New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri on Wednesday said businesses should bear modest UPI transaction costs, arguing that the government cannot subsidise every transaction, while clarifying that this was his personal view and not NITI Aayog's official position.

Speaking to ANI on UPI transaction charges, Lahiri said operating the digital payments system involves costs and raised the question of who should ultimately bear them.

"There is a cost involved in UPI. Who will bear that cost?" Lahiri said.

Drawing on the "user pays" principle, he said those using a service should contribute towards its cost rather than expecting the government to support it indefinitely.

He, however, clearly distanced the remark f...