UPI Gets a New Tap-and-Pay Feature: You Can Now Make Payments Without Opening the App
Digital payments in India are about to become even more convenient. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a new tap-and-pay functionality for UPI, allowing users to make contactless payments by simply tapping their smartphone on a compatible point-of-sale terminal.
The feature uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and is designed to make small, everyday payments faster by reducing the number of steps required to complete a transaction.
How Does UPI Tap-and-Pay Work?With the new functionality, users can tap an NFC-enabled smartphone on a compatible payment terminal to initiate a UPI transaction.
One of the biggest changes is that users do not necessarily need to open their UPI app first
The feature is particularly useful for quick transactions at places such as shops, cafés, restaurants and other establishments that support compatible contactless terminals.
Does It Require Internet?One of the interesting aspects of the new feature is its ability to work in low- or no-internet situations, according to reports on NPCI's announcement.
This could make contactless UPI payments particularly useful in situations where mobile connectivity is weak or temporarily unavailable.
However, users will still need a compatible NFC-enabled smartphone and a payment setup that supports the functionality.
Why Is This a Big Deal for UPI Users?UPI has already become one of India's most widely used payment systems. In August 2026 alone, UPI processed 24.51 billion transactions worth ₹29.82 trillion
The new tap-and-pay system could make these transactions even quicker, particularly for small-value purchases where users want to avoid navigating through multiple screens.
Instead of unlocking the phone, opening an app, scanning a QR code and completing the payment flow, contactless payments can potentially be initiated with a simple tap.
What Do You Need to Use It?To use UPI tap-and-pay, users will need:
- An NFC-enabled smartphone
- A compatible UPI payment setup
- A merchant terminal that supports contactless payments
- The required authentication for completing the transaction
Availability may depend on the bank, UPI app and device being used, so users may not see the feature immediately on every phone or payment application.
QR-code payments have played a major role in making UPI popular across India. The introduction of contactless tap-and-pay adds another option for consumers who prefer a faster payment experience.
The development also comes at an interesting time for India's digital-payments ecosystem, with Apple Pay expected to launch fully in India later in 2026
The introduction of contactless UPI payments could eventually make smartphone-based payments feel more like tapping a traditional contactless card.
For consumers, the biggest advantage could be speed and convenience, while merchants could benefit from another payment option alongside QR codes and conventional card transactions.
As banks and UPI apps expand support for the feature, tap-and-pay could become another everyday way for Indians to make quick digital payments.