The collaboration, established under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), represents a key step in advancing cross-border payment connectivity between the two nations. It will enable residents to experience faster, more efficient, and cost-effective remittances, reflecting the shared vision to enhance digital financial inclusion and modernize cross-border transaction frameworks.

By linking UPI and Fawri+ service, the initiative aims to establish a strategic remittance corridor between India and Bahrain, enhancing convenience for the large Indian community in Bahrain, which constitutes nearly 30% of the country’s population. This collaboration will strengthen financial connectivity, enable transparent and secure real-time transfers, and deepen economic integration between the two nations.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International, said, “We are delighted to partner with BENEFIT to enable secure, real-time remittances between India and Bahrain. We believe this collaboration will deepen financial connectivity, pave the way for further cross-border payment innovations, and contribute to promoting financial inclusion and shared economic growth that benefits individuals and businesses alike. The initiative will also serve the large Indian diaspora in Bahrain, making money transfers faster, safer, and more convenient.”

On this occasion, Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of BENEFIT, stated, “The signing of the linkage agreement with India’s NPCI International represents an important strategic milestone in strengthening Bahrain’s presence in the global digital financial landscape. The partnership underscores our commitment to delivering advanced digital payment services that contribute to supporting the national economy and expanding economic relations between Bahrain and India. The new service will enable citizens and residents in both countries to send and receive money instantly and securely, reflecting our continuous efforts to meet the growing demand for fast, reliable, and cross-border financial solutions.”

Once live, this partnership will pave the way for seamless and inclusive cross-border remittances between India and Bahrain, supporting the shared vision of both nations to enhance digital connectivity and build an efficient, real-time payment ecosystem.

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Growing Adoption of UPI and the Need for Digital Safety

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a key driver of digital transactions in India, accounting for 83% of total payment volume in CY-2024. In January 2025, UPI processed 16.99 billion transactions, reflecting a 39% year-on-year growth in volume and a 28% year-on-year growth increase in transaction value. Over the past five years, UPI adoption has soared at a CAGR of 74%, making it the largest retail payment system in transaction volume. Since its inception, UPI has onboarded over 460 million unique users, facilitating digital transactions across various segments.

NPCI’s Multi-Layered Security Framework

UPI stands out not only for its convenience but also for its robust security framework, which ensures the integrity of every transaction. NPCI employs advanced protocols and stringent safeguards such as device binding. The feature links a user’s account to a specific mobile device, ensuring that a third party cannot access it without the registered mobile device. Furthermore, UPI incorporates a two-factor authentication that requires users to verify their identity using their mobile number and the user’s UPI PIN before authorizing any transaction.

Consumer Advisory: How to Stay Safe?

While UPI is equipped with robust security features, fraudsters continue to exploit social engineering tactics. Consumers must remain cautious of scams.

NPCI advises all UPI users to follow the ‘Stop, Think, Act’ principle:

• STOP before responding to unexpected calls, messages, or emails requesting personal or banking details
• THINK and verify requests by checking official sources such as company websites or customer service helplines
• ACT wisely by avoiding suspicious requests and immediately reporting fraud attempts to the relevant authorities

How to Report a Fraud?

Users who suspect fraud should report incidents immediately. Suspicious cases can be reported to the national cybercrime helpline (1930) or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in). The user should also report the case to their bank. Additionally, users should save messages, take screenshots, and document interactions to help authorities take action.

By staying informed and alert, users can enjoy the convenience of digital payments while keeping their money safe. UPI is committed to ensuring a secure and seamless digital payment experience for everyone across India.

Do’s & Don’ts for UPI users

Do’s

• Ensure your mobile number is registered in the bank’s records
• Always check the UPI app prompt notifications during transactions
• Enter UPI PIN only for payments
• Report fraud or suspicious transactions only with your bank or the police
• Obtain bank contact details only from its official website – avoid search engines

Don’ts

• Never forward an SMS or OTP if asked by an unknown person
• Keep your debit card details and UPI PIN confidential
• Never download any unknown app, especially remote access apps, unless fully verified
• Do not share your transaction details on social media

The post How NPCI’s ‘Stop, Think, Act’ Campaign Protects Consumers appeared first on NRI News.

MUMBAI: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the backbone of India’s digital payments ecosystem, today announced the launch of its new brand positioning, ‘Always Forward,’ reinforcing its commitment to continuous innovation and inclusivity within India’s financial and payments landscape. NPCI’s new positioning highlights its belief that digital financial transactions are key drivers of individual and national progress, empowering millions to move forward, one transaction at a time.

For over a decade, NPCI has led India’s digital payment revolution with innovations like UPI, IMPS, RuPay, BHIM, AePS, and NETC FASTag among others. These platforms have made secure digital transactions accessible nationwide, driving India toward a digital-first economy. NPCI’s robust payment infrastructure enables seamless, low-cost transactions across the country, empowering every Indian to access digital financial services with ease and confidence.

At the heart of the ‘Always Forward’ positioning is India’s evolution into a ‘striver’s economy,’ where millions of individuals are motivated to seek continuous progress, investing time and resources to achieve their goals. NPCI aims to empower these strivers, sharing their optimism for a brighter future. By offering cutting-edge payment solutions, NPCI is transforming this optimism into real progress, helping individuals move forward with confidence and ambition.

Ramesh Yadav, Chief of Marketing, NPCI, said, “Always Forward’ will resonate with the inner striver in everyone, who aspires for a brighter future and leverages technology to advance it. This positioning reflects our dedication to making financial transactions not only easy and secure but also a catalyst for personal and national progress. NPCI’s ‘Always Forward’ is a celebration of progress, innovation, and the transformative power of digital payments to shape India’s future.”

As part of this initiative, NPCI is launching its brand campaign under the same name. The campaign will feature dynamic creatives across print, digital, ambient media, and cinema, all designed to inspire and engage a diverse audience nationwide. The campaign highlights how NPCI’s solutions empower individuals to move forward in life with ease and confidence.

In addition to showcasing real-life use cases, the ‘Always Forward’ campaign aims to inspire India’s next generation of strivers—young students, tech enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs—to embrace digital payments and actively participate in the evolving digital economy. The campaign seeks to build trust, emphasize NPCI’s impact, and foster greater inclusivity in India’s payments landscape. ‘Always Forward’ is not just a campaign but a movement reflecting NPCI’s enduring commitment to driving innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that every Indian, from every corner of the country, has the tools to participate fully in a digital future.

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MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shri T. Rabi Sankar today announced the launch of product offerings aimed at transforming the ATM infrastructure in the country. Unveiled in association with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024, the initiatives include UPI Interoperable Cash Deposit (UPI-ICD) and banks showcasing Digital Banking Units (DBUs).

The introduction of UPI ICD allows customers to deposit cash at ATMs operated by banks and white-label ATM operators (WLAOs) using UPI to their bank account or any other bank account without the need for a physical card. These ATMs are cash recycler machines that are used for both cash deposits and withdrawals. Leveraging their mobile numbers linked to UPI, virtual payment addresses (VPA), and account IFSCs, customers can now make cash deposits, making the process more seamless, inclusive, and accessible. Consumers will be able to access these features as the banks gradually roll them out.

ATMs with open architecture can host bank apps positioning them as DBUs offering cash deposits, withdrawals, and other banking services such as opening bank accounts, applying for credit cards, initiating fixed deposits, applying for safe deposit lockers, etc.

Additionally, today at the GFF 2024, Shri Vivek Deep, Executive Director, RBI announced the rebranding of the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to Bharat Connect. This is an important step to refresh and strengthen the BBPS brand. Bharat Connect embodies NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited’s (NBBL’s) values and vision for stakeholders and customers, going beyond a bill payment system to create an ecosystem that connects individuals and businesses, through an integrated platform.

The launches took place in the presence of Shri Ajay Kumar Choudhary, Non-Executive Chairman and Independent Director, NPCI.

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MUMBAI: NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has onboarded Disney+ Hotstar as a biller on its Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) platform under the ‘Subscription’ category. This association will provide the OTT’s existing users, as well as new users, with a seamless subscription purchasing experience.

Bharat BillPay’s one-stop solution for subscription management will enable audiences to enjoy content from Disney+ Hotstar’s extensive catalogue comprising Indian, international and sports content, therefore fostering hassle-free engagement and loyalty. Users can simply choose from a variety of annual subscription plans, including the ‘Mobile plan’, the ‘Super plan’, and the ‘Premium plan’, all available for purchase through any BBPS-enabled banking and fintech apps.

Speaking on the development, Noopur Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer, NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd., said, “We are excited to announce the addition of Disney+ Hotstar as a new biller on the BBPS platform. This move not only streamlines the subscription process for viewers but also enhances the value proposition of banking and fintech apps. With the continued expansion of the Bharat BillPay ecosystem, we’re taking a significant stride in empowering consumers nationwide with a comprehensive solution for all their bill payment needs.”

Piyush Kothari, Head – of Growth, Partnerships, and International Expansion, at Disney+ Hotstar, said: “At Disney+ Hotstar, we are committed to making premium content easily accessible to our users across India. Our collaboration with Bharat BillPay reinforces this commitment by providing users with a convenient avenue to subscribe to Disney+ Hotstar through their preferred payment apps.”

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The MoU has three key objectives. First, it seeks to broaden the use of UPI payments for travelers outside of India, enabling them to conveniently make transactions abroad. Second, the MoU intends to assist in establishing UPI-like digital payment systems in other countries, providing a model for seamless financial transactions. Lastly, it focuses on easing the process of remittances between countries by utilizing the UPI infrastructure, thereby simplifying cross-border financial exchanges.

The outlined objectives will help accelerate UPI’s global acceptance, providing foreign merchants access to Indian customers who will no longer have to rely only on foreign currency and/or, credit or forex cards for making digital payments and will have the option of using UPI-powered Apps from India including Google Pay. This is in alignment with NPCI’s endeavor of bolstering India’s position in the global digital payment landscape. Moreover, the MoU will also significantly contribute to simplifying remittances by reducing dependence on conventional money transfer channels.

Deeksha Kaushal, Director, of Partnerships, Google Pay India said, “We are delighted to support NIPL towards expanding the reach of UPI to international markets. Google Pay has been a proud and willing collaborator to NPCI and the financial ecosystem, under the regulator’s guidance, and this collaboration is another step toward our commitment to making payments simple, safe, and convenient. UPI has demonstrated to the world the step change that happens in economies with the introduction of interoperable, population-scale digital infrastructure and each economy that joins such networks will create an impact beyond the sum of parts. We are very excited about the scope of this collaboration.”

Ritesh Shukla, CEO – NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), said, “We are pleased to team up with Google Pay to propel UPI onto the global stage. This strategic partnership will not only simplify foreign transactions for Indian travelers but will also allow us to extend our knowledge and expertise in operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to other countries. We are also excited about enabling a seamless and more connected international remittance network by further expanding UPI’s cross-border interoperability feature. With the success of UPI in a dynamic market like India we are excited to further our vision to transform the digital payments landscape globally.

The global expansion of UPI represents a transformative step in international commerce, enabling a seamless, secure, and cost-effective payment experience for both merchants and customers worldwide.

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