NPCI to unlink UPI on these numbers starting 1 April: Check if you are one of them

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has instructed banks and payment service providers (PSPs), including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm to update their records using the Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) available on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) to identify and remove inactive numbers before March 31, 2025.

Why is NPCI Taking This Step?

Inactive mobile numbers linked to UPI IDs pose a security threat. Users who change or deactivate their mobile numbers often fail to update their bank records or remove their UPI IDs. If a mobile number is reassigned to a new user, there is a risk of unintended transactions, as payments could be directed to the wrong recipient, increasing fraud risks.

To address this issue, NPCI has instructed banks and PSPs to utilise the MNRL on the DIP to update their databases and remove inactive or reassigned numbers from their records.

Who Will Be Affected?

Users at risk of losing access to UPI services include:

• Individuals who continue using UPI with inactive or reassigned numbers.
• Customers who have surrendered their SIM cards without updating their mobile number with their bank.
• Users whose mobile numbers have not been active for calls, SMS, or banking services for an extended period.

How to Avoid UPI Disruption?

To ensure uninterrupted access to UPI services, NPCI advises users to take the following steps before 1 April:

• Confirm that the mobile number linked to the bank account is active.
• Update bank records with a new number if the registered one has changed.
• Check for any dormant or unused accounts linked to inactive mobile numbers and reactivate them if necessary.

What Actions Will Banks Take?

• Banks and PSPs will update their records using the MNRL on the DIP to ensure that inactive, reassigned, or surrendered numbers do not remain linked to UPI transactions.
• Notify customers with inactive numbers before suspending their UPI services.
• Discontinue UPI access for users who fail to update their mobile number despite warnings.
• Ensure users who update their mobile number before the deadline retain uninterrupted access to UPI services.