National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ‘Tap & Pay’, a feature aimed at speeding up in-store UPI transactions.
The launch was announced by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Access deeper industry intelligence
Experience unmatched clarity with a single platform that combines unique data, AI, and human expertise.
NPCI non-executive chairman and independent director Ajay Kumar Choudhary was present at the launch, along with representatives from banks and fintech companies.
UPI Tap & Pay is designed for NFC-enabled smartphones and NFC-enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Users can start a payment by unlocking their phone and tapping it on the POS device.
NPCI said the feature does not require the user’s mobile internet connection, as the transaction can be completed using the POS terminal’s connectivity.
The capability supports payments from multiple UPI-linked account types, including RuPay Credit Card on UPI. It will not require a PIN for payments up to Rs5,000 ($52.3). For transactions above that limit, users will need to enter their UPI PIN on the POS terminal.
Alongside, NPCI also launched MyUPI, which it describes as an AI-powered platform built on its small language model, FiMI. The service adds new capabilities to UPI Help, with a focus on user support across UPI apps and banks.
MyUPI offers a consolidated view of UPI transactions and AutoPay mandates across banks and UPI applications.
It also adds user controls such as Safety Switch, which allows users to request the declining of UPI debit transactions in case of suspected compromise.
Another feature, UPI Number Delink, allows users to delink their mobile number from receiving UPI payments.
Additional features include payee context-based information, automated chargeback processing to create chargebacks in real time for eligible transactions, and transaction replay to repeat past transactions using any UPI app.
NPCI said the platform will provide 24×7 multilingual support and self-service through a user interface designed for customer assistance across the UPI ecosystem.
