UPI Tap & Pay and MyUPI: what NPCI's new features mean
NPCI's UPI Tap & Pay allows PIN-less payments up to ₹5,000, and MyUPI shows all AutoPay mandates in one place. Here is how to use them safely.
UPI is getting two upgrades that change how you pay in a shop and how you keep an eye on your money. At Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai (announced on 10 September 2026), NPCI introduced UPI Tap & Pay and MyUPI. Here is what has been announced, in plain words.
UPI Tap & Pay: pay by tapping your phone
Tap & Pay uses NFC. You unlock your NFC-enabled smartphone and tap it on an NFC-enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminal at the shop, much like tapping a card.
What stands out:
- No mobile internet needed on your side. The payment can go through the shop's POS machine connection, which helps when your signal is poor in a basement mall or a crowded market.
- PIN-less up to ₹5,000. Payments up to ₹5,000 can be made without entering your UPI PIN. Above that, you enter the PIN on the terminal.
- Works with more than a bank account. It supports multiple account types on UPI, including a RuPay credit card linked to UPI.
What this means for your spending
Faster payment is convenient, but friction is also a brake. When a ₹4,500 bill needs no PIN, the pause that makes you think "do I really need this?" shrinks. If you tend to overspend, consider setting a personal rule, such as waiting 24 hours before any purchase above ₹2,000 that is not a planned expense.
Also remember that a tap is still a real payment. Keep your phone locked with a strong screen lock and never leave it unlocked on a counter.
MyUPI: one window for your UPI activity
MyUPI is an AI-powered conversational platform built on NPCI's own small language model, called FiMI (Finance Model for India). According to NPCI's announcement, it offers:
- A unified view of UPI transaction history and AutoPay mandates across banks and UPI apps.
- A safety switch to block suspected fraudulent debit transactions.
- The option to delink a mobile number from receiving payments.
Why the AutoPay view matters
Many of us have forgotten mandates: an OTT plan, a gym, a learning app, a small insurance premium. Seeing every mandate in one place makes a subscription clean-up much easier. Even before MyUPI reaches you, you can do this manually by checking the AutoPay section in each UPI app you use.
A note on availability
These were launch announcements. Rollout depends on your bank, your UPI app and the shop's terminal, so you may not see every feature immediately. Rely on your bank or UPI app for the exact steps, and be careful of messages or calls claiming to "activate" Tap & Pay or MyUPI for a fee or an OTP. Nobody legitimate needs your UPI PIN to enable a feature.
Practical takeaways
- Set a spending alert. If a purchase can happen without a PIN, a notification is your safety net. Keep SMS or app alerts on for every debit.
- Review mandates monthly. List every AutoPay you have and cancel what you did not use last month.
- Never share your PIN or OTP. Not for features, refunds or KYC.
- Check your statement weekly. A quick five-minute scan catches wrong or unfamiliar debits early.
- Report fraud fast. Tell your bank immediately and use the national cyber helpline channels listed on the official government portal.
This is general information, not financial advice.
How Dhuddu helps
Whether you tap, scan or type a UPI ID, the real question is where your money went. Dhuddu can read your Indian bank alerts through Gmail sync and import statements, so every UPI spend lands in your expense list automatically, categorised and ready for budgets. It is free, and the Android app is on Google Play.