Cash may return as king as small vendors shun UPI

At many of Bengaluru’s neighbourhood stores, the QR code stickers that made digital payments super easy have been replaced by printouts or handwritten notes that say, “No UPI, only cash”.

In a city that has regularly led the charts on digital payments, small vendors who had preferred UPI payments are now increasingly requesting cash from customers. Such vendors ET spoke with said they have either moved away from the UPI or scaled down on the use of payment apps, as many have received notices demanding goods and services tax.

“I do a business of…