DPI Brief — July 19, 2026

NTA Finalises DigiLocker Integration for Old NEET Scorecards (L3 — Documents)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed the Chief Information Commission (CIC) that a DigiLocker-based mechanism to retrieve previous years’ NEET scorecards is in its final stages of development. The move came during an RTI hearing filed by a NEET-UG 2020 candidate who needed a certified old scorecard for FMGE eligibility verification via the National Board of Examinations. Currently, NTA destroys older records after 90 days, leaving thousands of medical aspirants without access to their own exam documents. The DigiLocker integration will allow candidates to retrieve authenticated scorecards after proper identity verification — a significant expansion of DigiLocker’s role beyond academic marksheet storage into standardized test documentation. This sets a precedent that could extend to other national-level examinations.

TRAI vs Truecaller Escalates: Spam Data-Sharing Rules Incoming (L7 — Trust)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is moving ahead with amendments to the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) that would require call management apps like Truecaller to share user-reported spam data with telecom operators. The proposed Third Amendment Regulations, 2026, follow a consultation paper released in March and the ongoing TRAI-Truecaller standoff. Under the draft, apps would need to share four parameters: the flagged number, date and time of the spam call, and recipient details. TRAI has also clarified that calls from the 140 and 1600 number series — used for government and public service communications — cannot be blocked, filtered, or tagged as spam by third-party apps. Over 1.7 million spam complaints were registered through the DND application in 2025, underscoring the scale of the problem these amendments seek to address.

UPI MDR Debate Returns: Government Weighs Merchant Fees for Large Platforms (L2 — Payments)

The question of reintroducing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions for large merchants has resurfaced with renewed intensity. The Payments Council of India (PCI) has formally written to the Prime Minister’s Office proposing a 0.3% MDR for UPI transactions by merchants with annual turnover exceeding ₹20 lakh, while keeping zero MDR for small merchants. The Finance Ministry and RBI are reportedly evaluating a threshold-based approach — targeting platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato rather than kirana stores. While the Finance Ministry publicly denied MDR reintroduction rumours in June 2025, sources in banking circles suggest internal discussions are ongoing. The proposal comes amid growing concerns about UPI infrastructure sustainability: the system processed 185.8 billion transactions in FY25 with zero revenue from transaction fees, relying on ₹3,500 crore in government subsidies that are being progressively reduced. Consumer-facing fees remain off the table — any MDR would be borne entirely by large merchants.

NPCI Eases UPI Chargeback Process for Banks (L2 — Payments)

Effective July 15, NPCI has updated its UPI chargeback rules to allow banks to whitelist valid chargeback disputes without requiring prior NPCI approval for cases that were previously declined. This change accelerates the refund timeline for failed or reversed transactions, reducing friction in the dispute resolution process. Previously, banks had to route every chargeback request through NPCI for clearance, creating delays for consumers waiting on stuck funds. The update is part of NPCI’s broader push to strengthen consumer protection mechanisms as UPI transaction volumes continue their upward trajectory.

ONDC Partners with WinZO to Expand Digital Commerce Reach (L4 — Commerce)

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has forged a collaboration with online gaming platform WinZO — the first skill-based interactive entertainment company to join the ONDC network. WinZO brings 175 million paying users, predominantly engaging in vernacular languages, giving ONDC access to user segments in tier-2 and tier-3 cities that have been harder to reach through traditional e-commerce channels. ONDC services across grocery, food delivery, mobility, fashion, and health will be listed on the WinZO store, which offers significantly lower commission rates compared to conventional app stores. The partnership aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and ONDC’s mission to democratise digital commerce beyond the dominance of a few large platform players.

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