NEW DELHI: Travellers coming to India can now use United Payments Interface (UPI) for making payments in the country from today, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in an official release on Tuesday.
At present, the facility has been allowed for passengers coming to India from G20 nations. However, it will only be available at select airports - New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Announcing the monetary policy outcome earlier this month, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das had proposed to permit all inbound travellers to India to use UPI for their merchant payments (P2M) while they are in the country.
This facility has been made available from today, RBI said in its release.
The RBI has also proposed to extend the UPI facility to travellers from all countries at a later date.
Eligible travellers would be issued Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) wallets linked to UPI for making payments at merchant outlets, RBI said. Delegates from G20 countries can also avail this facility at various meeting venues.
To begin with, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank and two non-bank PPI issuers, Pine Labs Private Limited and Transcorp International Limited will issue UPI linked wallets.
Travellers visiting India can now experience the convenience of UPI payments at over five crore merchant outlets across India, that accept QR Code-based UPI payments.
India has assumed the presidency of G20 for one year from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union (EU).
(With inputs from agencies)
