) and payment infrastructure companies that support India’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.

The proposal seeks to balance the interests of consumers and small businesses while ensuring adequate investment in payment infrastructure.

RBI Governor: Too early to discuss MDR rollout

A day before the Bill was passed, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra described discussions on imposing MDR on digital payments as “premature”.

He said investment in payment infrastructure must be funded either through taxation or by adopting a “user pays” model through Merchant Discount Rate.

Malhotra noted that the government is currently bringing the legislative amendment and said it would be appropriate to wait for further developments before drawing conclusions.

He also said that under the user-pays principle, the merchant or person using the service bears the cost, whereas in the absence of MDR, the expenses are effectively supported through public taxation.

Industry has long sought MDR on UPI

The question of introducing MDR on UPI has remained a key issue for banks and payment industry stakeholders, who have argued for a sustainable compensation mechanism as digital payment volumes continue to rise.

Some industry observers have suggested that, if introduced in the future, MDR could apply only to higher-value merchant transactions rather than peer-to-peer UPI transfers. However, the Bill does not specify any such threshold or implementation framework.

The flood situation in Assam remained critical on Wednesday after six more people lost their lives over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll during this year’s monsoon season to 95.

According to the state’s Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), widespread flooding continues to affect rural and urban areas, with more than 1.6 lakh people impacted across 563 villages.

Of the six latest deaths, five were linked to the general flood situation. Two fatalities each were reported from Biswanath and Sivasagar districts, while one person died in Golaghat. Another person lost their life due to urban flooding in the Mayong revenue circle of Morigaon district. One person has also been reported missing in Udalguri district.

The Dhansiri (South) river at Numaligarh continues to flow above the danger level, prompting authorities to keep 14 districts on high alert. These districts are Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Kamrup (M), Jorhat, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Darrang, Karbi Anglong and Udalguri.

Sivasagar remains the worst-hit district

Among the affected areas, Sivasagar has recorded the highest number of affected residents, with more than 57,000 people impacted. Golaghat and Jorhat are the next worst-affected districts.

Floodwaters have also caused significant damage to infrastructure. According to DRIMS, seven major embankment breaches have been reported, including five in Biswanath at Brahmajan and two in Darrang’s Mangaldoi area. A steel bridge at Cholapothar in Charaideo and a footbridge in Tangla, Udalguri, have also sustained damage.

Agricultural losses have mounted as nearly 16,951 hectares of cropland remain submerged. The floods have also affected more than 35,000 livestock, while around 8,500 animals, mostly in Sivasagar district, have been washed away.

Urban flooding disrupts normal life

Urban flooding continues to affect Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Morigaon and Jorhat districts, impacting 734 people.

In Kamrup (M), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) personnel used boats to evacuate 80 people from waterlogged localities, including Satgaon and Hatigaon. Partial waterlogging continues to disrupt daily life in Guwahati’s Juripar and Anil Nagar areas.

The state government has stepped up relief measures by operating 45 relief camps, where 12,356 people are currently taking shelter. Another 59 relief distribution centres are supplying essential items, including rice, dal, salt and cattle feed, to more than 32,000 people.

Authorities are continuing to monitor river levels as the meteorological department has forecast more rainfall in the catchment areas, raising concerns that the flood situation could worsen further.

Seventeen people were injured after an Air India flight travelling from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence, with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu saying the disturbance lasted for nearly five minutes. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while four cabin crew members continue to receive medical treatment.

The Airbus A320neo operating flight AI2379 was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it experienced severe turbulence around an hour before landing in Delhi.

According to the minister, passengers recalled that the turbulence lasted between four and five minutes, during which those injured faced significant difficulty inside the aircraft.

Four crew members remain under medical care

The minister said some of the injured cabin crew sustained spinal injuries near the neck and tailbone. Doctors have advised continued medical observation for the affected crew members.

Air India confirmed that all 13 passengers admitted to hospital following the incident have now been discharged. However, four cabin crew members continue to receive treatment.

The airline said its teams remain at the hospitals to support the injured crew members and assist affected passengers and their families.

Medical teams responded immediately after landing

According to the Civil Aviation Minister, medical teams were deployed as soon as the aircraft landed in Delhi.

Passengers received first aid at the airport, while those requiring further medical attention were shifted to Medanta and Fortis hospitals.

The minister also praised the cabin crew, saying they continued assisting passengers for nearly an hour after sustaining injuries until the aircraft landed safely.

DGCA analysing cockpit voice and flight data recorders

The incident is being investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to the minister, the aircraft has been moved to a separate hangar, while investigators are examining both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) to determine what caused the severe turbulence.

He said the findings will be made public once the investigation is completed.