UPI payments work across most apps in India, and the system continues to evolve. Now, users can enable UPI payments without entering a PIN. Instead, they can authenticate transactions using biometric features like fingerprint or Face ID.
Digital payments through UPI have become extremely common across India. The service is also expanding to select international markets. However, the rise in UPI-related scams has pushed authorities and payment platforms to strengthen security.
The new biometric option reduces reliance on the traditional four- or six-digit UPI PIN. This shift lowers the chances of PIN theft or shoulder-surfing scams. It also makes the payment process faster and more convenient for users.
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How UPI Biometric Payments Work
Most modern smartphones support fingerprint sensors and facial recognition. UPI apps are now integrating these features to authorize transactions securely.
Popular payment apps such as Paytm, Google Pay and others are expected to support the feature. Users will be able to rely on their device’s built-in security instead of manually entering a PIN.
To activate the feature, users can open the payment settings in their UPI app. There they will find an option to enable biometric authentication for their linked bank accounts. Once enabled, a single tap using a fingerprint can approve the payment.
Experts Urge Caution Despite Convenience of Biometric Payments
Earlier reports suggested that the feature would work only with Aadhaar-linked bank accounts and registered biometric profiles. However, early tests show that some accounts already allow payments with a simple biometric confirmation.
This system also prevents others from seeing your UPI PIN during transactions, which improves privacy and security.
At the same time, experts warn that users should remain cautious. While biometric payments are convenient, unauthorized access to an unlocked phone could still pose risks.
To improve safety, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has already removed certain features like payment request options in some cases. These steps aim to reduce online scams and protect users from fraudulent transactions.
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