With the government introducing legislative changes that allow for merchant fees (MDR) on certain UPI transactions, the official stance is still that UPI will remain completely free for end consumers and that only merchants will bear these charges.

But let's be real for a second, how does that actually work in the real world?

If a local shopkeeper or small vendor gets hit with a fee every time we scan a QR code, they aren't just going to absorb that loss. They will either raise overall prices on everyday items so everyone pays for it implicitly, put up a sign asking for extra rupees on UPI payments, or simply start demanding cash for small transactions. So even if banks don't deduct money directly from our accounts, the customer still ends up paying for it.

If you run a small business or shop, how would you handle these merchant fees? And as a customer, would you go back to carrying cash if vendors start asking for extra on digital payments?

Hey guys,

We've been seeing a lot of complaints lately about ghosting, fake gigs, and people asking for upfront fees in DMs. To make it easier to weed out the scammers and highlight genuine posts, we've set up a quick keyword system across the sub.

If you end up messaging a poster or trying out an opportunity they shared, you can now reply anywhere in the post comments with !legit, !shady, or !unresponsive depending on how it went.

If you or anyone else comments !shady or !unresponsive, it automatically alerts our mod team right away so we can review the post. You'll also get a quick follow-up asking to share screenshots or proof if you have any.

Hopefully this helps everyone spot the good opportunities faster and keeps the bad actors off the sub. Let us know if you have any thoughts or feedback on it.

Hey guys,

We've been seeing a lot of complaints lately about ghosting, fake gigs, and people asking for upfront fees in DMs. To make it easier to weed out the scammers and highlight genuine posts, we've set up a quick keyword system across the sub.

If you end up messaging a poster or trying out an opportunity they shared, you can now reply anywhere in the post comments with !legit, !shady, or !unresponsive depending on how it went.

If you or anyone else comments !shady or !unresponsive, it automatically alerts our mod team right away so we can review the post. You'll also get a quick follow-up asking to share screenshots or proof if you have any.

Hopefully this helps everyone spot the good opportunities faster and keeps the bad actors off the sub. Let us know if you have any thoughts or feedback on it.

Hey guys,

We've been seeing a lot of complaints lately about ghosting, fake gigs, and people asking for upfront fees in DMs. To make it easier to weed out the scammers and highlight genuine posts, we've set up a quick keyword system across the sub.

If you end up messaging a poster or trying out an opportunity they shared, you can now reply anywhere in the post comments with !legit, !shady, or !unresponsive depending on how it went.

If you or anyone else comments !shady or !unresponsive, it automatically alerts our mod team right away so we can review the post. You'll also get a quick follow-up asking to share screenshots or proof if you have any.

Hopefully this helps everyone spot the good opportunities faster and keeps the bad actors off the sub. Let us know if you have any thoughts or feedback on it.

Hey everyone, I am trying to build my portfolio and earn a bit of extra income on the side. I have decent experience creating social media banners, Instagram post templates, and simple logos using Canva.

I am looking for small freelancing tasks or paid gigs from anyone who needs quick design work done. My rates are very reasonable (around ₹200–₹500 per graphic depending on complexity). Please DM me if you need help with any design assets or want to see examples of my past work!

Hey everyone! I'm u/Potato-Patahto, a founding moderator of r/TheUnbiasedIndia.

This is our new home for all things related to Indian policy, economy, geopolitics, current affairs, and societal developments. We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post

Post anything that fosters objective, thoughtful, and fact-backed discussion. Feel free to share:

• News & Current Affairs: Factual news updates on major national developments (using neutral, non-editorialized original headlines).
• Policy & Economic Analysis: Deep dives, stats, and breakdowns of government schemes, budgets, infrastructure, or market trends.
• Debates & Discussion Prompts: Open questions about policy outcomes, geopolitics, or legal developments where you invite balanced arguments from multiple perspectives.
• Fact Checks & Context: Posts debunking viral misinformation or adding necessary context to complex headlines using primary sources.

Community Vibe

We are strictly committed to being civil, objective, and constructive. We don't do political echo chambers, ragebait, or partisan name-calling here. Attack the argument, not the person, and always bring data or sources to back up big claims.

How to Get Started

1. Assign your User Flair: Head to the sidebar/community settings to choose your domain or regional perspective flair.
2. Introduce yourself in the comments below: Tell us what topics (e.g., economy, tech policy, defense, law) you are most passionate about tracking.
3. Post something today! Found a well-researched article or have an insightful policy question? Share it with a primary link attached.
4. Invite fellow thinkers: If you know someone who values civil debate over partisan shouting matches, invite them over.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/TheUnbiasedIndia the standard for quality discussion!

Hey everyone,

As moderators of r/SideHustleIndia, we see firsthand how economic policies, government decisions, market trends, and regulations directly impact freelancers, creators, and hustle opportunities across India.

However, whenever big national or economic news breaks, finding a place to discuss it without partisan arguing, ragebait, or extreme political bias can be tough.

That’s why we’ve built a dedicated sister community: r/TheUnbiasedIndia.

What is r/TheUnbiasedIndia ? A neutral, fact-focused hub designed specifically for civil, respectful discussions on Indian current affairs, policy, market developments, geopolitics, and governance.

Our Core Rules:

• Data & Sources First: All claims and news submissions require direct links to primary/reputable sources.
• Neutral Headlines: No editorialized titles, clickbait, or partisan spin.
• Civil Debate: No ad hominem attacks or toxic behavior. We attack arguments, not people.

If you appreciate well-structured, objective breakdowns of how India is moving forward—without the drama of political echo chambers- come join us at r/TheUnbiasedIndia !

Feedback, initial post submissions, and constructive suggestions are always welcome as we build the community from the ground up.

Hey everyone! As our community continues to grow, we want to make sure r/SideHustleIndia remains a genuinely valuable and safe space for all of you.

We’d love to get your quick feedback:

Are you benefiting from this sub? If a post, advice, or lead here helped you earn your first rupee or land a gig, drop your success story in the comments! We’d love to hear it.

Have you been scammed or encountered fake gigs? Please report the user or post directly to us via Modmail or in the comments below. We take zero tolerance against scammers and will take immediate action.

Got suggestions or feedback? Let us know what kind of posts or resources you’d like to see more (or less) of.

Drop your thoughts below-your input helps us keep this community clean, active, and high-value for everyone!