Digital payments in India are about to become even simpler. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will soon allow users to make payments using facial recognition or fingerprints, removing the need to enter a PIN.
This new biometric authentication feature will be launched from October 8 and is seen as a major step forward for Digital India.
Aadhaar-Based Biometric Verification
The new system will be completely Aadhaar-based. When users choose the biometric option, their phone’s camera or fingerprint scanner will activate.
The captured data will then be matched with the Aadhaar database, and once verified, the payment will be completed within seconds.
This feature will work only for users whose bank accounts and UPI IDs are linked with Aadhaar. It aims to help those who forget their PIN and make transactions more secure and convenient.
NPCI to Showcase the Feature
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is expected to demonstrate the feature at the Global FinTech Festival in Mumbai.
Although NPCI has not released an official statement, sources say that testing is complete and the rollout for the public will begin soon.
Safer and Smarter Transactions
The move follows RBI’s recent guidelines encouraging banks and payment systems to strengthen security and promote innovation.
The biometric system addresses weaknesses in the current PIN-based setup, such as PIN theft and phishing.
Because each person’s face and fingerprint are unique, biometric authentication is nearly impossible to hack.
With this upgrade, digital transactions will become faster, easier, and far more secure for millions of UPI users across the country.
