Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Santrupt Misra on Saturday, 19 September 2026, called on the Central government to identify alternative funding mechanisms for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) infrastructure upgrades and cybersecurity, insisting that the burden must not fall on small businesses and consumers. His remarks come a day after BJD President and Odisha Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik flagged concerns over the recently announced 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain UPI transactions above ₹2,000.

What Santrupt Misra Said

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Misra acknowledged UPI as a 'very important innovation' but questioned the fairness of how its future development would be financed. 'The question is not that it requires funding to create cyber security and improvement in technology platform, rather the question is how is it to be funded? Who pays for it? And how do we ensure that there is a sustainable investment into the process?' he said.

He was unambiguous about the party's position: 'BJD's stand is that the consumers and small businesses have to be protected.' He added that 'there can be many other avenues of funding this process, we have to explore all of that, rather than imposing small businesses with further charges.'

Transparency in Parliamentary Committees

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi had claimed on social media that the Parliament Standing Committee on Finance had not discussed the UPI charge proposal. Misra said he had no knowledge of this claim, but called on Standing Committee Chairperson Bhartruhari Mahtab to publicly clarify whether the committee had deliberated on the issue and what the nature of those discussions was. He stressed that parliamentary committee proceedings 'need to be more transparent in matters of public interest,' adding: 'Public needs to know what exactly was discussed on a particular matter and why constructive ideas, if present, were not accepted?'

Odisha Congress Compares MDR to 'Jizya Tax'

The political temperature around the MDR announcement rose further as the Odisha Congress drew a sharp historical parallel, comparing the 0.4 per cent MDR on UPI transactions to the medieval Jizya tax. The comparison signals that opposition parties are seeking to frame the charge as a regressive levy targeting ordinary traders and users, ahead of what could be a sustained legislative campaign against it.

Background: Why UPI Charges Are Contentious

UPI has been central to India's digital payments revolution, processing billions of transactions monthly and serving as a lifeline for small merchants across the country. Its zero-MDR policy has been a key driver of adoption, particularly among micro-enterprises and low-income users. Any rollback — even on high-value transactions — risks chilling adoption and disproportionately affecting the informal economy. This is the context in which parties across the opposition are aligning against the proposed charge.

What Happens Next

With multiple opposition voices — including BJD, Congress, and regional parties — coalescing around consumer protection, the Centre will face growing pressure to either roll back the MDR or present a detailed justification. The call for Standing Committee clarification adds a parliamentary accountability dimension that could force a formal debate. Whether the government offers an alternative funding model or holds its position will likely define the political narrative around UPI in the weeks ahead.