Technology & AI for Business
Taking a payment is easy. Knowing it reached you, and what it costs, is the part to learn.
Most customers now expect to pay by UPI or card, and many small businesses accept payments through a mix of QR codes, apps, machines and payment links. Rules and charges change, and fraud tends to follow the convenience. This session helps owners understand the options, choose with open eyes and protect themselves.
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Digital payments reduce cash handling. They also bring new ways to lose money.
A customer showing a screen that says “payment successful” is not the same as money in your account. Fake confirmations, tampered QR codes and requests to “enter your PIN to receive money” are well-known tricks. At the same time, the fees and rules attached to different payment options are changing, and many owners find out only when the statement arrives.
This is not a session about promoting any app or provider. It is about understanding the main options, checking current rules from official sources and building simple habits that make digital payments safer and easier to account for.
What the session covers
35 topics across 7 areas. Seven parts, with current official rules checked in the room.
The Ways to Take a PaymentDifferent tools for different businesses.5
- UPI QR codes and payment apps
- Soundboxes and card or QR machines
- Payment links sent over messaging or email
- Online checkout through a payment gateway
- Bank transfers and cash alongside them
What It CostsCharges are changing, so check the current position.5
- Merchant discount rate (MDR) and what it means
- Setup, rental and per-transaction fees
- How UPI charges are set to change from 15 October 2026
- Whether GST applies to the charges
- Whether charges may be passed on to customers (NPCI's FAQs say UPI MDR may not be)
NPCI's FAQs dated 15 September 2026 describe an MDR of 0.4% on certain UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000 from 15 October 2026, with small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month through UPI QR directly into their accounts staying at zero. Rules can change, so always check with NPCI, RBI and your bank.
Choosing a Bank or ProviderQuestions worth asking.5
- Is the provider authorised by RBI for what it does? (RBI publishes lists of authorised payment aggregators.)
- What are all the fees, in writing?
- How quickly is money settled into your account?
- How are refunds, failed payments and disputes handled?
- What are the exit terms and lock-in periods?
Staying Safe When ReceivingVerify, do not trust the screen.5
- Checking your own bank or app, not the customer's phone
- Never entering a PIN to receive money
- Being careful with unexpected collect requests and refund requests
- Keeping QR codes protected from tampering or replacement
- Training staff to do the same
Fake confirmation screens and swapped QR stickers are well-known tricks.
Online Payments and Card DataWhere the technical and legal risks are higher.5
- Using an authorised gateway rather than building your own
- Not storing customers' full card details
- Why RBI rules on card tokenisation exist
- Securing your online accounts and devices
- Responding quickly when a customer reports a problem
Records, Reconciliation and TaxWhere payments meet your accounts.5
- A daily or weekly check of payments against the bank statement
- Matching each payment to an invoice or sale
- Spotting missing, duplicate or unexplained entries
- Keeping statements and settlement reports
- Leaving tax treatment to your accountant
Refunds, Failures and DisputesHaving a calm process before it happens.5
- Money debited but order not confirmed
- Refunding to the original payment method
- Chargebacks on card payments
- Keeping a record of each case and its resolution
- Knowing where to escalate if the provider does not resolve it
Practised in the room
- Comparing the same business's needs against three payment options
- Writing the questions to ask a provider before signing
- Spotting what is wrong in a made-up fake payment confirmation
- Matching a sample set of payments to a sample bank statement
Official sources to check
- NPCI's website for UPI circulars and FAQs
- RBI's website for payment directions and authorised providers
- Your bank, for your own charges and settlement terms
- Your accountant, for tax treatment of charges and receipts
How the session runs
A practitioner who takes digital payments in their own business explains the options and what to watch for, using the latest official NPCI and RBI material, which is read together in the room. Participants work through a hypothetical shop and a hypothetical online seller, choose an approach and match a sample day's payments to a sample bank statement. The session does not recommend any bank, app or provider, and it is general information, not financial or legal advice.
What your students leave with
- A clear picture of the ways to accept digital payments and how they differ
- An understanding of what each option may cost, and where to check current charges
- Questions to ask a bank or payment provider before signing up
- Habits that protect against fake payment confirmations and common scams
- A simple way to record payments and match them to the bank statement
- A clear approach to refunds, failed payments and disputes
Scheduled sessions
Nothing scheduled yet
Sessions are arranged with a college once a date is agreed. Ask us and we will find the right person for it.
A student rather than a college? See what is coming up, or ask your placement team to host this.
Check the money reached your account, and check the rules before they reach your bill.
Tell us who your students are and what stage they are at. Sessions are free for participants.