A viral price board showing different prices for sugar based on the payment method has sparked discussion online. The board reportedly lists sugar at ₹60 per kg for cash, ₹61 for UPI and ₹62 for card payments. The unusual pricing has raised questions about why customers may be asked to pay more for digital payments.Why is sugar priced differently for cash, UPI and cards?The board appears to show a ₹1 extra charge for UPI and a ₹2 extra charge for card payments compared with cash. This has led to discussions about payment processing costs faced by shopkeepers.The practice is being discussed at a time when India has introduced changes to the UPI payment system. However, the viral board should not automatically be linked to the new UPI rule.Related Instagram Video :Viral Sugar Price Board Charges ₹60 CashWhat is the new UPI rule?Under the new framework, a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will apply to specified UPI merchant transactions above ₹2,000 from October 15, 2026, subject to the applicable rules and limits. The MDR is a cost in the payment ecosystem and is charged to eligible merchants, not directly to customers. The government has also clarified that UPI payments up to ₹2,000 and around 96% of merchant transactions will remain unaffected. Person-to-person UPI payments will continue to remain free. Does the new UPI rule allow shops to charge ₹1 extra?No. The new MDR framework does not mean that customers can simply be charged an additional amount for using UPI.In the case of a ₹60 sugar purchase, the transaction is far below ₹2,000. Therefore, the new MDR rule does not explain a ₹1 UPI surcharge on this particular purchase.The new UPI framework keeps payments to merchants up to ₹2,000 free, while MDR applies only to specified higher-value merchant transactions. Why are cash, UPI and card prices different?The exact reason for the viral shopkeeper's price board has not been independently established. The different prices may reflect the shopkeeper's own pricing decision or an attempt to account for payment-related business costs.The new UPI rules have therefore added context to the discussion, but they do not by themselves justify charging ₹61 instead of ₹60 for a ₹60 sugar purchase made through UPI.Also Read : UPI Payments Remain Free for Users: What Changes From October 15 With New MDR Rules
