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A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.
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November 26, 2025
On the web
BHIM Launches UPI Circle Full Delegation, Allowing Senior Citizens, Young Adults to Make Payments Independently Within Set Limits
The Economic Times
"The NPCI BHIM Services Limited on Tuesday announced the introduction of UPI Circle Full Delegation on the BHIM Payments App, allowing primary users to authorise their trusted contacts to make UPI payments on their behalf of up to Rs 15,000. The move is expected to be a game-changer for senior citizens who have their own bank accounts but often hesitate from making digital payments and young adults who can manage their daily or educational expenses with safe, parent-controlled access."
November 13, 2025
On the web
ChatGPT Joins PhonePe: AI To Transform UPI Payments Across India
Patna Press
"In a major leap for India’s fintech sector, PhonePe has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI, aiming to integrate ChatGPT-powered AI features into its digital payments app. The move marks the beginning of a new era where artificial intelligence meets everyday transactions, making UPI interactions smarter, faster, and more conversational. Through this collaboration, users will be able to access AI-driven suggestions and assistance directly within the app."
November 10, 2025
On the web
Paytm Unveils All-New App With AI Features to Enhance Payment Experience
Business Standard
"Paytm, India's full-stack merchant payments leader, has launched a redesigned version of its flagship app, integrating artificial intelligence-driven features to personalise everyday transactions for its users. The update introduces a cleaner user interface alongside over 15 new features. One of the standout innovations is the launch of "Gold Coins," a first-of-its-kind initiative that rewards users with digital gold on every payment, adding a valuable savings dimension to regular transactions."
November 7, 2025
On the web
RuPay Emerges as India’s Preferred Credit Card Network - All Thanks to UPI Integration
MSN
"Analysts said, RuPay has recently gained momentum in the credit-card ecosystem due to the availability of credit cards on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform. They said that currently, RuPay's share in the credit-card market is around 16 per cent as against about 3 percent two years ago, they added. In late 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had given the approval to link RuPay credit-cards only to UPI."
November 5, 2025
On the web
OpenAI's ChatGPT Go Now Free in India: Users Fume as UPI Payments Fail During Free Plan Rollout
The Economic Times
"OpenAI is offering ChatGPT Go free for 12 months to users in India starting November 4, 2025. The company announced that anyone who signs up during this limited-time promotional period will receive free access to the otherwise paid plan. But OpenAI's AI chatbot ChatGPT is once again facing glitches with UPI payments, second in recent months. Many users of AI chatbot complained they have experienced payment issues with the UPI option."
November 3, 2025
On the web
PhonePe Rolls Out ‘PhonePe Protect’ to Safeguard Users From Fraudulent Transactions
ITVoice
"PhonePe has rolled-out ‘PhonePe Protect’– a security framework designed to safeguard users from fraudulent transactions. The feature also offers insights into the risks involved when transactions are declined for security reasons. ‘PhonePe Protect’ incorporates a mechanism to identify and block transactions directed toward mobile numbers that are flagged as suspicious by The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through their ‘Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI)’ feature."
October 14, 2025
On the web
OpenAI Partners With India’s Payment Authority to Bring UPI to ChatGPT
The American Bazaar
"India’s payment authority National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and fintech firm Razorpay have collaborated with OpenAI to launch AI-driven payments on ChatGPT. This initiative, which is in its pilot state, will enable people to make payments on ChatGPT via India’s homegrown payments network Unified Payments Interface (UPI)."
On the wires
EnKash Unveils India's First Unified Corporate Card Ecosystem for Businesses
PR Newswire
"EnKash, India's leading full-stack business payments and spend management platform, announced the launch of its Corporate Card Ecosystem. With this launch, EnKash introduces a unified ecosystem that integrates seamlessly with the company's broader product suite, including its award-winning Expense Management System, Corporate Cards, and UPI-based wallets for petty cash management solutions. Together, these create a completely new way for businesses to manage, track, and reconcile spends."
October 13, 2025
On the web
PhonePe PG, RuPay, and JioHotstar Collaborate to Simplify Subscription Payments with UPI AutoPay
Your Story
"At the Global Fintech Fest 2025, PhonePe Payment Gateway (PhonePe PG) unveiled its Subscription IQ, powered by UPI AutoPay on RuPay Credit Cards, in collaboration with JioHotstar. This initiative allows customers to set up UPI AutoPay mandates via RuPay Credit Cards, providing a seamless and reliable way to manage recurring subscription payments."
October 9, 2025
On the wires
India Rolls Out Pilot for E-commerce Payments via ChatGPT
Reuters
"India's payments authority National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and fintech firm Razorpay have collaborated with Microsoft-backed OpenAI to launch AI-driven payments on ChatGPT. The initiative, currently in the pilot stage, will allow users to make purchases on ChatGPT, facilitated by India's homegrown payments network Unified Payments Interface (UPI)."
October 8, 2025
On the web
NPCI Piloting Agentic AI-Based Payments With UPI
Inc42 Media
"The National Payments Corporation of India is piloting an agentic AI framework for UPI, marking the next phase of what it calls “intelligent commerce”. The payments body showcased a live demo of the offering at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 today. The on-stage presentation featured Gemini, BigBasket, Google Pay, and Razorpay as partners. It opened with a simple use case – an AI assistant helping a user recreate a food recipe."
PhonePe, Mastercard Partner to Launch Device Tokenization
Tech In Asia
"PhonePe has partnered with Mastercard to launch device tokenization for its payments gateway, aiming to boost security for online transactions. PhonePe, an India-based digital payments platform, said the new feature allows customers to save their card details once on the PhonePe app and use them across multiple merchants without reentering information. The device tokenization initiative leverages Mastercard’s network tokenization technology and aligns with recent Reserve Bank of India regulations allowing alternative authentication methods."
On the wires
India to Roll Out Biometric Authentication for Instant Digital Payments
Reuters
"India will allow users to approve payments made through popular domestic payments network, the Unified Payments Interface, using facial recognition and fingerprints starting October 8. Authentications will be done using biometric data stored under the Government of India's unique identification system - Aadhar."
October 7, 2025
On the web
PhonePe Launches Next-Gen SmartSpeaker With Integrated Card Payments
PhonePe has launched its new SmartPOD, a device merging POS and smart speaker
functions, enabling small merchants to accept both UPI and card payments. Designed
in India, it supports major card networks and offers features like dual displays and
celebrity voice confirmations. This move aims to boost digital payment adoption for
businesses of all sizes across India.
NTT DATA: Signs MoU with NPCI International Payments Limited for UPI Payment Acceptance Across Merchants in Japan
MarketScreener
"NTT DATA announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NPCI International Payments Limited, a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The MoU establishes the foundation to enable acceptance of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India's leading real-time payment system for Indian tourists in Japan."
UPI Fraud Clampdown: NPCI to End P2P Collect Requests From October 1; Banks, Apps Told to Block Pull Transactions Permanently
The Times of India
"National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has directed banks and payment apps to stop all peer to peer (P2P) ‘collect requests’ on UPI from October 1, 2025, in an effort to curb financial fraud. The move means that all banks and UPI apps — including PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm — will no longer be able to initiate, route, or process P2P collect transactions after the deadline."
On the wires
PayPal CEO: India’s UPI Is Its Platform’s First Onboard Payments System Partner
Reuters
"The operator of India's popular unified payments interface (UPI) is the first payments system partner onboarded on PayPal's platform PayPal World, CEO Alex Chriss said on Tuesday."
October 1, 2025
On the web
AI-Trained Payments Fraud Detection System Under Works, RBI Says
NDTV Profit
"The Reserve Bank of India is developing an artificial intelligence-trained fraud detection system to alert bank account holders about potential risky transactions to curb fraud. "It is in an experimental stage. We are making the software," Governor Sanjay Malhotra said in a press conference after the Monetary Policy Committee on Wednesday. The RBI's under-development 'Digital Payments Intelligence System' will be run by an entity, which will collect data from various sources to trace mule accounts and flag risks to both customers and banks, Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar explained."
September 26, 2025
Top Post
India Cracks Down on ‘Alarming’ Digital Payments Fraud With Strict New Rules
Yahoo Finance
"The Reserve Bank of India has issued new rules to tighten authentication standards for digital payments to curb rising fraud in the sector. The guidelines mandate stronger security protocols across all domestic digital transactions. All payment system providers, including banks and non-bank entities, are required to comply with the rules by April 1, 2026. The measures require at least one dynamic factor of authentication for all digital transactions, excluding card-present payments."
On the web
Thousands of Indian Bank Transfer Records Found Online
TechCrunch
"A data spill from an unsecured cloud server has exposed hundreds of thousands of sensitive bank transfer documents in India, revealing account numbers, transaction figures, and individuals’ contact details. The exposed files contained completed transaction forms intended for processing via the National Automated Clearing House, or NACH, a centralized system used by banks in India to facilitate high-volume recurring transactions, such as salaries, loan repayments, and utility payments."
September 25, 2025
On the web
RBI Allows Risk-Based Checks in New Digital Payment Guidelines [India]
The Economic Times
"As digital payments become an integral part of everyday life in India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a significant step to enhance the security of these transactions. Currently, most digital payments in India rely on SMS-based One Time Passwords (OTP) as a second factor of authentication. However, recognizing the rapid advancements in technology and the evolving landscape of cyber threats, the RBI has mandated that all digital payments must now be secured by at least two distinct factors of authentication. Importantly, at least one factor must be dynamic--unique to each transaction--to prevent fraud and unauthorized access."
September 23, 2025
On the web
NPCI Eyes EMI Payments on UPI in Fresh Credit Play Push
The Economic Times
"NPCI is focusing on expanding credit offerings on UPI, aiming to allow users to convert QR code payments into EMIs (monthly installment). This move follows the success of RuPay credit cards and credit lines on UPI, with fintech firms expected to soon enable EMI options during UPI transactions."
September 18, 2025
On the web
Paytm Launches ‘Spend Now, Pay Next Month’ Postpaid on UPI
India
"Paytm Postpaid transforms day-to-day payments with rapid short-term credit directly within the UPI network. In contrast to other Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products that operate through a separate app or an additional checkout stage, this service uses India’s most-used payment app, UPI."
September 17, 2025
On the web
PhonePe, Paytm, Cred Shut Down Rent Payment Feature After RBI Curbs
MSN
"The Reserve Bank of India’s move to tighten regulations for payment aggregators has prompted some of India’s largest fintech firms, including PhonePe, Paytm and Cred, to stop rent payments on their platforms, according to a Moneycontrol report. The central bank’s new rules prohibit payment aggregators from acting as marketplaces—which previously allowed them to process rent payments."
September 16, 2025
On the web
RBI Fines PhonePe for Regulatory Lapses, Sends a Clear Warning to Fintechs
The420
"The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a fine of ₹21 lakh on digital payments company PhonePe for violating norms related to prepaid payment instruments (PPIs). The penalty underscores the central bank’s tightening grip on India’s fast-expanding fintech sector. Regulators found that the company failed to adequately inform customers about account balances and did not fully comply with mandated disclosure requirements."
September 15, 2025
On the web
UPI Joins Hands With Global Postal Network to Reshape Cross-Border Payments
IBS Intelligence
"The announcement of UPI–UPU integration at the Universal Postal Congress in Dubai has been hailed as a landmark moment in the global payments industry, with FinTech leaders highlighting its potential to reshape cross-border remittances and set new benchmarks for financial inclusion. By merging the universal reach of postal networks with the speed, affordability, and interoperability of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the UPI–UPU integration promises a fundamental shift, making cross-border transactions faster, safer, and significantly more cost-effective."
September 10, 2025
Top Post
India Delays Crypto Regulation Amid Concerns of Systemic Risks
CoinCentral
"RBI warns that regulating cryptocurrencies could legitimize the sector and increase systemic financial risks. India has not fully regulated crypto, fearing that it may disrupt its financial system by legitimizing digital assets. Despite its hesitation, India has imposed taxes on crypto gains and set rules for global exchanges operating locally. RBI notes that stablecoins’ widespread use could weaken India’s digital payment systems, including UPI."
September 9, 2025
On the web
PhonePe, GPay Hit Record UPI Volumes in Aug, but Smaller Apps Eat Into Market Share
CNBCTV 18
"Digital payment leaders PhonePe and Google Pay registered their highest-ever transaction volumes in August 2025, even as their combined market share slipped, highlighting the growing traction of smaller UPI apps and the deepening adoption of merchant payments across categories. PhonePe commanded a market share of about 45.7%, Google Pay another 35.3% and Paytm about 7%. Challengers like Navi, CRED and super.money are steadily expanding their presence."
Amazon Pay India CEO Bats for Balanced MDR to Support Stakeholders
Business Standard
"A non-arbitrary merchant discount rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions should be determined after discussions between the regulator and industry, Amazon Pay India chief executive officer (CEO) Vikas Bansal told Business Standard on Tuesday...The remarks come at a time when the payments industry is closely watching regulatory discussions around MDR on UPI transactions, which have significant implications for the growth and sustainability of digital payments in India."
September 5, 2025
On the web
UPI Payments: Higher Transaction Limits For Select Merchants Starting Sept 15
MSN
"The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has raised the UPI transaction limit to Rs 5 lakh for select categories linked to tax payments, starting September 15, 2025. This update will allow verified merchants in these categories to handle bigger payments seamlessly, reflecting the growing reliance on UPI as India’s go-to digital payment mode."
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