Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in India reached a record high in March, with 22.64 billion transactions, marking a significant increase from the previous year and highlighting the growing adoption of digital payments.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions reached a record high in March, driven by festivities and the financial year closure, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Two-factor authentication for all digital transactions, including UPI, is now mandatory in India, as per RBI guidelines, to enhance security and curb fraud.
Airpay Payment Services has partnered with Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) to enable UPI-based digital payments across the lender's network in Maharashtra, aiming to accelerate financial inclusion in rural areas.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is developing digital public infrastructure and payments intelligence platforms using artificial intelligence and application programming interfaces to improve customer experience and strengthen the payments ecosystem.
Customers will qualify for compensation even if they mistakenly share the OTP.
A new report indicates that UPI has become the dominant payment method for lenders, accounting for over 90% of transactions. The report also highlights trends in investment amounts, diversification strategies, and geographic participation in peer-to-peer lending.
Major fund houses report a sharp rise in online transactions, driven by changing investor habits, distributor behaviour, and fast-growing fintech platforms.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced its 'Payments Vision 2028' document, outlining initiatives to enhance digital payment security, introduce electronic cheques, and expand regulatory oversight to include e-commerce entities.
Cyber intelligence firm CloudSEK reports that online fraudsters are using a new toolkit called 'Digital Lutera' to bypass security features of UPI apps and carry out fraudulent financial transactions.
Delhi Police have arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in facilitating a 'digital arrest' fraud racket, which resulted in a Paschim Vihar resident being defrauded of Rs 14.2 lakh.
Delhi LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu addressed the Global Confluence 2026, emphasising the importance of maintaining a human element at the heart of digital nation-building. He highlighted India's digital transformation and the role of technology in improving lives, while urging a focus on inclusive development and national security.
Delhi Police have arrested six individuals linked to interstate cybercrime syndicates involved in digital arrest, fake IPO, and trading scams, recovering millions of rupees.
Rajasthan Police have arrested a man allegedly involved in a large-scale fraud that collected crores in funds from people under the pretext of luxury car sales, cryptocurrency, and social media-based investment schemes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed hope that digital transactions will soon surpass cash as Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is increasingly becoming the most preferred payment mechanism in the country. Modi after the launch of the cross-border connectivity between the UPI and PayNow of Singapore said about 74 billion transactions amounting to more than Rs 126 trillion, which is approximately 2 trillion Singapore dolla, was done through UPI in 2022. "Many experts are estimating that very soon India's digital wallet transactions are going to overtake cash transactions," he said.
A 64-year-old man from Thane was allegedly defrauded of 1.56 crore by cybercriminals using a 'digital arrest' scam, involving forged documents and constant surveillance.
From April 1, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India's new authentication directions modernise how every digital payment you make must be verified -- and place the burden of security squarely on your bank, not on you.
The country's largest lender State Bank of India has seen a perceptible increase in the number transactions happening at its multiple digital channels, with the percentage moving from 60 per cent in the pre-pandemic period to 67 per cent currently, chairman Dinesh Khara said. The rise in the number of digital transactions at the bank was largely driven by pick up in e-commerce during the pandemic-induced lockdown, which restricted movement, he said.
The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns about the rise in digital fraud, particularly digital arrest scams, and has directed the central government to develop a standard operating procedure to combat these crimes.
It said that when a retiree, who withdraws amounts in the range of Rs 10,000 or Rs 20,000, suddenly withdraws huge amounts, then the bank should issue an alert.
Rediff labs team analyses the data from the National Crime Records Bureau on cyber crimes that have been reported across the country.
Only bona fide victims would be compensated by banks within five days of receiving the complaint.
'The reason is that you may not enter the branch but you want to see it near you as it establishes trust.'
Kanpur police have uncovered a GST fraud racket where suspects used unsuspecting individuals' documents to create fake firms and route transactions worth nearly Rs 250 crore.
Jio Payments Bank introduces UPI-based cash withdrawals at business correspondent touchpoints, enhancing financial inclusion and simplifying access to cash for rural and semi-urban customers.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has enabled UPI, debit, and credit card payments for Customs duty on the ICEGATE portal, enhancing ease of doing business for importers and exporters.
Himachal Pradesh is experiencing a significant increase in cyber fraud cases, with hundreds of cases registered and substantial financial losses reported. The state government is taking measures to combat this rise, including establishing cyber help desks and providing specialised training to officers.
Delhi Police have arrested two individuals from Rajasthan for allegedly defrauding a Delhi resident of over 21 lakh through a high-return online investment scam. The accused lured the victim with promises of lucrative returns and prepaid tasks.
The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) has filed a chargesheet against an SBI manager accused of embezzling over Rs 2.78 crore through fraudulent transactions.
The Haryana Police have launched 'Abhedya', a mobile application designed to curb cybercrime, extortion, and threatening calls. This initiative makes Haryana the first state in India to introduce such a measure, aiming to protect citizens from various forms of digital harassment.
PhonePe has launched the 'RuPay On-The-Go' Card, a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) aimed at digitising transit payments across India. The card enables quick, tap-and-pay transactions on NCMC-enabled services like metros, buses, and trains, even without internet connectivity.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police's Counter Intelligence Wing (CIK) has dismantled a sophisticated international cyber fraud racket, arresting seven individuals in Srinagar. The operation targeted victims in the USA, UK, and Canada, using advanced techniques to steal funds through deceptive online schemes.
'Just like oral hygiene, cyber hygiene must become a daily habit,' says Beena Vaheed, executive director, Bank of Baroda. 'It is not enough to rely only on banks, companies, or the government. Each of us must play our part.'
Markets regulator Sebi on Tuesday proposed introducing gift cards or gift prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) for investments in mutual funds to improve financial inclusion through onboarding of new investors in the space.
The Bharat Interface For Money app was launched on the iOS platform earlier this month. It is also available on the more popular Android platform. There have been over 17 million downloads of the BHIM app so far.
Moving beyond digital payments, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the operator of Unified Payments Interface, is planning to add more muscle to the country's digital infrastructure by setting up a fourth subsidiary, NPCI Tech Solutions Ltd (NTSL).
In its June 2025 review, the International Monetary Fund spotlighted India's Unified Payments Interface as the world's most dominant retail instant-payment network, moving more transactions than any other system on the globe.
Kolkata Police have dismantled a cyber fraud network operating illegal 'SIM box devices' to impersonate law enforcement officials, leading to the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of crucial equipment.
Two co-founders of the cryptocurrency exchange platform CoinDCX have been arrested by Thane police in connection with an alleged fraud of Rs 71.6 lakh. The arrests follow an FIR filed against the founders for cheating, criminal breach of trust, and fraud.
Police in Himachal Pradesh have arrested five individuals for allegedly assaulting a man and forcing him to transfer money via UPI.
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