UPI ID Unlinking by NPCI for Inactive Mobile Numbers

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that starting from 1 April 2025, it will begin the process of unlinking Unified Payments Interface (UPI) IDs associated with mobile numbers that are inactive. This change will affect users of digital payment platforms, including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm, particularly those whose registered mobile numbers are no longer in use.

Reasons Behind NPCI’s Decision

NPCI has indicated that inactive mobile numbers connected to UPI IDs represent a security risk. When users switch or deactivate their mobile numbers, they frequently neglect to update their bank details or remove their UPI IDs, consequently heightening the chances of fraudulent activity. In instances where such numbers get reassigned to new users, there is a potential for scammers to exploit them for unauthorised financial transactions.

Impacted Users

The users at risk of losing access to UPI services include:

• Individuals who have changed to a new mobile number without updating their bank information.
• Users continuing to utilise UPI with numbers that are inactive or have been reassigned.
• Customers who have returned their SIM cards without advising their bank of the new mobile number.
• Users whose mobile numbers have not been used for calls, SMS, or banking purposes for a prolonged duration.

Maintaining UPI Service Continuity

To avoid disruption in UPI services, NPCI recommends that users take the following measures before 1 April:

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

Bank Actions Moving Forward

Banks and payment service providers will be required to:

• Regularly check and eliminate inactive, reassigned, or deactivated mobile numbers from their UPI systems.
• Inform customers with inactive numbers prior to suspending their UPI services.
• Cease UPI access for users who do not update their mobile number after receiving notifications.
• Ensure users who update their mobile number prior to the deadline maintain continuous access to UPI services.