UPI: A Decade of Transformative Growth in Digital Payments

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has marked a decade of remarkable growth, achieving a record transaction value of Rs 314 lakh crore in FY26. This milestone reflects an over 4,000-fold increase since its inception in 2016.

Launched by the NPCI in 2016 with RBI oversight, UPI has become India's digital payments backbone and a vital element of financial inclusion. The transaction volume surged from 2 crore in FY 2016-17 to over 24,162 crore by FY 2025-26, illustrating its exponential expansion.

By 2025, UPI became a global leader, handling nearly 49% of real-time payment transactions. With widespread institutional participation and deepening geographic reach, UPI continues to shape India's financial landscape, reinforced by recognition from the International Monetary Fund.

(With inputs from agencies.)