Google Pay has recently launched several new features via India’s United Payments Interface (UPI), aiming to enhance the ease and convenience of digital transactions in the country. The announcement, made at the end of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, highlights Google’s commitment to simplifying payment and financial interactions in India. These new offerings are designed to address various needs and challenges faced by users and to broaden the accessibility of digital payments.
One of the key features introduced is the UPI Circle on Google Pay. This function allows users to include friends or family members as “secondary” users within their UPI Circle. The main user can either approve each payment or set a financial limit for secondary users, making it easier for those who may not have their own bank accounts to participate in digital transactions. This feature is aimed at helping individuals who are less familiar or comfortable with UPI due to limited access to banking services.
In addition to UPI Circle, Google Pay has expanded its UPI voucher program. This program allows users to make payments through prepaid vouchers linked to their mobile numbers.
Beneficiaries of these vouchers can use any UPI-supported app, including Google Pay, to complete transactions without needing to link their bank accounts. Originally introduced for COVID-19 vaccination payments, this versatile voucher system is now applicable across various sectors.
Google Pay has also integrated support for ClickPay QR codes in collaboration with NPCI Bharat Billpay. This feature enables users to pay bills by scanning a ClickPay QR code through the Google Pay app, eliminating the need to remember account details or consumer IDs. This adds an extra layer of convenience for users managing their bills and payments.
Since opening its digital wallet services in India in May, Google Pay has focused on creating localized experiences and has partnered with over 20 top brands in the country. Looking ahead, Google plans to expand its UPI offerings beyond India and establish similar digital payment systems in other countries. This expansion includes simplifying international remittances by leveraging the UPI infrastructure.
