New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has deferred the rollout of merchant discount rate (MDR) charges on certain Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions until after Diwali. A fresh implementation date will be announced shortly, NPCI managing director and chief executive officer Dilip Asbe told Mint on Tuesday.

"We have deferred the rollout until after Diwali. The final date will be announced soon," Asbe said.

The decision comes amid pushback from trade bodies and concerns that the charges could dampen spending during the festive season. On 15 September, the ministry had announced the reintroduction of the merchant discount rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions, after it was scrapped in January 20...