New UPI Features: UPI has become one of the most widely used payment methods in India, making everyday transactions quick and convenient. Now, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced new features designed to make UPI payments even simpler while giving users greater control and access to transaction-related information.
Two notable additions are UPI Tap & Pay and MyUPI. Tap & Pay allows users with compatible NFC-enabled smartphones to make payments by simply tapping their phone on a supported POS terminal. MyUPI, meanwhile, is designed to bring important UPI information and customer-support functions together in one place.
What Is UPI Tap & Pay?
The Tap & Pay facility uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to enable contactless UPI payments.
To use the feature, a customer needs an NFC-enabled smartphone and a compatible POS machine. After unlocking the phone, the user can tap it against the supported payment terminal to initiate the transaction.
One of the key advantages is that the phone does not need an active mobile data connection for the payment. The transaction can be processed through the POS terminal’s internet connection.
However, Tap & Pay does not mean that UPI payments can work without internet in every situation. The feature depends on both the smartphone and POS machine supporting the required technology, and the POS terminal must have an internet connection.
Can You Make UPI Payments Without Entering a PIN?
Tap & Pay also introduces convenience for certain small-value transactions.
According to the provided information, payments of up to ₹5,000 can be completed without entering a UPI PIN. This can make quick purchases at shops and other outlets more convenient.
For transactions above ₹5,000, the UPI PIN continues to be required.
The facility can work with different UPI-linked payment accounts, including RuPay credit cards, potentially making smaller transactions similar to contactless card payments.
What Is MyUPI?
Alongside Tap & Pay, NPCI has introduced MyUPI, an AI-powered customer-support and information platform built using NPCI’s Small Language Model.
The idea behind MyUPI is to bring important UPI information into a single interface. At present, users may have to switch between different banking and UPI applications to find transaction information or details about AutoPay mandates.
MyUPI is intended to simplify this experience by bringing UPI transaction details and AutoPay mandate information together in one place.
MyUPI Can Provide More Details Before Payment
The platform is designed to do more than simply display transaction information.
Before a payment is completed, MyUPI can provide additional information about the beneficiary or recipient. Having more details available before sending money could help users identify the intended recipient and reduce the chances of making an incorrect transfer.
Another planned convenience is the Replay option, which can allow users to repeat previous transactions without having to recreate the payment from scratch.
New UPI Safety and Control Features
The latest UPI developments also focus on security and giving customers greater control over their payment activity.
One such feature is the Safety Switch, which is designed to allow users to manage UPI debit transaction requests. This could be particularly useful if someone believes their account or payment access may have been compromised.
Another option, called UPI Number Delink, will allow users to disable the facility that enables them to receive UPI payments through their mobile number.
These controls are aimed at giving customers more flexibility in managing how their UPI accounts can be used.
UPI Payments Get More Convenient
The introduction of Tap & Pay and MyUPI represents another step in the evolution of India’s digital payment ecosystem.
Tap & Pay focuses on making small, everyday payments faster through NFC technology, while MyUPI aims to make transaction information, AutoPay details, beneficiary information and support services easier to access.
According to NPCI, MyUPI is intended to function as a layer of trust and control, with additional self-service capabilities planned. If these features are expanded as expected, users may be able to resolve more routine UPI-related queries themselves rather than contacting their bank or payment application’s customer support for every minor issue.
Note: Availability of individual UPI features may depend on the participating bank, payment application, device and supported payment terminal. Users should check their bank or UPI app for the latest availability and applicable limits.