Mumbai: NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), launched UPI Circle – a powerful new feature integrated into the latest BHIM app (version 4.0.2) that allows users to delegate their UPI payment privileges to up to five trusted contacts with real-time transaction approvals.
Aimed at creating a more inclusive digital payments ecosystem, UPI Circle enables a primary user to assign secondary users, such as family members or employees, who can initiate payments from the primary user’s account. Each transaction must be authorized by the primary user via their UPI PIN, offering complete oversight and minimizing risk.
How UPI Circle Works:
- Open the BHIM app and go to the UPI Circle section.
- Add a secondary user using their UPI ID or QR code.
- Choose “Approve every payment” as the delegation type.
- Once the secondary user accepts, they can initiate transactions which the primary user approves in real-time.
The feature introduces a host of real-life applications:
- Senior Citizen Support: Family members can approve digital payments on behalf of elders who may be hesitant to use UPI.
- Parental Oversight for Young Adults: Parents can provide controlled financial access to children for education or daily expenses.
- Cashless Business Operations: Small business owners can delegate payment initiation to employees for operational tasks while maintaining approval control.
- Digital Empowerment: Professionals can help dependents unfamiliar with digital platforms by managing their financial access.
“UPI Circle is a step forward in democratizing digital payments. It’s not just about convenience but about building a trusted, inclusive financial environment,” said Lalitha Nataraj, MD & CEO, NBSL. “By empowering users to securely share financial access, we aim to bring digital financial tools to those who may otherwise feel excluded.”
In addition to UPI Circle, the BHIM app update includes new features like Split Expenses, Family Mode, a Spends Dashboard, and enhanced multilingual support—further strengthening BHIM’s positioning as “Bharat ka Apna Payments App.”
