The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is developing a new offline UPI tap-and-pay feature that will allow users to make digital payments of up to Rs 2,000 without an internet connection.
The proposed system will use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, enabling users to complete transactions by simply tapping an NFC-enabled smartphone on a compatible point-of-sale (PoS) terminal or transit payment device. Since the transactions will be processed offline, users will not require mobile data or Wi-Fi connectivity.
The feature is expected to be particularly useful in locations where internet connectivity is limited or unavailable, such as aircraft, underground metro stations and subterranean railway tunnels, where conventional UPI transactions often fail due to network disruptions.
Once introduced, the offline payment facility is expected to improve the reliability of digital payments in public transport and travel ecosystems, offering faster and more seamless transactions even in low-connectivity environments.
NPCI has not yet announced an official launch timeline or detailed implementation guidelines for the new feature.