What Is a NACH Mandate? How to View and Cancel One

Last updated: 7 November 2026

Set up a loan EMI, a SIP or an insurance premium to "auto-pay" from your bank account, and you've signed a NACH mandate, whether or not you noticed the term at the time. Most people only go looking for what it means when they want to stop a debit that's still happening after they thought they'd cancelled something elsewhere. Here's what a NACH mandate actually is, and the right way to cancel one.

What NACH is

NACH stands for National Automated Clearing House, a system run by NPCI, the same organisation behind UPI, that handles bulk electronic debits and credits. It's the infrastructure behind most recurring payments in India, from EMIs to dividend payouts. A NACH mandate is the specific authorisation you give that lets a company pull a recurring amount from your account without asking you to approve each individual debit.

The digital version, set up through an app rather than a paper form, is usually called an e-NACH mandate, and you typically authorise it via Aadhaar-based OTP, your debit card, or net banking at the time you set up the loan, SIP or subscription.

Why cancelling the app subscription isn't enough

This is the single most common confusion. If you cancel a subscription, a SIP, or close an account inside the company's own app, that often stops their side of asking for money. But the mandate sitting with your bank, authorising them to debit you, can remain technically active unless it's separately revoked. The mandate and the service are two different things, authorised in two different places.

How to cancel a NACH mandate

1. Through your bank (the most direct route): log in to net banking or your bank's app, and look for a section called "Mandates," "Standing Instructions" or "Auto Debit Instructions," usually under Service Requests or Payments. Find the mandate linked to the company in question and select cancel or revoke.
2. Through the company that set it up: most lenders and payment platforms also let you request cancellation from their side, which they then communicate to NPCI. This can be slower than cancelling directly with your bank.
3. At your branch, as a backup: if the online option isn't available or doesn't go through, visit your branch with your account details and the mandate reference (from your original agreement or SMS confirmation) and ask for a written cancellation, with a stamped acknowledgement.
4. For UPI AutoPay specifically: this is managed inside your UPI app, not through net banking. Open the mandate, and choose Pause, Cancel or Revoke, authorising with your UPI PIN.

Whichever route you use, cancel a few days before the next scheduled debit date, since the cancellation needs processing time and won't retroactively stop a debit that's already been initiated.

What cancelling a mandate does and doesn't do

• It does stop future automatic debits tied to that specific mandate.
• It does not close your loan, end your SIP, or cancel your insurance policy. Those need to be closed separately with the provider, or you may simply start missing payments, which carries its own penalties.
• It is usually free to cancel online, though a bounced or missed debit afterward, if you forget to also stop the underlying payment obligation, can carry a penalty charge from your bank.

If a debit still happens after you cancelled

1. Check the cancellation actually went through. Look for a confirmation message or status in your bank's mandate section, not just the company's app.
2. Contact your bank immediately, quoting the mandate reference number and the date you cancelled it.
3. Ask for the unauthorised debit to be reversed. Banks are expected to act on this quickly once a mandate's cancellation is confirmed on their end.

Common questions

How do I see all the active NACH mandates on my account?

Check the "Mandates" or "Standing Instructions" section of your net banking or bank app. It should list every active mandate, the company it's with, and the amount and frequency.

Does cancelling a NACH mandate affect my credit score?

Not by itself. What affects your credit score is missing a loan EMI payment, so if you cancel a mandate tied to an active loan without also ensuring payments continue some other way, that's what causes the damage, not the cancellation itself.

Can a company set up a NACH mandate without my explicit consent?

No. A mandate requires your authorisation, via OTP, signature, or another verifiable method, at the time it's created. If you see a mandate you don't recognise, dispute it with your bank immediately.

Is a NACH mandate the same as giving someone your IFSC code?

No. Sharing your IFSC code and account number only lets someone receive money from you, or send money to you; it doesn't by itself authorise recurring debits. A NACH mandate is a separate, explicit authorisation layered on top. See our guide on what's actually risky to share for more on that distinction.

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This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Limits, timings and charges are set by the Reserve Bank of India, NPCI and individual banks, and can change, so confirm current details with your bank.