WhatsApp gets nod from NPCI for enabling in-app UPI payments

Messaging giant WhatsApp has reportedly been granted permission by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to develop in-app payments and money transfers using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). A report by the Times of India stated that this is the first time that the NCPI have granted a mobile app to enter into multi-bank partnerships for digital payments.Speaking to the Times of India, AP Hota, MD and CEO, NPCI confirmed that Whatsapp had received a nod from the payment institution. "We have permitted multi-bank partnership as Whatsapp did not want all transactions routed via one bank when payment loads are high. They are now talking actively to leading banks now," Hota said.While Facebook-owned WhatsApp has been looking to integrate UPI into the messaging app, Google is also in the race to receive a nod to implement the UPI system into their Android Pay platform. Hota said, "Players like WhatsApp, Google are very large in size and thus partnering with multiple banks makes sense to ensure a smooth payments process. Google is now waiting for the Reserve Bank of India's approval to go live on UPI." Online merchants like Amazon and Uber are also in final stages of testing before enablingThe report also claims interest from the likes of Amazon and Uber who are also said to be in their final stages of testing before enabling customers to make payments using UPI. The NPCI CEO, however, did not provide a timeline citing that the RBI could take a while in granting the final permission. We had reported back in April that WhatsApp could be planning a UPI-based payment system.The NPCI CEO, however, did not provide a timeline citing that the RBI could take a while in granting the final permission. We had reported back in April that WhatsApp could be planning a UPI-based payment system.