Subscriptions — OTT, gyms, insurance, EMI repayments — often ask you to set up "UPI Autopay" so they can debit your account automatically.
How a mandate is approved
You approve the mandate inside your UPI app: you pick the amount cap, the frequency and the expiry, then authorise once with your UPI PIN. The merchant can then take amounts up to the cap, on that frequency, until the expiry — nothing beyond what you approved.
Why it matters
- Autopay is a set-and-forget convenience, not a blank cheque — the cap is a real ceiling.
- Expiry dates force the system to ask you again, and that re-approval is a genuine protection.
- Keeping the cap equal to the actual bill stops over-debits entirely.
Key takeaways
- Approving autopay once does not remove your control.
- Amount, frequency and expiry are fixed at approval.
- Mandates live in your UPI app, not in the merchant’s pocket.
How to see and stop mandates
- Open your UPI app → Manage payments / AutoPay / Mandates.
- You will see each merchant, the cap, frequency and expiry.
- Select a mandate and cancel or lower the cap. Cancellation is immediate; the merchant stops collecting from the next cycle.
What you should do
- Review active mandates once a month, the way you would a statement.
- Cancel anything you no longer recognise — then close the service with the merchant too.
- If a mandate debits more than you approved, dispute it with your bank and report it on cybercrime.gov.in.