In the year 2016, India witnessed a revolutionary change in the field of digital payments with the launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The UPI was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and enabled instant, secure, and easy peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. With the adoption of UPI by major financial institutions and start-ups, digital payments have become a mainstream mode of payment in the country.
The inception of UPI can be traced back to 2015 when the Government of India announced the Digital India campaign. The objective of the campaign was to increase the use of technology to facilitate transactions and bring about financial inclusion. The NPCI took up the challenge of developing a payment interface that would enable instantaneous fund transfers from one bank account to another.
The UPI was launched in April 2016, and within two years, it gained significant traction. In August 2018, it surpassed one billion transactions in a single month. The primary factor behind the widespread adoption of UPI was its simplicity. Users could effortlessly transfer money using their mobile phones without the need for cumbersome bank account details such as the account number and the IFSC code.
Instead, users could create a unique payment address in the form of a virtual payment address (VPA) that would be linked to their bank account. The UPI also eliminated the need for card details and net banking passwords, making it an exceedingly secure and convenient payment option.
Today, UPI has become the backbone of India’s digital payment ecosystem. According to a report by the NPCI, as of March 2021, there were over 200 banks live on the UPI platform with a transaction volume of 2.8 billion. In the financial year 2021-2022, UPI is expected to process transactions worth INR 4.5 trillion per month.
The Future of Digital Payments
The evolution of digital payment technology has transformed the way we transact, and the future looks promising. As the pandemic has pushed people towards contactless payments, there is a growing demand for seamless and secure digital transactions. Here are some trends to watch out for in the digital payment space:
1. Biometric Authentication
The use of biometric authentication such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or voice recognition will enable secure and seamless transactions. This technology will eliminate the need for passwords and PINs, and fraudsters will find it hard to steal biometric data.
2. Integration with social media and Messaging Apps
With the rise of messaging apps such as WhatsApp and social media platforms such as Facebook, integrating payment services within these platforms is the next logical step. This will enable users to send money to their friends and family seamlessly, without the need for an external app.
3. Voice-Activated Transactions
The use of smart speakers such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home will enable voice-activated payments, making the process even more convenient.
4. Contactless Payments
Contactless payments have been around for a while, but their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Contactless payments offer a secure and quick way of completing transactions without the need for physical contact between the payment device and the point-of-sale terminal. This feature has become extremely crucial in the current scenario where people are hesitant to use cash and prefer safer, more hygienic payment alternatives.
NFC-based contactless payments support a wide range of payment modes, including debit/credit cards, mobile wallets, and other digital payment modes. These payments are executed by waving the payment device near the point of sale terminal and the payment is authorized through a secure authentication process. QR code-based contactless payments are also gaining popularity, especially in countries like India.
QR codes can be scanned using a smartphone camera and enable users to pay merchants and service providers with ease. Biometric-based contactless payments, such as facial recognition, are also being developed and tested by various organizations.
Contactless payments not only offer a safe, fast, and convenient way of paying but they also reduce transactional costs and minimize the risk of fraud. Therefore, we can safely assume that contactless payments are here to stay and that their popularity will continue to increase in the coming years.
5. Increased Adoption of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency has been a buzzword in the digital payments space for several years now. While they have been traditionally viewed as an investment asset, more and more people are now considering cryptocurrencies as a mode of payment.
Cryptocurrency transactions operate on a decentralized blockchain network and enable secure, peer-to-peer transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions. Cryptocurrency payments are executed through a digital wallet, and the transactions are verified and recorded on the blockchain network with an immutable timestamp.
While the adoption of cryptocurrency as a mode of payment has been relatively slow, they are gaining popularity among tech-savvy users and businesses that operate in a globalized environment. The biggest advantage of cryptocurrency payments is their decentralized and secure nature, which eliminates the need for intermediaries and ensures faster and more secure transactions.
Cryptocurrency payments also offer a higher level of privacy and anonymity as they do not reveal the payer or payee’s identity.
Some prominent companies, such as Tesla, have started accepting Bitcoin as a payment method, signalling the growing acceptance of cryptocurrency in mainstream businesses. More and more merchants are also starting to accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment, and it is likely that cryptocurrency payment options will become more mainstream soon.
Digital Payment Apps Leading the Way
The success of UPI has inspired various payment apps to enter the Indian market. These apps provide an easy and convenient way to make transactions and pay bills. Here are some of the leading digital payment apps in India.
1. Bajaj Finserv App
The Bajaj Finserv App is an all-in-one app that offers a range of financial services, including credit cards, loans, and insurance. The app’s digital wallet feature enables users to make payments, transfer funds, and receive cashback offers.
2. CRED
CRED is a credit card management app that rewards users for making timely credit card payments. The app’s built-in digital wallet feature enables users to transfer funds and pay bills.
3. Paytm
Paytm is a leading digital payment app that allows users to make payments to merchants, pay bills, and transfer funds. The app’s digital wallet feature enables users to store money and use it for transactions, including recharge, shopping, and taxi payments.
4. Google Pay
Google Pay, also known as GPay, is a digital payment app that allows users to make payments using their mobile numbers. The app’s digital wallet feature enables users to link their bank accounts and transfer funds instantly.
Conclusion
The UPI has brought about a significant change in India’s payment ecosystem and enabled the growth of digital transactions. The future looks promising, with the adoption of new technologies and the development of new payment apps. As India moves towards becoming a cashless economy, there is an increasing need for secure and seamless digital payment options. The evolution of digital payments will continue to drive financial inclusion and bring about positive socioeconomic change in the country.