Digital India Initiatives

NPCI Unveils Innovative UPI Features

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Mains level: Read the attached story

upi

Central Idea

  • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a range of groundbreaking features on the popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform.

Hello! UPI: Voice-Enabled UPI Payments

  • Hello! UPI, a remarkable addition, facilitates voice-enabled UPI payments in Hindi and English.
  • Users can make UPI payments through voice commands via apps, telecom calls, and IoT devices.
  • Future plans include expanding this feature to support several regional languages, further enhancing accessibility.

Credit Line on UPI:  Streamlined Access to Credit

  • The RBI Governor introduced Credit Line on UPI, an initiative aimed at promoting financial inclusion and innovation.
  • This offering allows users to access pre-sanctioned credit from banks via UPI, simplifying the credit acquisition process.
  • Features include interest-free credit periods, defined charges, and seamless customer engagement channels.
  • The goal is to expedite the credit access process, driving economic growth and digital banking efficiency.

UPI LITE X:  Offline Money Transfers

  • UPI LITE X introduces offline money transfers, enabling users to send and receive funds even without internet connectivity.
  • This feature empowers transactions in areas with poor network coverage.
  • UPI LITE payments are known for their speed and efficiency, making them a preferred choice for users.

UPI Tap & Pay:  Convenience Redefined

  • UPI Tap & Pay offers a new way to complete payments at merchant locations.
  • In addition to traditional scan-and-pay, users can now tap Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled QR codes.
  • This feature enhances convenience, making transactions swift and effortless.

Conversational Payments:  AI-Enabled Transactions

  • Conversational UPI Payments and Conversational Bill Payments represent a paradigm shift in human-machine interaction.
  • These AI-enabled transactions aim to deepen the adoption of digital payments across India.
  • Users can make voice-enabled UPI payments through UPI Apps, telecom calls, and IoT devices in Hindi, English, and regional languages.
  • NPCI has collaborated with AI4Bharat at IIT Madras to develop language models for Hindi and English payments.

BillPay Connect:  Simplified Bill Payments

  • BillPay Connect introduces a nationalized number for bill payments across India.
  • Customers can conveniently fetch and pay bills through messaging apps with a simple ‘Hi.’
  • Even users without smartphones or immediate data access can pay bills via a missed call, followed by a verification call.
  • Voice Assisted Bill Payments via smart home devices offer added convenience and instant confirmation.
  • This innovation enhances security and reassurance for both customers and collection centers.

Conclusion

  • These pioneering features unveiled by NPCI mark a significant leap in India’s digital payment landscape.
  • They not only enhance accessibility but also redefine convenience, making digital transactions more user-friendly.
  • With innovative offerings like voice-enabled payments and streamlined credit access, NPCI continues to play a pivotal role in India’s technological advancement.
  • The journey towards a digitally empowered India takes a giant stride forward with these game-changing UPI features.

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