Google Pay and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have joined hands to allow users to make UPI payments using RuPay credit cards. This means that users can now connect their RuPay credit cards to Google Pay and use them for online and offline purchases at any merchant that accepts RuPay credit cards.
RuPay Credit Card Compatibility with Google Pay
Users of RuPay credit cards from Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Union Bank of India can now take advantage of a new feature offered by Google Pay. This feature enables them to make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments using their RuPay credit cards.
More banks are expected to follow suit in the near future, according to a statement from Google Pay. It is important to note that currently, there is no option to add Visa or Mastercard-issued credit cards to Google Pay or any other UPI payment app in India.
Activation Process
To activate this feature, users simply need to add their RuPay credit card to Google Pay. In their Google Pay profile, they can select the “RuPay Credit Card on UPI” option and choose the bank that issued their RuPay credit card.
Next, users will be prompted to set a unique UPI PIN by either entering the last six digits of their card number and expiry date or by entering the OTP (One-Time Password) provided by their bank.
Making Payments with RuPay Credit Cards
Once the activation process is complete, users can make payments to merchants using their RuPay credit card through the UPI platform. They will need to enter the UPI PIN they set during activation, just like they would for any other UPI transaction.
Benefits and Impact
In recent years, India has experienced a significant surge in UPI transactions, with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) reporting a record monthly transaction count of 8.7 billion in March 2023.
To further promote the growth of digital payments in India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed the linking of RuPay credit cards to the UPI platform in June 2022. Additionally, last year, Google Pay introduced support for international money transfers from the United States to India and Singapore.
Speaking on the announcement, Google’s Director of Product Management, Sharath Bulusu, said:
This new feature will provide Google Pay users with increased flexibility and options for making payments, thereby encouraging the adoption of digital payments across the country.
Commenting on the integration, Nalin Bansal, Chief Relationship Management and Key Initiatives, Corporate Business from NPCI, said:
By integrating RuPay Credit Card on UPI, we are bringing together the best of both worlds – the ease of UPI and the advantages of RuPay Credit Card – to provide users with an exceptional payment experience.