Unified Payment Interface

In a decade, India built the world’s largest population-scale real-time payments system. It changed not just banking, but behaviour itself

India's financial landscape has been revolutionized by UPI, the nation's digital payments centerpiece. Launched in 2016, it has become the world's largest real-time payment system by volume, processing billions of transactions monthly. UPI has significantly expanded financial inclusion, bringing millions into the digital economy and setting a global benchmark for inclusive financial innovation.

India's Unified Payments Interface now leads the world in real-time payment transactions, accounting for 49 percent globally. This homegrown system has transformed financial inclusion, reaching informal markets and enabling seamless transactions. UPI's success is a global reference model, expanding its reach internationally and evolving into a comprehensive financial platform.

National Highway toll payments will now be exclusively digital via FASTag or UPI, aiming to boost efficiency and transparency. While most of the country transitions, five states and one Union Territory are exempt due to election code of conduct. This move encourages FASTag adoption, reducing queues and environmental impact.

Foreign visitors are increasingly impressed by India's seamless digital payment system, particularly its widespread QR code integration. A German traveler's viral video highlighted how easy it is to pay vendors, in temples, and for taxis using just a smartphone, calling it 'Real Digi-India' and showcasing the nation's cashless convenience.

National highways will cease accepting cash payments at toll plazas from April 10, transitioning to a fully digital system. This move by the NHAI aims to enhance efficiency and reduce congestion by exclusively using FASTag and UPI. Concurrently, toll rates on national highways and expressways in Uttar Pradesh have seen a slight increase, affecting various vehicle types.

Parliament's finance committee has raised alarms over digital payment sustainability, urging a viable revenue model for UPI's growth. It also highlighted structural gaps in formal lending, recommending a policy shift for Jan Dhan Yojana towards active usage. Cybersecurity weaknesses in banks and declining insurance penetration were also flagged, with calls for stricter penalties and zero tolerance for claim repudiations.

Transactions on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform hit a new high of 890 crore in April 2023. The value of these transactions was also at a new record at Rs 14.07 lakh crore.

Railway Recruitment Boards have released the RRB Paramedical 2026 answer key. Candidates can now view their question papers, responses, and the official answer key online. The facility to raise objections against any answers is open until March 29, 2026. A fee of ₹50 per question is required for challenging answers.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ends 2021 on a record high, value of transactions crosses 8 lakh crore mark in December. This is almost double the transaction value recorded in December, 2020, at 4.16 lakh crore.

In a move that will make mobile-to-mobile transactions practical enough for everyday use, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Thursday launched its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) project.

Bhutan has become the first country to adopt UPI standard for online payments. If you are travelling to Bhutan from India then you will soon be able to use UPI-based apps to make payments.

HSBC India has announced the roll-out of its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) solution for corporates in India. The solution will enable corporates to send and receive money leveraging the interoperable platform managed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) filing with the Supreme Court shows National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has told the banking regulator that Facebook-owned messaging application is now fully compliant with data localisation norms.

A two-member team of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Friday reached Patna from Mumbai and interacted with officials of Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the state police. The EOU officials got tips on tackling cyber and financial frauds.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will have even more utility now. The single-block-multiple-debit functionality will block funds, similar to how hotels use credit card blocks in place of security deposits.

Verifying user credentials physically is costly, but after the SC verdict, these companies have few options left to safeguard their existing user-base and add new ones. With Aadhaar, it was a simple matter of swiping a finger on a fingerprint reader. Physical verification involves submitting physical documents and having people verifying the authenticity of the documents.

The government is looking to mandate a QR code-based payment option using UPI at all shops and establishments with consumers opting for this method of payment eligible for GST benefits along with shopkeepers. The measure is intended to promote digital payments as the preferred option.