UPI – Biometric Payments Cross 611 Million Transactions in June
UPI – India’s Unified Payments Interface recorded more than 611 million on-device biometric payment transactions in June, according to the National Payments Corporation of India. The transactions were valued at Rs 25,416 crore, indicating growing use of fingerprint and facial recognition for routine digital payments.
Biometric Verification Gains Ground
The biometric payment option allows users to approve UPI transactions through their smartphone’s fingerprint sensor or facial recognition system instead of entering a UPI PIN. The facility is designed to make payments faster while retaining device-based security controls.
NPCI said the feature is increasingly being used for both individual transfers and merchant payments. Its adoption across everyday transactions suggests that users are becoming more comfortable with biometric verification as an alternative to PIN-based authentication.
Everyday Payment Use Expands
The service supports person-to-person payments, such as sending money to family members or friends, as well as person-to-merchant transactions at shops, service providers and other businesses. This wider compatibility has helped biometric authentication become relevant across several regular payment situations.
Sohini Rajola, Executive Director-Growth at NPCI, said the June figures reflected a preference among UPI users for payment methods that are straightforward and efficient. She noted that the system has gained acceptance across different use cases, including RuPay Credit Card transactions conducted through UPI.
The rising volume also points to the expanding role of smartphones in India’s digital payments ecosystem. Users can complete transactions without relying solely on numerical PIN entry, provided their device supports the required biometric functions.
Banks and Apps Add Support
Several banks and UPI applications have already enabled biometric payment approval for their customers. NPCI expects the number of users to rise as more financial institutions and payment platforms make the option available.
The feature works through biometric information stored and verified on the user’s device. This approach allows payment approval to be completed using familiar smartphone security tools, including fingerprints and facial recognition.
For users, the change can reduce the steps involved in making smaller or frequent payments. It may also offer an easier experience for people who prefer biometric verification over remembering and entering a PIN each time they make a transaction.
RuPay Credit Card Payments Included
Biometric authentication is also available for RuPay Credit Card on UPI payments. The option enables eligible users to make credit-based UPI transactions without entering a PIN, extending the same approval method used for bank account-linked payments.
NPCI said this capability brings greater convenience to credit transactions carried out through UPI. It also broadens the role of UPI beyond savings account payments by supporting credit card-linked purchases through the same digital payment network.
The development comes as UPI continues to be used for a broad range of retail transactions, from personal transfers to purchases at local stores and online platforms. The addition of biometric authentication is intended to improve ease of use without changing the underlying payment process for customers.
Focus on Inclusive Digital Payments
NPCI said its broader objective remains the development of efficient, reliable and inclusive payment and settlement systems for India. The organisation has played a central role in expanding digital payment infrastructure through UPI and related services.
The June transaction data shows that biometric authentication is becoming a more visible part of India’s retail payments environment. As banks and payment apps expand access to the feature, its use could continue to grow across daily UPI transactions.