A recent change to payments regulations in India may soon require merchants to pay fees for certain real-time transactions. Business owners and financial analysts have expressed concern to CNA that even relatively small fees could significantly reduce their profit margins. The new rules represent a shift in how transaction costs are handled within India’s rapidly growing digital payments ecosystem. Merchants worry the added expense will be difficult to absorb, particularly for those operating on tight budgets. The potential impact on small and medium-sized enterprises is a key concern, with some fearing they may have to pass the costs on to consumers. This regulatory change highlights ongoing debate about the sustainability and equity of digital payment infrastructure in India.