NPCI launches UPI Tap & Pay and AI-based MyUPI at Global Fintech Fest 2026

NPCI has introduced two new services designed to change how users make and manage UPI payments. UPI Tap & Pay uses NFC to let customers pay through compatible POS terminals, with transactions relying on the terminal's internet connection. MyUPI expands UPI Help with AI-based features covering payment records, AutoPay mandates, beneficiary information, transaction disputes and payment controls. The service will also support transaction repetition and multilingual assistance. Both services were announced by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra at GFF 2026.

Mumbai: Making digital payments through UPI is simple, but slow internet can make opening Google Pay and PhonePe difficult. The UPI Tap & Pay feature aims to remove this hurdle.The Reserve Bank of India Governor and the National Payments Corporation of India unveiled UPI Tap & Pay and MyUPI at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. The services are intended to make the Unified Payments Interface simpler and accessible.How Will UPI Tap & Pay Work?The feature will allow users to make payments without scanning a QR code or opening a UPI application. It works like a contactless credit card tapped on a payment terminal.Customers need to unlock an NFC-enabled smartphone and hold it close to a merchant’s point-of-sale machine or smart tag. The transaction will use the merchant terminal’s internet connection.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Shri Sanjay Malhotra, today unveiled new UPI capabilities at GFF 2026, bringing greater speed, convenience and intelligence to digital payments. UPI ‘Tap & Pay’ - Enables faster UPI payments by simply unlocking an NFC-enabled… pic.twitter.com/JVlRU28AIu— NPCI (@NPCI_NPCI) September 10, 2026 Users will not need to open Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm. The facility could be useful in locations with weak or unavailable networks, including basements, hills and metro stations.Payments Up To Rs 5,000 Without A PINNPCI has allowed transactions of up to Rs 5,000 without entering a UPI PIN for small payments. Users will need to enter their PIN when making payments above this limit. UPI Transactions Hit Record 24.51 Billion In August As Digital Payments Continue Rapid GrowthThis should make UPI payments faster and more convenient, particularly for people who frequently experience slow internet connectivity on their smartphones.What Is MyUPI?MyUPI is an artificial intelligence-powered customer-support and control platform. It is based on NPCI’s small language model, FiMI, and brings information about UPI transactions and autopay mandates across different banks and payment applications into one place.Irrespective of how many bank accounts or UPI apps a person uses, MyUPI will provide a consolidated view of transactions and recurring payment mandates.It also includes a “Safety Switch”. If users suspect that an account has been hacked or fraudulent activity has occurred, they can activate the switch with one click and immediately block all UPI debits from their accounts.