Starting September 15, over a million online sellers and 30% of UPI QR merchants could lose payment access if they don’t submit updated documents. Sounds simple? It’s not. Most mom-and-pop shops don’t have PAN cards, shareholding details, or even registered business addresses. And digital KYC? Not enough. Companies now need to send staff on physical visits; to villages, towns, and street stalls; to verify documents in person. Why does this matter? Because the very people the government wants to bring into the formal economy; small, informal businesses; are being pushed out by paperwork they don’t understand. Payment firms are scrambling, training teams, redesigning processes, and spending lakhs to comply. One executive admitted: “This contradicts financial inclusion goals.” So while big corporates breeze through, the kirana store owner might suddenly find their QR code doesn’t work. The real question isn’t whether the rules are fair; it’s whether they’re practical. And right now, for millions of small merchants, the answer is a loud ‘no’.