If you use UPI apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm, an important change could soon make your digital payments more private and secure.
According to reports, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is working with banks and major UPI platforms to implement the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
The main goal is to better protect users’ personal information, especially mobile numbers, from misuse.
The move comes as concerns over privacy and cyber fraud continue to grow among digital payment users.
Why Is NPCI Planning This Change?
At present, mobile numbers are widely used to identify users during UPI transactions.
While this makes payments easier, it can also create privacy risks.
Many users, especially women, have raised concerns on social media about their phone numbers being visible to strangers after receiving payments.
To address these concerns, NPCI is focusing on protecting sensitive information such as:
Mobile numbers
Full names
Other personal details linked to UPI accounts
The initiative is expected to improve user privacy while making digital payments safer.
Mobile Numbers May No Longer Be Fully Visible
According to reports, NPCI has already instructed payment apps to start hiding customers’ complete mobile numbers.
Once the new system is implemented, people making or receiving payments will not be able to see the full mobile number of an unknown user during a transaction.
This step is expected to:
Reduce the risk of cyber fraud.
Prevent misuse of personal mobile numbers.
Improve the privacy of UPI users.
Make digital transactions more secure.
Banks and UPI Apps Working Together
NPCI is reportedly developing the new privacy framework with leading banks and popular UPI apps such as Google Pay and PhonePe.
The organization is working to clearly define the responsibilities of every partner involved so that the new system is secure and free from loopholes.
The changes are expected to help payment apps comply with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
What Does This Mean for UPI Users?
If the proposal is implemented, digital payments could become much safer for millions of users across India.
The biggest benefit will be stronger protection of personal information.
Users, especially women, may no longer have to worry about their mobile numbers being visible to strangers after making or receiving UPI payments.
Although NPCI has not yet announced a timeline for the rollout, the proposed changes signal a major step toward improving privacy and security in India’s fast-growing digital payments ecosystem.
