To promote cashless transactions, the government had waived the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) levied on fuel purchases. The step was taken to ease the impact post demonetization for consumers, but after the 50-day window got over, certain banks reportedly issued a notice stating they would reinstate the MDR. To protest the move, fuel station owners threatened to stop accepting card payments effective the midnight of January 8, 2017, but the decision has now been stalled until January 13.