Lok Sabha passes Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
The Lok Sabha has passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The legislation empowers the central government to permit banks and payment service providers to levy charges on UPI and other electronic transactions through future notifications. The bill was passed without debate amid persistent protests by the Opposition in the House.
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What Happened
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The legislation includes amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the Income Tax Act, 2025, and the Finance Act, 2026. The House passed the bill via voice vote without discussion as Opposition members staged protests over unrelated issues.
The amendment removes the existing legal provision that prohibited banks and payment service providers from charging a Merchant Discount Rate on specific electronic payment modes, including UPI and RuPay. While the bill grants the government the authority to allow such charges, the current zero-fee structure remains in place until the government issues a formal notification specifying which electronic payment modes may be subject to fees.
Key Facts
- The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, without debate.
- The bill amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- The legislation empowers the government to allow banks to levy charges on UPI and other electronic transactions.
- The bill does not immediately impose charges on UPI transactions.
- The government will specify which payment modes are subject to charges through future gazette notifications.
- The bill also includes amendments to the Income Tax Act, 2025, and the Finance Act, 2026.
The Timeline15
Every article on this story, in the order it was filed. We do not rank the outlets.
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7 Aug
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Where This Is Being Covered6 languages
Languages
Newsrooms carrying this story, by publication language.
- English4 outlets
- Hindiहिन्दी1 outlet
- Teluguతెలుగు1 outlet
- Tamilதமிழ்2 outlets
- Odiaଓଡ଼ିଆ2 outlets
- Malayalamമലയാളം1 outlet
Regional reach
States where a local newsroom is carrying this. National mastheads and wire agencies circulate everywhere and are counted separately, not drawn on the map.
- No local newsroom
- 1 outlet
- 2 or more
12 states with local coverage. Spread across the country, with no regional concentration. Also carried by 4 national mastheads.
About This Analysis
One summary, built from every source. No single newsroom's voice.
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Paksh: the sides a story is told from. 11 newsrooms filed on this one, and every filing is listed above.