The National Payments Corporation of India launched UPI Tap & Pay and the AI-powered My UPI platform on 10 September 2026 at the Global Fintech Fest 2026. The launch was made by Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
UPI Tap & Pay
UPI Tap & Pay is a contactless payment feature for smartphones with Near Field Communication support. A user unlocks the phone and taps it on a Point-of-Sale terminal to complete a UPI payment without opening a UPI application.
The feature does not require active mobile data on the smartphone because the transaction uses the internet connection of the Point-of-Sale terminal. NPCI has set a PIN-less limit of ₹5,000 for such transactions, and payments above this limit require the UPI PIN.
My UPI Platform
My UPI is an AI-powered conversational platform developed on NPCI’s custom small language model called Finance Model for India or FiMI. The platform provides a unified dashboard for UPI transaction histories and AutoPay mandates across banks and third-party UPI applications.
The platform includes a safety switch for blocking suspected fraudulent debit transactions. It also provides an option to delink a mobile number from receiving payments.
Biometric UPI Transactions
NPCI stated that biometric-authenticated UPI transactions, first introduced in 2025, had crossed 6.29 billion transactions by 31 August 2026. Biometric authentication in digital payments commonly uses fingerprint or facial recognition linked to a registered device.
Important Facts for Exams
- NPCI was set up in 2008 as the umbrella organisation for retail payments in India.
- UPI is a real-time payment system developed by NPCI and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
- Near Field Communication is a short-range wireless technology used in contactless payments and digital wallets.
- AutoPay is a recurring payment facility used for subscriptions, utility bills, and insurance premiums.
Global Fintech Fest is an annual fintech event held in India. The UPI Tap & Pay feature uses NFC-enabled smartphones and Point-of-Sale terminals for contactless transactions.
