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25 August 2026

UPI decade anniversary

UPI is a flagship digital public infrastructure project that serves as a primary case study for financial inclusion and government-led technological interventions in development sectors.

1 min read Day 1 of 2 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on August 25, 2016.
  • UPI has completed 10 years of operation as of August 2026.
  • Annual transaction volume grew from 1.78 crore in FY17 to over 24,162 crore in FY26, a 13,000-fold increase.
  • Annual transaction value increased from ₹0.07 lakh crore in FY17 to approximately ₹314 lakh crore in FY26, a 4,000-fold increase.
  • UPI is currently operational in 11 countries.
  • UPI serves as a key pillar of India's digital public infrastructure, facilitating interoperable, real-time peer-to-peer and peer-to-merchant payments.
  • The Finance Ministry identifies UPI as a critical driver for bridging the digital divide and advancing financial inclusion.

Part of a longer story

This is day 1 of 2 in Growth and performance of the UPI digital payments ecosystem, which has been running since 25 August 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been described as a backbone of India's digital public infrastructure. Discuss how UPI has contributed to financial inclusion and the formalization of the Indian economy over the last decade. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is increasingly becoming a tool for India's soft power and economic diplomacy. In the context of the global expansion of UPI, analyze the strategic significance of exporting India's digital payment models to other nations. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which organization is responsible for the development and management of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India?

  2. When was the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) officially launched in India?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-25/upi-decade-anniversary