The Lok Sabha has passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, giving the Centre power to notify charges on UPI transactions in future. Here's what the bill says and why GPay payments aren't chargeable yet.
Speculation around whether popular UPI-based apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm could soon start charging users has resurfaced after the Lok Sabha passed a bill that alters the legal framework governing digital payments in the country. Here is what the bill actually says, and what it does not.
What has the Lok Sabha passed?
The Lok Sabha on Thursday, passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the Finance Act, 2026. The bill was moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and was approved by voice vote without discussion amid protests by opposition members over unrelated issues.
The legislation was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 4, and is aimed at boosting investment, supporting manufacturing, and providing tax certainty, while also replacing the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026. According to the government, the amendments are intended to help mitigate external economic shocks, ensure domestic economic stability, and support sectors affected by prevailing global conditions, while also easing business operations.
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