The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is working on a new feature for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) called ‘UPI Meta’, which would allow users to save their UPI ID on ecommerce platforms. The move aims to make online UPI payments faster and smoother, much like how card details are saved for future use on websites and apps.
According to an ET report citing senior government officials, UPI Meta is currently in the discussion phase. While it hasn’t been officially rolled out, NPCI has already held talks with industry stakeholders to explore implementation.
How UPI Meta Works
Right now, UPI users go through several steps when paying online. They need to:
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Select UPI as the payment method,
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Choose the app (like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm),
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Manually enter or confirm their UPI ID.
With UPI Meta, users would be able to save their UPI handle (e.g., yourname@bank) directly on merchant sites or apps. This reduces friction, especially for repeat transactions. In effect, UPI payments will work similarly to stored debit or credit cards, offering a seamless checkout experience.
What’s Next?
Before NPCI can roll out this feature, it must get clearance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The regulatory nod is crucial since storing financial identifiers like UPI IDs may raise concerns around data privacy and user consent.
Why It Matters
UPI has become the most popular digital payment method in India, with over 10 billion transactions recorded monthly. Yet, the checkout process for UPI still involves multiple steps, especially compared to saved card payments. If launched, UPI Meta could reduce drop-offs, speed up payments, and boost ecommerce conversions. It would also bring UPI on par with global digital payment standards in terms of convenience.
In conclusion, NPCI’s proposed UPI Meta feature has the potential to transform how Indians pay online. As discussions continue and RBI’s feedback is awaited, this feature could be the next big leap in India’s digital payment evolution
