National News
GJEPC seeks government intervention over US reciprocal tariff proposal
Top representatives of India’s gems and jewellery sector have urgently briefed Hon’ble Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, IAS, on the potential repercussions of the United States’ recent notice regarding reciprocal tariffs. The delegation, led by Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, along with Adil Kotwal, President, Seepz Gem & Jewellery Manufacturers’ Association (SGJMA), and Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, presented a detailed overview of the industry’s concerns and proposed mitigation strategies.
The briefing aimed to underscore the significant impact the proposed tariffs could have on Indian exports and the broader industry. Satya Srinivas, IRS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce (MoC), and Dnyaneshwar Patil, Development Commissioner, SEEPZ were also present to offer a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.
The US notice, which threatens reciprocal tariffs, has raised concerns within the Indian gems and jewellery sector, a key contributor to the nation’s export revenue. The industry leaders outlined the potential economic fallout and presented specific recommendations to safeguard interests.
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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