Unified Payments Interface (UPI) users may soon authenticate transactions using biometrics — such as fingerprints or facial recognition — instead of entering a PIN. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is preparing to introduce this feature to enhance both security and convenience for millions of users.
Currently, every UPI payment requires a four- or six-digit PIN. However, rising concerns about PIN theft and fraud have prompted NPCI to explore biometric verification, which is considered more secure because it uses unique personal identifiers.
According to industry sources, this upgrade could also speed up everyday payments. Users will be able to approve transactions instantly with a fingerprint or face scan on their smartphone, removing the need to remember or type a PIN.
UPI already powers over 80 percent of India’s digital transactions, making it the backbone of the country’s cashless economy. The biometric update is seen as another step toward improving user experience and safeguarding payments.
The rollout date has not yet been announced, but NPCI is reportedly testing the feature with banks and payment providers. Once launched, users are expected to have the option to choose between biometric authentication and the traditional PIN system.
