Wire · technology
Your next UPI payment may not need the internet at all
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Fusion42 · 21 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
India's NPCI is developing an NFC-based offline UPI payment feature that eliminates the need for internet or mobile network connectivity, with transactions capped at Rs 2,000 and requiring pre-loaded balances in a UPI Lite digital wallet. The feature represents a step beyond existing USSD and voice-based offline payment methods (*99# and UPI 123Pay), moving payment infrastructure away from network dependency entirely.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech, and 16 sources have reported it between 21 Jul 2026 and 23 Jul 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you build payment hardware or POS terminals in India, NPCI is about to require NFC certification as table stakes - and every existing offline terminal becomes obsolete. You either certify now or lose merchant distribution when this ships.
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16 sources · first reported 21 Jul 2026 · latest 23 Jul 2026
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