RBI’s UPI services requires no Internet and Smartphone; 24 X 7 Helpline available

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Tuesday launched the most awaited Unified Payments Interface (UPI) facility for feature smartphones. They also launched DigiSaathi – a 24×7 Helpline to address the queries of digital payment users across products.

RBI Governor Shashikant Das said during the launch, “Till now, multifaceted features of UPI are mostly available only on smartphones, which excludes people from the lower rung of the society from an economic perspective, especially in rural areas, from accessing the popular service.”

“The UPI volumes have touched to ₹76 lakh crore in FY22 so far, as against ₹41 lakh crore in FY21. The day is not far when the overall volumes will touch ₹100 lakh crore,” he added.

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How does UPI123PAY work?

The UPI123PAY uses four technologies - Interactive voice response or IVR, apps in feature phones, missed call-based payments, and proximity sound-based payments.

• Interactive Voice Response (IVR) will allow UPI payment through pre-defined IVR numbers by initiating a call from their feature phones to a predetermined number. The users have to dial the number 08045163666 from the phone that is connected to their bank account. 
• Missed call-based approach in which users can send a missed call to initiate transactions.
•  A mobile phone app would be installed on the feature phone through which several UPI functions, available on smartphones, will also be available on feature phones.
• Proximity sound-based payments use sound waves to enable contactless, offline, and proximity data communication on any device.