UPI Payments To Be Blocked On Inactive Mobile Numbers From April 1: What You Need To Know
UPI accounts linked to inactive numbers pose a serious security risk, leading banks to actively remove such numbers from the UPI ecosystem.
Starting April 1, mobile numbers that are inactive or reassigned will no longer support UPI transactions. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has instructed banks and payment service providers (PSPs) to delink such numbers to prevent fraudulent transactions and unauthorized access. Users are advised to ensure their registered mobile numbers remain active to avoid disruptions in digital payments.
Why This Change Is Necessary
UPI accounts linked to inactive numbers pose a serious security risk. If a number is deactivated and later reassigned, fraudsters could potentially gain access to a user’s banking information and initiate unauthorized transactions. To mitigate this risk, banks and UPI-based payment platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm will actively remove inactive numbers from the UPI ecosystem as per NPCI's directive.
How Banks Will Enforce The New Rule
- Banks and PSPs will regularly identify and remove mobile numbers that are inactive, reassigned, or deactivated.
- Affected users will receive prior notifications before their UPI access is suspended.
- If a mobile number remains inactive despite multiple warnings, it will be delisted from UPI to curb potential fraud.
- Users can restore their UPI functionality by updating their mobile number with their bank before the deadline.
Who Will Be Affected?
- Individuals who changed their mobile number but failed to update it with their bank.
- Users with numbers that have been inactive for an extended period and have not been used for calls, SMS, or banking notifications.
- Customers who surrendered their mobile numbers without informing their bank.
- Those whose old numbers have been reassigned to new users.
How To Ensure Your UPI Remains Active
- Verify your mobile number by making a call or sending a message to confirm its activity.
- Ensure that you are receiving SMS alerts and OTPs from your bank.
- If you have changed your mobile number, update it through net banking, UPI apps, ATMs, or by visiting your bank branch before April 1, 2025.
Why Your Mobile Number Is Crucial For UPI
Your registered mobile number is essential for OTP verification during UPI transactions. If it becomes inactive or is reassigned to someone else, your transactions may fail, or, in a worst-case scenario, funds could be transferred to an unintended recipient.
To avoid losing access to seamless UPI payments, users should ensure their mobile numbers are up to date before the implementation of this new security measure.
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