UPI Autopay: How to Set Up Recurring Payments on UPI

UPI Autopay (also known as UPI eMandate) allows you to set up automatic recurring payments directly from your bank account using UPI. It is a convenient and secure way to pay EMIs, subscriptions, insurance premiums, and SIPs without manual intervention every month. Here is how UPI Autopay works and how to use it effectively.

What is UPI Autopay?

UPI Autopay is a feature on the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) platform that enables recurring, pre-authorised payments. Once you set it up, amounts are automatically debited from your bank account on specific dates without requiring you to enter a PIN each time.

It is governed by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) and was introduced to bring recurring payment convenience to the UPI ecosystem, competing with existing NACH mandates.

How UPI Autopay Works

**Setting Up:**
1. The merchant (or payment aggregator) sends a UPI mandate registration request to you.
2. You receive a notification in your UPI app (PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM, or your bank’s app).
3. You review the mandate details: amount, frequency (monthly, quarterly, annual), expiry date.
4. You enter your UPI PIN to authorise the mandate.
5. The mandate is active from that point.

**Recurring Deduction:**
– On each due date, the merchant triggers the debit.
– For amounts up to Rs. 15,000, the debit happens automatically without any PIN from you.
– For amounts above Rs. 15,000, you receive a notification 24 hours before the debit, and the payment goes through unless you decline it.

Use Cases for UPI Autopay

– **Mutual Fund SIPs:** Invest via SIP without having to transfer manually each month.
– **Loan EMIs:** Automate home loan, car loan, or personal loan EMIs.
– **Insurance Premiums:** Annual or quarterly insurance payments.
– **Subscriptions:** OTT platforms, gym memberships, software subscriptions.
– **Utility Bills:** Electricity, broadband, DTH bills.
– **Rent:** Monthly rent payments to a landlord.

Key Features

– **24-Hour Pre-notification:** For debits above Rs. 15,000, you receive a notification one day before and can decline if needed.
– **Manage Mandates:** You can view, modify, pause, or cancel any active mandate from your UPI app or bank’s app.
– **Multiple Mandates:** You can set up multiple autopay mandates across different merchants.
– **Bank Account Control:** The mandate draws from your bank account directly, not from a wallet.

UPI Autopay vs NACH Mandate

| Feature | UPI Autopay | NACH Mandate |
|—|—|—|
| Setup | Digital, instant | Requires physical or digital form |
| Cancellation | Instant via app | Can take 1-2 business days |
| Authentication | UPI PIN | No PIN; form-based |
| Amount Limit | Rs. 15,000 (auto), higher with notification | No upper limit for NACH |

UPI Autopay is generally faster to set up and cancel than a traditional NACH mandate.

How to Cancel a UPI Autopay Mandate

1. Open your UPI app.
2. Go to Autopay or Mandate settings.
3. Find the mandate you want to cancel.
4. Select and confirm cancellation.
5. The cancellation is immediate.

Key Takeaways

– UPI Autopay enables pre-authorised recurring payments via UPI without entering a PIN each time.
– For amounts up to Rs. 15,000, debit is automatic. For higher amounts, you receive 24-hour advance notice.
– Ideal for SIPs, EMIs, subscriptions, and utility bill payments.
– Faster to set up and cancel than NACH mandates.
– You can view and manage all active mandates from your UPI app.
– Always review mandate details (amount, frequency, merchant) before authorising.

UPI Autopay simplifies the management of recurring financial obligations and reduces the risk of missing payments due to manual oversight. Setting up SIP autopays is one of the most effective ways to ensure consistent investing.