The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a new feature called the Offline Digital Rupee, allowing users to make digital payments without internet or mobile connectivity.
This means people can now spend money digitally just like cash — by simply scanning a QR code or tapping their phone.
of it as an electronic version of the Indian rupee that you can store in a digital wallet and use even when the internet isn’t available.
What Is the Digital Rupee?
The Digital Rupee (e₹) is India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
It’s basically the digital form of the Indian currency, created and managed by the RBI.
The tagline given by the central bank — “Cash, but digital” — perfectly describes how it works.
You can keep it in a digital wallet, similar to how you keep cash in your physical wallet.
At present, 15 banks in India provide access to digital rupee wallets.
These wallets let users send and receive money in e₹ without relying on a traditional bank transfer.
How Does the Offline Feature Work?
The offline feature is designed to help people make payments in areas with poor or no internet connectivity, such as remote or rural regions.
It uses NFC (Near Field Communication) technology — the same feature used to share photos or files between smartphones. To make a payment, users just need to:
Open their digital rupee wallet app.
Enter the amount to be paid.
Tap their phone against the merchant’s payment device.
The payment is completed instantly — no internet required, only a basic mobile signal.
Digital Rupee vs UPI — What’s the Difference?
While UPI allows you to send money from one bank account to another, the Digital Rupee (e₹) is more like digital cash.
You don’t need a bank account to use it.
Payments happen directly between two digital wallets, just like handing over physical money.
The added convenience is that digital rupee wallets can also scan UPI QR codes, making it easy for shopkeepers and customers to adapt to this new system.
Why It Matters
With the Offline Digital Rupee, the RBI aims to make digital payments accessible to everyone, even in areas with weak internet.
It’s a major step toward a truly digital economy — one where cash and connectivity are no longer barriers.
