UPI QR Codes: The Silent, Swift, and Surging Giants of Digital India

Image Source: informal Newz

India's payments ecosystem is experiencing a tectonic change as UPI QR codes see explosive growth, with credit card usage indicating slowing growth. In the latest RBI figures, UPI QR codes have emerged as the most rapidly growing digital payment ecosystem in FY25, evidencing a countrywide trend towards payments being cashless and convenient.

UPI QR Code Growth

UPI QR codes jumped by 91.5% year-on-year to 657.9 million in FY25-highest growth among all digital payment instruments.
Ease of use, no transaction fees, and widespread acceptance, even in street stalls and small shops, drive the fast adoption.
Large platforms such as Google Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe have also hastened QR code rollout.

Credit and Debit Card Trends

Credit card growth in transactions eased to 7.94% year-on-year, with consumers increasingly preferring UPI for everyday purchases.
Debit card additions increased at just 2.7% to 991 million.
Credit cards continue to be popular for big-ticket or online purchases but are subject to limited acceptance and higher charges in small outlets.

UPI Dominance of Digital Payments

UPI handled almost 80% of total digital payments in India in FY24, an increase from 73.4% in FY23 and just 36.8% in FY20.
March 2025 recorded a record ₹24.77 lakh crore worth of UPI transactions, a 25% rise in value and 36% in volume year over year.

Ecosystem and Policy Support

The banks live on UPI increased to 668 in April 2025, adding further fuel to transaction values.
RBI efforts such as the "Har Payment Digital" campaign and fluid transaction limits have made UPI more accessible and convenient.

What's Driving the Shift?

Convenience: UPI QR codes make instant payments possible directly from a bank account without the use of cash or cards.
Government Push: Incentives, publicity, and merchant incentives have driven uptake, particularly in rural and semi-urban markets.
Changing Habits: Customers are moving away from cards for routine spending, preferring the ease and quickness of UPI QR payments.

Outlook

With UPI QR codes being the cornerstone of India's digital payment system today, the nation is fast accelerating towards a cashless economy, establishing global standards in real-time, low-value payments.

Sources: SocialNews.XYZ, Business Standard, Chennai Online, BEAMSTART

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