NPCI Guidelines on UPI AutoPay Mandate Executions

BSE Clearing Limited, vide Notice No. 20260724-1 dated July 24, 2026, has announced an important update regarding NPCI Guidelines on UPI AutoPay Mandate Executions.

Key Details of the Update –
• BSE Clearing Limited has informed market participants that NPCI has issued additional guidelines on the usage of UPI APIs vide Circular No. NPCI/UPI/OC/215A/2025-26, requiring UPI AutoPay mandate execution requests to be initiated only during prescribed non-peak hours.
• Applicability: All concerned stakeholders involved in UPI AutoPay mandate executions in the Mutual Fund segment, including entities required to comply with NPCI directions communicated through respective Payment Aggregators.
• Peak Hours: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM, as defined by NPCI.
• UPI AutoPay mandate execution requests must be scheduled only during NPCI-prescribed non-peak hours.
• The attached NPCI circular further prescribes operational controls for various UPI APIs, including API usage limits, execution during non-peak hours for specified non-customer-initiated APIs, permitted API headers, customer consent requirements for specified APIs, and audit requirements for PSP/Acquiring Banks.
• Effective Date: The notice does not specify a separate effective date; members are advised to comply with the NPCI directions communicated through the notice.
• Key Changes: Mandatory scheduling of UPI AutoPay mandate execution requests during non-peak hours in line with NPCI's revised UPI API usage guidelines.
• Penalty/Consequence: The NPCI circular states that non-compliance may result in actions including UPI API restrictions, penalties, suspension of new customer onboarding, or other measures deemed appropriate by NPCI.

Actions if Any –
• Review existing UPI AutoPay mandate execution processes.
• Ensure UPI AutoPay mandate execution requests are scheduled only during NPCI-prescribed non-peak hours.
• Take all necessary actions to comply with the directions issued by NPCI and communicated by the respective Payment Aggregators.
• Communicate the compliance requirements to relevant stakeholders and implementation partners, as prescribed in the attached NPCI circular.

Compliance Deadline –
• The BSECL notice does not prescribe a separate compliance deadline. However, the attached NPCI circular requires implementation by 31 July 2025 and submission of audit reports by 31 August 2025.