Editor’s Note
This article addresses widespread misinformation about UPI services. Readers are advised to rely on official sources for accurate information regarding digital payment systems.
As the calendar turns to December 30, 2025, and the noise of New Year celebrations fills the air, your mobile phone might also be buzzing with some concerning messages. A piece of news is spreading like wildfire on WhatsApp University and social media: “Limits will be imposed on Google Pay and PhonePe from January 1” or “Your UPI will stop working.”
If you’re also worried after reading these messages that your payments might get stuck on the very first day of the new year, take a deep breath. The reality is not as scary as it’s being made out to be. We are here to peel back the layers of these rumors one by one so you can celebrate your New Year worry-free.
Truth (Google Pay PhonePe 30% Market Cap Rule Truth):
Absolutely not, this is a pure rumor. The story was that NPCI (which manages UPI) did not want one or two apps to have complete dominance over the market. Therefore, they had talked about introducing a 30% market cap rule. Technically, it was supposed to be implemented, but considering the convenience of millions of users, NPCI has extended its deadline.
Truth (Inactive UPI ID Deactivation Rules in Hindi):
This rule is half true and half false. People are saying to quickly send 10 rupees or your ID will be deleted. Whereas the truth is that this rule is not new; it was introduced back in 2023. Its purpose was to deactivate the IDs of those who had even changed their mobile numbers. For security, it is necessary that IDs linked to old numbers are closed so that the person who gets the new number does not face any issues.
Truth: This is being exaggerated to scare people. Yes, it is true that the deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking is December 31, 2025 (especially in some cases). If you do not link it, your PAN card will become inoperative. The disadvantage will be that your TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) will be deducted at double the rate and you will not receive an income tax refund.
The things changing from the new year are for your benefit. There will now be more transparency in UPI AutoPay. This means it will be easier to view and manage all your automatic payments set up for Netflix or EMIs. Also, to prevent fraud, security in the background is being tightened a bit, which the average user won’t even notice. These changes do not have a single fixed date and are part of ongoing processes.
In conclusion, don’t pay attention to the rumors. Neither is your payment app shutting down nor is your bank account being frozen. Just stay alert, don’t share your PIN with anyone, and celebrate the New Year with gusto.
