UPI biometric transactions cross 611 million in June, ₹25,416 crore transacted
Synopsis
India's UPI network recorded over 611 million biometric-authenticated transactions in June alone, worth ₹25,416 crore — a milestone that marks a structural shift from PIN-entry to fingerprint and face-ID payments. With RuPay Credit Card now part of the biometric flow, NPCI is quietly building a PIN-free payments future at scale.
Key Takeaways
NPCI reported over 611 million UPI biometric authentication-based transactions in June , valued at ₹25,416 crore .
The feature uses on-device fingerprint or facial recognition to authorise payments without a UPI PIN.
It covers both Person-to-Person (P2P) and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payment categories.
RuPay Credit Card on UPI is also enabled for biometric, allowing PIN-free credit transactions.
Sohini Rajola , Executive Director – Growth, NPCI, said adoption is expected to grow as more banks and apps roll out the feature.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Wednesday, 8 July revealed that UPI on-device biometric authentication-based payments surpassed 611 million transactions in June, with a cumulative transaction value of ₹25,416 crore. The milestone signals a decisive shift in how Indians are choosing to authorise digital payments — moving away from PIN-entry toward fingerprint and facial recognition.
How Biometric UPI Authentication Works
The feature allows users to approve UPI payments directly through their smartphone's built-in fingerprint sensor or facial recognition system, eliminating the need to enter a UPI PIN for every transaction. It supports both Person-to-Person (P2P) and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payment flows, covering the full range of everyday use cases from splitting bills to paying at retail counters.
Notably, biometric authentication has also been extended to RuPay Credit Card on UPI transactions, enabling PIN-free credit payments through the UPI rails — bringing the same speed and convenience to credit that savings account holders already enjoy.
What NPCI Said
Sohini Rajola, Executive Director – Growth, NPCI, attributed the surge to users gravitating toward payment experiences that are simpler and more efficient. 'Several banks and UPI apps already offer biometric authentication to their customers, and we expect adoption to grow further as more users choose this secure and convenient way to make payments,' Rajola said.
NPCI noted that by reducing dependence on PINs, the feature also improves transaction success rates — a persistent pain point in India's high-volume UPI ecosystem.
Why the Numbers Matter
Crossing 600 million biometric-authenticated transactions in a single month is significant in the context of UPI's broader trajectory. India's real-time payments network has consistently broken its own records, and biometric authentication represents the next layer of friction-reduction after QR codes democratised merchant payments. This is not merely a convenience upgrade — faster authentication directly correlates with higher transaction completion rates and lower drop-offs, which benefits both users and the merchant ecosystem.
The inclusion of RuPay Credit Card in the biometric flow also carries strategic weight: it positions UPI as a credible alternative to tap-and-pay credit card infrastructure, at a fraction of the cost for merchants.
What Comes Next
NPCI has indicated it expects biometric adoption to continue growing as more banks and UPI applications roll out the feature to their customer bases. The corporation reiterated its focus on building payment infrastructure that is robust, efficient, and inclusive — with biometric authentication seen as a key lever for onboarding users who find PIN-based flows cumbersome.
Point of View
Particularly for older and less digitally fluent users; biometric authentication lowers that barrier meaningfully. The extension to RuPay Credit Card is the more consequential move: it challenges the tap-and-pay dominance of Visa and Mastercard-linked credit infrastructure at the point of sale. What NPCI has not yet disclosed is the share of failed or declined biometric attempts — a number that would tell us whether the 611 million figure reflects genuine seamlessness or merely attempted convenience.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPI biometric authentication?
UPI biometric authentication lets users approve payments using their smartphone's fingerprint sensor or facial recognition instead of entering a UPI PIN. It works for both person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions on the UPI network.
How many UPI biometric transactions were recorded in June?
NPCI reported over 611 million UPI biometric authentication-based transactions in June, with a total transaction value of ₹25,416 crore, according to data released on 8 July.
Is biometric authentication available for credit card payments on UPI?
Yes. Biometric authentication has been extended to RuPay Credit Card on UPI, enabling PIN-free credit payments through the UPI interface — offering the same speed and convenience as savings account transactions.
Which banks and apps support UPI biometric authentication?
Several banks and UPI applications already offer the feature to customers, according to NPCI. The corporation expects wider availability as more providers roll out biometric authentication in the coming months.
How does biometric authentication improve UPI payments?
By removing the PIN-entry step, biometric authentication speeds up transaction completion and improves success rates. NPCI says it reduces friction for everyday payments and makes the UPI experience simpler and more intuitive for users.
