Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become the backbone of digital payments in India. Today, millions of Indians use UPI daily — from grocery bills and utility payments to sending money to friends and businesses. As UPI adoption grows, one critical question often arises: “What are the UPI transaction limits in India in 2026?”
In this complete guide, we’ll explain everything — from standard UPI limits to special cases (like merchant payments and international UPI), daily caps, best practices, and expert tips to avoid payment failures.
What Is UPI?
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It enables instant money transfer between bank accounts via mobile apps. UPI links multiple bank accounts to a single mobile application and uses a simple Virtual Payment Address (VPA), like name@bank, eliminating the need for bank account details or IFSC codes.
UPI’s simplicity, speed, and zero charges for most transactions have made it India’s most preferred digital payment method.
How Do UPI Limits Work?
UPI limits are rules that cap the amount of money you can send or receive via UPI in a given period (usually per transaction, per day, or per month). These limits are set to protect users from fraud, reduce risk, and comply with regulatory guidelines.
Important points about UPI limits:
- Limits can be per transaction and cumulative daily limits.
- They differ for consumer transfers, merchant payments, international payments, and subscription payments.
- Banks or UPI apps can set stricter limits for specific accounts.
As of 2026, UPI limits continue to evolve to support growing digital payment needs.
UPI Transaction Limits in India (2026)
Here are the official UPI limits in India for 2026:
| UPI Payment Type | Per Transaction Limit | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Person-to-Person (P2P) | ₹1,00,000 | ₹2,00,000* |
| Merchant Payments | ₹1,00,000 | No specific cap (depends on merchant) |
| UPI International | Variable (per bank/partner rules) | Depends on currency & bank |
| UPI AutoPay (Recurring) | ₹2,00,000* per mandate | Cumulative from your daily UPI limit |
| UPI QR Payments | ₹1,00,000 | No specific cap |
* NPCI/Bank may adjust these; some banks impose lower daily limits for security.
Note: Your bank or UPI app might display a lower daily limit. This is often a bank-level restriction (not an NPCI cap), and can sometimes be increased upon request.
Per-Transaction vs Daily Limits
Understanding the difference:
Per-Transaction Limit
This is the maximum amount you can transfer in a single transaction. For UPI, this is usually ₹1,00,000.
Example: You cannot send ₹1,50,000 in one single UPI transfer — it exceeds the per-transaction limit.
Daily Limit
This refers to the total amount you can transact via UPI within a single day. Generally, for most users, the baseline daily limit is ₹2,00,000. However, the exact cap ultimately depends on your bank or UPI app.
For example, you can send two separate transactions of ₹1,00,000 each. Nevertheless, the combined total must not exceed your bank’s overall daily limit.
UPI Limits for Different Use Cases
A. Sending Money to Individuals (P2P)
Whether you’re splitting a bill, paying rent, or sending money to family, UPI P2P transfers come with defined limits. In general, you can send up to ₹1,00,000 per transaction. Additionally, the total amount you can transfer in a single day is typically capped at ₹2,00,000, although this may vary depending on your bank.
Some banks may allow more transactions with identity verification.
B. Merchant Payments
Merchant UPI payments are usually more flexible:
- ₹1,00,000 per transaction
- Daily limits often not restricted by NPCI
- Some apps allow cumulative UPI payments without hitting a cap
Example: You sell ₹10,000 worth of products 10 times a day — most UPI apps will process them without blocking funds.
C. UPI International Payments
India recently enabled UPI for global merchants and international use in select countries.
Key points:
- Limits depend on partner country rules, currency, and bank policies.
- Typically expressed in foreign currency equivalent.
- Not all banks support international UPI yet.
For example, a user in India may be permitted to make international UPI payments up to the equivalent of ₹75,000 per day in USD or EUR. However, this limit can vary depending on the bank’s policy and the partner payment network involved.
D. UPI AutoPay / Recurring Payments
UPI AutoPay allows recurring payments for bills like OTT subscriptions, EMIs, or utilities.
Caps include:
- ₹2,00,000 per mandate in 2026
- Monthly or quarterly caps depend on merchant and subscription plan
- The value of each debit cannot exceed your daily or per-transaction UPI limit
AutoPay is ideal for:
- Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify subscriptions
- Insurance premium payments
- Loan instalments
Bank-Wise Variations in UPI Limits
Although NPCI sets the overall framework for UPI limits, individual banks may still impose their own caps. This is because they assess factors such as risk profiles, customer categories, and internal security policies. As a result, your actual transaction limit may differ from the standard guideline.
Examples of limits that banks may set:
- Lower daily limits for new UPI users
- Additionally, banks may impose temporary limits if any suspicious activity is detected. In such cases, these restrictions are applied as a precautionary measure to protect your account from potential fraud.
- Lower limits for inactive accounts
This means:
- Although NPCI may allow a daily limit of ₹2,00,000, some banks may still impose a lower cap of ₹1,00,000. As a result, your actual usable limit can vary depending on your bank’s internal policies.
- Some premium or corporate accounts may have higher limits.
Always check your specific bank app or UPI app settings to know your actual limits.
Factors Affecting Your UPI Limit
Several things can influence your UPI limit:
KYC Level
Incomplete KYC (Know Your Customer) may restrict your payment limits.
Linked Bank Account Type
Some banks restrict UPI limits for particular account categories.
Security Triggers
Unusual activity may result in temporary reduction of limits.
UPI App Policy
Different apps might apply tighter restrictions for risk management.
Also read: Should You Close an Unused Credit Card? Pros and Cons
How to Check Your UPI Limit
Here’s how you can check your UPI limit:
In Your UPI App:
- Open your UPI app (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, etc.)
- Go to “Profile” or “Bank Accounts”
- Tap on your bank account
- Look for UPI transaction limits or daily cap
Many apps show:
- Remaining daily limit
- Per-transaction limit
- Number of transactions left
Also read: Credit Card Interest After Payment: Why Banks Still Charge You
How to Increase Your UPI Limit
If your bank imposes a lower limit and you need more, here’s how you might increase it:
Complete KYC
Ensure your bank account’s KYC is fully updated.
Contact Your Bank
Call customer support and request a higher UPI limit.
Switch UPI App
Some banks assign higher limits via specific UPI apps (e.g., Google Pay vs bank app).
Link Multiple Bank Accounts
You can spread transactions across accounts if you hit the limit on one bank.
Also read: Credit Card Late Payment CIBIL Score Impact (Timeline Explained)
FAQs on UPI Limits (2026)
Q1: Can I send more than ₹1,00,000 in one go?
No — per NPCI guidelines, UPI per-transaction limit is ₹1,00,000. If you need to send more, you must split into multiple transactions or use NEFT/RTGS.
Q2: Why is my UPI limit lower than the official one?
Banks may enforce stricter limits for security or internal policy. Contact your bank for clarity.
Q3: Do receiving limits exist on UPI?
In most cases, UPI apps do not impose limits on receiving payments. However, individual bank policies may still apply to certain account types. Therefore, it is always advisable to check with your bank to avoid unexpected restrictions.
Q4: Are UPI limits different for QR payments?
While the per-transaction caps remain the same, certain QR-based merchant payments may, in some cases, bypass standard daily limits. As a result, businesses can process multiple payments throughout the day without quickly hitting cumulative caps.
Q5: Will UPI limits change after 2026?
UPI limits evolve with regulations. Future changes will be announced by NPCI or RBI.
Conclusion
UPI has revolutionised how Indians transact — making payments fast, secure, and convenient. However, understanding UPI limits is essential for smooth financial planning. Without clarity on these limits, transactions may fail unexpectedly. Therefore, staying informed helps you avoid disruptions and ensures a seamless payment experience.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Maximum ₹1,00,000 per transaction
- Standard ₹2,00,000 daily limit (may vary)
- Merchant & QR payments are more flexible
- AutoPay supports recurring payments up to ₹2,00,000
- Bank policies can change limits
Whether you’re a frequent sender, a merchant, or even someone exploring UPI globally, understanding these limits is essential. After all, when you know the exact caps in advance, you can plan your payments more effectively. As a result, you’ll manage your money confidently, reduce unexpected transaction failures, and avoid unnecessary payment rejections.
