Stories
UPI's Next Decade: From Invisible Payments to Intelligent Finance and Global Reach
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CNBC TV18•22-09-2026, 16:30
UPI's Next Decade: From Invisible Payments to Intelligent Finance and Global Reach
- •UPI's first decade solved making digital payments easy; the next focuses on intelligent, invisible finance beyond simple transactions.
- •Global Fintech Fest 2026 highlighted agentic AI, tokenization, and quantum technologies as central to future financial innovation.
- •The next phase of UPI aims to integrate payments with credit, savings, commerce, and cross-border transactions, potentially initiated by AI agents.
- •NPCI is developing a Unified Agent Protocol to verify and monitor AI agents for UPI transactions, starting with small, routine payments.
- •The future of UPI includes expanding financial inclusion within India and making Indian payment experiences portable globally through interoperable systems.
Key Questions Answered
In August 2026, UPI processed 24.51 billion transactions worth ₹29.82 trillion according to NPCI data.
The NPCI is developing a Unified Agent Protocol and a registry designed to verify and monitor AI agents as they conduct UPI transactions.
Wizz Financial is introducing a model allowing international travellers to digitally onboard, load a wallet, and use UPI for payments during their visit to India.
