Starting October 8th, you’ll be able to approve UPI payments using your face (facial recognition) and fingerprint instead of a PIN. This groundbreaking feature will not only make your payment process superfast and easy but also make it more secure than ever. Now, your identity will be your password, marking a milestone in India’s digital journey. This groundbreaking technology is being implemented soon by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).
How UPI Works
This unique biometric authentication system will be completely based on the Government of India’s Aadhaar identification system. This ensures the highest level of security.
Aadhaar-Based Verification
In this process, when a user uses their face or fingerprint to make a payment, they will be verified directly against the biometric data stored in Aadhaar. This means that only the person whose bank account and UPI ID are linked to their Aadhaar card will be able to approve the payment. This dual security ensures that no one else can misuse your account.
Easy Payment Process
The entire process will be extremely simple. When making a payment, users will need to select biometric authentication instead of entering a PIN. This will activate the phone’s camera or fingerprint scanner. Upon a successful scan, the data will be securely sent to the Aadhaar server for verification, and the payment will be immediately successful. The entire process will be completed in a matter of seconds, making the payment experience very seamless and hassle-free. This feature is a boon for those who have difficulty remembering PINs or who require extreme security.
RBI Permission and Security
The decision to incorporate biometric authentication into UPI was not made suddenly. It is a direct result of recent guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
RBI’s Objective
The RBI allowed alternative authentication methods to promote security and innovation in payment systems. The central bank’s primary goal is to encourage more people to adopt digital payments by making them more user-friendly and secure.
The current PIN-based system is reasonably secure, but it has some vulnerabilities. For example, someone could spy on your PIN or steal it through phishing. Biometric authentication eliminates these risks, as each person’s fingerprint and face are unique. With this groundbreaking initiative, India is poised to set a new benchmark in digital payments.