Govt to soon discuss with RBI over MDR rate issue

15 Dec 2017 Evaluate

In order to bring down merchant discount rates (MDRs), the government will soon hold deliberations with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). A senior Finance Ministry official has said that the MDRs, which are set to be implemented from January 1, 2018, have gone up to 0.90 percent recently from 0.25 percent of transaction value, which would impact Digital India movement and there is a need to look into the issue. MDR is the rate charged to a merchant by a bank for providing debit and credit card services.

The new norms announced by the central bank put the MDR charges at 0.40 percent if the transaction involves physical infrastructure such as a swipe machine for small merchants with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh during the previous financial year. The MDR charges are capped at 0.90 percent for other merchants limited to Rs 1,000 per transaction. The RBI, on December 06, revised the MDR for debit card transactions at large format retail stores from 0.50 percent per transaction to 0.90 percent -- not exceeding Rs 1,000.

The official pointed out that most merchants will be discouraged to use Point of Sale (POS) machines, especially small merchants who do not get input tax credit in the Goods and Services Tax (GST). There are nearly 27-28 crore transactions per month on POS machines with an average size of Rs 1,500.

Meanwhile, facing flak from various quarters, especially card-acquiring banks, the RBI clarified that it lowered MDRs after detailed talks with all stakeholders to achieve the twin objectives of promoting less-cash economy and ensure all stakeholders do a profitable business. The central bank also clarified that no merchant will at any level charge MDRs to consumers and the new rates are applicable only on debit card transactions and not credit cards.


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