Context
At the Global Fintech Fest 2025 (Mumbai), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched biometric-based authentication and wearable UPI payment features, marking a significant step in India’s next-generation digital payment infrastructure.
Key Features
- Biometric & Facial Recognition Authentication:
– UPI users can now validate transactions using Aadhaar-linked biometrics or facial data, instead of traditional 4- or 6-digit UPI PINs.
– The authentication occurs locally on the user’s device, ensuring data privacy and security compliance. - UPI Lite for Smart Wearables:
– A voice-activated, hands-free UPI Lite version for smart glasses enables small-value transactions via QR scan + voice command.
– Focused on contactless micro-payments (retail, transit, etc.).
Multi-Signatory Accounts on UPI:
– Announced by RBI Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar.
– Enables joint account operations requiring approval from multiple users — useful for family, partnership, and organisational accounts.