• Source:JND
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In a significant push to strengthen India’s digital payment ecosystem, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), along with M. Nagaraju, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, unveiled a series of new UPI (Unified Payments Interface) features designed to make digital payments faster, safer, and more convenient.

1. On-Device Biometric Authentication

One of the most anticipated updates is on-device biometric authentication, which allows users to authorise UPI payments using their smartphone’s built-in security features — such as fingerprint or face recognition — instead of entering a traditional PIN.

- This feature is optional, giving users full control over how they want to authenticate their transactions.

- Each payment will still be independently verified by the issuing bank using strong cryptographic validation to ensure top-tier security.

- The move is expected to simplify the payment experience while maintaining high security standards.

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2. Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication for UPI PIN Setup

NPCI also introduced Aadhaar-based Face Authentication for setting up or resetting UPI PINs.

- Previously, users had to rely on debit card details or Aadhaar OTP verification.

- With this new option, users can simply verify their identity through Aadhaar’s facial recognition technology.

- The update will make onboarding and PIN management faster and more inclusive, especially benefiting first-time users, senior citizens, and individuals without debit cards.

- NPCI also indicated that this method could be extended to transaction authentication in the near future.

3. UPI Multi-Signatory Accounts

The Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor, T. Rabi Sankar, announced the introduction of UPI Multi-Signatory Accounts.

- This feature enables joint account holders to approve transactions that require multiple authorisations.

- It’s particularly useful for families, small businesses, and organisations that manage shared financial accounts, enhancing accountability and flexibility.

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4. UPI Lite for Wearable Devices

UPI Lite is now inviting for wearables that extends the UPI payments to smart glasses and some other wearables.

- This will help users to make small value payments without having to do any hassle of PIN, just by scanning the QR code authenticating the payments via voice commands where no phone is required.

- It blends the convenience and accessibility making the payment process frictionless and more futuristic highlighting India’s focus on future of payments

These upgrades significantly improves the convenience of using UPI, making it the world’s most advanced real-time payment system. It also aligns with the India’s vision of going cashless, including the digital economy.