Lok Sabha Question No. 661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Transaction Fee on Digital Payment on Petrol Pumps
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  661 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017

## TRANSACTION FEE ON DIGITAL PAYMENT ON PETROL PUMPS

## 661. DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

## पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  consumers  are  being  charged  transaction  fee  on  transactions  made through debit and credit cards at various petrol pumps in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the mechanism/criteria fixed/laid down by the Government to bear the said cost by the customers/petrol pump dealers;
- (c)    whether  the  Government  has  discussed/taken  up  the  matter  with  the  Ministry  of Finance and if so the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (d)  the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to encourage consumers for extensive use of debit/credit cards at various petrol pumps in the country to promote cashless transactions?

## A N S W E R

पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज् य मंत्री ( स् विंत्र प्राार )

(श्री धमेन्द र प्रधा

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to  (c)  :  Public  Sector  Oil  Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  have  reported  that  no transactions charges are being levied on the consumers for  payment made through debit cards at petrol pumps.  However, on credit cards, the banks are levying fuel surcharge as per  their  understanding  with  the  card  holders.  A  meeting  of  Ministry  of  Petroleum  and Natural Gas (MoP&NG), representatives of OMCs was held with banks and Ministry of Finance on the subject.  It has been decided that the transaction fee on debit cards would be settled between OMCs and Banks.  No levy is being made either on the consumer or the dealer of the petrol pump for debit card transactions at petrol pumps.

(d)  :    Government  of  India  (Ministry  of  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas)  has  taken    the following steps/actions to  encourage consumers for use of digital payment methods at various petrol pumps in the country to promote cashless transactions :

- (i)       0.75 % discount is being given to consumer on the purchase of fuel at the Petrol Pumps of the Oil Marketing Companies. The discount is being given in the form of cash back in the bank account of the consumers.
- (ii)     Consumer awareness campaigns are being organised at petrol/CNG outlets across the country.
- (iii)    Dealers'  meetings  have  been  conducted  at  field  level  to  evaluate  them  on the issue.
- (iv)   Ministry  of  Petroleum    and  Natural  Gas  (MoP&NG)  through  OMCs  is monitoring  the provision of  digital  payment  methods  at  Retail  Outlets (ROs)/LPG  Distributorships  on  daily  basis.  There  has  been  a  significant expansion of digital payment infrastructure  at retail outlets.
- (v)     A  large  number    of  ROs  are  now  having  the  POS  terminals  and  E-wallet payment facilities. Various    E-wallet service providers have also been asked to set up the counters at the outlets to create customer awareness.
- (vi)   Standard  printed  materials  such  as  Standees,  Leaflets  etc.  have  been developed in Hindi, English & Regional Language and displayed prominently at ROs/LPG distributorships.

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