Omar Abdullah Backs UPI Levy, Urges Safeguards for Retail Consumers

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday extended his support to the Centre's move to introduce a levy on UPI transactions, while stressing that ordinary retail consumers must be shielded from the burden.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Abdullah said the charge would not apply universally. Person-to-person money transfers would remain free, and individual consumers would not be charged unless they crossed a specified ceiling, he noted.

The Chief Minister argued that running and maintaining the UPI ecosystem involves significant expenditure. "The reality is also that when something is offered completely free, we often fail to value it properly," he said, adding that the Government of India must ensure ordinary citizens are spared from these fees.

He drew a distinction between corporate and retail users, stating he had no objection to companies being charged, since they profit substantially through UPI anyway.

On the upcoming Assembly session, Mr. Abdullah said the government's priority would be to ensure the House functions smoothly and that MLAs receive satisfactory responses. He noted that a legislative session carries two kinds of business — the government's own legislative agenda and the opportunity for members, from both treasury and opposition benches, to raise constituency concerns and issues affecting people. Bills and resolutions would be introduced, and the government would make an effort to address them, he said.

Describing it as a seven-day session, he said several issues would be brought before the House.

Asked about concerns over drainage water flowing into water bodies, the Chief Minister said the problem was not a recent one and could not be resolved overnight. Work is underway, he said, with projects being drafted under various schemes, including SASCI and other initiatives. Continuous efforts are being made not only to protect water bodies but also to rejuvenate and expand them, he added.