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The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a new feature called UPI Circle, designed to expand the functionality of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This feature enables users to designate trusted secondary users who can access their UPI accounts and make transactions on their behalf. UPI Circle is particularly useful for individuals who may be financially dependent, such as children or elderly family members, allowing them to engage in digital transactions even if they do not possess their own UPI accounts.
NPCI Rolls Out UPI Circle
UPI Circle represents a significant advancement in digital payments by allowing primary users—those with a UPI account linked to their bank account—to authorize secondary users for transactions. This feature includes robust security measures to ensure controlled and secure access.
- Primary users can scan a QR code or enter a UPI ID to add secondary users.. Manual entry of phone numbers is currently not supported.
- Secondary users must secure their transactions with either passcodes or biometric authentication.
- This feature facilitates participation in digital transactions for those without their own UPI accounts.
Google Pay Integration
It has been revealed that Google Pay will add UPI Circle to its payment app in India. Since so many people in the country use Google Pay, this integration should make the function easier for more people to use.
Security Measures and User Control
NPCI has established stringent security protocols to safeguard financial information and ensure the responsible use of UPI Circle. These include mandatory passcodes or biometric authentication for transactions, and the capability for primary users to oversee and manage secondary user activities.
- Users can choose between partial and full delegation. Partial delegation requires primary user approval for each transaction, while full delegation allows transactions up to a set limit without additional approval.
- The maximum delegation limit is Rs. 15,000 a month, with a limit of Rs. 5,000 per transaction. For the first 24 hours, secondary users have a limit of Rs. 5,000.
- Primary users can monitor secondary users’ activities and adjust limits as needed.
Flexibility in Managing Secondary Users
UPI Circle gives main users a lot of control over their secondary users.. They can assign different transaction limits to each secondary user and can add up to five secondary users. Additionally, primary users have the option to revoke access at any time.
- Secondary users are limited to accepting only one primary user.
- The ability to revoke access ensures that primary users maintain full control over their accounts.
UPI Circle aims to transform digital payments in India by making it easier for families and individuals to share financial responsibilities. NPCI’s new feature enhances the versatility and security of UPI, further establishing it as a leading solution in digital payments.