UPI dominates India’s digital payments with 85.5% share of transaction volume: RBI

Dr. Saheb Kumar, New Delhi The Reserve Bank of India has said that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) accounted for the highest share of digital payment transaction volume in the second half of 2025, reinforcing its position as the leading platform in India’s digital payments ecosystem. According to the RBI’s latest half-yearly Payment Systems Report, UPI contributed 85.5 percent of the total digital payment transaction volume during the period. National Electronic Funds Transfer and Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) each accounted for 3.6 percent of transaction volume, while the Real Time Gross Settlement system contributed only 0.1 percent because it primarily handles high-value transactions rather than large transaction volumes. Despite its low transaction count, RTGS remained the largest platform in terms of transaction value, accounting for 68.6 percent of the total value of digital payments. NEFT followed with a 14.9 percent share, while UPI accounted for 9.5 percent of the total transaction value. PPIs contributed just 0.1 percent of the overall value. The RBI noted that the figures underline RTGS’ importance for large-value financial settlements, whereas UPI continues to dominate mass retail digital payments across the country. The report also stated that NEFT continues to remain relevant in India’s evolving digital payment landscape due to its flexibility in handling both small and large transactions with settlement generally completed within an hour. India’s digital payments ecosystem has witnessed significant expansion over the last decade. According to the report, transaction volumes increased 33 times and transaction values nearly tripled between 2016 and 2025. Over the past five years alone, digital payment transaction volumes have grown more than four times, while transaction values have almost doubled. This reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43 percent in transaction volume and 17 percent in transaction value. The RBI attributed this rapid growth to increasing smartphone penetration, expansion of public digital infrastructure such as UPI, and rising public confidence in secure and convenient cashless payment systems. The report further revealed that the total volume of payment transactions in India rose from 6,437 crore in 2021 to 26,819 crore in 2025. In value terms, transactions increased from ₹1,741 lakh crore to ₹3,215 lakh crore during the same period, recording a CAGR of 42.9 percent in volume and 16.6 percent in value.

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President Droupadi Murmu honours North-East artisans and weavers

BT Sources A group of artisans and weavers from the North-Eastern states met the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 19, 2026. These artisans and weavers had contributed to the preparation of the invitation kits and highlighted the rich artistic and cultural traditions of North-East India during the ‘At Home’ Reception held on January 26, 2026. Artisans from Nagaland crafted baskets using banana fibre and bamboo, while weavers from Assam designed traditional stoles. Craftspeople from Manipur created black pottery items, and artisans from Sikkim produced goods made from natural fibres. During the interaction, the artisans and weavers shared their experiences of contributing to the Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and thanked the President for giving them an opportunity to showcase their craftsmanship on a national platform. Addressing representatives from Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the President praised the North-East for its immense natural beauty and vibrant cultural traditions. She stressed the importance of supporting artisans and weavers so that their traditional knowledge and skills can reach wider audiences and help them achieve self-reliance. The President also appreciated their efforts in preserving India’s cultural heritage and described them as custodians of the nation’s living traditions. She encouraged them to pass on these valuable art forms and skills to future generations. Following the meeting, the artisans and weavers were taken on a guided tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan, including the famous Amrit Udyan.

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