National News
DGFT Summit Explores E-commerce’s Role in Boosting Gem & Jewellery Export Potential
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) hosted an E-commerce Export Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, on 11th March, gathering industry leaders to explore the growing potential of e-commerce in enhancing retail exports. Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director of GJEPC, delivered a keynote presentation on ‘Enhancing Retail Exports through E-commerce.’
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ray emphasized the critical role of e-commerce platforms in driving growth for the gem and jewellery sector. He noted that e-commerce is particularly well-suited to this industry due to the low volume and high value of its products, making it ideal for cross-border trade. He expressed confidence that businesses in the sector will see substantial growth in the near future, driven by the accessibility and scalability of e-commerce.
Mr. Ray also provided insights into recent foreign trade policy reforms introduced by the Government of India. These regulatory changes have significantly eased e-commerce exports, contributing to the sector’s remarkable growth. Currently, India’s gem and jewellery exports total $38 billion, with projections aiming for $100 billion by 2047, largely fueled by the expanding e-commerce landscape.
He advised exporters to focus on identifying key product markets and understanding consumer preferences to secure repeat business. Additionally, he highlighted the recent partnerships formed by the GJEPC with major e-commerce platforms like eBay, Amazon, and DHL, aiming to provide a seamless export experience for its members.
National News
MDR For UPI: Credit Card Bill Payments and Jewellery Purchases Remain Free For Consumers
Consumers Are Advised That Merchant-Imposed Surcharges On Card Or UPI Payments Violate Current Payment Guidelines
Following recent industry discussions regarding the updated Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, financial experts and industry leaders have clarified that individual consumers will not incur any additional charges when paying credit card bills or purchasing high-value items like jewellery via UPI apps.
Zero Fees on Credit Card Bill Payments via UPI
Despite the implementation of the revised UPI MDR structure, consumers using UPI-enabled applications to pay their credit card bills remain entirely exempt from MDR fees.
No Cost Impact for Users: Cardholders can continue paying their bills through standard UPI QR codes or app-based transfers without losing reward points, credit float advantages, or incurring extra costs.
Understanding BBPS Fees: While standard bank-to-bank UPI transfers do not carry MDR, credit card bill payments processed through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) may incur small convenience or processing fees set directly by participating payment platforms under their own commercial terms—not as part of the UPI MDR framework.
Framework for Jewellery Purchases and High-Value Merchants
For high-value retail transactions, including jewellery purchases, regulatory guidelines mandate that the burden of MDR falls strictly on merchants, not customers:
Consumer Exemption: Merchants and payment platforms are prohibited from passing MDR charges or platform surcharges directly onto buyers.
Capped MDR for Jewellers: Under the revised Person-to-Merchant (P2M) framework for transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, jewellers and high-value merchants absorb a capped MDR of 0.4% (up to a maximum limit of Rs 300 per transaction for purchases of Rs 75,000 and above).
Payment Transparency: While jewellers absorb nominal fees for bank-linked UPI transactions, standard credit card fees continue to apply to credit card swipes and RuPay-credit card UPI transactions.
Consumers are advised that merchant-imposed surcharges on card or UPI payments violate current payment guidelines.
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