VIYONA Fintech Completes NPCI-Certified UPI Acquirer, UPI Issuer, IMPS and IBMB Infrastructure Expansion

Team VIYONA Fintech 

Hyderabad based fintech company VIYONA Fintech has secured NPCI certification for its technology and certification framework across multiple critical payment infrastructure layers, including UPI Acquirer, UPI Issuer, IMPS, and Interoperable Banking Mobile Banking (IBMB) integrations.

With this milestone, VIYONA joins a select group of fintech infrastructure players building end-to-end payment orchestration capabilities aligned with National Payments Corporation of India standards.

VIYONA has been steadily expanding its banking and payments infrastructure over the past two years, with integrations across multiple banking institutions for collections, payouts, and payment processing capabilities. The certification is expected to further accelerate its expansion in merchant acquiring, rural banking infrastructure, embedded finance, and interoperable digital banking services.

The completion of both UPI Acquirer and UPI Issuer capabilities gives the company the ability to participate across multiple layers of the UPI ecosystem from merchant acceptance and QR acquiring to customer-side issuance infrastructure.

“The addition of IMPS and IBMB capabilities expands Viyona’s service portfolio across interoperable mobile banking, real-time fund transfers, merchant settlement systems, and rural banking use cases,” said Ravindranath Yarlagadda, Chairman of Viyona Fintech.

He added, “We are preparing the rollout of our merchant acceptance ecosystem under the ViyonaPay initiative, aimed at expanding digital payment acceptance and banking accessibility across underserved and rural markets.”

The company is actively expanding its product and services portfolio with six upcoming offerings across merchant payments, rural acceptance infrastructure, POS ecosystems, and merchant enablement platforms. It is also planning broader fintech infrastructure initiatives spanning connected banking, digital onboarding systems, and interoperable payment routing technologies.

Founded by entrepreneur Ravindranath Yarlagadda, VIYONA has positioned itself as a fintech infrastructure company focused on bridging digital banking and payment access gaps, particularly in semi-urban and rural markets.

As UPI continues to report record transaction growth nationwide, the company continues to expand its footprint across merchant acquiring, banking partnerships, and rural fintech enablement initiatives, linked to its Viyonapay platform as it builds out its broader payments’ infrastructure and ecosystem capabilities.

About VIYONA Fintech

Viyona Infotech is a Hyderabad-based fintech and payment technology company building NPCI-certified digital payment infrastructure for banks, enterprises, institutions, and consumers across India. Founded in 2022. The company powers enterprise-grade solutions across UPI, IMPS, eKYC, eNACH, and digital banking ecosystems.

Its flagship ViyonaPay platform onboarded 100+ partners, launched CampusPro, an education ERP platform serving 1,000+ institutions, and Graampay, a rural marketplace connecting 5,000+ sellers. With over 500 million transactions processed and 200+ partners nationwide, Viyona continues to scale technology-led financial access across urban and rural India.

Know more - https://www.viyonafintech.com/

8B–PayU Partnership Brings UPI to Central Asia, Unlocking Seamless Payments for Indian Tourists and Merchants

8B, a Central Asian fintech infrastructure company, and PayU, India’s leading diversified fintech platform, have signed a strategic partnership to bring UPI, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payment systems, and other Indian payment offerings to Central Asia. The integration of PayU’s APIs into 8B’s merchant network across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the broader region offers clear benefits, enabling users in India to make payments to merchants in Central Asia via UPI, net banking, and local cards. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in strengthening the digital payment infrastructures between the two economies, laying the first structural bridge for growing trade and tourism opportunities.

What the Partnership enables for Tourists:

India’s outbound tourism market reached $18.82 billion in travel expenditure in 2024 and is forecast to grow to $55.39 billion by 2034. Indian nationals rank among the world’s highest-spending tourists. At the same time, Central Asia sustained strong tourism growth in 2025 - with India consistently appearing among the top five source markets for Kazakhstan. Almaty’s tourism momentum continued in 2025, with the city welcoming 1.14 million visitors in the first half of the year, including 323,500 foreign arrivals, as India emerged as its top source market.

Indian arrivals to Uzbekistan rose 22.7% in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period the year before. Kazakhstan received an estimated 250,000 Indian visitors in 2025, up from 146,000 in 2024, as air connectivity expanded and visa-free access for Indian travellers continued to support demand.Uzbekistan welcomed 66,100 Indian tourists in 2025 alone. The trajectory is clear. What has been missing is a payment layer that reflects it.

Through the 8B–PayU API integration, merchants across Central Asia connected to 8B’s platform can accept UPI payments directly from Indian tourists - using the same apps and websites Indian consumers use for everything, from ordering street food to flight bookings at home. No new hardware. No parallel onboarding. The transaction flows through existing merchant infrastructure with UPI added as a payment rail. Beyond the UPI infrastructure, merchants in Central Asia will also be able to accept payments through Net Banking and any Indian credit or debit cards on acquiring networks including RuPay from Indian tourists. In Kazakhstan, this is made possible through Zesta LLP, a locally licensed payment organisation (licence No. 02-23-179), ensuring full regulatory compliance for every transaction processed in the country.

From Tourism to Trade

This partnership goes beyond facilitating payments for foreign tourists. India is not only a source of tourists to Central Asia - it is an economy whose merchants and businesses are increasingly active in the region. India–Kazakhstan bilateral trade reached $923.3 million in 2025. The economic relationship between India and Central Asia is not a tourism story. It is a structural trade and investment story, with tourism as its most visible leading indicator.

The trade aspect here is primarily import-led, with Indian consumers purchasing goods and services from Central Asian merchants and funds being remitted outside India to the merchants’ bank accounts abroad. From a merchant’s perspective, this is not just about processing payments - it is about turning demand into revenue. Central Asian businesses selling air tickets, digital services and digital goods will no longer face issues with Indian customers since now they are able to purchase without changing payment preferences. When payment acceptance is well-aligned with how Indian consumers prefer to pay, merchants are better positioned to improve conversion and reduce friction at checkout.

“The India–Central Asia corridor is moving faster than the rails, roads, and payment systems built to serve it. The Indian visitor landing in Almaty today comes with digital habits shaped by UPI. Asking them to navigate a different payment experience abroad creates unnecessary friction. This is about making cross-border commerce feel as effortless as commerce at home - opens the door to a broader commercial relationship in which tourism is only the starting point. - Bogdan Zadorozhnyi, Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, 8B. 

“Payments should not be a barrier for international travel or trade. Through our strategic partnership with 8B, we are eliminating any payment-related friction - making it effortless for Indian travellers to pay with UPI and other local methods across Central Asia while opening new growth corridors for merchants in the region. Our collaboration represents a significant step forward in PayU’s international growth strategy, through which we're not just enabling transactions, we're laying the foundation of the future of digital payments infrastructure between the two economies, one that connects India's digital-savvy consumers with Central Asia's rapidly growing travel and commerce sectors.” said Nikhil Mehta, Senior Vice President –Partnerships & Business Head – Growth Initiatives (Cross Border Payments & Affordability), PayU.

Central Asia’s Moment

Kazakhstan welcomed 15.7 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2025, with tourism revenue from accommodation services rising to $536.8 million, up $88.1 million year-on-year. Uzbekistan was ranked among the seven fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world by UN Tourism for 2025. Kyrgyzstan welcomed approximately 10 million visitors in 2025, compared with 8.86 million in 2024. The region is not emerging - it has emerged. What it now requires is the payment infrastructure layer that matches the scale of the opportunity.

The 8B–PayU partnership connects two existing national-scale systems - UPI with 8B’s Central Asian merchant network, enabling effortless India-Central Asia payments today.

About 8B

8B, a provider of cross-border QR payments for fintech, e-commerce and travel platforms. Coverage regions: Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The company focuses on local payment rails operated by central banks and leading private fintech companies.

About PayU

PayU, India's leading diversified fintech platform with Prosus as an investor, operates businesses that are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and offers advanced solutions to meet the digital financial services needs of customers (merchants, banks, and consumers).

PayU provides payment gateway solutions to online businesses through its cutting-edge and award-winning technology and has empowered 4.5 lakhs+ businesses, including India’s leading enterprises, e-commerce giants and SMBs. It enables businesses to collect digital payments across 100+ online payment methods such as Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Net Banking, EMIs, pay-later, QR, UPI, Wallets, and more. It’s a preferred partner in the affordability ecosystem, offering the maximum coverage of issuers and easy-to-implement integrations across card-based EMIs, pay-later options and new-age cardless EMIs. PayU offers e-commerce brands best-in-industry success rates while ensuring a seamless checkout experience.

Jio Payments Bank Introduces UPI-based Cash Withdrawal Services

Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services Limited has introduced UPI-based cash withdrawal through its Business Correspondent (BC) touchpoints, marking an important step towards strengthening India’s digital payments ecosystem and advancing financial inclusion in the country.

The feature enables customers, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, to conveniently withdraw cash by simply scanning a UPI QR code and authorizing the transaction through their UPI application, eliminating the need for debit cards or access to traditional ATM infrastructure.

By enabling cardless cash withdrawals at BC touchpoints, the initiative bridges the gap between digital payments and physical cash access, while providing first-time digital users with an assisted and secure way to experience UPI transactions.

Through this initiative, JPBL continues to leverage the digital payments infrastructure and its last-mile BC network to expand accessible banking services, strengthen UPI's reach among cash-dependent segments, and enhance financial inclusion across rural and semi-urban India.

About Jio Payments Bank Limited

Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL) is a next-generation, digital-first bank committed to revolutionizing banking in India. Granted approval by the Reserve Bank of India under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, JPBL was incorporated in November 2016 to offer secure, simple, and inclusive banking solutions for every Indian. Its suite of offerings is designed to meet the diverse financial needs of individuals and businesses alike.

About Jio Financial Services Limited:

Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) is a Core Investment Company (CIC) registered with the Reserve Bank of India. As a new-age institution, JFSL operates a full-stack financial services ecosystem through customer-facing subsidiaries, including Jio Credit Limited, Jio Insurance Broking Limited, Jio Payment Solutions Limited, Jio Leasing Services Limited, Jio Finance Platform and Service Limited, and Jio Payments Bank Limited.

Through a 50:50 joint venture with BlackRock, JFSL offers asset management services in India through Jio BlackRock Asset Management Private Limited; and wealth management through Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Private Limited. The JV with BlackRock also proposes to offer broking services through Jio BlackRock Broking Private Limited.

JFSL has entered into a 50:50 joint venture with the Allianz Group and has set up Allianz Jio Reinsurance Limited to offer reinsurance services in India. The two entities have also signed a non-binding agreement to explore opportunities in general and life insurance.

With a digital-first model, JFSL is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of Indian citizens by enabling them to borrow, transact, save, and invest seamlessly. Through the JioFinance app, customers can access a wide range of solutions including loans, savings accounts, investment products and solutions, UPI, bill payments, recharges, digital insurance, financial tracking and management tools, and more.

For more updates, please visit www.jfs.in

NPCI Launches FiMI: India’s First Finance-Specific AI Language Model for Payment

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) today released FiMI (Finance Model for India), a domain-specific language model built for India’s payments ecosystem, at the India–AI Impact Summit 2026. Developed in-house by NPCI, FiMI currently powers NPCI’s UPI Help Assistant and is designed to address limitations observed in general-purpose large language models when applied to high-scale, high-trust payment workflows.

FiMI has been built to natively understand the complexity of Indian payment systems, including UPI, covering transaction dispute handling, mandate lifecycle management, and regulatory and ecosystem queries. The model went through continuous pre-training and was further fine-tuned on Indian financial and synthetically generated payments data, enabling accurate reasoning, structured tool invocation, and robust multilingual support. This payments-native design allows FiMI to operate reliably in real-world, high-volume transaction environments where accuracy, consistency, and trust are critical.

FiMI is already deployed at a national scale through NPCI’s UPI Help Assistant launched as pilot initiative, an AI-powered conversational support system for UPI users. This assistant leverages an agentic AI framework that enables multi-step reasoning to respond to payment related queries, support grievance redressal, and assist with mandate management. The assistant currently supports English, Hindi, Telugu, and Bengali, with additional Indian languages planned to be introduced within the next 6 to 8 months to further expand accessibility.

Having successfully developed and validated FiMI in a production environment, NPCI has released a detailed technical paper on the arXiv platform outlining the data curation process, training methodology, and evaluation results. This publication reflects NPCI’s role as a public digital infrastructure institution and its commitment to advancing transparent, India-centric, and trustworthy AI for the payments ecosystem.

Through this technical publication, NPCI is sharing key learnings from building and operating AI systems at a national scale, contributing to broader research and enabling informed development of domain-specific AI systems for financial infrastructure.

Commenting on the announcement, Vishal Kanvaty, Chief Technology Officer, NPCI said, “FiMI reflects NPCI’s commitment in developing financial language models purpose-built for India’s payments ecosystem. Having successfully built and validated the model, we are now sharing our technical learnings through a detailed paper to contribute to responsible innovation, while strengthening trust, transparency, and collaboration across the ecosystem.”

Building on FiMI, NPCI is exploring next-generation model architectures, including Mixture-of-Experts, alongside the expansion of multilingual capabilities to cover a wider range of Indian languages. These efforts are currently in the research and experimentation phase and are focused on improving scalability, efficiency, and domain intelligence, while preserving the governance, reliability, and trust requirements essential for national-scale payment systems.

The detailed technical paper can be accessed here.

NPCI and BENEFIT Enable Seamless, Secure Transfers Between India and Bahrain

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has announced a partnership with BENEFIT, Bahrain’s leading fintech and electronic financial transactions company, to enable real-time cross-border remittances between India and Bahrain. This linkage will connect India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFTS), specifically, Fawri+ service, allowing users in both countries to send and receive money instantly and securely.

The collaboration, established under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), represents a key step in advancing cross-border payment connectivity between the two nations. It will enable residents to experience faster, more efficient, and cost-effective remittances, reflecting the shared vision to enhance digital financial inclusion and modernize cross-border transaction frameworks.

By linking UPI and Fawri+ service, the initiative aims to establish a strategic remittance corridor between India and Bahrain, enhancing convenience for the large Indian community in Bahrain, which constitutes nearly 30% of the country’s population. This collaboration will strengthen financial connectivity, enable transparent and secure real-time transfers, and deepen economic integration between the two nations.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International, said, “We are delighted to partner with BENEFIT to enable secure, real-time remittances between India and Bahrain. We believe this collaboration will deepen financial connectivity, pave the way for further cross-border payment innovations, and contribute to promoting financial inclusion and shared economic growth that benefits individuals and businesses alike. The initiative will also serve the large Indian diaspora in Bahrain, making money transfers faster, safer, and more convenient.”

On this occasion, Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of BENEFIT, stated, “The signing of the linkage agreement with India’s NPCI International represents an important strategic milestone in strengthening Bahrain’s presence in the global digital financial landscape. The partnership underscores our commitment to delivering advanced digital payment services that contribute to supporting the national economy and expanding economic relations between Bahrain and India. The new service will enable citizens and residents in both countries to send and receive money instantly and securely, reflecting our continuous efforts to meet the growing demand for fast, reliable, and cross-border financial solutions.”

Once live, this partnership will pave the way for seamless and inclusive cross-border remittances between India and Bahrain, supporting the shared vision of both nations to enhance digital connectivity and build an efficient, real-time payment ecosystem.

About NPCI International:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) was incorporated on April 3, 2020, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As NPCI’s international arm, NIPL is devoted to deploying NPCI’s indigenous, successful real-time payment system—Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and card scheme (RuPay) outside of India. NPCI has successfully developed and proved its products and technological capabilities in the domestic market by transforming the payment segment in India. Currently, there are several countries that seek to establish a real-time payment system or a domestic card scheme. NIPL, with its knowledge and experience, can offer these countries technological assistance through licensing and consulting for building real-time payment systems to meet the rapidly evolving needs of fast-growing global businesses. NIPL focuses on transforming payments across the globe through technology and innovation. It will not only enable payments for Indians but also support other countries by enhancing their payment capabilities using technological assistance, consulting, and infrastructure.

For more information visit, nipl.com

Samsung Wallet Redefines Digital Payments in India with UPI Onboarding, Biometric Authentication, and Tap & Pay Upgrades

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced significant innovations to Samsung Wallet - a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize digital keys, payment methods, identification cards and more in one secure application. The breakthrough features are designed to transform how millions of Galaxy users can set up new devices, manage payments and transact digitally. With seamless UPI onboarding as part of device setup, PIN-free biometric authentication, and enhanced Tap & Pay support — including FOREX cards and online card payments — Samsung Wallet is accelerating its mission to become the universal and secure gateway to your digital life.

We are thrilled to introduce these breakthrough innovations to Samsung Wallet. With the new updates, Samsung Wallet is no longer just a digital wallet, it has become a universal and secure gateway for digital payments, travel essentials, identity cards, and digital keys. From the moment users set up their new Galaxy device to the way they pay, transact, and travel, we are removing barriers and redefining convenience, said Madhur Chaturvedi, Senior Director, Services & Apps Business, Samsung India. 

UPI Onboarding Built-In with New Device Setup – Catalysing Rapid Adoption

Samsung is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to enable onboarding of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) accounts through Samsung Wallet as part of the new-device setup experience on Galaxy smartphones. By integrating UPI registration early in the setup journey, users can be payment-ready from the moment they power on their new Galaxy device. This friction-free experience ensures quick and seamless adoption of UPI on Galaxy devices, further boosting digital payments in India and simplifying the path from out-of-box to pay-ready.

Samsung Wallet, Biometric Authentication for UPI — No PIN Needed Every time

Samsung Wallet’s authentication experience has been enhanced with the introduction of biometric verification — device fingerprint and facial recognition — eliminating the need for PIN entry for everyday use. Users will soon be able to access the app and make UPI payments using just their Galaxy device’s fingerprint or face recognition. The upgrade not only streamlines access but also enhances security and convenience, reducing manual input and minimizing friction during payment flows. With this added authentication method, Samsung Wallet makes secure payments as effortless as unlocking your phone.

Online Credit and Debit Card Payments at Key Merchants

Samsung Wallet will soon support direct online usage of stored credit and debit cards across a wide set of key merchants. Users will be able to seamlessly pay for goods and services online using the credit and debit cards safely tokenised in their Samsung Wallet—no need to manually key in card details, making checkout faster and more secure.

FOREX Cards and New Partnerships for Samsung Wallet Tap & Pay

In addition to Samsung Wallet already supporting credit and debit cards from leading banks and card issuers, the digital payments experience is enhanced beyond borders as Samsung Wallet will support FOREX cards for Tap & Pay, powered by WSFx Global Pay Limited, enabling Galaxy users to make seamless international transactions with a simple tap. Additionally, Samsung has onboarded AU Bank cards for Tap & Pay, further expanding its network of banking partners and supported card issuers.

Samsung Wallet & Availability

Samsung Wallet is a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize Digital Keys, Payment methods, Identification cards and more in one secure application. Samsung Wallet features a seamless interface protected by defense-grade security from Samsung Knox. It integrates with the Galaxy ecosystem, providing powerful connectivity and fortified security for users in their everyday lives. The new features will begin rolling out across supported Galaxy devices soon.

Paytm Enables UPI Payments for NRIs Across 12 Countries Using International Mobile Numbers

• NRIs from 12 countries can now send money instantly and pay any UPI merchant through the Paytm app using international numbers linked to NRE or NRO accounts, without the need for a local Indian SIM card. 
• Offers exclusive features such as downloading UPI statements, automatic spend classification and spend analysis, ability to hide payments, checking total balance across bank accounts linked to Paytm UPI, generating AI Rap song on recent spends, available only on the Paytm app. 
• Reinforces Paytm’s commitment to financial inclusion and accessibility, enabling Indians around the world to participate in India’s mobile payment revolution. 

Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited), India’s full stack merchant payments leader serving MSMEs and enterprises, a leading financial services distribution company, and the pioneer of mobile payments, QR codes, and Soundbox, today announced that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from 12 countries can now login with their international mobile numbers to the Paytm app for seamless UPI payments through NRE or NRO accounts. 

With this launch, NRIs can use Paytm UPI for everyday payments and money transfers to friends and family in India. They can pay at shops, restaurants, and local businesses across the country by simply scanning a UPI QR code or shop online on Indian apps and websites. This seamless experience is now possible without international payment gateways or currency conversions. NRIs can also transfer funds between their own accounts or send money instantly to any UPI ID or UPI linked mobile number, removing remittance delays and high forex charges. The convenience of Paytm UPI is now available wherever NRIs are, whether living abroad or visiting India, without the need for a local Indian SIM card.

The service, powered by NPCI, is available for Indians residing in 12 countries including Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE (United Arab Emirates), UK (United Kingdom), France, and Malaysia. It brings greater convenience to global Indians by allowing them to stay financially connected with India even while living abroad. Currently available in beta, the rollout to all eligible users will happen in the coming days.

NRIs will also benefit from Paytm’s continuous innovations, as it is the only payments app that offers exclusive features such as downloading UPI statements in PDF or Excel, automatic spend classification and spend analysis, ability to hide payments, checking total balance across bank accounts linked with Paytm UPI, generating AI Rap song on recent spends with Paytm Playback among others. Together, these capabilities provide a comprehensive, seamless, and trusted payments experience on Paytm.

Paytm Spokesperson said, “We started Paytm with the dream of building technology made in India, for India, and now for every Indian around the world. Enabling NRIs to use Paytm UPI with their international mobile numbers is another step in that journey. It keeps Indians connected to India’s growing mobile payments ecosystem, no matter where they live.”

Here’s how an NRI can start making UPI payments in India through Paytm

• Download and open the Paytm app. 
• Login with international mobile number. 
• Verify the number via SMS and link the bank account to start making payments instantly

This reinforces Paytm’s commitment to financial inclusion and accessibility, ensuring that Indians around the world continue to be part of India’s mobile payment revolution built on trust and technology.

NPCI Unveils Agentic AI-Powered IoT Payments via UPI, Signaling India’s Next Leap in Intelligent Commerce

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) today showcased a live demonstration of Agentic AI-based IoT Payments powered by UPI, highlighting the next phase of seamless, intelligent digital transactions.

Image - X/Kushal Jasani

The demonstration was presented in the presence of Shri Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder & Chairman, Infosys and Hon. Advisor to NPCI on Innovations & Public Policy. The feature, which is currently in the pilot stage, showcased how users can discover and order items seamlessly from merchants through AI platforms such as Gemini, bringing greater convenience and personalization to digital commerce.

The solution is enabled by user-authorized AI chatbots, agents, and applications capable of initiating UPI payments based on contextual triggers, voice or text commands, and user-defined routines. These AI-powered systems can operate across devices, ensuring secure, efficient, and intuitive payment experiences.

Shri Nandan Nilekani

This demonstration marks a significant step toward the convergence of AI, and digital payments, underscoring NPCI’s commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of India’s digital economy.

The demonstration was attended by Shri Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder & Chairman of Infosys and Hon. Advisor to NPCI on Innovations & Public Policy, underscoring the strategic importance of this innovation in India’s fintech roadmap.

From Discovery to Payment: AI Agents Take the Lead

The pilot illustrated how user-authorized AI chatbots and applications—such as those powered by Gemini—can autonomously discover products, place orders, and initiate payments via UPI. These agents respond to contextual triggers, voice or text commands, and user-defined routines, offering a frictionless and personalized commerce experience.

“Agentic AI is redefining digital payments by making them intuitive, secure, and context-aware,” said an NPCI spokesperson. “This is not just a technical upgrade—it’s a shift toward intelligent commerce.”

A New Era of Seamless Transactions

The solution enables payments across IoT devices, allowing users to interact with smart platforms—from wearables to home assistants—without manual intervention. By integrating AI with UPI’s robust infrastructure, NPCI aims to simplify everyday transactions while enhancing security and personalization.

This initiative complements NPCI’s broader push toward biometric authentication and risk-based models, including recent rollouts of fingerprint and facial recognition for UPI payments.

Strategic Vision for India’s Digital Economy

The demonstration reflects NPCI’s commitment to shaping the future of India’s digital economy through innovation. Speaking at the event, Nilekani emphasized the convergence of AI and payments as a critical frontier for financial inclusion and user empowerment.

As the pilot progresses, NPCI plans to expand the capabilities of Agentic AI across sectors, potentially transforming retail, mobility, and public services.

Viyona Fintech Wins NPCI TPAP Approval to Expand UPI Payments in Tier II, III & Rural Markets

Hyderabad headquartered Startup Viyona Fintech, One of India’s fastest-growing digital payment platforms, and the developer of GRAAMPAY and the Viyona Pay app has been granted approval by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP).

This approval accelerates Viyona’s growth plans to offer Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in collaboration with partner banks, further expanding access to digital payments across Tier II, Tier III, and underserved rural markets in India.

“This approval reflects NPCI’s confidence in our fintech applications to make UPI payments more accessible for farmers, shopkeepers, and households. Through GRAAMPAY and the Farmers Marketplace, we are focused on providing simple and secure financial tools that support both urban and underserved rural communities,” said Ravindranath Yarlagadda, Founder of Viyona Fintech.

Viyona’s flagship product GRAAMPAY, is designed to address the unmet digital payment needs in rural India. The platform enables farmers, small merchants, and local communities to carry out digital collections, payouts, and UPI transactions. It also supports rural e-commerce and promotes financial literacy through a network of Village-Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).

As part of its expansion strategy, Viyona is preparing to launch a Farmers Marketplace within its GRAAMPAY platform. The new feature will connect farmers directly with buyers, aiming to improve price transparency, speed up settlements, and expand access to UPI-based payments.

Viyona Fintech provides a range of UPI-based financial transaction services, including PayIn, PayOut, Virtual Account Numbers, and UPI switching. Its platform is designed to help users manage payment collections, disbursements, and reconciliation processes while ensuring security and operational efficiency.

About Viyona Fintech: Viyona Fintech is a digital payments platform offering innovative UPI-based solutions, including UPI Autopay, UPI Lite, and Credit Card on UPI services. With a strong focus on financial inclusion, accessibility, and regulatory compliance, Viyona empowers individuals, merchants, and communities by delivering transparent, reliable, and easy-to-use digital financial services across India.

6 Ways in Which BHIM Payment App Helps Users in Their Digital Payments Journey

Digital payments are no longer limited to big cities, they’ve become a part of daily life across India, from metros to remote villages. As more people turn to payment apps for everyday needs, digital money management is evolving. It’s no longer just about sending or receiving money; it’s about tracking expenses, staying updated on bills, and having the tools to make informed financial decisions with ease and confidence.

Here are six ways users can take meaningful steps toward financial freedom, using BHIM Payments App:

1. Make Payments in a Language You’re Comfortable With

BHIM Payments App supports more than 15 Indian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, and Odia. This makes it easier for users to navigate the app and complete transactions in their preferred language, especially helpful for shopkeepers, senior citizens, or first-time users in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Using an app that communicates in a known language builds comfort and trust, making digital transactions feel less intimidating.

2. Transact Even with Weak Internet Connectivity

The app is built to work even in areas with low or unstable internet, making it practical for users in rural regions or those who often face network issues. It helps ensure that important payments can still go through, whether at a local market or during daily business hours.

3. Track and Manage Spending Without Extra Effort

BHIM Payments App includes features like Spends Analytics, which gives users a simple monthly view of where their money is going. The Split Expenses option lets people easily share costs with friends or family, useful for roommates, joint travel, or shared groceries, without needing to track it manually.

4. Coordinate Family Expenses in One Place

With Family Mode, users can onboard family members, assign specific payments, and view shared expenses. Whether it’s a couple managing bills or siblings taking care of household expenses, this feature helps keep everyone informed and organised.

5. Allow Trusted People to Help with Payments, While Staying in Control

The UPI Circle feature lets users create a trusted network of individuals who can initiate payments on their behalf, with every transaction requiring the primary user’s approval. It’s especially helpful for elderly users who rely on caregivers or busy parents who want to let their children or household help handle daily payments like groceries or utility bills, all while maintaining full visibility and control over each transaction.

6. Get Reminders for Important Financial Tasks

The Action Needed section offers reminders for pending bills, low balance alerts, or UPI Lite activation. These gentle nudges reduce the risk of missing important payments and help users stay updated without needing to track everything manually. Additionally, users can also pay electricity, water, and other utility bills directly through the app, with no additional charges or hidden fees, making it a convenient way to manage monthly expenses.

In a growing digital economy, having access to simple, reliable tools is key to managing money independently. Features like these are helping users across Bharat take important steps toward financial freedom.

Navi Technologies Launches Brand Campaign Celebrating Meteoric Rise of Navi UPI

Navi Technologies Limited, one of India’s fastest-growing financial services companies, unveiled its new brand campaign spotlighting the rapid growth of its flagship payments product Navi UPI.

Titled “Some things grow unbelievably fast”, the campaign highlights Navi UPI’s swift climb to become India’s fastest growing UPI app* in just two years since launch.

The campaign aims to build strong consumer recall and reinforce Navi UPI’s position as a high-performing, home-grown disruptor in the country’s digital payments landscape. 

Conceptualised by Sideways, the campaign launched with two tongue-in-cheek TVCs that use surreal, humorous analogies to depict unexpected, rapid transformation - a nod to the pace of Navi UPI’s growth.

Rajiv Naresh, CEO, Navi Technologies, said, “We’ve let Navi UPI’s growth speak for itself until now. This campaign puts a spotlight on that journey and captures our momentum in a way that’s simple and memorable. Navi UPI has reached millions in two years, but what we’re building is bigger - a sustained, fast-scaling payments destination for Indians.”

Mr. Abhijit Avasthi, Founder of Sideways, added, “The objective was to stand out with our ads from the other UPI players in the market. The fact that Navi is unlike any other UPI app is the reason why it has grown so fast. After that, it was just a matter of sprinkling some quirk and making something memorable. Having a client that placed their trust in us was the cherry on the cake.”

The campaign launched with high-impact placements on leading OTT platforms JioHotstar and Sony LIV during the India vs. England test match. This is followed by a rich mix across YouTube, digital platforms, print and connected TV properties.

The films serve as the foundation for a broader, multi-phase storytelling rollout over the coming quarter, with a variety of additional assets - including static, video, and contextual formats - to be introduced across digital, offline and ATL channels.

Watch the campaign films:

Film 1 -

Film 2 - 

*Disclaimer: “Fastest-growing UPI app in market share since launch (Sept ’23) among top 10 UPI apps in India.”

About Navi UPI

Navi UPI is offered by Navi Technologies Limited as an NPCI-approved Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP). Designed for fast, secure, and seamless digital transactions, Navi UPI enables instant money transfers, merchant payments, and bill settlements with just a few taps. As part of Navi’s mission to make financial services accessible and hassle-free, Navi UPI provides a reliable and efficient payment experience, ensuring convenience for millions of users across India.

For more information, visit website: https://navi.com/navi-upi

SEBI’s New UPI Rule = Safer Investor Payments | Verified IDs, Green Icons, No Guesswork

SEBI’s latest initiative—“Adoption of Standardised, Validated and Exclusive UPI IDs for Payment Collection by SEBI Registered Intermediaries from Investors”—is a major step toward enhancing transparency and security in India’s securities market. Here's a structured breakdown:

Objective

To ensure secure, verified, and transparent fund transfers from investors to SEBI-registered intermediaries by introducing a standardized UPI framework.

Key Features

Exclusive UPI Handles:

All SEBI-registered intermediaries must use UPI IDs with the handle @valid<bankname> (e.g., abc.brk@validhdfc).

Segment-Specific Suffixes:

UPI IDs will include suffixes like .brk for brokers or .mf for mutual funds, ensuring clarity and traceability.

Green Triangle Icon:

Verified UPI transactions will display a “thumbs-up inside a green triangle” icon, signaling legitimacy.

SEBI Check Functionality (Coming Soon):

Investors can verify UPI IDs and bank details via QR code or manual entry.

Milestone	Date
Circular Issued	June 11, 2025
UPI IDs Available to Investors	October 1, 2025
Transition Deadline for Intermediaries	~Early December 2025 (T+180 days)

Stakeholder Responsibilities

Intermediaries:

Must obtain new UPI IDs, update contact details, and educate investors.

Self-Certified Syndicate Banks:

Must verify intermediaries before issuing UPI IDs using SEBI’s prescribed utility.

Investors:

Optional adoption, but encouraged for secure transactions. Existing SIPs remain unaffected; new ones must use the new UPI IDs.

Legal Backing

Issued under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992, reinforcing SEBI’s mandate to protect investor interests and regulate the securities market.

PayPal World Debuts: UPI Goes Global in Cross-Border Payments Revolution

PayPal has just announced a major leap in global payments with the launch of PayPal World, a cross-border platform that integrates India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—a move poised to reshape international commerce.

What Is PayPal World?

A global interoperability platform connecting major digital wallets and payment systems.

Launch partners include:

• NPCI International Payments Limited (India’s UPI operator)
• Tenpay Global (Tencent’s Weixin Pay, China)
• Mercado Pago (Latin America)
• Venmo (PayPal’s social payments app)

UPI Goes Global

• UPI, which accounts for 85% of India’s retail digital payments, will now be usable for international transactions via PayPal World.

Indian users can:

• Pay on foreign e-commerce sites using UPI.
• Send money abroad without needing cards or remittance apps.
• Use PayPal to pay via UPI in rupees, even when shopping globally.

Key Features

Interoperability: Users can pay using their local wallets across borders.

No extra merchant integration: Businesses automatically accept new wallets added to the platform.

Venmo-PayPal Interoperability: Users can send money between the two globally.

Future-ready: Supports stablecoins, AI-driven shopping, and dynamic payment buttons.

Strategic Implications

• Positions India’s UPI as a blueprint for global digital payments, with ongoing talks in Africa and South America.
• Enhances PayPal’s reach to 2 billion+ users across high-growth markets.
• Bridges fragmented payment infrastructures, simplifying remittances and e-commerce.

Countries Where UPI Is Currently Accepted

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is going global —and it’s making quite the splash! As of 2025, here’s a list of countries where UPI is either live, widely accepted, or in advanced stages of integration:

Countries Where UPI Is Currently Accepted

1. France – First European country to adopt UPI; started at the Eiffel Tower
2. United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Accepted at 60,000+ retail outlets via NeoPay
3. Bhutan – First country outside India to adopt UPI in 2021
4. Nepal – Integrated with Nepal’s national payment systems
5. Mauritius – UPI and RuPay services launched in 2024
6. Sri Lanka – Accepted at airports and retail outlets
7. Singapore – Linked with PayNow; accepted at 8,000–30,000+ merchants
8. Cyprus – Newly added in 2025 after PM Modi’s visit

Countries in Progress or Planning Integration

1. Malaysia – Expected rollout in 2025
2. Qatar – Targeted for expansion in 2025
3. Thailand – Integration underway
4. United Kingdom – Ongoing rollout at select merchants
5. Oman – MoU signed; UPI and RuPay integration planned
6. Maldives – Partnerships in progress

UPI’s international expansion is powered by NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), which partners with local banks and payment networks to enable QR-based and POS transactions.

If you’re traveling, you’ll need to activate UPI International in your app and check with your bank for forex charges.

NPCI Shares 5 Key Tips to Spread Awareness About Safe Digital Payments

Digital payments have made everyday transactions faster, easier, and more accessible for millions of users across India. As this convenience grows, it is important for users to remain aware and informed. Safe payment practices are simple to follow and go a long way in ensuring secure digital experiences.

1. Always check before you pay: Before making any payment, check the name that appears on the screen. Make sure it is the person or business you want to pay. Taking a few seconds to confirm can help avoid mistakes.
2. Use only trusted payment Apps and websites: Make payments only through official and well-known Apps or websites. Do not download Apps or click on links sent by people you do not know or trust.
3. Do not share your PIN or OTP with anyone: Your UPI PIN, OTP, or bank details are private and confidential. Never share them with anyone, even if they say they are from a bank or police or any government office.
4. Do not rush into any payment: If someone asks you to make a payment quickly or share your details urgently, take a moment. You can always say you will check and call back. It is okay to take your time.
5. Keep payment alerts on and check them often: Turn on SMS and App notifications for your payments. Read each alert carefully. If something looks wrong, contact your bank or payment App immediately.

By adopting a few mindful habits, every user can ensure they take charge of their digital safety. With awareness and responsible use, digital payments can continue to be a trusted and empowering part of daily life. Report suspicious number to the national cybercrime helpline by dialling 1930 or the Department of Telecommunication (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc/). Save messages, take screenshots and document interactions. This can help authorities if you need to file a report.

Innoviti Introduces India’s First AI-driven UPI Acquirer Backup Application for Organized Retail

Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd., India’s largest payments-centric retail SaaS platform for enterprise brands and their SME channel partners, have today announced the launch of India’s first AI-driven UPI Acquirer Backup Application for offline organized retailers. This application automatically activates a secondary UPI acquirer for UPI Dynamic QR transactions if the primary acquirer becomes unreliable. This breakthrough not only enhances transaction reliability and customer experience but also helps retailers save up to 6% on digital payment processing costs.

Organized retailers have saved heavily on MDR costs with the mass adoption of UPI by consumers. However, credit cards, a high MDR cost payment instrument, remains as the preferred mode for high ticket purchases leading to blended MDR costs of up to 60 bps. This worsens when an UPI acquirer fluctuates or fails. Problems begin at the checkout counter as customers irritated by delays switch to credit cards. Some payment providers offer a manual workaround – store staff can press a button on the EDC to switch acquirers after a failure, but by then it is too late. The irate customer would have already handed over a credit card and the staff would have quickly swiped it to avoid losing a sale. The result - zero-cost UPI transaction would have turned into a high MDR credit card payment, eroding the retailer’s margins without any increase in revenue. A poor checkout experience adding to the retailer’s woes.

UPI Dynamic QR transactions being a push system does not render itself to conventional payment orchestration. As a result, till now there was no intelligent router to manage acquirer failures. Innoviti’s UPI Acquirer Backup Application solves this challenge using AI unsupervised learning, that models the behavior of each UPI acquirer system based on past data and then monitors live traffic to automatically switch to an alternative acquirer before the failure occurs. The application allows merchants to set preferences and routing rules for their favored acquirers. Innoviti has already rolled out this application with some of India’s largest retailers, helping them cut MDR costs by up to 6%. The consumer experience is also enhanced with fewer failures and lesser checkout time. The new application also ensures that the switching does not affect the reconciliation in any way.

The company’s flagship product “innoviti unipay” is a payment reconciliation software. It powers payments at India’s largest retailers and is profitable with an EBITDA of 25%+. Innoviti genie is a sales acceleration software designed for electronics merchants with high agency, helping them compete better by giving access to not only distributor cash discounts and OEM dealer margins but also a whole set of sales management tools. Innoviti genie doubled its revenue in FY24-25 and is slated to breakeven at an operating level in FY26. In December 2024, Innoviti launched its payment collection app “innoviti link” for neighborhood merchants to help them expand their selling universe to remote customers without the anxiety of collections. This was developed under Innoviti’s online PA license received from RBI. The app has shown a rapid adoption as is the highest ranked payment link apps in both the App Store and Play Store. It is targeted to cover 30,000 merchants by March 2026.

The company is operating at an annualized run-rate of Rs. 150 Cr. and is targeting a full year of operating profitability in FY26, setting the stage for a proposed IPO by Mar 2026.

“Both consumers and merchants prefer to pay through UPI given its ease and commercial advantage. However, acquirer failures are an unavoidable aspect of any payment technology,” said Ms. Amrita Malik, Co-founder & President, Innoviti.

“We are excited to introduce AI in this space, enabling the systems to dynamically monitor real-time traffic and automatically re-route UPI transactions through alternate performing acquirers. This breakthrough can help merchants reduce their digital payment processing costs by up to 6%, while significantly enhancing the customer checkout experience.”

About Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Innoviti provides payments-centric retail SaaS software to enterprise brands and their SME channel partners, giving them a competitive edge to help them grow faster, smarter, and with less efforts than possible with traditional payment solutions. Innoviti’s software run across online and offline payment channels, processing over ₹80,000 Cr. annually across 2,000 cities, serving over 6,000 merchants online and 20,000 merchants offline.

The company processes more than 50% of all purchases happening in enterprise retailers in the food & grocery, lifestyle, and healthcare categories.

Backed by marquee investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners, USA, FMO, Netherlands, Catamaran Ventures (Mr. Narayana Murthy’s family office), India, and the Patni Family Office, India, Innoviti is the recipient of RBI’s final authorization to operate as an online payment aggregator. The company has several accolades to its name including the 50 fastest growing companies in Asia award from Deloitte (won four times), Reliance Innovation Award, and the Mastercard Innovation Award. Innoviti’s technology edge is visible through the 11 patents awarded, with 16 more in pipeline.

India Expands UPI Acceptance in Singapore, Partners HitPay

• NPCI International and Hitpay Partner to Expand UPI Acceptance in Singapore
• Partnership to strengthen existing UPI merchant acceptance network in Singapore

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has announced a partnership with HitPay, a Singapore-based full-stack payments infrastructure firm, to expand Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across Singapore. This partnership will offer Indian travellers the convenience of making QR code-based payments at establishments across tourist attractions, restaurants, retail outlets and more.

Over 1.2 million Indian visitors travelled to Singapore in 2024. With this partnership, NIPL aims to provide a familiar payment experience to Indians travelling to Singapore. UPI acceptance will be rolled out progressively to over 12,000 merchants across Singapore. It will also offer businesses the opportunity to serve Indian consumers with a frictionless online and offline payment option via UPI.

Speaking on the development, Ritesh Shukla, Chief Executive Officer, NPCI International, said, “We are focused on expanding UPI’s global presence to make transactions easier for Indians traveling abroad. Our partnership with HitPay expands UPI acceptance in Singapore, offering Indians a reliable, cost-effective payment option during their travel. This collaboration also highlights our commitment to building a globally connected payments ecosystem”.

“UPI has transformed India’s payment landscape with unmatched speed, simplicity, and scalability,” said Aditya Haripurkar, CEO and Co-Founder of HitPay. “This integration reflects HitPay’s vision to be the trusted partner for merchants in Singapore, providing seamless access to the fastest-growing markets in Asia and beyond.”

This partnership is another step forward in UPI’s global journey, strengthening its role in the international digital payments landscape. By offering Indian travellers a smooth, familiar and affordable payment option, it enhances their experience while also deepening economic and technological connections between India and other countries.

About NPCI International:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) was incorporated on April 3, 2020, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As NPCI’s international arm, NIPL is devoted to deploying NPCI’s indigenous, successful real-time payment system—Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—and card scheme (RuPay) outside of India. NPCI has successfully developed and proved its products and technological capabilities in the domestic market by transforming the payment segment in India. Currently, there are several countries that seek to establish a real-time payment system or a domestic card scheme. NIPL, with its knowledge and experience, can offer these countries technological assistance through licensing and consulting for building real-time payment systems to meet the rapidly evolving needs of fast-growing global businesses. NIPL focuses on transforming payments across the globe through technology and innovation. It will not only enable payments for Indians but also support other countries by enhancing their payment capabilities using technological assistance, consulting, and infrastructure.

For more information visit https://www.nipl.com/

About HitPay

Headquartered in Singapore, HitPay is a full-stack payments infrastructure company dedicated to empowering global businesses with easy access to digital payments. Licensed in six jurisdictions, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, HitPay’s leadership team has over 10 years of experience in financial services, working closely with fast-growing businesses to build tailored solutions.

Backed by top-tier investors, including Tiger Global, Global Founders Capital, HOF Capital, and Y Combinator, HitPay is at the forefront of payment innovation in the Asia Pacific region.

For more information, visit www.hitpayapp.com or contact us at support@hit-pay.com.

NPST and Hyperface Partner to Enable Instant Credit Access via UPI for Banks

Partnership Set to Democratize Digital Credit Access for 400+ Million UPI Users

NPST, a leading provider of banking and payment solutions in India, and Hyperface, Asia’s first Credit Cards as a Service (CCaaS) platform, have announced a strategic partnership to enable banks and credit issuers to offer embedded credit solutions through UPI, marking a significant milestone in India's digital financial ecosystem and expanding instant credit access for millions of users.

With India's growing middle class and increasing discretionary spending, affordable access to credit remains a challenge due to low credit card penetration — just 100 million cards compared to over 400 million UPI users. The NPST-Hyperface alliance bridges this gap, delivering a seamless, digital-first credit experience that enhances purchasing power, fuels consumer spending, and drives financial inclusion at scale.

Banks and credit issuers can leverage their vast infrastructure and rich customer data to offer tailored UPI-based credit products. Eligible consumers will gain access to pre-approved credit lines at the point of sale, empowering them to make purchases and split payments into flexible instalments. Merchants stand to benefit from higher conversion rates, larger basket sizes, and stronger customer loyalty.

Through this partnership, NPST will integrate its UPI switch technology with Hyperface’s advanced Embedding Banking Platform. Hyperface's Credit Management Engine, built on a sophisticated technology stack, is a completely modular, flexible, and comprehensive solution; it enables banks not only to build, iterate and deploy Credit Line on UPI-ready products rapidly but also re-calibrate in real-time to drive scalability. The combined solution equips banks with digital-first credit solutions with full-spectrum lifecycle support — including customer risk assessment, real-time business insights, and built-in compliance tools — enabling innovative and sustainable credit offerings through UPI.

Commenting on the partnership, Deepak Chand Thakur, Co-Founder and CEO, NPST, stated; “We are proud to partner with Hyperface to democratize access to credit through UPI. As consumer expectations evolve, this collaboration positions banks to meet those needs with agility — driving customer satisfaction, boosting transaction volumes, and creating new revenue streams through interchange fees. Together, we’re not just transforming credit; we’re shaping the future of embedded finance in India.”

"The rapidly evolving UPI ecosystem demands both technological sophistication and extraordinary agility — qualities that legacy systems simply cannot deliver”, said Ramanathan RV, Co-Founder and CEO, Hyperface. “As new use cases emerge and requirements rapidly evolve, we recognized the need to partner with a modern, tech-forward player who could match our pace of innovation. Hyperface's advanced Credit Management Platform, combined with NPST's proven expertise in UPI technology, creates a powerful synergy that will enable banks to build, rapidly deploy and scale innovative credit solutions for tailored customer segments. This partnership exemplifies how new-age companies can collaborate to solve complex financial challenges at the speed the market demands."

About NPST

Incorporated in 2013, NPST is a leading fintech firm in India, part of the Make in India initiative and listed on the NSE Small and Medium Exchange. We specialize in UPI payments and digital banking and operate as both a Technology Service Provider (TSP) and a Payment Platform as a Service Provider (PaaS). Our solutions include online and offline transaction processing, banking super apps, fraud prevention, dispute management, and RegTech.

NPST’s mission is to deliver financial technology solutions across the financial value chain — serving banks, fintech’s, and other industry players — and to drive the growth of the digital payments ecosystem. NPST supports 100+ customers, and processes 50+ million transactions daily, advancing businesses, individuals, communities, and economies through its innovative solutions. For details, please visit https://www.npstx.com/.

About Hyperface

Hyperface is the Definitive Credit Cards Innovation Platform that is revolutionizing the way banks, brands, and fintechs approach credit card and credit line solutions. As Asia’s first Credit Cards as a Service (CaaS) platform, Hyperface provides businesses with the technology to launch, manage and scale their own credit card and credit line programs. From program design and development to risk management and compliance, Hyperface empowers banks and co-brands to deliver exceptional, digital-first experiences that resonate with modern consumers.

For details, please visit https://www.hyperface.co/.

NPCI to Promote Digital Payment Safety Through R.K. Laxman's Iconic Common Man

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the organisation driving innovation and powering India's digital payment revolution, has announced an exciting partnership with The Times of India (TOI) to launch a nationwide campaign focused on digital payment safety. At the heart of this campaign is one of India’s most beloved and enduring cartoon characters, R.K. Laxman’s iconic Common Man, who will play a key role in spreading awareness about digital payment fraud.

The Common Man, who has been a quiet observer of Indian society for decades, will now step into a new role as the relatable face of this campaign. The Common Man represents the voice of India’s average citizen through his quiet observations of society with innocence, humour, and resilience. In this campaign, he represents the millions of Indians who may feel overwhelmed by the intricacies of digital payments but are eager to learn and adapt. With his signature blend of wit and humility, Common Man will guide the public through practical tips and advice on how to avoid scams and ensure safe digital transactions.

This initiative aims to spread awareness about the different types of digital payment frauds— ranging from phishing and OTP scams to fake apps—and to arm users across all demographics with the knowledge they need to conduct secure transactions through UPI. By leveraging the emotional connection and trust that the Common Man commands, NPCI aims to make the message of digital payment safety both impactful and memorable.

Speaking on the initiative, Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and CEO, NPCI, said, “We are happy to partner with The Times of India, and their iconic character, the Common Man, in our mission to raise awareness on the importance of digital payment safety. With the growing reliance on digital transactions, it is crucial for users to stay informed about the risks and the best practices for secure payments. This campaign seeks to empower every individual with the knowledge to protect themselves from scams while making the learning process enjoyable and engaging.”

“TOI’s ‘Common Man’ has long been the voice of every Indian, and we are proud to use this voice to address the growing concern around digital payment safety. This campaign, ‘Common Man vs Con Man’ aims at creating awareness around secure digital payments. This initiative will deliver the message in an engaging and humorous way for our readers, promoting safer digital transactions for all. We are delighted to partner with NPCI, who have done incredible work in raising awareness on secure digital payments. With extensive footprint across print and digital platforms, the TOI is committed to spreading this important message nationwide.” said, Sameer Sainani, Chief Operating Officer, Optimal Media Solutions.

This exciting collaboration between NPCI and TOI marks a unique fusion of tradition and modernity, blending humour with caution, as India makes significant strides toward a more secure digital payment ecosystem.

With its emphasis on deep tech, NPCI has been dedicated to continuous innovation, offering secure and inclusive payment solutions across India and beyond.

UPI Goes Live at Galeries Lafayette’s Flagship Store in Paris

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), in partnership with Lyra, a French leader in securing e-commerce and proximity payments, is delighted to enable the acceptance of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at Galeries Lafayette’s flagship store in Haussmann, Paris. Known for its rich culture, stunning architecture, and world-class shopping, Paris is a favourite destination among Indian tourists. This new integration allows them to make secure and convenient UPI transactions at this historic luxury department store, enhancing their overall Parisian experience.

Following the successful implementation of UPI for online ticket booking at the Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette becomes the second major French merchant to enable UPI under the NIPL- Lyra partnership. The official announcement was made in Paris in the presence of His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, along with distinguished guests including Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group.

NIPL, in partnership with Lyra, is delighted to enable the acceptance of UPI at Galeries Lafayette’s flagship store in Paris.
This collaboration boosts UPI adoption as a convenient and secure cross-border payment method for Indian tourists, enhancing their overall Parisian… pic.twitter.com/SXnANI2E2H

— NPCI (@NPCI_NPCI) July 5, 2024

This partnership will benefit multitude of Indian tourists visiting Paris every year, allowing them to use UPI, their favored payment method, at the prestigious Galeries Lafayette flagship store. The integration of UPI ensures effortless shopping and seamless transactions through UPI-powered apps, enhancing the memorability of their visit to Paris. By simply scanning QR code at the store, Indian tourists can complete their payments with transparency in exchange rates.

Recalling the success of UPI launch at the Eiffel Tower in January 2024 and the meeting hosted for potential merchants with NPCI International in February 2024, Ambassador Jawed Ashraf welcomed the quick conclusion of the agreement and engagement of UPI at the world-famous Galleries Lafayette, specially ahead of the Paris Olympics. Starting July 26, 2024, Paris Olympics is expected to draw large number of Indian visitors. Ambassador hopes this will pave the way for wide acceptance of UPI in France and support its internationalization as a means of digital payments. He thanked NPCI International and Lyra for their cooperation.

Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International said, “Our collaboration with Galeries Lafayette in Paris not only enables UPI payments at a prestigious venue but also boosts UPI adoption as a convenient and secure cross-border payment method for Indian tourists. We are confident that UPI will continue to gain traction as a reliable and efficient payment option, further strengthening its presence in international markets.”

Christophe Mariette, Chairman of Lyra India said, “Lyra is happy to have enable for the first time in Europe the in-store acceptance of UPI in the iconic Department stores Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris. Thanks to the collaboration with NPCI International, Galeries Lafayette and the cash register editor Lundi Matin it has been done in a very short time. One more reason for Indian tourists to come to Paris for the Olympic Games.”

Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette said, "We are delighted to be the first department store in Europe to offer the UPI payment solution at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. By introducing UPI, we facilitate seamless and secure transactions for our Indian guests and strengthen cultural and economic ties between France and India. As the number of visitors from India is growing, we are proud to offer this innovative payment option, ensuring a convenient and memorable shopping experience. With the opening of our first Indian store in Mumbai in 2025, followed by New Delhi, this initiative becomes even more significant, symbolizing our commitment to reinforcing the ties between our two countries."

The integration of UPI at prominent French retail and tourist destinations is set to boost its popularity among European merchants. This initiative aims to broaden UPI’s market presence in France and Europe, driving further growth and adoption as a secure payment solution.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) was incorporated on April 3, 2020, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As NPCI’s international arm, NIPL is devoted to deploying NPCI’s indigenous, successful real-time payment system—Unified Payments Interface (UPI)—and card scheme (RuPay) outside of India. NPCI has successfully developed and proved its products and technological capabilities in the domestic market by transforming the payment segment in India. Currently, there are several countries that seek to establish a real-time payment system or a domestic card scheme. NIPL, with its knowledge and experience, can offer these countries technological assistance through licensing and consulting for building real-time payment systems to meet the rapidly evolving needs of fast-growing global businesses. NIPL focuses on transforming payments across the globe through technology and innovation. It will not only enable payments for Indians but also support other countries by enhancing their payment capabilities using technological assistance, consulting, and infrastructure.