UPI: Good news for UPI users. There is a new Feature launched. In our modern digital world, our reliance on smartphones has grown so much that when the internet goes down, many activities come to a halt. Payments are one of those activities. To address this, NPCI is developing a new technology that enables you to make payments at a shopkeeper’s PoS (Point of Sale) or swipe machine, even without an internet connection.
Leveraging NFC technology, this feature simplifies payments in situations like airplanes, underground metro stations, or remote areas where internet access is unavailable. No internet is needed for this feature; you just need to load some funds into your UPI Lite wallet.
How does the new UPI feature function?
To utilize this UPI feature offline, users must first load money into their UPI Lite wallet while connected to the internet. After that, when you approach an offline swipe machine, simply tap your NFC-enabled phone against it. There’s no need to enter a UPI PIN or connect to the internet. The swipe machine will save the payment authorization from your wallet, and once the phone or machine reconnects to the internet, it will send the payment details to the bank to finalize the transaction.
Reports suggest (REF.) that NPCI may begin certifying machines from major PoS terminal manufacturers for offline UPI as early as 2026. Under this new system, the maximum payment limit is set at Rs 2,000 for security reasons, while currently, offline payments cannot exceed Rs 500.
At present, banks and third-party UPI applications like Paytm and Google Pay are actively working to integrate this feature into their mobile apps.
Who will benefit from this?
This feature will be incredibly beneficial for individuals living or working in areas with limited network coverage. It allows for shopping even while traveling on an airplane or in places like underground metro stations.
According to reports, some credit/debit card companies have imposed some restrictions on the use of cards during flights, in such a situation this small offline UPI payment can become a great option. In June 2026, UPI recorded over 22.72 billion transactions, and the introduction of this new feature will make UPI even easier to use.Unlike regular UPI, to use this new feature, users will need to have a balance in their UPI Lite wallet, which will require internet access.
Additionally, to use this feature, your phone must have NFC. Without this, simply touching your phone to the swipe machine won’t make a payment. While using the normal UPI feature, one has to scan the QR code or enter the UPI ID and then enter the UPI PIN or biometric authentication, but with the new Tap to Pay feature, all this will not be required. The user will just set the payment amount on his phone and tap on the machine and the payment will be completed.