NPCI developing offline UPI tap-and-pay
Analysis based on 17 articles · First reported Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026
The offline UPI feature could expand digital payment adoption in low-connectivity areas, potentially increasing transaction volumes for NPCI and UPI. However, regulatory hurdles and the need for terminal certification may delay implementation, limiting near-term market impact.
The India — National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is reportedly developing an offline tap-and-pay feature for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) that would allow users to make payments without an internet connection using NFC technology. Users would pre-load money into a UPI Lite wallet while online, then tap their NFC-enabled smartphone on a compatible point-of-sale (PoS) terminal to pay offline. The feature is aimed at environments with poor connectivity, such as flights, metro stations, and remote areas. Transaction limits are reportedly up to Rs 2,000, though this may require regulatory changes from the State Bank of India (RBI), which currently caps offline digital payments at Rs 500. NPCI plans to begin certifying PoS terminals later in 2026. The feature would extend existing offline UPI capabilities, which currently rely on mobile networks or limited NFC person-to-person transfers. If rolled out, it could enhance the resilience of India's digital payments ecosystem.
Set up alerts, explore entity relationships, search across thousands of events, and build custom intelligence feeds.
Open Dashboard