NPCI Lifts User Onboarding Restrictions for WhatsApp Pay's UPI Services
Click to start listening
Mumbai, Dec 31 (NationPress) The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the removal of the unified payments interface (UPI) user onboarding restrictions for WhatsApp Pay effective immediately.
This decision enables WhatsApp Pay to offer UPI services to its entire user base across India, as stated by the NPCI.
Previously, the NPCI had allowed WhatsApp Pay to grow its UPI user base incrementally, imposing a cap of 100 million users.
This latest notification signifies the NPCI's removal of limitations on user onboarding for WhatsApp Pay.
According to the corporation, “WhatsApp Pay will adhere to all current UPI guidelines and circulars that apply to other existing third-party app providers (TPAPs).”
Data from third-party sources reveals the Meta-owned platform boasts over 500 million users in India. This move by the NPCI marks a substantial change in regulatory policy, which had previously restricted the expansion of WhatsApp Payments.
Furthermore, the NPCI has postponed a proposed regulation to limit any single app's UPI transaction share to 30 percent, now set to take effect by December 31, 2026.
The UPI platform processes over 13 billion transactions each month, with Google Pay and PhonePe holding over 85 percent of the market share.
From January to November this year, the UPI recorded 15,547 crore transactions worth Rs 223 lakh crore, highlighting its transformative effect on financial transactions in India.
Since its inception in 2016, UPI has revolutionized financial access in India, enabling 300 million individuals and 50 million merchants to engage in seamless digital transactions, as indicated by research conducted by professors from IIM and ISB.
The NPCI is committed to fostering innovations in retail payment systems through technology, tirelessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It aims to provide secure payment solutions that are accessible nationwide at minimal costs, aligning with India’s vision of becoming a fully digital society.
