UPI123Pay: RBI launches New UPI Services for Feature Phone; Know How to make Payment without Smartphone

UPI123Pay: The Reserve Bank of India has launched new UPI services for feature phones called UPI123Pay. The announcement was made by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on March 8, 2022. The users will now no longer need internet to make digital payments.

UPI123Pay will benefit an estimated 40 crore feature phone users and enable them to undertake digital payments in a secure manner. This will bring non-smartphone users under the digital payment system.  

The RBI Governor also launched a 24x7 helpline for digital payments called 'Digisaathi'. The helpline has been set up by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The RBI Governor said these initiatives will promote financial inclusion in our economy.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das launches UPI payments for feature phones -UPI123Pay and 24*7 helpline for digital payments -DigiSaathi

This will promote financial inclusion in our economy, he says. pic.twitter.com/Cf68oezsON

— ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2022

UPI123Pay: Know Benefits, Key Features 

• RBI’s new UPI payment service for feature phones has been named “123Pay”.
• The UPI payments gateway involves a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users.
• The service will work on simple phones that do not have an internet connection.
• As of now, the UPI features are mostly available only on smartphones.

How to make Payment without Smartphone

• The new UPI service for feature phones will enable individuals to make direct payments to others without smartphones and internet. Till now, internet connections were a must to make payments through the UPI payment facility.
• The UPI services involves a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users.
• The UPI service for feature phones will leverage on RBI's  regulatory Sandbox on Retail Payments.
• The UPI service will enable digital transactions through a mechanism of ‘on-device’ wallet in UPI applications."

Key Benefits

With the new UPI Payments service, the feature phone users will be able to undertake a host of transactions based on four technology alternatives including- IVR (interactive voice response) number, missed call-based approach, app functionality in feature phones and proximity sound-based payments.

The users will be able to initiate payments to friends and family, recharge FAST Tag of vehicles, pay utility bills, mobile bills and check account balances.

The customers will also be able to link bank accounts and set or change UPI PINs.

There are around 40 crore smartphone users in the country. The current UPI services are available for users through the USSD-based services, which has been found to be cumbersome and all the mobile operators do not allow such services, as per deputy RBI Governor T Rabi Shankar.

Digisaathi 24X7 Helpline

The 24x7 helpline will assist the callers with all their queries on digital payments through the website and chatbot.

How to access the helpline?

Users can either visit the website - www.digisaathi.info or call on the helpline numbers given below for all their queries on digital payments and grievances.

The 24x7 helpline numbers are- 14431 and 1800 891 3333

Background

As per RBI, the UPI volumes have touched Rs 76 lakh crore in FY22 so far, as against Rs 41 lakh crore in FY21. The RBI expects the overall UPI volumes to touch Rs 100 crore soon.